Auchenharvie Castle

Auchenharvie Castle is a ruined castle near Torranyard on the A 736 Glasgow to Irvine road. It lies in North Ayrshire, Scotland.

History

The Castle

The ruins still stand in a strongly defensible position at Auchenharvie Farm. Previously the castle was known as Achin-Hervy, Awthinharye in c 1564 (Rollie 1980), Auchinbervy by Moll in 1745, Achenhay (1775 & 1807), Auchenhowy is used by Ainslie in 1821. It has long been a ruin, shown as such as far back as 1604 - 08 by Timothy Pont.Pont, Timothy (1604). "Cuninghamia." Pub. Blaeu in 1654.] It was too small and the area of the mound also so restricted that its conversion into a more commodious and comfortable dwelling were not practicable.

The corbels of the parapet are unusual in that they project less than usual and this links Auchenharvie with the work at Law Castle and Barr Castle. The castle is built from whinstone with freestone corners.MacGibbon, T. and Ross, D. (1887-92). "The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries", 5v, Edinburgh. p 228.]

It is known from the pollen record at Bloak Moss that extensive clearances took place here in the fifth or sixth centuries AD and such a site would have been of great strategic importance to these early settlers, standing out as it does, like an island above the mosses.Rackham, Oliver (1976) "Trees and Woodland in the British Landscape." Pub. J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd. ISBN 0-460-04183-5. P. 52.]

The Cunninghames of Auchenharvie

Location map
Scotland
label = Auchenharvie Castle
position = right
lat = 55.66
long = -4.60
mark =
caption = Location of Auchenharvie Castle.
width = 150The castle had long been in the hands of the Cunninghames and notably. Auchenharvie's most famous owner was Dr. Robert Cunninghame who was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1673 and was Physician to Charles II in Scotland, appointed shortly after the King's coronation at Scone in 1651. He was with the King's army at the defeat at Worcester in September 1651 and was made a prisoner in the Tower of London, being released after a ransom was paid. He was very wealthy and purchased back the Barony of Stevenston from the Earl of Eglinton in 1656. He died in 1676 and his son only outlived him by two years and because his daughter could not inherit, the land passed through the male line to her cousin, Robert Cunninghame.Phillips, Alec, et al. "The Auchenharvie Colliery an early history." The Three Towns History Group. Pub. Richard Stenlake. ISBN 1-872074-58-8. P. 4.] Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604-1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.]

In January 1678 Robert Cunynghame, apothecary / druggist in Edinburgh, is stated to be the heir to Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Cunynghame of Auchenharvie. She was Robert's cousin German and part of his inheritance was the Barony of Stevenston and the lands of Auchenharvie. He also owned some of the lands of Lambroughton and Chapeltoun. He married Anne Purves of Purves Hall in 1669 and had seventeen children. Despite his inheritance he later got into serious debt.Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604-1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.] A good deal remains of this typical tower castle, which has been ruinous since the 1770's, with indications of the barrel roof vaulting, side tower, ornate sandstone ornamentation, etc. Uncommon orchids have been recorded as growing on the motte.

The house belonged to Sir David Cunningham of Auchenharvie, an absentee courtier, till 1642. He planned to add additional building in 1634, beginning with a garden wall around the old tower. He had thought the house too small to accommodate his friends in 1628, so he asked his cousin David Cunningham of Robertland to accommodate his mother so that if his friends visited they could stay at Robertland instead.

In 1829 Aitken's map shows the castle as belonging to a Colonel Barns.Aitken, Robert (1829). "The Parish Atlas of Ayrshire - Cunninghame." Pub. W. Ballantine. Edinburgh.]

The Resurrectionists

A local legend is that in the days of the 'body snatchers' or 'resurrectionists'; before the Anatomy Act of 1832, bodies obtained locally were hidden in the ruins before being taken up to Glasgow at night to sell to the surgeons and medical students at the old university who practiced dissection skills on them. Another version of the story states that the bodies were collected together from neighbouring parishes at Darnshaw, a remote house near Bloak Moss on the old Auchenharvie to Megswell route. The bodies were then sold in Glasgow for £10 each to medicals students from the university.Strawhorn, John (1985). "The History of Irvine." Pub. John Donald. ISBN 0-85976-140-1. P. 113.]

Auchenharvie House

An estate named Auchenharvie was built by the family in Stevenston and although demolished, the name lives on in Auchenharvie Academy. Middleton near Annick Lodge had been part of the estate, passing into the hands of the Hamiltons of Bourtreehill and then passing to the Earls of Eglinton.Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604-1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.]

The Toll Road

The old toll house close to Auchenharvie Castle farm was demolished in the 1990's and a private house with that name now stands on the site. The toll road junction is still extant as farm tracks. A road used to run across the fields from here to cut across the river by a ford below Megswell farm. This road passed beneath the Montgreenan driveway which was carried by a highly ornate bridge at this point. The construction of the Lochlibo Road made this route redundant.

Etymology and natural history

Torranyard is a hamlet at a crossroads on the Irvine to Glasgow 'Lochlibo Road'. It was recored as 'Turing Yard' in 1747, 'Turnyard' in 1775, 'Tirranyard' on Thomson's 1820 map and in 1832. On the 1860 OS map it is shown as having a toll booth and an inn called 'Tour', on the opposite side of the road from the present Torranyard Inn (2007). The Montgreenan estate and hotel is nearby and the site of the old Girgenti house and surviving tower are nearby on the Cunninghamhead road.

A William Forgisal (Fergushill) of Torranyard was miner at the Doura Pit in the 18th-century. He lost his leg in a mining accident, as had his father. William's wife was a tough sort, her comment being on seeing him so encumbered, was that the Forgisal's would need a small plantation of their own to keep them in crutches.Service, John (Editor) (1887). "The Life & Recollections of Doctor Duguid of Kilwinning." Pub. Young J. Pentland. P. 140.]

The castle mound today is rich in wildflowers, however any visitor should beware as the castle sits in an elevated position with an unfenced vertical drop.

ee also

* Auchentiber
* Cunninghamhead
* Chapeltoun
* Corsehill
* Chapeltoun
* [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/A_Researcher's_Guide_to_Local_History_Terminology A Researcher's Guide to Local History terminology]
* Cunninghamhead, Perceton and Annick Lodge
* Perceton
* Annick Lodge
* Barony and Castle of Giffen

References

Bibliography

*Rollie, James (1980). The invasion of Ayrshire. A Background to the County Families. Pub. Famedram. P.83.

*Correspondence of David Cunningham of Auchinharvie to Robertland, National Archives of Scotland GD237/25/1-4