OS1/3/46/35
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUNURE CASTLE (Ruins of) | Dunure Castle Dunure Castle Dunure Castle Dunure Castle Dunure Castle |
J G Hannay Esq Rev [Reverend] William Menzies William Rennie Esq William Brown Esq Factor Johnston's County Map |
038 | Th ruins of an ancient Stronghold Situated on a rock immediately above high water mark. That which appears to have been the principal part of the building and next the Sea is on a Solid rock about 20 feet high, the wall of the Castle appearing like a Continuation of the rock itself. From the bottom of the rock towards the high water mark is a steep grassy Slope of an angle of about 45°, The whole height from the H.W. [High Water] line to the foundation of the Castle being about forty feet. The outer walls are about four feet thick and not more than ten feet in height except the N.W. [North West] and which is about thirty, and in Such a ruinous State that no mark is left indicative of its former height. The interior is a heap of rubbish Consisting of half Calcined Stones, fragments of broken arches etc. " From the Style of the building having an eye to Safety more than ornament - Dunure may be regarded as one of those Strongholds Supposed to have been built by the Vikings. Indeed the author of the 'History of the Kennedy's attributes the building of the castle to the Danes". Pattersons History of Ayrshire. |
Continued entries/extra info
[Page] 35 -- Sheet 38,6 -- Parish of Maybole"The author of the 'Historie of the Kennedyis 'attritubites the building of the castle to
"the Danes. He says - 'The Black Book of Scone sets their [The Kennedies] beginning
"to be in the reign of King Malcolm the second, who was crowned in the year of God 1010
"years, and was the fourscore King of Scotland. There was with the King one Mr Kennane of
"the Isles, who bruickis the lands of Stroworddell to this hour. This McKennane of the Isles'
"succession was at the time of King Donald's reign, when the Danes got possession of the whole
"Isles, banished by them into Ireland, where he remained to the reign of King Alexander the
"Third, and then came to King Alexander before the battle of Largs, with three score of his name
"and servants', and after that KingAcho was defeated, he fled to Ayr, & there took shipping.
"The principal man that pursued him was McKenane, with his two sons, and after that the
"King of Danes was received in the Castle of Ayr, McKenane followed on a Lord or great Captain
"of the Danes, to a crag in Carrick, whereon there was a strength built by the Danes, low
"by the sea side, the which strength McKenane & his sons took, & slew the Captain & all
"that was therein. For the deed which, this McKenane got the same strength from King
"Alexander, with certain lands lying thereto, the which he gave to his second son, & there was
" the first beginning of the name of Kennedy in the main land.On the strength & crag
"there is now a fair castle, which the chiefs of the lowland Kennedies took their style of
" for a long space, and was called lairds of Dunure, because of the Don of the hill
"above that house (In gaelic the name signifies the hill or part of the yew tree).
"This account of the origin of the Kennedies, & their acquisition of Dunure, is unquestionably
"fabulous. *** Here in the 'Black vout' (vault) the Abbot of Crossraguel, Allan Stuart,
"was subjected to a process of compulsion peculearly illustrative of the insecure state of society
"at the time. The roasting of the Abbot' as the circumstance was designated, took place
"on the 1st & 7th September 1570,"
Pattersons Hist [History] of Ayrshire (1847)
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Chr1smac -Moderator, graham rolph
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