Turnberry Castle

A much ruined by once important fortalice on the South Ayrshire coast, Turnberry Castle is located on Turnberry Point, next to the present-day Turnberry Lighthouse, a mile (1.5 km) west southwest of Maidens. Although only fragments remain, the castle was once of considerable strength and surrounded by a curtain wall and a moat. The Castle Port to the north allowed ships to moor close by. It was the home of the Earls of Carrick and dates from the 13th century although a wooden fortress preceded it on the same site. The widowed Marjorie, Countess of Carrick (1256-92), was living where when it is said she kidnapped Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale (1243 - 1304), holding him prisoner until he agreed to marriage, which duly took place in 1271. Their eldest son, Robert the Bruce, was most-likely born here in 1274, although some suggest Lochmaben. The Scottish nobles met here in 1286, to discuss Bruce's claim to the Scottish throne. Having been captured by the English, under Sir Henry Percy, Bruce landed at Turnberry in 1307 and re-took it for the Scots. However, the castle was demolished on his orders in 1310 to prevent the English re-occupying it and was never rebuilt.


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