Greenan Castle

Greenan Castle is a 16th century tower house, on site of a possible ancient fort, around 2.5 miles south west of Ayr in south-west Scotland. The entrance lintel has the inscription, "JK 1603 FMD", for John Kennedy of Baltersan and his third wife, Florence MacDowell, who owned the lands, Greenan Mill, and salmon fishing rights on the River Doon at that time.

History

The lands of Greenan were forfeited by John, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles in 1476 for treason against James III). In 1493 James IV granted the Lands of Greenan to William Douglas, son of Archibald, Earl of Angus.

Beside the tower are traces of a walled courtyard and outbuildings - probably stables and a kitchen block as the small tower has no kitchen within its walls. In this courtyard on the morning of 12 May, 1602, Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean and his servant, Lancelot Kennedy, mounted their horses to ride to Edinburgh, having spent the night before with Thomas's half-brother, John Kennedy of Baltersan. Just a few miles away in the woods of St Leonards (now a suburb of Ayr), they were ambushed by Thomas Kennedy of Drummurchie, Thomas Kennedy, brother to the Laird of Bargany, Walter Muir of Cloncaird, Thomas M'Alexander, Thomas Wallace, a boy called Gilbert Ramsay and a borderer, Williame Irrwing. Sir Thomas was murdered in retaliation for the death of the young Laird of Bargany in December, 1601 at the Battle of Brockloch, near Maybole. Years later, the Muirs of Auchindrain (father and son) were executed for their "art and part" in this murder. The story inspired Sir Walter Scott to write a short play, "An Ayrshire Tragedy".

About a mile away is a large stone said to mark the spot where the Picts and Scots signed a peace treaty. Close to nearby Maybole is the ruin of Dunure Castle and the ruin of Baltersan tower house.