Monkcastle, North Ayrshire

Monkcastle
Dalry, North Ayrshire, Scotland UK grid reference NS4084831699
Monkcastle frontage
Coordinates	55°33′10″N 4°31′29″W / 55.5529°N 4.5246°W / 55.5529; -4.5246Coordinates: 55°33′10″N 4°31′29″W / 55.5529°N 4.5246°W / 55.5529; -4.5246
Grid reference	grid reference NS291473
Site information
Owner	Major John Coleman
Controlled by	Hamilton clan
Open to the public	No
Condition	A consolidated ruin
Site history
Built	16th century
Built by	Unknown
In use	Until 18th century
Materials	Freestone

Monkcastle, sometimes known as Old Monkcastle formed a small estate in the Parish of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire lying between Kilwinning and Dalry on the A737. The property was originally held by the Tironensian monks of Kilwinning Abbey and was probably the site of the abbot's country retreat. The 17th-century Monkcastle is a category B listed ruin, although it has been consolidated and stands next to a private house, constructed from the converted old home farm buildings. The 19th-century mansion of Monkcastle House is nearby, and is also category B listed. The castle may have been used as a dower house or retreat.

Timothy Pont, in about 1606, described Monkcastle as "a pretty fair building veill planted".

Monkcastle was the administrative centre for the north-west portion of the extensive estates held by the monks of Kilwinning Abbey. Rents were collected here, leases arranged, etc. It was associated with the monk's mill at Craigmill, Dalry.

The commendator abbot, Alexander Hamilton, became the Duke of Chatelherault, and under this French title he obtained the tower of Monkland, later Monkcastle, from the last abbot, Gavin Hamilton. He also obtained Dalgarven, Auchenkist, and Birklands. Monkcastle was a "part of the ancient halydom of Kilwinning, which about this time was beginning to be parcelled out by the Abbots, to whoever would best remunerate them for the ostensible gift, foreseeing that their own possession was becoming doubtful and unsteady." Alexander passed the property to Claud, his third son, who became Commendator of Paisley, at the age of ten, duly ratified and approved by Pope Julius III in 1553; this may account for the mitred head which appears in a panel above the doorway, together with other sculptures, typical of early 17th-century castles and also found at sites such as [{Barholm Castle|Barholm]], Ardblair, and Dundarave. Salter sees two of the carvings as being lizards with human heads. They appear to be more like head lice.