Rozelle House

Rozelle House lies to the north of Alloway, 2 miles (3 km) south of the Ayr town-centre. It is home to the Ayrshire Yeomanry museum and provides a venue for art exhibitions and workshops.

The lands of Rozelle were the property of the Royal Burgh of Ayr until they were auctioned off to Robert Hamilton for £2,000 in 1754 to reduce the Town Council's debts. He had made his money from sugar and tobacco plantations in the West Indies and set about constructing a classical mansion house in the Adam style which was completed by 1760. In 1830, it was remodelled by architect David Bryce (1803-76).

In the 1960s, the Hamilton family were forced to sell much of the estate to pay inheritance taxes and, in 1968, they presented the house back to the town of Ayr.

In 1975-6, the matching stable block, which lies adjacent, was converted into the Maclaurin Art Gallery.

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