Dalquharran Old Castle

Dalquharran Old Castle is a ruined tower house and mansion block on a raised platform near the Water of Girvan opposite the village of Dailly. It dates back to the 16th century, and is accessible from public footpaths, although there are “Danger” signs evident to show that the castle is not stable.

Dalquharran was an estate held by Crossraguel Abbey, in an area dominated by the “Kings of Carrick” – the Kennedy family. In the reign of King James III, the Kennedy abbot granted the estate to a member of the wider Kennedy kindred, perhaps related to the lairds of Culzean. A large rectangular tower with associated courtyard, consistent in style with a late 15th century date was extended with a courtyard and large L-shaped mansion block during the 16th and 17th centuries, probably after the superiority of the estate had been acquired from the abbey during the Reformation. However the tower is not massive enough to be from this date, and may be an example of deliberate design to suggest the antiquity of the family. It would appear likely that in the extensions of the castle and perhaps as the result of their activities during the Bishops Wars of the 17th century, the Kennedy family over-reached themselves financially, leading to the sale of the estate in the 1690s. The new owners elected to relocate to a new build Adam mansion nearby towards the end of the 18th century, leaving the old property abandoned down by the river.

HES CCanmore database entry