Loudoun Castle

For the amusement park, see Loudoun Castle (theme park).

Loudoun Castle is a ruined 19th century country house near Galston, in the Loudoun area of Ayrshire, Scotland. The ruins are protected as a category A listed building.[1]

Contents

History

A tower house was built at Loudoun in the 15th or 16th century, and was extended in the 17th century. Around 1807, the present Loudoun Castle was built to designs by the architect Archibald Elliot. It was built as the home of the Countess of Loudoun and Moira (1780–1840). The house was gutted by fire in 1941.[1] Only the shell of the building remains. An amusement park was opened in the grounds in 1995, and closed in 2010.

Traditions

A ley tunnel is said to run from Loudoun Castle, under the River Irvine, to Cessnock Castle over 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the south.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Loudoun Castle: Listed Building Report". Historic Scotland. http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=12536. 
  2. ^ Loudoun, Craufuird, C. (2005). A History of the House of Loudoun and Associated Families. Alloway Publishing. p. 36. ISBN 0907526896.