Trabboch Castle - Castle ruins
Photo © Rosser1954, 29 May 2011
Trabboch Castle -South acing wall
Photo © Rosser1954, 29 May 2011
Trabboch Castle - Ruins from east
Photo © Rosser1954, 29 May 2011
Trabboch Castle - Castle ruins Photo © Rosser1954, 29 May 2011 |
Trabboch Castle -South acing wall Photo © Rosser1954, 29 May 2011 |
Trabboch Castle - Ruins from east Photo © Rosser1954, 29 May 2011 |
The lands of Trabboch (pronounced 'Traaboch') are first recorded by name in a rental of 1303-4. King Robert the Bruce gave the 'L-plan' castle to the Boyds of Kilmarnock for services rendered at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, as revealed in an undated charter in the Register of the Great Seal, stating that King Robert I granted the 'lands of Trebach' in Kyle-Regis to Robert Boyd. Following the fall from favour of the Boyds in 1469 Paterson records that the fortalice of Trabach was forfeited to the crown, reportedly for the use of the eldest sons of the Kings of Scotland. By 1451 the lands had passed into the hands of William, Earl of Douglas and later to the Boswells of Auchinleck. In the 17th century Chalmers of Gadgirth and Reid of Barskimming held parts of the Barony of Trabboch. The Arthurs, Lord Ochiltree, and the Campbells of Loudoun also held Trabboch Castle.
As the caput of the Barony of Trabboch a moot hill would have existed and although no remains survive the nearby farm of Lawhill is suggestive of the location. The associated Mill of Trabboch stood on the Water of Coyle and was not powered by the loch waters.
Campbell sees Trabboch Castle as the only survivor of a defensive chain of
castles that once ran across Kyle Regis and included Stair, Auchencloigh, Drongan,
and Drumsuie.
The remains of Trabboch Castle in 1954 consisted of an L-shaped portion of walling,
with no windows or doors apparent, possibly sitting on a motte. The walls are
2.5m thick, with a height around 3.0m, constructed of massive rubble masonry,
9.0m long on the north-western section and 12.5m long on the south-western section.
No window or door openings are visible. A broad natural ditch is visible on
the western side and the shallow curvilinear ditch on the south side may have
been part part of the castle defences. Some finds were held by the proprietor
of Trabboch Farm. Much of the castle stone was used to build the nearby Trabboch
Mains Farm. The castle ruins are protected as a category B listed building,
and as a scheduled monument.