Baltersan Castle

Baltersan Castle is a ruined L-plan tower house located near Maybole, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It was originally graded as a Category B listed building in 1971, but this was upgraded to Category A in 1995.[1] It is currently for sale and is listed as at moderate risk by the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.[2]

Baltersan
Baltersan (interior) looking south-east
General information
StatusRuins
Typetower-house
Town or cityMaybole
CountryScotland
Coordinates55.342731°N 4.709822°W / 55.342731; -4.709822
Completed1584 (1584)
OwnerLichtsome Hoose Ltd
Technical details
Floor count5 originally, none remain
Floor area250 m2 (2,700 sq ft)
Grounds0.75 acres (0.30 ha)

History

The site was originally occupied by Baltersan House, owned by Egidia Blair, Lady Row, who died in 1530. After her death, the house was demolished.[3] The remains of her tomb can be seen in nearby Crossraguel Abbey. Her will survives and shows she was a generous benefactor to the Abbey, relatives, friends and neighbours. The inscription above the door tell us that the existing tower-house was built on the site in 1584,[4] the work of John Kennedy of Pennyglen (near Maybole) and Margaret Cathcart, his spouse.[5]

Timothy Pont's 16th-century description of Baltersan described the castle as

"A stately fine house with gardens, orchards, parks and woods about it ..."

In 1721, the castle passed into the hands of Captain Hugh Arbuthnot, cousin to John Kennedy of Baltersan. By the middle of the 18th century, the castle had become abandoned and remains so to the present day.[6]

The castle was featured in an episode of Dragons' Den in 2005 in which the owner presented his restoration plans and time share financing strategy. As of September 2020, the castle is for sale, and in need of restoration.[2]

Description

The castle is a three-storey L-plan castle with an attic and garret. Its walls measure 4 feet (1.2 m) in thickness. It has a vaulted ground floor and ashlar turrets on the northwestern and southeastern angles that are provided with gun loops.[5]

References
  1. Historic Environment Scotland. "Baltersan Castle (LB7588)". Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  2. "Baltersan, Kirkoswald | Buildings at Risk Register". www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  3. "Baltersan Castle". Maybole. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  4. "Baltersan Castle". Every Castle. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  5. "Baltersan Castle | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  6. "Castles and Manor Houses". Castles and Manor Houses. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
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