Turnberry Castle

Turnberry Castle is a fragmented ruin on the coast of Kirkoswald parish, 6¼ miles north of Girvan in Ayrshire, Scotland."Ordnance of Scotland", ed. Francis H. Groome, 1892-6. Vol.6, p.454 ] It is situated on a rock at the extremity of the lower peninsula within the parish.

History

The origins of Turnberry Castle are lost in antiquity. As to when or by whom Turnberry was built there seems to be no authentic record; but it was originally a stronghold of the Lords of Galloway, and from there passed into the possession of the Earls of Carrick, about the beginning of the thirteenth century. [ "The land of the Bruce", "All the Year Round". 6:133, (1891:July) p.59] In the late 1200's the castle belonged to Marjorie, the widowed Countess of Carrick. According to medieval legend, Marjorie held a visiting knight captive until he agreed to marry her. The marriage between Marjorie of Carrick, and Robert de Brus of Annadale in 1271, conveyed to him both the castle and the earldom. Their eldest child, Robert, was born three years later, on March 21, 1274, and went on to become Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. Although it is unknown whether Turnberry Castle is the official birthplace of Robert the Bruce, the fact that he spent his boyhood residing in the castle is of no doubt. ["Parentage of Robert Bruce", "Chamber's Edinburgh Journal", No.14 (1832:May) p.112]

Turnberry Castle is associated with two significant historical events, both of which are directly connected to Robert the Bruce. On September 20, 1286, several Scottish barons who supported the title of the Bruce as successor of the crown met secretly at Turnberry Castle. Robert was only 12 years old at the time. ["Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire, North Britain", "Saturday Magazine", 3:72 (1833:Aug) p.60] The second event was the attempt made by Robert in the spring of 1307, to recover the castle from the English, who occupied it at the time. This attempt was only partially successful, although ultimately it led to the withdrawal of the English soldiers. His attempt to reclaim the castle marked the beginning of a long road, ending with Robert's eventual success at Bannockburn. ["Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire, North Britain", "Saturday Magazine", 3:72 (1833:May) p.112] It was Robert the Bruce who ordered the destruction of the castle in 1310, to prevent it from falling once again into the hands of the English. The castle was nearly destroyed; the ruins that remain are part of the original castle as it does not appear to have been rebuilt. [Halliday, James, "Scotland: a Concise History", Steve Savage Publishers Ltd, London 1990]

Description

There is little left of the old buildings today. Turnberry Castle is surrounded on three sides by the sea, and the land side is a hilly plain about 600 acres. The ruin has been affected by the actions of centuries of severe weather and erosion by the sea, leaving little more than its lower vaults and cellars intact. There are some vestiges of a drawbridge as well as an old portcullis which may have done duty as a gate. By the extent of the rock which seems to be included at the site, the castle appears to have been a fortress of great size and strength. There are also caves that lead out into the sea, that may have served the castle as a harbour. A lighthouse was built on part of the castle's site in 1873, and still stands today.

References

External links

* [http://www.maybole.org/history/sketches/spratt/turnberry.htm Artist's conjectural reconstruction of Turnberry Castle]