Rowallan Castle (Scotland)

Rowallan Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal an Rubha Àlainn) is an ancient castle located in Scotland. The castle stands on the banks of the Carmel Water, which may at one time have run much closer to the low eminence upon which the original castle stood,[3] justifying the old name Craig of Rowallan. Elizabeth Mure (died before May 1355) was mistress and then wife of Robert, High Steward of Scotland, and Guardian of Scotland (1338–1341 and from October 1346), who later became King Robert II of Scotland. She may have been born at Rowallan.

The castle and barony has been owned or held by the medieval Muir family, the (Boyle) Earls of Glasgow, the (Campbell) Earls of Loudoun, and the (Corbett) Barons Rowallan. In 1989, it returned to the Campbell family, the current head of which, Niall Campbell, had his appeal against conviction in March 2017 in his trial at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and his fine of £800 for threatening or abusive behaviour refused by the Sheriff Appeal Court in Edinburgh in September 2017. The Herald newspaper reported (31 March 2017) from the trial that “Campbell gave himself away by leaving his DNA on sticky tape sealing an envelope”.

It is said that the earliest piece of Lute music was written at Rowallan.

It is said to have been visited by the unfortunate King James I of Scotland when on his way from Edinburgh to England.

The first Mure holder, Sir J. Gilchrist Mure was buried in the Mure Aisle at Kilmarnock.

The original castle is thought to date back into the 13th century. Rowallan was said to be the birth place of Elizabeth Mure (Muir), first wife of Robert, the High Steward, later Robert II of Scotland.

In 1513 John Mure of Rowallan was killed at the Battle of Flodden. In 1513 the Rowallan Estate took its present day form.

In about 1690 the estate was home to the Campbells of Loudoun, who held it into the 19th century. The former tower of Polkelly lay near Rowallan and was also held by the Mures, for a time passed to the second son until it passed by marriage to the Cunninghams of Cunninghamhead.

[Source: Wikipedia]