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'''Auchenharvie Castle''' is a former castle in [[North Ayrshire]], [[Scotland]].
'''Auchenharvie Castle''' is a ruined castle near Torranyard in [[North Ayrshire]], [[Scotland]].

== History ==
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[[Image:Auchenharvie Castle.jpg|right|300px|thumb| Auchenharvie Castle in 1820.]]
[[Image:Auchenharvie Castle.jpg|right|300px|thumb| Auchenharvie Castle in 1820.]]
The ruins still stand in a strongly defensible position at Auchenharvie Farm. Previously the castle was known as Achin-Hervy, Awthinharye in c1564 (Rollie 1980), Auchinbervy by Moll in 1745, Achenhay (1775 & 1807), Auchenhowy is used by Ainslie in 1821. The castle had long been in the hands of the Cunninghames and notably it was owned by Dr. Robert Cunninghame who was created a [[Baronet]] of [[Nova Scotia]] in 1673 and was Physician to [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] in Scotland. He was very wealthy and purchased the Barony of Stevenston.<ref name="Dobie">Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604-1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.</ref> In January 1678 Robert Cunynghame, apothecary / druggist in [[Edinburgh]], is stated to be the heir to Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Cunynghame of Auchenharvie. She was Robert's cousin German and part of his inheritance was the Barony of Stevenston and the lands of Auchenharvie. He also owned some of the lands of [[Lambroughton]] and [[Chapeltoun]]. He married Anne Purves of Purves Hall in 1669 and had seventeen children. Despite his inheritance he later got into serious debt.<ref name="Dobie">Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604-1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.</ref>
The ruins still stand in a strongly defensible position at Auchenharvie Farm. Previously the castle was known as Achin-Hervy, Awthinharye in c 1564 (Rollie 1980), Auchinbervy by Moll in 1745, Achenhay (1775 & 1807), Auchenhowy is used by Ainslie in 1821. The castle had long been in the hands of the Cunninghames and notably.
Auchenharvie's most famous owner was Dr. Robert Cunninghame who was created a [[Baronet]] of [[Nova Scotia]] in 1673 and was Physician to [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] in Scotland. He was very wealthy and purchased the Barony of Stevenston.<ref name="Dobie">Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604-1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.</ref> In January 1678 Robert Cunynghame, apothecary / druggist in [[Edinburgh]], is stated to be the heir to Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Cunynghame of Auchenharvie. She was Robert's cousin German and part of his inheritance was the Barony of Stevenston and the lands of Auchenharvie. He also owned some of the lands of [[Lambroughton]] and [[Chapeltoun]]. He married Anne Purves of Purves Hall in 1669 and had seventeen children. Despite his inheritance he later got into serious debt.<ref name="Dobie">Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604-1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.</ref>
[[Image:Auchenharviecastle2007.JPG|left|300px|thumb| Auchenharvie Castle in 2007.]]
[[Image:Auchenharviecastle2007.JPG|left|300px|thumb| Auchenharvie Castle in 2007.]]
A good deal remains of this typical tower castle, which has been ruinous since the 1770's, with indications of the barrel roof vaulting, side tower, ornate [[sandstone]] ornamentation, etc. Uncommon [[orchids]] have been recorded as growing on the motte.
A good deal remains of this typical tower castle, which has been ruinous since the 1770's, with indications of the barrel roof vaulting, side tower, ornate [[sandstone]] ornamentation, etc. Uncommon [[orchids]] have been recorded as growing on the motte.
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The house belonged to Sir David Cunningham of Auchenharvie, an absentee courtier, till 1642. He planned to add additional building in 1634, beginning with a garden wall around the old tower. He had thought the house too small to accommodate his friends in 1628, so he asked his cousin David Cunningham of Robertland to accommodate his mother so that if his friends visited they could stay at Robertland instead.
The house belonged to Sir David Cunningham of Auchenharvie, an absentee courtier, till 1642. He planned to add additional building in 1634, beginning with a garden wall around the old tower. He had thought the house too small to accommodate his friends in 1628, so he asked his cousin David Cunningham of Robertland to accommodate his mother so that if his friends visited they could stay at Robertland instead.


