Kelburn Castle
| Kelburn Castle | |
|---|---|
Kelburn Castle in 2007
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| Location | Fairlie, North Ayrshire |
| Coordinates | 55°46′15″N 4°50′36″W / 55.7708°N 4.8433°WCoordinates: 55°46′15″N 4°50′36″W / 55.7708°N 4.8433°W |
| Built | 16th century (tower) 1722 (north-west range) 1880 (north-east range) |
| Built for |
David Boyle, 1st Earl of Glasgow (1722) George Boyle, 6th Earl of Glasgow (1880) |
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Listed Building – Category A
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| Designated | 14 April 1971 |
| Reference no. | 7294 |
| Criteria | Work of Art Historical Architectural Scenic |
| Designated | 1987 |
Kelburn Castle is a large house near Fairlie, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is the seat of the Earl of Glasgow. Originally built in the thirteenth century (the original keep forms the core of the house) it was remodelled in the sixteenth century. In 1700 the first Earl made further extensions to the house in a manner not unlike a French château which is virtually how it appears today. In 1977 the house and grounds opened to the public as a country park. It is one of the oldest castles in Scotland and has been continuously inhabited by the same family for longer than any other. The castle is protected as a category A listed building, while the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.
When it was found in 2007 that the castle's concrete facing would soon need replacing, Lord Glasgow invited four Brazilian graffiti artists to decorate the walls. This was still in place in 2011, when the Earl sought permission from Historic Scotland to keep the graffiti permanently.
The Boyle family have been in possession of the lands of Kelburn since the 12th century. In the late 16th century a tower house was built. This replaced an earlier structure, and may incorporate parts of the earlier masonry its eastern part. In the 17th century, orchards and gardens are recorded at Kelburn.David Boyle (1666–1733), a member of the Parliament of Scotland, was created Earl of Glasgow in 1703. He began the new north-west wing of the house, which was completed circa 1722. George Boyle, 6th Earl of Glasgow (1825–1890), added the north-east wing in 1880. Following the opening of the grounds to the public, the estate buildings and stables were converted in 1980, to provide a tea room, shop and visitor information.
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