Ardeer House

Ptymologists have derived the name of Ardeer from the Gaelic Ard-dyir, which signifies ” the barren promontory,” and so far as the outward appearance of the locality is concerned, the descriptive cognomen seems appropriate. The shore for miles around is composed almost entirely of sand-hills, which alter their conformation with every hurricane. The land for a great distance inland is bare of forest-trees, and the stunted shrubs which eke out a sickly existence in that quarter intensify the feeling of desolation which oppresses the visitor in his journey from the sea-coast. The wealth of the district, however, lies underground ; and one of the most valuable sandstone quarries in Scotland is upon the estate of Ardeer. Coal has been wrought in the neighbourhood since 1675, and though the industry of the place was only developed some thirty years ago (1851), the mining interest has been most remunerative. The recent establishment of works for the manufacture of Nobels’ Explosives (dynamite) on the sand-dunes of Ardeer has directed special attention to the district. Traces of very early fortifications may be found on the trap-rock mound still called Castlehill, which lies near the main road between Stevenston and Kilwinning, though it may be doubted whether this post was other than a beacon-fire to signal the advent of an invading force on the Scottish shore. In ancient times the estate of Ardeer belonged to the Cuninghames of Auchenhervie, but it was purchased from them in 1 708 by the Rev. Patrick Warner, and remains in the family of his descendants. The daughter of the first Warner of Ardeer was married to the Rev. Robert Wodrow (1679-1734), the eminent historian of the Church of Scotland, and she survived her husband for twenty-five years. 

The mansion of Ardeer does not occupy the position of the original manor-house, but seems to have been built near the old house of Ducat-hall, the property so named having been purchased by the Rev. Patrick Warner in 1708, when he became proprietor of Ardeer. An avenue and carriage-drive lead to the door of a regularly built dwelling, over the entrance to which a balconied porch has been erected, supported on four Ionic pillars and pilasters. The style of the triangle facade and heavily corniced windows places the date of the structure towards the close of last century.