Portencross Castle
Encyclopedia
Portencross Castle, also known historically as Portincross Castle, is situated in Portencross
, on the west coast of Scotland
, about 3km from West Kilbride
. The site has been fortified since the 13th Century. The present building is thought to date from the 14th Century and later, when the castle was moved from the nearby Auld Hill to its present site overlooking the harbour.
The castle was one of the buildings featured in the BBC
television series Restoration
and is the subject of efforts by a local community group to secure its future.
In the castle's earliest days, it was known as "Arneil" (alternatively spelled "Arnele" or "Ardneil"), and it stood atop Auld Hill. Portencross is believed by some to have been a royal residence, as it is known that several charters
of the first two Stuart
kings were signed at the castle.
The castle is also believed to be the last mainland resting place for many former Scottish kings. Between the times of Cináed mac Ailpín
(810-858) through to the reign of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada
(1030/38-1093), the bodies of former kings were taken by road from the east of Scotland, and from Portencross they were ferried to Iona
where they would be buried.
The castle was rebuilt in the 14th century, not on Auld Hill, but instead on a rock promontory
at the bottom of the hill, overlooking the Firth of Clyde
. From this location, Robert II
signed several more Royal Charters, and the castle remained occupied until the roof was blown off during a violent storm in 1739. The castle walls still remain in place today, and the building has recently been opened to the public, with visitors able to access a ground floor room, the main hall, and the roof.
Portencross
Portencross is a hamlet near Farland Head in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Situated about 3 km west of Seamill and about 2 km south of Hunterston B nuclear power station, it is noted for its castle....
, on the west coast of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, about 3km from West Kilbride
West Kilbride
West Kilbride is a village in North Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland by the Firth of Clyde, looking across the water to Goat Fell and the Isle of Arran...
. The site has been fortified since the 13th Century. The present building is thought to date from the 14th Century and later, when the castle was moved from the nearby Auld Hill to its present site overlooking the harbour.
The castle was one of the buildings featured in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television series Restoration
Restoration (TV series)
Restoration, Restoration, Restoration is a set of BBC television series where viewers decided on which listed building that was in immediate need of remedial works was to win a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund...
and is the subject of efforts by a local community group to secure its future.
History
Charters
Charters is a surname and may refer to :* Ann Charters , American professor of English* Charlie Charters , former English rugby union official and sports marketing executive* Frank Charters, , English cricketer...
of the first two Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
kings were signed at the castle.
The castle is also believed to be the last mainland resting place for many former Scottish kings. Between the times of Cináed mac Ailpín
Kenneth I of Scotland
Cináed mac Ailpín , commonly Anglicised as Kenneth MacAlpin and known in most modern regnal lists as Kenneth I was king of the Picts and, according to national myth, first king of Scots, earning him the posthumous nickname of An Ferbasach, "The Conqueror"...
(810-858) through to the reign of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada
Malcolm III of Scotland
Máel Coluim mac Donnchada , was King of Scots...
(1030/38-1093), the bodies of former kings were taken by road from the east of Scotland, and from Portencross they were ferried to Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
where they would be buried.
The castle was rebuilt in the 14th century, not on Auld Hill, but instead on a rock promontory
Promontory
Promontory may refer to:*Promontory, a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water*Promontory, Utah, the location where the United States first Transcontinental Railroad was completed...
at the bottom of the hill, overlooking the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
. From this location, Robert II
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
signed several more Royal Charters, and the castle remained occupied until the roof was blown off during a violent storm in 1739. The castle walls still remain in place today, and the building has recently been opened to the public, with visitors able to access a ground floor room, the main hall, and the roof.