Auchans Castle *

Region: Ayrshire & Arran

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Auchans castle © Copyright Mary and Angus Hogg and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Description:

Auchans is a 15th century tower with a square stair tower at the re-entrant angle. The castle has seen several additions, but is now floorless and fairly ruinous. It was a property of the Wallace family, but was sold by the Wallaces to the Cochranes of Coldoun. Though Sir William Cochrane suffered during most of the Civil War for supporting the Royalists, he was rewarded by being made Earl of Dundonald in 1669. He altered and enlarged the castle using stone from Dundonald Castle which he partially demolished. The property passed to the Montgomery Earls of Eglinton, and was the home of Susanna Kennedy of Culzean, the widow of the 9th Earl. This renowned beauty died in 1780 at age 91. The castle was divided into workers flats and eventually fell into complete disrepair.