Penkill Castle
Encyclopedia
Penkill Castle is a 16th century castle with 19th century additions. It is situated around half a mile south of the village of Old Dailly
, to the north-east of Girvan
in South Ayrshire
, Scotland
.
The 16th century tower was built by a branch of the Boyd family, relatives of the Earls of Kilmarnock
, and extended several times. In the late 1850s, the Pre-Raphaelite
artist William Bell Scott
became friendly with the then owner of Penkill, Alice Boyd. Scott painted a series of murals illustrating James I
's The Kingis Quair
in the staircase. Scott died at Penkill on 22 November 1890. The original castle grounds were extended in the late 19th Century by Alice Boyd. The castle was frequented by members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, including visits by Christina Rossetti
, who noted "Even Naples in imagination cannot efface the quiet fertile comeliness of Penkill in reality."
In the mid 20th century Penkill fell into disrepair. It was subsequently bought and restored in the 1980s by Elton 'Al' Eckstrand, an American lawyer and former drag racing driver, known as "The Lawman".
In 1992 Penkill was sold by Eckstrand to Scots-born Canadian businessman Don Brown, then subsequently in 1993 to the then HTV Wales Chairman and tv producer/director Patrick Dromgoole, and thus remains in private hands.
Old Dailly
Old Dailly is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland.The Charter or Blue stones of Old Dailly in Ayrshire are a pair of lifting stones located in the cemetery of Old Dailly church....
, to the north-east of Girvan
Girvan
Girvan is a burgh in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 8000 people. Originally a fishing port, it is now also a seaside resort with beaches and cliffs. Girvan dates back to 1668 when is became a municipal burgh incorporated by by charter...
in South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North 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...
.
The 16th century tower was built by a branch of the Boyd family, relatives of the Earls of Kilmarnock
Earl of Kilmarnock
The title Earl of Kilmarnock was created in the peerage of Scotland in 1661 for William Boyd, 10th Lord Boyd. That title was also created in the Scottish peerage in 1454 for Robert Boyd, Great Chamberlain of Scotland...
, and extended several times. In the late 1850s, the Pre-Raphaelite
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was a group of English painters, poets, and critics, founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti...
artist William Bell Scott
William Bell Scott
William Bell Scott was a Scottish poet and artist.-Life:The son of Robert Scott , the engraver, and brother of David Scott, the painter, he was born in Edinburgh. While a young man he studied art and assisted his father, and he published verses in the Scottish magazines...
became friendly with the then owner of Penkill, Alice Boyd. Scott painted a series of murals illustrating James I
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
's The Kingis Quair
The Kingis Quair
The Kingis Quair is a fifteenth-century poem attributed to James I of Scotland. It is semi-autobiographical in nature, describing the King's capture by the English in 1406 on his way to France and his subsequent imprisonment by Henry IV of England and his successors, Henry V and Henry VI...
in the staircase. Scott died at Penkill on 22 November 1890. The original castle grounds were extended in the late 19th Century by Alice Boyd. The castle was frequented by members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, including visits by Christina Rossetti
Christina Rossetti
Christina Georgina Rossetti was an English poet who wrote a variety of romantic, devotional, and children's poems...
, who noted "Even Naples in imagination cannot efface the quiet fertile comeliness of Penkill in reality."
In the mid 20th century Penkill fell into disrepair. It was subsequently bought and restored in the 1980s by Elton 'Al' Eckstrand, an American lawyer and former drag racing driver, known as "The Lawman".
In 1992 Penkill was sold by Eckstrand to Scots-born Canadian businessman Don Brown, then subsequently in 1993 to the then HTV Wales Chairman and tv producer/director Patrick Dromgoole, and thus remains in private hands.