Mauchline Castle
Mauchline Castle, also known as Abbot Hunter's Tower,[1] is a rectangular tower house dating from the fifteenth century, in Mauchline, East Ayrshire, Scotland.[2] The tower once formed part of a group of monastic buildings associated with Melrose Abbey, and today is a category A listed building.[3]
History
Before 1177 the monks of
Coal and the Commendator
James V of Scotland granted Melrose Abbey and its lands to his son, James Stewart, Commendator of Kelso and Melrose (died 1557). William Hamilton of Sanquhar assisted in managing the estate and had coal mines on Melrose lands near Mauchline, and when James Stewart stayed at Mauchline Castle (a Melrose property) the coal was reserved to him.[5]
Structure
The tower is built of red ashlar, and measures 10 by 9 metres (33 by 30 ft), with the walls being 5 feet (1.5 m) thick.[2][1] The entrance is to the south, at ground level, with a statue niche above and a turnpike stair to its left. There are four main storeys, and an attic with crowstep gables. The hall, on the first floor, is rib-vaulted in two bays, and has stone seats in the windows. It is over a vaulted basement comprising two poorly lit chambers. There is an unusual double garderobe chute at the north gable.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Mauchline Castle". Canmore. Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ ISBN 0-09-473430-5p.39
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Mauchline Castle (Abbot Hunter's Tower), Mauchline (LB14471)". Retrieved 15 April 2019.
- ^ "Mauchline Castle". Future Museum South West Scotland. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ Margaret H. B. Sanderson, Scottish rural society in the sixteenth century (Edinburgh: John Donald, 1982), 68, 71, 114.