Martnaham Castle

Heritage listing

Date Added 17/03/1992 Type Secular: castle Local Authority East Ayrshire Parish Dalrymple NGR NS 39527 17315 Coordinates 239527, 617315 — The monument consists of the remains of a defensive residence of 16th or 17th-century date called Martnaham Castle. It is situated on a low lying promontory on the S side of Martnaham Loch. The castle is approached on the SW by a substantial boulder causeway (84m long and 3m wide) which protects the landward side from flooding. The castle is rectangular on plan measuring 15m SW-NE by 7.6m over walls 0.6-0.8m thick. The random-rubble walls are reduced to a height of between 1 and 2m. The building is divided into three rooms. The interior is rubble filled. The castle is surrounded by outworks which can be discerned beneath the undergrowth. There are remains of a courtyard to the NE, portions of walling to the SE and a retaining wall to the NW. The area to be scheduled is irregular, measuring a maximum of 120m NE-SW by 40m NW-SE to include the castle, causeway and outworks and an area around and between them which may contain evidence relating to their construction and use, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.