Stanecastle

The early history of Stanecastle is obscure but it was once believed that the 'stane' (stone, norse: steinn) prefix referred to older Roman structures.^[1] However, it is now known that stone building in Scotland and Ayrshire was not restricted to the Roman and Norman periods, and need not suggest any such Roman origins.

Medieval life

Saint Bridget

William Fraunces de le Stane held lands which included a chapel dedicated to Saint Bridget. The chapel stood on the muir near to Stane on the right bank of the Annick Water.^[2]

At the core of the medieval estate may have been an older medieval nunnery or convent and evidence has been discovered (and long lost under a turnpike road) of a small medieval chapel, probably dedicated to St.Bridget and, as was the norm, had its own graveyard (also long buried underneath the road). In the 17th-century the twenty shilling lands of old extent called Brydskirk are recorded, but with no mention of a chapel.^[3]

Stane castle

In the middle-ages, Stanecastle gave way to the ever expanding Eglinton Empire and William Francis of Stane passed his estate on to the Earls of Eglinton in the 15th century.

In 1750 Alexander, 10th Earl of Eglinton, repaired the castle. The four open and four closed pointed windows were constructed for appearance only at this time and on the west side a large panel stone with the Eglinton arms was put in place. Through some mistake this panel was placed upside down.^[4]

The Toll Road Act of 1774 gives details of The Road from the Cockpitt near Stone-Castle by Armsheugh, ....^[5] Showing that, not unusually, a Cock Pit existed here at one time.

A tunnel is said to run from Stanecastle to Eglinton Castle and Seagate in Irvine. Another tunnel is said to run from Stanecastle to Dundonald. A subterranean passage was found by workmen at Stanecastle in the 19th century.^[6]

Robert Burns

During 1781 - 1782 Robert Burns lived in Irvine and it is recorded that his favourite walk was through the Eglinton Woods. References to his passing Saint Bride's Well suggest that he may have passed through Stanecastle on his return journey, having walked along the old Toll Road, over the Drukken Steps at the Red burn and back to Irvine via Millburn, Sourlie, Girdle Gate and Stanecastle.

Stanecastle Today

Visible today is the superb keep of the original estate, into whose wall is set an inscribed stone. This keep was altered with the addition of eight mock-Gothic arched windows in the 18th century, and has a modern roof with chimney and windows.

Opposite the keep is the Stanecastle gate, a considerably younger structure but inkeeping with the overall design of the area. In the 20th century, this gateway, or rather its orientation, was altered. It once marked the southern entrance to the huge Eglinton Castle estate, now the Eglinton Country Park.

The remaining section of the estate has been fenced off and protected. For many years, the modern gate was padlocked and this has given way to a more open policy.

A record exists for the rare Rusty-Back Fern growing on the walls of the castle in the early 1900s. A search in 2002 did not locate the fern.

References

^ ^a ^b Strawhorn, John (1985). The History of Irvine. Pub. John Donald. ISBN 0-85976-140-1. P. 3.
^ McJannet, Arnold F. (1938). The Royal Burgh of Irvine. Glasgow : Civil Press. p. 11 and p. 67.
^ Strawhorn, John (1985). The History of Irvine. Pub. John Donald. ISBN 0-85976-140-1. P. 30.
^ MacGibbon, David and Ross, Thomas (1990), The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland from the 12th to the 18th century. Vol. V. Pub. James Thin. Edinburgh. ISBN 0-901824-186. P. 351 - 352.
^ McClure, David (1994). Tolls and Tacksmen. Ayr Arch & Nat Hist Soc. Ayrshire Monograph No.13. P. 53
^ Irvine Times, 04-02-2009. p. 18.

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