Thomaston Castle

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Thomaston Castle is located west of Maybole, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It looks much as it did hundreds of years ago. Little has changed, except for the addition of a house located on the property. The castle is run down and has debris falling in on it, but it's still worth having a look. Built for a nephew of Robert The Bruce, the house passed to Patrick McElwain who acquired the property on his marriage to Isobel Kennedy.

Thomaston Castle is L-shaped on plan with a lengthy main block and short wing, having a square stair-tower in the re-entrant angle. The rubble walls rise three storeys to a corbelled parapet; the garret storey above has disappeared. An arched pend through the wing basement gave access to a former courtyard to the S. Although it is traditionally said to have been built by Thomas Bruce, nephew of Robert I, the present structure is clearly of 16th century date, probably being erected after the Corry family of Kelwood obtained the property in 1507. D MacGibbon and T Ross 1889; N Tranter 1965

The remains of Thomaston Castle are in fair condition, several large holes being knocked through the walls and the interior covered with trees and debris; a modern hay loft has been erected adjoining its N wall. The castle stands on a large mound and to the W and S a wide, slight ditch or hollow is visible. There is no trace of a courtyard or any buildings to the S of the castle. Visited by OS (JD) 3 December 1955

Thomaston Castle is generally as described in the previous field report. The mound on which it stands is a natural rise, and the ditch, which is very slight, may also be natural. Visited by OS (RD) 7 March 1967

No change to the previous reports. Revised at 25". Visited by OS (JRL) 31 May 1977.

NS 239 096 Installation of a services pipeline exposed parts of the outer works of a castle of c 1500 (NMRS NS 20 NW 1), including two revetted former burn courses, a probable barmkin wall and remains of one or more substantial structures within. A report will be lodged with the NMRS. Sponsor: National Trust for Scotland T Addyman 1998