Ardrossan Castle

Ardrossan Castle is situated on the west coast of Ayrshire, Scotland in the town of Ardrossan. The original castle, owned by the Barclay family, was partly destroyed during the Wars of Scottish Independence. This event, in which the English garrson were slaughtered, became known as "Wallace's Larder", a name which is still applied to the remaining vaults. Rebuilt by the Montgomery family in the 15th century, Ardrossan later fell into disuse and was demolished by the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century.

History

Ardrossan Castle is situated upon a rocky hill, which gives it its name, made up of "ard", meaning height, and "rossan", a rocky promontory. The present ruins are on the site of an earlier castle owned by the Barclay family. By the thirteenth century it had passed to the Ardrossan family.

Wallace's larder

In 1292, under the reign of John Balliol, the castle fell to the invading English army under Edward I, who held it until 1296. In that year, William Wallace and his men set fire to a nearby building outside the castle. One by one the English ran out from the drawbridge, and were taken by Wallace as they passed. The bodies of the dead and those still living were then thrown into the vaults below the castle. After all the Englishmen had been squeezed into the vault, the garrison's food supplies were thrown down on top of the bodies. The men and foodstuffs were left to rot there, and the castle was then partly dismantled. During excavation work in 1829, a ring was discovered at the site, engraved with the letter ‘W’ and is said to have belonged to Wallace. [cite web |url=http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/na/namuseums.nsf/index/9DBB93AC2552F78880256F2000396405?OpenDocument&MenuType=Leisure%20and%20culture&DocDisplay=NoDoc&DFBC=Museums%20and%20galleries&CatLevel=1%7C%7C |title=William Wallace d. 1305 |publisher=North Ayrshire Council |accessdate=2007-12-03 ]

A similar event took place in 1307 when Sir James Douglas stormed Douglas Castle, killing an English garrison and slighting the castle.

Later history

The castle was acquired by Sir John Montgomery (who captured Harry Hotspur Percy at the Battle of Otterburn) and he remodeled it. His son became Lord Montgomery in about 1445, and his son in turn became the first Earl of Eglinton. The family sheltered in the castle after the Cunninghams sacked their castle at Eglinton, Ayrshire. Afterwards it fell into disuse.

The castle remained until 1648, when Oliver Cromwell's troops destroyed it, removing much of the stone and taking it to Ayr to build a fort there. The ruins of the castle still stand, but are in hazardous condition.

Description

The castle, defended by a moat, stands on a ridge above the town. There is a keep dating from the fifteenth century, and a vaulted range containing a kitchen and cellars. In a deep passageway there is a well. Part of the keep remains up to the corbels of the parapet, but it is very ruinous.

Legends

The castle is said to be haunted by the ghost of William Wallace, who is said to wander the ruins on stormy nights.

The castle is also associated with the Devil. Sir Fergus Barclay, also known as "the De'il of Ardrossan", was a horseman, famous around the lands for his trememdous skill. The secret to his skill, however, was a magical bridle, which was given to Barclay by the Devil, in exchange for his soul. However, the Devil was tricked by Barclay into giving his soul back. Infuriated by this trickery, the Devil attacked the castle in his rage, and is said to have left his hoof prints on one of the rocks. Sir Fergus Barclay is buried in the castle chapel, situated a few hundred yards inland from the castle, further down the hill.

Notes

Bibliography

*Coventry, Martin. "The Castles of Scotland", Goblinshead, 2001

External links

* [http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/scotland/ayrshire/ayrshire5.html Mysterious Britain Gazetteer: Ardrossan Castle]