Castle and Lands of Auchruglen

About

The Castle and Lands of Auchruglen (NS5365436797) was a peel tower in the old district of Kyle held at different times by the Nesbitt and Campbell Clans and located near Newmilns, Parish of Galston, East Ayrshire, Scotland.

A wide variety of alternative spellings of the castle's name are recorded, such as Achruglen, Auchenruglane, Achinruglan, and Achinrugglan, John Smith's survey of sites states that Auchruglen Tower was located in the Galston district, held by the Kennedy's, but its exact site is uncertain.

In 1775 the castle is not recorded on Andrew Armstrong's map however an 'Auchen' is marked. James Paterson recorded that Archruglen was an old tower, the remains of which were still visible and well known in 1866, located on a steep eminence on the banks of the River Irvine. James Paterson states that the castle was a property of the Campbells of Loudoun, but not their principal residence. Craufuird Loudoun states that Auchruglen was a square peel tower that lay between High Dalloy and Crosstrees Farms and had been built around 1527, not as a formidable fortress, but as a keep, a place of refuge, built for the purposes of protection and shelter under the circumstances of a sudden emergency. In 1846 it was stated that the ruins of the castle were still pointed out by locals. Gallow Law Cairn lies above the castle's location and it is said to have been the site of a barony court hangings in feudal times. A Gallow Hill Cairn in 1926 was built by local miners to the memory of the Covenanter James Smith of Threepwood, who died for civil and religious liberty in 1684.

It is not clear whether a Barony of Auchruglen existed. The property lay in Kyle which although associated with lowland clans such as the Kennedys was at the time also a stronghold of the Campbells. James Nesbit (1457 to 1514) was granted sasine of Greenholm near Newmilns, Auchenruglane and Sorn as heir to his father in 1496. In 1607 Margaret Nisbet daughter of Alexander Nisbet of Greenholm was the spouse of Hugh Campbell of Auchruglen. In 1607 Elizabeth Gordon was the wife of Matthew Campbell of Batreshill and Hew Campbell of Auchruglen was their eldest son. In 1578 Mariota Nisbet and her mother were heir portioner who had in 1553 sold Auchinrugland to Hugh Campbell. The 40s lands of Auchinruglane during the years 1536 up to 1550 were in the care of whoever had the wardship of the two Nisbet daughters. Margaret Donald was born in Auchruglen on 8 Dec 1774 to Mary Millar. A John Campbell of 'Newmilns' was taken with several 'Lollards of Kyle', mostly minor lairds, to trial as a Lollard, the earliest Scottish Protestants, and was executed. It is not clear if he was a Campbell of Auchruglen. Nicol Brown Esq held the £100 land of Auchruglen in 1803 after the death of John Brown (1729-1802), as recorded in the Land Tax Rolls.

Paterson states that the Kennedys destroyed Auchruglen Castle in revenge for the murder of the Earl of Cassilis at Prestwick in 1527 by Hugh Campbell of Loudoun and his followers. The Kennedys made repeated forays into Campbell lands, however no record of the destruction of the castle has been found in the criminal records of the time. Many versions exist of the ballad of 'Adam of Gordon and his Men' regarding the 1571 burning of Towie Castle first published by Lord Hailes. One version, long known in the district, refers to the burning of Loudoun Castle. In past times wandering minstrels would alter ballads to fit in with incidents at locations they were visiting. Craufuird Loudoun considered that the burning of Lady Loudoun and her children took place at the 'Auld Place' otherwise known as Arclowdun Castle on the Hag Burn near the existing Loudoun Castle. William Robertson recorded that local tradition was that the Campbell's keep of 'Achruglen' was burned, together with Lady Loudoun and her children who the Kennedy's had discovered to be at this keep rather than at Loudoun Castle itself. The Scottish Statistical Account of 1845 relates that Achruglen Tower was burned by the Kennedys. The writer of the 1845 Statistical Account states that the old castle is supposed to have been destroyed by fire about 350 years before, making the event in around 1500.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.