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JOHN LINDSAY CRAWFURD. 7
After entering, there was a passage fifty-six feet long, and sixteen
wide, leading to the main building, which presented a front of forty-
four feet in length, and twelve feet higher than the outer walls. The
upper story contained only one room, which was thirty- two feet long,
and twenty-one wide, within the walls. One window in this room
overlooked the chasm of the river, at a height of sixty feet, and
two looked into the front passage. The roof seems to have been flat,
and covered with stones. Notwithstanding the magnitude of this
edifice, it appears to have afforded poor accommodation, and though
it must have been reared at great expense, it could not have been
a place of much strength, at least under the system of modern war-
fare, as it is fully commanded from several adjoining heights. The
ruins show neither the machicolated battlement, or arrow-slit of
ancient defence, nor the embrasure of more modern times. It is,
however, without doubt, very ancient : The rude style of architec-
ture, the useless and unskilful waste of material, and the uncom-
fortable situation, all betoken an age in which civilisation had made
little progress. Some have imagined that it was the residence of
the De Morville family, the Lords of Cunningham e, there being no
other ruin in the district which exhibits so great antiquity, and so
much decayed grandeur. This is, however, purely fanciful, and is
only worthy of being classed with the kindred conceit of its being
the residence of Hardyknute ! It is singular that Glengarnock
Castle is not laid down in the map of Cunninghame, in Blaeu's Atlas,
published in 1654, while houses of much less appearance, and of
less acknowledged antiquity, are given in the neighbourhood. The
ruins present a bold and dignified aspect, and form a very promi-
nent object to the surrounding country ; and the prospect from the
heights to the north of the building is beautifully varied and ex-
tensive. As these ruins are fast giving way to the all-subduing
conqueror, it is hoped that this digression will be acceptable to
those who wish to save from utter oblivion all that can now be
known of the history of a place of so much antiquity. 1
1 The ruins stand upon the farm of Blackbarn, now part of the estate of William Cochrane,
Esq. of Ladyland.
After entering, there was a passage fifty-six feet long, and sixteen
wide, leading to the main building, which presented a front of forty-
four feet in length, and twelve feet higher than the outer walls. The
upper story contained only one room, which was thirty- two feet long,
and twenty-one wide, within the walls. One window in this room
overlooked the chasm of the river, at a height of sixty feet, and
two looked into the front passage. The roof seems to have been flat,
and covered with stones. Notwithstanding the magnitude of this
edifice, it appears to have afforded poor accommodation, and though
it must have been reared at great expense, it could not have been
a place of much strength, at least under the system of modern war-
fare, as it is fully commanded from several adjoining heights. The
ruins show neither the machicolated battlement, or arrow-slit of
ancient defence, nor the embrasure of more modern times. It is,
however, without doubt, very ancient : The rude style of architec-
ture, the useless and unskilful waste of material, and the uncom-
fortable situation, all betoken an age in which civilisation had made
little progress. Some have imagined that it was the residence of
the De Morville family, the Lords of Cunningham e, there being no
other ruin in the district which exhibits so great antiquity, and so
much decayed grandeur. This is, however, purely fanciful, and is
only worthy of being classed with the kindred conceit of its being
the residence of Hardyknute ! It is singular that Glengarnock
Castle is not laid down in the map of Cunninghame, in Blaeu's Atlas,
published in 1654, while houses of much less appearance, and of
less acknowledged antiquity, are given in the neighbourhood. The
ruins present a bold and dignified aspect, and form a very promi-
nent object to the surrounding country ; and the prospect from the
heights to the north of the building is beautifully varied and ex-
tensive. As these ruins are fast giving way to the all-subduing
conqueror, it is hoped that this digression will be acceptable to
those who wish to save from utter oblivion all that can now be
known of the history of a place of so much antiquity. 1
1 The ruins stand upon the farm of Blackbarn, now part of the estate of William Cochrane,
Esq. of Ladyland.
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Histories of Scottish families > Examination of the claim of John Lindsay Crawfurd > (27) Page 7 |
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Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/95376047 |
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Description | A selection of almost 400 printed items relating to the history of Scottish families, mostly dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Includes memoirs, genealogies and clan histories, with a few produced by emigrant families. The earliest family history goes back to AD 916. |
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