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Greenan Castle
on the south side of Ayr, can be visited by a
2 mile Beach side Walk from Ayr centre,
or from a Car Park close to the
Castle.
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Greenan Castle was built in 1603 for
John Kennedy of Baltersan
Castle, 10 miles southeast. The
Kennedy's became the largest land owners
in southwest Scotland, with over 10
Castles. Large Image
It is unclear if John Kennedy
completely built this Castle, or extended
a Castle that had already been built on
this site.
All that is left is the main Tower,
with the foundations of a larger Building
next to the Tower. The area inland has a
number of Mounds, thought to be where a
small Village would have been built
around the Castle.
It is also believed there would have
been a wall around the Castle and
Village. The Villagers would pay rent and
fight for the owner of the Castle when
required.
1766 - Thomas Kennedy, Earl of
Cassillis, gained control of Greenan
Castle, with the Castle from that time
falling into disrepair, then
abandoned.
The second image is from the Castle
looking south to the Heads of Ayr Cliffs,
a popular Walk, you can also walk
past the Cliffs to Dunure 6 miles south.
Large
Image
The entrance to the Castle has been
bricked up now as you are not supposed to
enter for safety reasons.
Kennedy Castles in the Area
1200s - Dunure Castle was built 6
miles south of Greenan as the first
Kennedy Castle in Ayrshire.
1300s - the earliest parts of Cassillis Castle / House were
built 6 miles east of Greenan, becoming
the main Kennedy seat.
1500s - Baltersan Castle was built for
the Kennedy's 10 miles southeast of
Greenan. Maybole
Castle was also built around that
time as their Town House, 1 mile north of
Baltersan Castle.
1603 - Greenan Castle was built for
John Kennedy of Baltersan Castle.
1700s - a Tower House at Culzean, 13 miles south of
Greenan, was rebuilt into the largest
Castle of the Kennedy's.
Greenan Castle Early History
The first recorded owners of Greenan
were the Earls of Ross and Lords of the
Isles.
1476 - King James IV punished the
Earl of
Ross for rebelling against him. The
King then awarded the lands of Greenan to
William Douglas, son of the Earl of
Angus.
1603 - John Kennedy of Baltersan
gained control of Greenan. It is unclear
if he extended a Castle already on this
site, or built Greenan Castle from
scratch.
1766 - Thomas Kennedy of Cassillis
took control of Greenan Castle, with the
Castle soon falling into disrepair.
Kennedy Clan Information
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