Turnberry Castle

Castle ruin in Ayrshire, Scotland

Turnberry Castle is a fragmentary ruin on the coast of Kirkoswald parish, near Maybole in Ayrshire, Scotland.^[1] Situated at the extremity of the lower peninsula within the parish, it was the seat of the Earls of Carrick. Turnberry Castle is adjacent to Turnberry Golf Course.

History

The origins of Turnberry Castle are lost in antiquity. As to when or by whom Turnberry was built there seems to be no authentic record; but it was originally a stronghold of the Lords of Galloway, and thence passed into the possession of the Earls of Carrick around the beginning of the 13th century.^[2] In the late 13th century the castle belonged to Marjorie, the widowed Countess of Carrick. According to medieval legend, Marjorie held the visiting knight Robert de Brus captive until he agreed to marry her. The marriage between Marjorie and Robert in 1271 conveyed to him both the castle and the earldom. Their first son, also named Robert, went on to become "Robert the Bruce", the King of Scots. Although it is unknown whether Turnberry was his actual birthplace, the fact that he spent his boyhood residing in the castle is not in doubt.^[3]

Turnberry Castle is associated with two significant historical events, both of which are directly connected to Robert the Bruce. On 20 September 1286, several Scottish barons who supported the title of the Bruce as successor of the crown met secretly at Turnberry Castle. Robert was only 12 years old at the time.^[4] The second event was the attempt made by Robert in the spring of 1307, to recover the castle from the English, who occupied it at the time. This attempt was only partially successful, although ultimately it led to the withdrawal of the English soldiers. His attempt to reclaim the castle marked the beginning of a long road, ending with Robert's eventual success at Bannockburn.^[5] It was Robert the Bruce who ordered the destruction of the castle in 1310, to prevent it from falling once again into the hands of the English. The castle was nearly destroyed; the ruins that remain are part of the original castle as it does not appear to have been rebuilt.^[6]

Description

There is little left of the old buildings today. Turnberry Castle is surrounded on three sides by the sea, and the landward side is occupied by a golf resort. The ruin has been affected by the actions of centuries of severe weather and erosion by the sea, leaving little more than its lower vaults and cellars intact. There are some vestiges of a drawbridge as well as an old portcullis which may have done duty as a gate. By the extent of the rock which seems to be included at the site, the castle appears to have been a fortress of great size and strength. There are also caves that lead out into the sea, that may have served the castle as a harbour. Turnberry lighthouse was built on part of the castle's site in 1873, and still stands today.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Ordnance of Scotland, ed. Francis H. Groome, 1892-6. Vol.6, p.454
^ "The land of the Bruce", All the Year Round. 6:133, (1891:July) p.59
^ "Parentage of Robert Bruce", Chamber's Edinburgh Journal, No.14 (1832:May) p.112
^ "Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire, North Britain", Saturday Magazine, 3:72 (1833:Aug) p.60
^ "Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire, North Britain", Saturday Magazine, 3:72 (1833:May) p.112
^ Halliday, James, Scotland: a Concise History, Steve Savage Publishers Ltd, London 1990

External links

Artist's conjectural reconstruction of Turnberry Castle
The Sirens Song – a legend about a fisherman sitting by Turnberry Castle watching the sunset Archived 30 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine

55°19′34″N 4°50′39″W / 55.3261°N 4.8441°W / 55.3261; -4.8441

Carrick

Settlements

Former burghs: Ballantrae; Girvan; Maybole

Others: Auchencrosh; Balkissock; Bargany; Barr; Colmonell; Crosshill; Dailly; Drumshang; Dunure; Greenan; Kirkmichael; Kirkoswald; Lendalfoot; Maidens; Minishant; Old Dailly; Patna; Pinmore; Pinwherry; Smyrton; Straiton

Administration

National subdivisions: Ayrshire and Arran lieutenancy area; Carrick earldom; Kyle and Carrick local government district; Sheriffdom and County of Ayr; South Ayrshire Council area

Parliamentary seats (Scotland): Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

Parliamentary seats (UK): Ayrshire (1708–1868); South Ayrshire (1868–1983); Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (1983–2005); Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (2005–)

Culture

Geography

Islands: Ailsa Craig

Lochs: Craigdow Loch; Loch Bradan; Loch Doon; Loch Dornal; Loch Finloch; Loch Goosey; Loch Spaig; Loch Spallander; Loch Spouts

Rivers: River Doon; River Stinchar; Water of App; Water of Girvan; Water of Tig

History

Heritage sites: Blairquhan Castle; Carleton Castle; Crossraguel Abbey; Culzean Castle; Dinvin Motte; Dunduff Castle; Dunure Castle; Glenapp Castle; Greenan Castle; Kirkoswald Parish Church; Knockdolian; Maybole Castle; Maybole Collegiate Church; Penkill Castle; Turnberry Castle

People: Abbots of Crossraguel; Clan Kennedy; Earls or mormaers of Carrick; Marquesses of Ailsa and their predecessors

Sport

Girvan F.C.
Maybole Juniors F.C.
Turnberry golf course

Transport

Railway lines: Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway; Maybole and Girvan Railway

Railway stations: Barrhill railway station; Girvan railway station; Maybole railway station

Roads: A77; A714

v t e Castles in South Ayrshire
Ardstinchar Castle Auchans Castle Baltersan Castle Barnweill Castle Blairquhan Castle Carleton Castle Craigie Castle Crosbie Castle Culzean Castle Dalquharran Castle Dundonald Castle Dunduff Castle Dunure Castle Fail Castle Gadgirth Castle Gadgirth Old Ha' Glenapp Castle Greenan Castle Killochan Castle Maybole Castle Penkill Castle Sundrum Castle Thomaston Castle Turnberry Castle

Castles in South Ayrshire