Auchendrane Castle

Ayrshire: About 5 miles south of Ayr, on minor road east of A77, just west of River Doon, at or near Auchendrane.

Ruin or site   NS 335152 [?]   OS: 70   KA7 4TP

Site of castle, which consisted of a high tower, outbuildings, orchards, gardens and parks. It became ruinous in the 18th century, but some remains survived in 1837, and the foundations were apparently traceable later in the century. Brae of Auchendrane [NS 332154] is a small two-storey mansion, dating from the 18th century and later but possibly with earlier work.
  ‘Achindrain’ is marked on Blaeu’s map of Carrick in a wooded park.

This was a property of the Browns, but they supported the wrong side in the Wars of Independence, and the property was given to the Annans by Robert the Bruce, then went to the Mures. John Mure of Auchendrane murdered Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean, younger son of Gilbert, 3rd Earl of Cassillis, as revenge for the murder of his son-in-law, Gilbert Kennedy of Bargany (see Bargany, Dunure Castle and Crossraguel Abbey), by the Earl in 1601. The Earl had managed to escape punishment for his crime. Mure and his son were caught, tried and executed in 1611. This inspired Sir Walter Scott's play Auchendrane, or The Ayrshire Tragedy, which is apparently not one of his better pieces of work. John Mure of Auchendrane is on record in 1690, but the property passed to the Fergussons of Kilkerran, then went by marriage to the Cathcarts in 1793. The property was sold to the Coats family of Paisley in 1868.