Auchencloigh Castle
Encyclopedia
Auchencloigh Castle or Auchincloigh Castle (NGR NS 4945 1666 ) is a ruined fortification
near the Burnton Burn, lying within the feudal lands of the Craufurd Clan, situated in the Parish of Ochiltree
, East Ayrshire
, Scotland
.
Auchencloigh mayy oonce have been part of a chain of fortalices forming a defensive line, including Drongan
and Martnaham
castles.
The ruins of this medieval tower are of whinstone and were lime mortared and lie 100 metres to the east of the Auchencloigh Farm. No dating evidence has been found, however an early date is suggested by the thickness of the walls. A 15th century date has been suggested by one author.
Auchincloigh Farm was located nearby with a belt of woodland. The site of the castle is scheduled under the 'Ancient Mounuments and Archaeological Areas Act, 1979'.
A William Wallace of Auchincloych was a witness to a precept by James Lord Torphicen in favour of John Chalmer of Inchgotrick in 1579.
In 1578 William and James Cuninghame of Polquharne (sic) granted the lands of Burntoun within their lands of Easter Polquharne to John Cuninghame, son of the said James. These lands were contiguous or inclusive of Auchencloigh.
. The Blaeu map of circa 1654 taken from Timothy Pont
's map of circa 1600 shows an intact East Achincloich Castle (sic), smaller than the nearby Kerse Castle
, with wooded grounds, a pale or fence to the south and bounded to the north, west and east by water courses. A Drumsmodda Loch lay to the west, now known as Belston Loch
. A West Achincloich dwelling is also shown.
Molls map of 1745 shows a dwelling at Achincloich (sic) lying to the east of a small loch, but no castle. Roy's map of 1747 records an Achincloich, not as a castle. Armstrong's map of 1775 shows an Auchencloigh Castle as a ruin. In 1821 the castle is clearly shown as a ruin. In 1820 Thomson's map shows an Auchencloigh (castle ruins).
The name derives from the Gaelic achadh meaning field and cloiche meaning stone. The placenames 'Auchencloich' and 'Auchencloy' are found elsewhere in Scotland. A hamlet named Auchencloigh is located in the parish of Sorn
. Auchencloigh Lodge is a house located on the entrance drive to the old farm.
There is a clearly defined 17th century type holloway that follows the Roman road as far as Auchencloigh near to Old Polquhairn, probably the same road shown on Armstrong's map of 1775 running from Bank (present Bankglen on the New Cumnock - Dalmellington road) over to the present Littlemill. It has a heavy cobbled bottom with clay on top.
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
near the Burnton Burn, lying within the feudal lands of the Craufurd Clan, situated in the Parish of Ochiltree
Ochiltree
Ochiltree, spelt Uchletree in the Middle Ages, is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland near Auchinleck and Cumnock. It is one of the oldest villages in East Ayrshire with archaeological remains indicating Stone Age and Bronze Age settlers....
, East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Auchencloigh Castle
No description or accurate pictorial representation of Auchencloigh castle seems to have survived. The site of the castle is on a mound and in 1978 some of its walls were standing at a height of between 0.6 and 1.6m and several feet in thick in a few places. The walls formed a rectangle and the interior seems to have been subdivided into several small rooms.Auchencloigh mayy oonce have been part of a chain of fortalices forming a defensive line, including Drongan
Drongan
Drongan, a former mining village, is situated on the western edge of Ayrshire, some 8 miles from Ayr and 8 miles from Cumnock and has a population of 3168....
and Martnaham
Martnaham Loch
Martnaham Loch is a freshwater loch lying across the border between East and South Ayrshire Council Areas, 2km from Coylton, in the parishes of Coylton and Dalrymple, 3 miles from Ayr. The loch lies along an axis from north-east to south-west. The remains of a castle lie on a possibly artificial...
castles.
The ruins of this medieval tower are of whinstone and were lime mortared and lie 100 metres to the east of the Auchencloigh Farm. No dating evidence has been found, however an early date is suggested by the thickness of the walls. A 15th century date has been suggested by one author.
Auchincloigh Farm was located nearby with a belt of woodland. The site of the castle is scheduled under the 'Ancient Mounuments and Archaeological Areas Act, 1979'.
A William Wallace of Auchincloych was a witness to a precept by James Lord Torphicen in favour of John Chalmer of Inchgotrick in 1579.
In 1578 William and James Cuninghame of Polquharne (sic) granted the lands of Burntoun within their lands of Easter Polquharne to John Cuninghame, son of the said James. These lands were contiguous or inclusive of Auchencloigh.
Cartographic evidence
Robert Gordon's map of circa 1635-52 marks the castle of E. Achincloich (sic) to the East of Belston LochBelston Loch
Belston Loch , also recorded as Dromsmodda Loch is a small freshwater loch in the East Ayrshire Council Area, near Sinclairston, 2 miles south-east of Drongan, lying in a glacial Kettle Hole...
. The Blaeu map of circa 1654 taken from Timothy Pont
Timothy Pont
Timothy Pont was a Scottish topographer, the first to produce a detailed map of Scotland. Pont's maps are among the earliest surviving to show a European country in minute detail, from an actual survey.-Life:...
's map of circa 1600 shows an intact East Achincloich Castle (sic), smaller than the nearby Kerse Castle
Kerse Castle, East Ayrshire
Kerse Castle or Carse Castle is a ruined fortification once held by the Craufurd Clan, situated in the Parish of Dalrymple, East Ayrshire, Scotland.-Kerse Castle:...
, with wooded grounds, a pale or fence to the south and bounded to the north, west and east by water courses. A Drumsmodda Loch lay to the west, now known as Belston Loch
Belston Loch
Belston Loch , also recorded as Dromsmodda Loch is a small freshwater loch in the East Ayrshire Council Area, near Sinclairston, 2 miles south-east of Drongan, lying in a glacial Kettle Hole...
. A West Achincloich dwelling is also shown.
Molls map of 1745 shows a dwelling at Achincloich (sic) lying to the east of a small loch, but no castle. Roy's map of 1747 records an Achincloich, not as a castle. Armstrong's map of 1775 shows an Auchencloigh Castle as a ruin. In 1821 the castle is clearly shown as a ruin. In 1820 Thomson's map shows an Auchencloigh (castle ruins).
Micro history
The area around the site of the castle and old farm was the site of a large opencast mine, however it is now restored to agricultural use.The name derives from the Gaelic achadh meaning field and cloiche meaning stone. The placenames 'Auchencloich' and 'Auchencloy' are found elsewhere in Scotland. A hamlet named Auchencloigh is located in the parish of Sorn
Sorn
Sorn is a small village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It is situated on the River Ayr. It has a population of roughly 350. Local services include: a pub, a church, a general store, a motorbike shop and a television shop. There is also a village hall and a bowling green and primary school...
. Auchencloigh Lodge is a house located on the entrance drive to the old farm.
There is a clearly defined 17th century type holloway that follows the Roman road as far as Auchencloigh near to Old Polquhairn, probably the same road shown on Armstrong's map of 1775 running from Bank (present Bankglen on the New Cumnock - Dalmellington road) over to the present Littlemill. It has a heavy cobbled bottom with clay on top.