Greenan Castle

Greenan shore and castle

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

History

Greenan Castle by Kristina Macaulay

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".

External links

Video with commentary and annotation on the history of Greenan Castle
Media related to Greenan Castle at Wikimedia Commons

Carrick

Settlements	Former burghs Ballantrae Girvan Maybole Others Auchencrosh Balkissock Bargany Barr Colmonell Crosshill Dailly Drumshang Dunure Greenan Kirkmichael Kirkoswald Maidens Minishant Old Dailly Patna Pinmore Pinwherry Smyrton Straiton

Administration	National subdivisions Ayrshire and Arran lieutenancy area Carrick earldom Kyle and Carrick local government district Sheriffdom and County of Ayr South Ayrshire Council area Parliamentary seats (Scotland) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Parliamentary seats (UK) Ayrshire (1708–1868) South Ayrshire (1868–1983) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (1983–2005) Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (2005–)

Culture	Gaelic in Carrick and Galloway Sawney Bean

Geography	Islands Ailsa Craig Lochs Craigdow Loch Loch Bradan Loch Doon Loch Dornal Loch Finloch Loch Goosey Loch Spaig Loch Spallander Loch Spouts Rivers River Doon River Stinchar Water of App Water of Girvan Water of Tig

History	Heritage sites Blairquhan Castle Crossraguel Abbey Culzean Castle Dinvin Motte Dunduff Castle Dunure Castle Glenapp Castle Greenan Castle Kirkoswald Parish Church Knockdolian Maybole Collegiate Church Penkill Castle Turnberry Castle People Abbots of Crossraguel Clan Kennedy Earls or mormaers of Carrick Marquesses of Ailsa and their predecessors

Sport	Girvan F.C. Maybole F.C. Turnberry golf course

Transport	Railway lines Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Maybole and Girvan Railway Railway stations Barrhill railway station Girvan railway station Maybole railway station Roads A77 A714

Coordinates: 55°26′19″N 4°40′12″W / 55.43861°N 4.67000°W / 55.43861; -4.67000

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/29/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.