Clan Rising
Cloncaird Castle today

Scotland · Still standing

Cloncaird Castle

Cloncaird Castle is a historic house near Kirkmichael in South Ayrshire, Scotland, originally built in the 16th century and remodelled into a country house in the early 19th century. The building retains a surviving 16th-century tower with an armorial panel dated 1585 and sits at the centre of a 140-acre estate with garden features, a pond, weir, fountain, bridge and ancillary stable and garage buildings. It is a category B listed private residence.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1814

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1814

What Cloncaird Castle looked like in its prime.

A composite building pairing a 16th-century large square stone tower with a rebuilt early-19th-century country-house front (the 1814 façade), set beside the Kelsie Burn within a wide estate. The tower carries a carved armorial panel dated 1585 and shows narrow slit windows; the newer frontage presents regular sash openings and a formal entrance, connected to low service ranges and ancillary stone outbuildings. Grounds include a walled garden, pond with weir and fountain, a small bridge and a U-shaped stable block.

Its story

The story of Cloncaird Castle.

Cloncaird Castle stands beside the Kelsie Burn near Kirkmichael in South Ayrshire, a 16th-century castle at heart, its surviving tower carries an armorial panel dated 1585. Towards the close of the 16th century it was in the possession of Walter Mure, a scion of the Auchendrane family and cousin of the Laird of Auchendrane who devised the murder of Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean.

The Ritchies later made Cloncaird their chief residence, and in 1814 the front was entirely rebuilt and modernised, giving the castle its current appearance. Ritchie died in 1843 leaving three unmarried daughters, and the estates passed to his sister's son, William Wallace of Cairnhill.

In 1905 Colonel Hugh Robert Wallace sold Cloncaird to Mrs Dubs, widow of Charles Ralph Dubs, and married her in 1908. After a time as a convalescent home, the castle, at the centre of a 140-acre estate with pond, weir, fountain and bridge, is a category B listed private residence once more.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1814.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Cloncaird Castle, including 1 interior: narrow spiral staircase inside the tower. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach along the estate drive toward the houseFront façade and main entrance (1814)16th-century square tower (exterior)Armorial panel dated 1585Narrow spiral staircase inside the towerWalled gardenU-shaped stable blockBridge over the Kelsie BurnPond, weir and fountain

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Whose castle

Clans who held Cloncaird Castle.

The families that held Cloncaird Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Mure

    In the possession of Walter Mure, of the Auchendrane Mures, towards the close of the 16th century.

  • Ritchie

    Chief residence of the Ritchies, who rebuilt the front in 1814; held until 1843.

  • Wallace

    Held by the Wallaces of Cairnhill from 1843 until sold in 1905.

Questions about Cloncaird Castle

What is the history of Cloncaird Castle?

Cloncaird Castle began as a 16th-century castle beside the Kelsie Burn. Towards the close of that century it was held by Walter Mure of the Auchendrane Mures. The Ritchies later made it their chief residence and entirely rebuilt and modernised the front in 1814. After use as a convalescent home, it returned to private ownership.

What is inside Cloncaird Castle?

Cloncaird Castle contains a narrow spiral staircase inside its surviving tower. The tower is described as having a large square form and other features associated with a 16th-century feudal mansion. The supplied material does not describe named rooms or other interior spaces.

Where is Cloncaird Castle?

Cloncaird Castle is near Kirkmichael in South Ayrshire, beside the Kelsie Burn. It lies around 6 kilometres east of Maybole, at the centre of a 140-acre estate. The setting includes a pond, weir, fountain, bridge and walled garden within the estate grounds.

When was Cloncaird Castle built?

Cloncaird Castle was originally built during the 16th century. Its front was entirely rebuilt and modernised in 1814, creating the country-house appearance seen today. The surviving tower belongs to the earlier castle, while the early-19th-century work changed the building substantially.

Which family or clan held Cloncaird Castle?

Cloncaird Castle was held by the Mure family towards the close of the 16th century, when it was in the possession of Walter Mure of the Auchendrane Mures. The Ritchies held it until 1843, after which it passed to the Wallaces of Cairnhill, who sold it in 1905.

What did Cloncaird Castle look like in its prime?

Cloncaird Castle combines a large square 16th-century stone tower with a rebuilt country-house front dating from 1814. The tower has narrow slit windows and a carved armorial panel dated 1585. The frontage has regular sash openings and a formal entrance, with low service ranges and stone outbuildings nearby.

Is Cloncaird Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Cloncaird Castle is still standing and intact rather than a ruin. Its surviving 16th-century tower remains, including the armorial panel dated 1585, while the front was entirely rebuilt and modernised in 1814. The building is now a category B listed private residence.

Does anyone live at Cloncaird Castle now?

Cloncaird Castle is a private residence once more. It was previously used as the Dubs Memorial Convalescent Home from 1949, but that use ended and the castle returned to private ownership. The supplied material does not name the current resident or owner.

Can you visit Cloncaird Castle?

Cloncaird Castle is a private residence rather than a publicly described visitor attraction. The building returned to private ownership after its use as the Dubs Memorial Convalescent Home ended. The supplied material gives no public opening arrangements or general visitor access.

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