Kelburn Castle

File:Kelburn Castle Graffiti Project - geograph.org.uk - 1312450.jpg

Kelburn Castle Graffiti Project - geograph.org.uk - 1312450

Kelburn Castle is a large house near Fairlie, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is the seat of the Earl of Glasgow. Originally built in the thirteenth century (the original keep forms the core of the house) it was remodelled in the sixteenth century. In 1700 the first Earl made further extensions to the house in a manner not unlike a French château which is virtually how it appears today. In 1977 the house and grounds opened to the public as a country park. It is one of the oldest castles in Scotland and has been continuously inhabited by the same family for longer than any other. The castle is protected as a category A listed building,<ref name=lbr>"Kelburn Castle: Listed Building Report". Historic Scotland.</ref> while the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.<ref>"Kelburn Castle". An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Historic Scotland.</ref>

History

The Boyle family have been in possession of the lands of Kelburn since the 12th century.<ref name=lbr/> In the late 16th century a tower house was built. This replaced an earlier structure, and may incorporate parts of the earlier masonry its eastern part.<ref name=lbr/> In the 17th century, orchards and gardens are recorded at Kelburn.<ref name=garden/> David Boyle (1666–1733), a member of the Parliament of Scotland, was created Earl of Glasgow in 1703. He began the new north-west wing of the house, which was completed circa 1722. George Boyle, 6th Earl of Glasgow (1825–1890), added the north-east wing in 1880. Following the opening of the grounds to the public, the estate buildings and stables were converted in 1980, to provide a tea room, shop and visitor information.<ref name=garden>"Kelburn Castle: Site history". An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Historic Scotland.</ref>

Graffiti project

File:Kelburn Castle.JPG

Close-up picture of Kelburn Castle in Scotland, covered in graffiti.

In 2007 experts told the owners of Kelburn Castle that its concrete facing would eventually need to be replaced to avoid further damage to the stonework. At the suggestion of his children, Lord Glasgow invited four Brazilian graffiti artists to paint the walls. Historic Scotland agreed to the project, on the basis that the graffiti would be removed when the castle was re-harled. The project was featured on the BBC television programme The Culture Show. Also in 2007, Kelburn featured in another BBC programme, Crisis at the Castle which documented the financial problems of running the castle.<ref>"Crisis at the Castle". BBC.</ref>

In September 2010 it was reported that Historic Scotland were putting pressure on Lord Glasgow to remove the graffiti,<ref>"Clean up your castle, owners told". Evening Times. 6 September 2010.</ref> although this was later denied by both parties.<ref>"Letter: Castle's graffiti can stay for now". The Scotsman. 26 September 2010.</ref> In August 2011 it was reported that the Earl had formally written to Historic Scotland asking permission to keep the graffiti as a permanent feature.<ref name="BBC Aug 2011">BBC News, 28 August 2011, Earl of Glasgow asks to keep graffiti mural</ref>

Fire damage

The castle suffered minor fire damage on 16 February 2009, as a result of an electrical fault. The fire service was called to a blaze at around 1:45 am where flames had engulfed a top-floor room and spread to the roof. Around 25 firefighters battled the blaze for more than five hours before it was extinguished at around 7:20 am.<ref>"Earl and son tackle fire at 700-year-old castle home". The Herald. 17 February 2009.</ref>

External links

• Official site

North Ayrshire
Towns	Ardrossan Beith Dalry Irvine Kilbirnie Kilwinning Largs Saltcoats Stevenston West Kilbride
Villages	Ardeer Auchentiber Barrmill Benslie Dreghorn Drybridge Fairlie Gateside Girdle Toll Glengarnock Longbar Skelmorlie Springside Stanecastle
Hamlets	Barkip Broomlands Bourtreehill Burnhouse Castlepark Crosbie Chapeltoun Cunninghamhead Dalgarven Drakemyre Eglinton Fergushill Fullarton Giffordland Greenhills Hessilhead Highfield Hunterston Kelburn Lawthorn Lylestone Meigle Meikle Auchengree Montgreenan Nettlehirst Perceton Portencross Routenburn Seamill Sevenacres Shewalton Torranyard
Island settlements	Brodick Lamlash Lochranza Whiting Bay Birchburn Blackwaterfoot Catacol Cladach Corrie Dippen Kildonan Kilmory Lagg Machrie Pirnmill Sannox Shiskine Sliddery Whitefarland Millport
Neighbouring council areas	Argyll and Bute East Ayrshire Inverclyde Renfrewshire South Ayrshire