Rowallan Castle
| Rowallan Castle | |
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| Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire, Scotland UK grid reference NS43474242 |
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Rowallan Castle in 1876
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 Rowallan Castle
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| Coordinates | 55°39′00″N 4°29′19″W / 55.65°N 4.488639°WCoordinates: 55°39′00″N 4°29′19″W / 55.65°N 4.488639°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Niall Campbell and family |
| Controlled by | Campbell family |
| Open to the public |
Occasional open days |
| Condition | Fully intact |
| Site history | |
| Built | 16th century |
| In use | Until 20th century |
| Materials | stone |
Rowallan Castle is an ancient castle located near Kilmaurs, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The castle stands on the banks of the Carmel Water, which may at one time have run much closer to the low eminence upon which the original castle stood, justifying the old name Craig of Rowallan.Elizabeth Mure (died before May 1355) was mistress and then wife of Robert, High Steward of Scotland, and Guardian of Scotland (1338–1341 and from October 1346), who later became King Robert II of Scotland. She may have been born at Rowallan.
The castle and barony has been owned or held by the medieval Muir family, the (Boyle) Earls of Glasgow, the (Campbell) Earls of Loudoun, the (Corbett) Barons Rowallan, and more recently by the property developer, Niall Campbell; he has said he is planning to make changes enabling it to be used as golfer's accommodation and this has given rise to some concern. It is said that the earliest piece of Lute music was written at Rowallan. It is said to have been visited by the unfortunate King James I of Scotland when on his way from Edinburgh to England. The first Mure holder, Sir J. Gilchrist Mure was buried in the Mure Aisle at Kilmarnock.
The original castle is thought to date back into the 13th century. Rowallan was said to be the birth place of Elizabeth Mure (Muir), first wife of Robert, the High Steward, later Robert II of Scotland.
In 1513 John Mure of Rowallan was killed at the Battle of Flodden. In 1513 the Rowallan Estate took its present day form.
In about 1690 the estate was home to the Campbells of Loudoun, who held it into the 19th century. The former tower of Polkelly lay near Rowallan and was also held by the Mures, for a time passed to the second son until it passed by marriage to the Cunninghams of Cunninghamhead.
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