Portencross Castle **
Region: Ayrshire & Arran
Portencross Castle, The Great Hall © Copyright Billy McCrorie and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Description:
Portencross Castle originally stood on Auld Hill. Here, the first two Stewart kings signed several Royal charters, a fact which reveals that this may have been a royal residence. It is believed that the castle was a final mainland resting place for Scottish kings until the bodies were sent across the firth to Iona, their place of burial.
The castle was then rebuilt on the rocky edge of the shore, belonging to the Ross family, passing hands to the Boyd family, who owned the property until 1785, when ownership changed hands again to the Fullertons.
Portencross Castle saw royalty pass through its doors, as Robert II and Robert III both stayed at this location. Robert II's visit was particularly significant as he passed through in 1371 en route from Rothesay Castle to his coronation at Scone. He also signed several Royal Charters here in the new location of the castle. Portencross was also used to house French prisoners of war in the 18th century, until losing its roof in a storm in 1739.