Dean Castle
Took a trip down the West Coast and managed to visit four castles in twenty-four hours, with a fifth on the way back the following day. I will blog about each one in turn, starting with the first on route, Dean Castle.
Set in a country park in Kilmarnock, this 14th century castle has been beautifully restored. It is such a contrast to some of the ruins I’ve visited. There is also free entry, and given how impressive the place is, this was a surprise. The park has woodland walks, a café, a rural life centre and free parking which again is a bonus, so this all makes for a great day out. This is yet another location for fans of the Outlander series, as this area was featured in the filming of series 2. Dean Castle took on the role of Beaufort Castle, the seat of Clan Fraser of Lovat.
Home to the Boyd family for over 400 years, the Keep which dates to around 1350, contains information about them and what life was like in medieval times. Also on display is a collection of arms and armour along with some tapestries. The Palace, dating from around 1460, was a real treat for me, as it contains East Ayrshire’s early musical instrument collection. This collection is recognised as being of national significance. It includes viols, early ivory recorders, flutes, harps, drums, lutes and guitars. There are also keyboards such as spinets and organs, pianos, a clavichord and what is described as an unusual folding harpsichord. These instruments were collected by Charles van Raalte, the father of Margherita who married Thomas Scott-Ellis. These were held at Brownsea Castle in Dorset, England. The instruments on display here are part of the original collection.
I’ve noted before I’m a fan of Robert Burns, and on display here is a piano which belonged to a Mrs Gregory, a friend of Robert Burns. She is known to have played for him and the information board beside it suggests that probably Burns would have listened to some of his compositions while she played them on this instrument.
As you would expect, this location is on the radar of ghost hunters, as it is believed to be haunted. The story goes (from what I gather from online) that after the 4th Earl of Kilmarnock was beheaded for treason in London on 18 August 1746, his head was returned to Dean castle and stored in a chest which is still in the Laigh Tower today. A gruesome tale, but the writer in me likes to think it could be true!
If walking around the grounds, look out for the Howard de Walden graveyard. This is a clearing, hidden behind hedges, and guarded by a statue of a Blue Angel. Thomas Scott-Ellis inherited a large fortune in 1901 and set about restoring Dean Castle. According to an information board there are three graves – Thomas Evelyn Ellis, 8th Baron Howard de Walden, his wife Margherita, the 8th Baroness de Walden and his mother Blanche, the 7th Baroness Howard de Walden. The Blue Angel was put up as a monument to Blanche de Walden who died in London in1911. (Note the information board uses the term ‘Baron’ where elsewhere the term ‘Lord’ is used. At the time of writing I don’t know the reason for this). Thomas Scott-Ellis was restoring Dean Castle at the time, and created the graveyard, bringing her body here to rest. He lived mainly in Wales, also restoring Chirk Castle, then moved to Dean in the 1940’s with his wife Margherita, dying in 1946. There is no date on the information board as to when Margherita was buried here. It’s a quiet, secluded spot, and with the Blue Angel standing over the graves, it’s quite moving.
Worth noting that this castle was known as Kilmarnock Castle – after the name of the neighbouring town – but now has the name of Dean, taken from ‘The Dean’ or wooded valley in which it resides. The land was gifted to the Boyd family in the 14th century by King Robert the Bruce. In 1735 the castle suffered a fire and then fell into disrepair. Restoration tool place after 1899, when Thomas Scott-Ellis inherited it. His son, the 9th Lord Howard de Walden gifted the castle and its collections to Kilmarnock in 1975.
I’m looking forward to visiting again and hope to do so next year. There is a lot to take in and can thoroughly recommend as a good day out.
The Fiction Factory 