====Auchenharvie House====
An estate named Auchenharvie was built by the family in [[Stevenston]] and although demolished, the name lives on in [[Auchenharvie Academy]]. Middleton near Annick Lodge had been part of the estate, passing into the hands of the Hamiltons of Bourtreehill and then passing to the Earls of Eglinton.<ref name="Dobie">Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604-1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.</ref>
An estate named Auchenharvie was built by the family in [[Stevenston]] and although demolished, the name lives on in [[Auchenharvie Academy]]. Middleton near Annick Lodge had been part of the estate, passing into the hands of the Hamiltons of Bourtreehill and then passing to the Earls of Eglinton.<ref name="Dobie">Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604-1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.</ref>


== Miscellany ==
⚫
The castle mound today is rich in wildflowers, however any visitor should beware as the castle sits in an elevated position with an unfenced vertical drop.
Torranyard is a hamlet at a crossroads on the Irvine to Glasgow 'Lochlibo Road'. On the 1860 OS map it is shown as having a toll booth and an inn called 'Tour', on the opposite side of the road from the present Torranyard Inn (2007). The Montgreenan estate and hotel is nearby and the site of the old [[Chapeltoun|Girgenti]] house and surviving tower are bearby on the [[Cunninghamhead]] road.
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|'''Etymology of Torranyard'''
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|The meaning of 'Tour' in Scots is 'Tower', referring to the prominent Auchenharvie castle tower nearby. A Yard in Scots is a garden. Torranyard is a therefore a corruption of 'Tour Inn yard.'
|}

⚫
The castle mound today is rich in wildflowers, however any visitor should beware as the castle sits in an elevated position with an unfenced vertical drop.

A local legend is that in the days of the 'body snatchers' or '[[resurrectionists]]', bodies obtained locally were hidden in the ruins before being taken up to Glasgow at night to sell to the surgeons at the old university who practiced dissection skills on them.


== See Also ==
== See Also ==

Revision as of 15:55, 11 April 2007

Auchenharvie Castle is a ruined castle near Torranyard in North Ayrshire, Scotland.

History

Etymology
The meaning of Auchenharvie is suggested by Timothy Pont in 1604 - 08[1] as being 'the hill or 'knoppe' in the field of yellow corn'.
Auchenharvie Castle in 1820.

The ruins still stand in a strongly defensible position at Auchenharvie Farm. Previously the castle was known as Achin-Hervy, Awthinharye in c 1564 (Rollie 1980), Auchinbervy by Moll in 1745, Achenhay (1775 & 1807), Auchenhowy is used by Ainslie in 1821. The castle had long been in the hands of the Cunninghames and notably.

Auchenharvie's most famous owner was Dr. Robert Cunninghame who was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1673 and was Physician to Charles II in Scotland. He was very wealthy and purchased the Barony of Stevenston.[2] In January 1678 Robert Cunynghame, apothecary / druggist in Edinburgh, is stated to be the heir to Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Cunynghame of Auchenharvie. She was Robert's cousin German and part of his inheritance was the Barony of Stevenston and the lands of Auchenharvie. He also owned some of the lands of Lambroughton and Chapeltoun. He married Anne Purves of Purves Hall in 1669 and had seventeen children. Despite his inheritance he later got into serious debt.[2]

Auchenharvie Castle in 2007.

A good deal remains of this typical tower castle, which has been ruinous since the 1770's, with indications of the barrel roof vaulting, side tower, ornate sandstone ornamentation, etc. Uncommon orchids have been recorded as growing on the motte.

Coat of Arms of the Cuninghames of Auchenharvie.

The house belonged to Sir David Cunningham of Auchenharvie, an absentee courtier, till 1642. He planned to add additional building in 1634, beginning with a garden wall around the old tower. He had thought the house too small to accommodate his friends in 1628, so he asked his cousin David Cunningham of Robertland to accommodate his mother so that if his friends visited they could stay at Robertland instead.

Auchenharvie House

An estate named Auchenharvie was built by the family in Stevenston and although demolished, the name lives on in Auchenharvie Academy. Middleton near Annick Lodge had been part of the estate, passing into the hands of the Hamiltons of Bourtreehill and then passing to the Earls of Eglinton.[2]

Miscellany

Torranyard is a hamlet at a crossroads on the Irvine to Glasgow 'Lochlibo Road'. On the 1860 OS map it is shown as having a toll booth and an inn called 'Tour', on the opposite side of the road from the present Torranyard Inn (2007). The Montgreenan estate and hotel is nearby and the site of the old Girgenti house and surviving tower are bearby on the Cunninghamhead road.

Etymology of Torranyard
The meaning of 'Tour' in Scots is 'Tower', referring to the prominent Auchenharvie castle tower nearby. A Yard in Scots is a garden. Torranyard is a therefore a corruption of 'Tour Inn yard.'

The castle mound today is rich in wildflowers, however any visitor should beware as the castle sits in an elevated position with an unfenced vertical drop.

A local legend is that in the days of the 'body snatchers' or 'resurrectionists', bodies obtained locally were hidden in the ruins before being taken up to Glasgow at night to sell to the surgeons at the old university who practiced dissection skills on them.

See Also

References

  1. ^ Pont, Timothy (1604). Cuninghamia. Pub. Blaeu in 1654.
  2. ^ a b c Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604-1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.
  • Rollie, James (1980). The invasion of Ayrshire. A Background to the County Families. Pub. Famedram. P.83.
  • Correspondence of David Cunningham of Auchinharvie to Robertland, National Archives of Scotland GD237/25/1-4
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