Turnberry Castle
Encyclopedia
Turnberry Castle is a fragmentary ruin on the coast of Kirkoswald
parish, 6.25 miles (10.1 km) north of Girvan
in Ayrshire
, Scotland
. It is situated on a rock at the extremity of the lower peninsula within the parish.
, and from there passed into the possession of the Earls of Carrick
, about the beginning of the 13th century. In the late 13th century the castle belonged to Marjorie
, the widowed Countess of Carrick. According to medieval legend, Marjorie held a visiting knight captive until he agreed to marry her. The marriage between Marjorie of Carrick, and Robert de Brus of Annadale in 1271, conveyed to him both the castle and the earldom. Their first son, Robert, may have been born at the castle, on the 11th July, 1274. Robert went on to become King Robert I of Scotland
. Although it is unknown whether Turnberry Castle is his actual birthplace, the fact that he spent his boyhood residing in the castle is not in doubt.
Turnberry Castle is associated with two significant historical events, both of which are directly connected to Robert the Bruce. On September 20, 1286, several Scottish barons who supported the title of the Bruce as successor of the crown met secretly at Turnberry Castle. Robert was only 12 years old at the time. The second event was the attempt made by Robert in the spring of 1307, to recover the castle from the English, who occupied it at the time. This attempt was only partially successful, although ultimately it led to the withdrawal of the English soldiers. His attempt to reclaim the castle marked the beginning of a long road, ending with Robert's eventual success at Bannockburn
. It was Robert the Bruce who ordered the destruction of the castle in 1310, to prevent it from falling once again into the hands of the English. The castle was nearly destroyed; the ruins that remain are part of the original castle as it does not appear to have been rebuilt.
Kirkoswald, South Ayrshire
Kirkoswald is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland....
parish, 6.25 miles (10.1 km) north of Girvan
Girvan
Girvan is a burgh in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 8000 people. Originally a fishing port, it is now also a seaside resort with beaches and cliffs. Girvan dates back to 1668 when is became a municipal burgh incorporated by by charter...
in Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, 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...
. It is situated on a rock at the extremity of the lower peninsula within the parish.
History
The origins of Turnberry Castle are lost in antiquity. As to when or by whom Turnberry was built there seems to be no authentic record; but it was originally a stronghold of the Lords of GallowayLords of Galloway
The Lords, or Kings of Galloway ruled over Galloway, in south west Scotland, for a large part of the High Middle Ages.Many regions of Scotland, including Galloway and Moray, periodically had kings or subkings, similar to those in Ireland during the Middle Ages. The Scottish monarch was seen as...
, and from there passed into the possession of the Earls of Carrick
Earl of Carrick
The Earl of Carrick was the head of a comital lordship of Carrick in southwestern Scotland. The title emerged in 1186, when Donnchad, son of Gille Brigte, Lord of Galloway, became Mormaer or Earl of Carrick in compensation for exclusion from the whole Lordship of Galloway...
, about the beginning of the 13th century. In the late 13th century the castle belonged to Marjorie
Marjorie, Countess of Carrick
Marjorie of Carrick was countess of Carrick, Scotland, from 1256 to 1292, and is notable as the mother of Robert the Bruce.-Marriages:...
, the widowed Countess of Carrick. According to medieval legend, Marjorie held a visiting knight captive until he agreed to marry her. The marriage between Marjorie of Carrick, and Robert de Brus of Annadale in 1271, conveyed to him both the castle and the earldom. Their first son, Robert, may have been born at the castle, on the 11th July, 1274. Robert went on to become King Robert I of Scotland
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
. Although it is unknown whether Turnberry Castle is his actual birthplace, the fact that he spent his boyhood residing in the castle is not in doubt.
Turnberry Castle is associated with two significant historical events, both of which are directly connected to Robert the Bruce. On September 20, 1286, several Scottish barons who supported the title of the Bruce as successor of the crown met secretly at Turnberry Castle. Robert was only 12 years old at the time. The second event was the attempt made by Robert in the spring of 1307, to recover the castle from the English, who occupied it at the time. This attempt was only partially successful, although ultimately it led to the withdrawal of the English soldiers. His attempt to reclaim the castle marked the beginning of a long road, ending with Robert's eventual success at Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
. It was Robert the Bruce who ordered the destruction of the castle in 1310, to prevent it from falling once again into the hands of the English. The castle was nearly destroyed; the ruins that remain are part of the original castle as it does not appear to have been rebuilt.