Caprington Castle, East Ayrshire
Photo © wfmiller, 9 February 2007
Caprington Castle, East Ayrshire
Photo © wfmiller, 9 February
2007
--CAPRINGTON CASTLE, AYRSHIRE.
The original castle was erected upon an isolated rock which formed the top of a rising ground about two hundred yards south of the river Irvine, and about a mile west from Riccarton.
The rock is about 10 feet high and nearly square in form, and the castle being built at the south side, left room for the projection containing the stair and for the approach to it. The original castle was a keep, 48 feet by 33 feet, with a slight projection at the north-west angle to contain the staircase. The ground floor contained cellars, while the hall occupied the first floor, and bed-rooms, with numerous wall recesses, the upper floors.
An addition was afterwards built at the corner adjoining the stair, thus making the keep assume the L shape, and the stair, being at the junction of the old and new buildings, gave access to both. The top of the rock was then made into a platform, and a wide flight of steps built outside towards the east to lead up to it. Where the addition projected beyond the rock towards the north, vaulted cellars were built to equalise the floors. The main portion of this wing seems to have been first built, and the narrow part containing the kitchen was probably added subsequently, both additions apparently being made during the seventeenth century. In 1797 Sir William Ciminghame, having in prospect some alterations, caused plans to be made of the buildings as they stood, and from these the plans annexed are copied, and they give a good idea of a country mansion of the time.
Changes made since at various times have entirely altered the appearance of the ediface, both inside and outside, and it now looks like a square block of the Tudor Period, castellated and surrounded by a terrace on the outside, supported by a curtain wall and circular bastions, which completely mask the original rock.
A small stream winds round three sides of the site at a hundred yards distance (the south only being open), and would at one time form a protection to the castle.
It would appear that in 1797 the old castle was only habitable on the ground floor, the first floor being "unfinished," the second having "no floor," but the roof was perfect.
The ground floor of the old castle seems not to have been vaulted, but the addition to the north has the ground floor vaulted. The old walls are incorporated in the present building, but are much altered, the circular stair now being used as a servants' stair.
The Sir William Cuninghame of 1797 was succeeded by another of the same name, who willed the property to the father of the present proprietor. His name was Smith, but he assumed the name of Cuninghame in addition.
Between the castle and the village of Riccarton is the site of the "Bickering Bush," which was a thorn marking the spot where Wallace is said to have had a tussle with some English soldiers, who wanted to deprive him of the fish he had caught in the river.
It will be observed that the west walls are out of the square, a peculiarity which may have arisen from the shape of the rock.
THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND BY DAVID MACGIBBON AND THOMAS ROSS, 1889--