Barr Castle

Barr Castle, Renfrewshire Photo © wfmillar, 1 October 2007

Barr Castle, Renfrewshire Photo © Chris Court, 9 August 2005

Barr Castle, Renfrewshire Photo © wfmillar, 1 October 2007

The Barr Castle - remains of a 16th Century square tower house.

Galston is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland which has a population of 5198, (2001). It is situated in wooded countryside 4 miles up-river from Kilmarnock and is one a group of small towns located in the Irvine Valley between the towns of Hurlford and Newmilns. The area of Loudoun is also home to Loudoun Castle theme park.

Probably dating from the 15th century this five storeyed red sandstone tower castle still stands as a prominent feature on a rocky knol close to the Burn Anne, within the towns boundaries. It was also known as Lockhart's Tower and was built to control the nearby access points up the Irvine Valley.

William Wallace is said to have taken refuge from pursuing English soldiers within the tower, eventually escaping siege by climbing down a overhanging tree.

It has a practical, if not authentic, roof which does not hide a view of the continuous corbelling of the parapet. The bottom section of the four angle towers are discernable.

The castle was built for the Lockart family who held the Barony of Galston; enthusiastic opponents of the Catholic faith. In 1670 the property was purchased by the Campbells of Cessnock Castle nearby. The castle is now used as a Masonic Lodge and is open to the public on occasions.

The renowned reformer and Protestant martyr, George Wishart, preached at the castle in 1545 and in 1556 John Knox also preached here; both were under the protection of John Lockart of Barr and his fellow reformers.

--BARR CASTLE, LOCHWINNOCH, RENFREWSHIRE.

This castle is situated in an extensive old park, about one mile west from the village of Lochwinnoch. The building is in tine preservation, and, although uninhabited, is well cared for. It is a simple parallelogram on Plan, measuring about 35 feet 6 inches from east to west, by 26 feet from north to south. There has been a courtyard on the west side containing buildings, as indicated on the Ground Plan. The entrance to the courtyard is by a round arched doorway in the north side, which is defended with shot-holes in the wall adjoining. There was also a wing on the south side of the keep, which existed down to this century; it had a door of communication with the keep, as shown on the Plan of the first floor. The entrance doorway to the keep from the courtyard is by a porch, which is, however, of a later construction. There was likewise a high door over this, entering on the first floor level, but this has long since been built up. The ground floor contains two vaulted apartments entering from a small lobby. One of these is the kitchen, with finely arched fireplace, 11 feet wide by 4 feet 6 inches deep. At the back of the fireplace is the usual drain, and an inflow for water supply. The wheel-stair, which ascends to the four upper floors and battlements, is placed in the north-west corner.

The hall on the first floor measures about 24 feet by 17 feet. It is lighted with four windows, one on each side, and has a large fireplace in the west wall. In the north-east corner is a mural closet, which may have been a sleeping place, as it measures about 7 feet by 3 feet 9 inches, and has two small slits for ventilation. There is a sink in the hall, and also various cupboards. The joisting of the floor above has rested on a moulded projecting course of masonry. A narrow private stair in the south-west corner leads to the second and third floors, to which the main stair likewise gives access. These floors were probably each divided into two apartments, there being garde-robes provided for that number of rooms, besides various mural chambers.

The battlements extend all round the building. The corner turrets have been roofed in, and had probably enclosing doors. The corbelling which supports the parapet wall of the east front is not laid level. This has arisen either from design or carelessness, and does not appear to be due to any sinking of the foundations. There are various inscriptions on the building; over the porch are the letters I. W. and M. H. On the lintel at the foot of the stair are carved the initials L. H. I. C., with the date 1680; and on the battlements there appear the letters and figures W. O. 1699.

Barr was "the seat of an ancient family of the surname of Glen," and about the end of the sixteenth century it was in the possession of a branch of the Ferguslie Hamiltons, with whom it remained till about the end of last century. Certain of the above initials indicate this connection, but the castle would appear to have been erected early in the sixteenth century. It quite corresponds in design and arrangements with Law Castle and others of that date in the West.

THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND BY DAVID MACGIBBON AND THOMAS ROSS, 1889--