Hunter castle at Hunterston

Castle in 1800
The barrel-vaulted roof supporting the tower The old hall is on the second floor The bed chamber on the third floor The garret on top of the tower The great hall was added to the old hall	As mentioned previously the first Laird is documented in 1116. This was a particularly confusing period in the welding of the nation. King Alexander 1st was on the throne and his brother David (1st) was Prince of Cumbria which was an area around the borders. Although this did not include Galloway where David was increasing his influence in that area. When Alexander died in 1124 David with the backing of the English throne decided to take over Alba which was most of the rest of Scotland. This started a ten year conflict against the son and heir of Alexander. When the Hunters settled in they would certainly have needed a strong point for protection in these uncertain times. In these days when life could be short and brutal, wood, which was in plentiful supply and easy to work was the normal material used. King Alexander the third continued to secure the Kingdom carrying on the task his father had set and one ongoing problem was the west coast. The King issued instructions to his lieges in the area to reinforce their defences and it would have been at this time that the start of Hunterston castle as we know it was begun. There was probably a system of early warning set up along the coastal defences. Alexander had given warning to King Haaken who claimed lands in the area and in the resulting "Battle of Largs" in 1263 the area was well prepared. Hunterston Castle is probably the only castle in Scotland that still belongs to the original family. The original castle was the smallest of the West Kilbride castles. It is only about 24 feet long by 21 feet wide and only 34 feet to the parapet. But it has been greatly extended over the years. Like the other castles, the entrance and Great Hall were on the first floor with a removable wooden stair for defence, although the castle was in a very good position for defence anyway. The area all round the castle was a dangerous swamp and only the local people knew the safe way through it. At one time, the castle did also had a moat. The swamps were drained about 150 to 200 years ago and are now farmland. The original way into the ground floor was down through a trap door from the first floor above and you can still see the trap door. But about 200 years after the castle was built a stairway tower was built onto the castle to give a ground floor entrance to the building and comfortable stairs to the main hall on the first floor. The original Pele Tower was constructed in local sandstone. A fine barrel-vaulted roof supports the foundation of the huge weight of stone above. In times of danger the ground floor room was used for storage for food and the animals, it also had a well. The Old Hall served as the main living room until the Great Hall was added in the 16th. century by John Hunter, 14th Laird. It is nowadays complemented by a very fine set of stag horn furniture from Bavaria. The Old Hall now opens into the Great Hall. The most notable feature of this room is the handsome fireplace with a fine carving of the Hunter Coat of Arms. A spiral staircase leads from the Old Hall to the bedroom above, in which all the immediate Hunter family would have slept. In was in this room that Robert Caldwell Hunter was born in 1799. In that year his parents commenced the building of Hunterston House. Hunterston Castle is unique in that it has its original roof beams with the carpenters marks clearly visible. The roof beams are a excellent example of medieval carpentry, constructed with mortise and tenon joints secured with pegs. The parapet is narrow to assist with defence, as the early Hunters used crossbows for defending the Castle. The south wall has a machicolation to make defending the front door easier. The front door was on the first floor at this time in common with other Castles of this period.	Castle in 1900 The parapet was essential for both vision and defence The view is certainly commanding
The basement has a couple of arrow slits	The ground floor has a couple of slits cut into the walls to discourage people from getting too close. Originally there was no door at this level. Although in later slightly more peaceful times a door was added giving external access, a triple layered, brass studded affair. Even if the door was somehow breached it would take a very long time to try and get through the barrel vaulted roof, to the next floor, as each stone in the roof was compressed in position by the weight of the tower above. There was an internal ladder and trapdoor going up but this would be raised and secured. The tower had its own water supply from a well located in here.
Detail carved in the antlers of the old hall chairs	The 26th Laird, Jane Hunter of Hunterston, had these chairs made in Bavaria while on honeymoon there in 1863. Although they do look a bit uncomfortable, surprisingly they are not. The worksman-ship and the transport must have cost a pretty penny in these days.
Old bed-chamber	The immediate family would have slept here. The last born was the future 25th Laird, Robert, he was born in 1799. This addition to the family promted his mother Eleanora, the 24th Laird at that time to start the building of Hunterston House, as a larger more comfortable home in keeping with the times.
The garret doubles as the Association room	The garret while still open to visitors doubles as the Clan Association Committee room. This is where the Ayes and the No's are aired and the future direction is discussed.
Cursum Perficio	The famous architect Sir Robert Lorimer was employed in the early 1900's for design improvements and restoration work. The crest sculpted above the fireplace in the great hall was one of his works.