Overview →

The following links lead to Rev. Lawson's chapters from his 'Ailsa Craig':

Ownership

History

Ailsa Craig Castle

The photo on the right shows the location of the castle on Ailsa Craig. The island of Ailsa Craig is situated about 10 miles off the Ayrshire coast from Girvan, in the Firth of Clyde.

When I was looking up the history of the castle I found several different versions. The history I chose as being, for me, the most likely to be accurate is that given by the late 19th century historian, the Rev. R Lawson. I've found several different descriptions of the history of this castle, situated on  but I think the following seems the most likely.

I have written a short summary from his work but I do recommend reading the full text since it makes an excellent read! It is from his book called 'Ailsa Craig' written in 1888. The two particular chapters of interest are the ownership and the history of the island and castle. Follow the two links in the column on the left.

Summary:

	Originally owned by Barony of Knockgarron
	Given to Crossraguel Abbey
	Ownership confirmed as Crosraguel Abbey in charter dated 1404, granted by King Robert III.
	Passed to Gilbert, third Earl of Cassillis in 1548, 12 years before the reformation closed the abbey.
	In the late 16th century, protestant Elizabeth is on the throne of England and Catholic Phillip II is King of Spain, Netherlands, part of Germany and much of America. Phillip is the self made defender of the Catholic faith and starts the 'Inquisition'.
	Mary, Catholic Queen of Scots is beheaded in 1587 by Elizabeth.
	Lord Maxwell, of the Borders, tries to start a revolution against Protestantism but fails, escapes to Lochmaben Castle in Scotland, is put under seige by the Protestant Scottish King, James VI. He escapes by ship, visits Ailsa Craig before being caught.
	In 1588 Phillip sends the Armada to invade England but fails.
	Hugh Barclay of Ladyland, Kilbirnie (near Lochwinnich) had become a Protestant, was then excommunicated and told to leave Scotland in 1592. A few years later he returns and plots with fellow Catholic friends to take possession of Ailsa Craig with the purpose of...

1. "To sett up and manteyne ane public Masse, quhilk should be patent to all distressed papists, wherefra so ever they should come." And this is an affecting reason which appeals to all hearts that hate religious oppression.

2. " To serve as ane place of releifo and refreshment to the Spanyart or rather a port to them, on ther arryval in Ireland." But this, of course, is as bad a reason as the other was good.

3. " To establish ane storehouse to keep iurnishing and all things profytable to the use of the Erie of Tyrone, with the quhilk Erie, Ladyland by his commissioners had been buissy sen his last coming to Scotland." In other words, he proposed to make Ailsa what Lord Beaconsfield made Cyprus, "a place of arms."

	Andrew Knox (related to John Knox), learns of the plot and lands with nineteen men on Ailsa to wait for Hugh Barclay. Barclay lands with thirteen fellow conspirators and is attacked by Knox who wins the fight and Barclay is killed (drowned).
	Thomas Hamilton in 1597 is entrusted with the defence of Ailsa Craig. There is a stone with the inserted a stone with the armorial bearings of the Hamilton family engraved on it high up on the castle wall.