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photo taken in 2012
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Dairyman's Cottage at Kilhenzie Castle
Sir Charles Fergusson, owner of Kilhenzie Castle
The castle was originally built in 1506 for Gilbert Barde, Laird of Kilhenzie, who obtained a charter for the land from King James IV. It was Gilbert's son, John Barde who arbitrarily instigated the Cassilis-Bargeny Kennedy family fued. The castle was then passed down by marriage through several families, but was renovated in the mid-1800’s by Sir Charles Ferguson. It was during the ownership of Sir Charles Ferguson that our Wm. Robert and his family worked the dairy at Kilhenzie. Below are various writings about Kilhenzie Castle and the area of Maybole:
1852. Kilhenzie Castle is perhaps the most entire of all the baronial ruins in the parish. It is delightfully situated on a gentle rising ground, washed by a little rivulet, to the south of Maybole. The knoll upon which it is situated wears a carpet of never-fading green, and the few old trees which surround it maintain a corresponding freshness – the soil in the vicinity being evidently of the best quality. The castle itself consists of a tower and other buildings, of different ages, presenting, as a whole, a picturesque group. It is not a mass of stone and lime, like some of the overgrown feudal residences of former times, yet sufficiently extensive to indicate the medium position of its former owners. (J. Paterson (1852). History of the County of Ayr, Vol. 2. Antiquarian and Historical Booksellers, Edinburgh.)
1855-1857. Kilhenzie is a recently erected mansion built upon the site of an old castle named Kilhenzie. The materials of the old building have been used in the construction of the new. (Scottish Ordnance Survey Books of 1855-1857)
1891. In 1851 it was in ruins, but the owner, Sir James Fergusson, made the old castle habitable, and now it is a most desirable residence. It stands on a green knoll, at some little distance off the road, and still retains a few of its ancient trees. The Rev. William Abercrombie, writing in 1686, says: "Many of the pretty dwellings of the gentry here are sweet desyrable places; but for the good building, gardens, orchards, and all other accommodations, Kilhenzie is the chiefe, lying about a short myle south from the towne of Mayboll." In 1429, Kilhenzie belonged to Thomas Kennedy of Kirkoswald; afterwards it passed into the hands of the laird of Bargany; subsequently it became the residence of the Carrick branch of the Bairds; and finally, it became the property of the Fergussons of Kilkerran. There are few relics to be seen now about Kilhenzie, except one or two carved stones which evidently adorned the edifice in the days of its former grandeur. (Rev. R. Lawson (1891) Places of Interest about Maybole with Sketches of Persons of Interest)
1852. Kilhenzie Castle is perhaps the most entire of all the baronial ruins in the parish. It is delightfully situated on a gentle rising ground, washed by a little rivulet, to the south of Maybole. The knoll upon which it is situated wears a carpet of never-fading green, and the few old trees which surround it maintain a corresponding freshness – the soil in the vicinity being evidently of the best quality. The castle itself consists of a tower and other buildings, of different ages, presenting, as a whole, a picturesque group. It is not a mass of stone and lime, like some of the overgrown feudal residences of former times, yet sufficiently extensive to indicate the medium position of its former owners. (J. Paterson (1852). History of the County of Ayr, Vol. 2. Antiquarian and Historical Booksellers, Edinburgh.)
1855-1857. Kilhenzie is a recently erected mansion built upon the site of an old castle named Kilhenzie. The materials of the old building have been used in the construction of the new. (Scottish Ordnance Survey Books of 1855-1857)
1891. In 1851 it was in ruins, but the owner, Sir James Fergusson, made the old castle habitable, and now it is a most desirable residence. It stands on a green knoll, at some little distance off the road, and still retains a few of its ancient trees. The Rev. William Abercrombie, writing in 1686, says: "Many of the pretty dwellings of the gentry here are sweet desyrable places; but for the good building, gardens, orchards, and all other accommodations, Kilhenzie is the chiefe, lying about a short myle south from the towne of Mayboll." In 1429, Kilhenzie belonged to Thomas Kennedy of Kirkoswald; afterwards it passed into the hands of the laird of Bargany; subsequently it became the residence of the Carrick branch of the Bairds; and finally, it became the property of the Fergussons of Kilkerran. There are few relics to be seen now about Kilhenzie, except one or two carved stones which evidently adorned the edifice in the days of its former grandeur. (Rev. R. Lawson (1891) Places of Interest about Maybole with Sketches of Persons of Interest)
