Ravenscraig
Castle was built on a rocky promontory between two shingle beaches. Two mellow stone
towers, with rounded fronts, face the mainland, with a footbridge crossing a dry ditch to
the entrance gateway. On the west is the oldest tower.
The East Tower is lower, but
has deeper foundations. At its base, within the ditch, are steps hewn from the solid rock,
originally used to lead horses to a stable.
King James II acquired
Ravenscraig in 1460 and the royal mason, Henry Merlzioun, began work. In 1470 James III
swapped the castle with Lord Sinclair for the earldom of Orkney. Various other kings have
visited. The Sinclairs retained possession until 1898. In 1955 it was taken into state
care.
Rowallan is a fine courtyard
building, most of which is still roofed. Twin towers guard the entrance passage which has
a guardroom off it. The castle has numerous decorative features, including cable
mouldings, armorial panels, gunloops and decorative stonework. The castle was built by the
Mures but was later owned by the Earls of Glasgow and Earls of Loudoun before being
acquired by the Corbett Lords Rowallan. |
