Auchans Castle (Old)

Not far from the ruins of the ancient Castle of Dundonald stands the deserted House of Auchans, a ruin of a much later date, yet haunted by many interesting memories of other times. The old Castle of Dundonald, in which King Robert II. died, had fallen so seriously into decay before some parts of Auchans House were built, that the stones of the ancient stronghold of the Stewarts were freely used in the newer erection, if tradition may be believed. Auchans itself has fallen upon evil days, having been utilised for cottars’ houses lately ; but there still remain sufficient traces of its former grandeur to indicate the important position which it once held in the district. 

The architectural peculiarities of the building have attracted much notice; and R. W. Billings thus refers to them in his Antiquities of Scotland: ” The square balustraded tower is in direct opposition to the cone-covered staircase, which breaks the monotony of the main wall-face of the mansion in its centre. But the picturesque is more particularly evinced in the arrangement of the crow-stepped gables, and especially of the one surmounting the round tower to the right. The flank wall of this gable continues the line of the house, instead of being corbelled upon the tower, which is finished by being simply sloped off to the wall, leaving as a questionable feature what has evidently been a change from the original design.” The building is not all of the same period, but the date 1644, which is to be found on one of the newer portions, leads us to discover the principal builder. 

The earliest name associated with Auchans is that of Wallace of Dundonald, a branch of the Wallaces of Riccarton, who came into the estate in 1527; although it is probable that the lands were included in the grant of the Castle of Dundonald made to Lord Cathcart by James III in 1482. Auchans remained in the Wallace family even after they had parted with the greater  portion of the Dundonald property ; and the last of the family of whom any trace can be found was Colonel James Wallace of Auchans, who led the unfortunate Covenanters’ raid, known in history as the ” Pentland Rising,” in November 1666, and died in exile at Rotterdam in 1678. The lands of Dundonald were purchased from the Wallace family in 1638 by Sir William Cochrane of Coldoun, and to him may we ascribe the erection of that portion of Auchans House which bears the date of 1644. Having remained faithful to the Stewart line during the Commonwealth, and suffered pecuniarily at the hands of Cromwell, Sir William was rewarded, after the Restoration, with the title of Earl of Dundonald, and from him the earldom has descended in almost unbroken line. The House of Auchans afterwards came into the possession of the Earls of Eglintoun, and became the jointure-house of Susanna Kennedy of Colzean, who was married to the ninth Earl of Eglintoun in 1 707. This lady was celebrated as one of the most beautiful and accomplished ladies of her time ; and as she was an especial patroness of the literary stars whom she encountered during an exceptionally long life, her virtues and graces have found their way into the foremost poetic literature of the period. Allan Ramsay and William Hamilton of Bangour have vied with each other in her praise ; and traditions as to her elegant personal appearance, winning manner, and intellectual ability still linger in the society of Edinburgh. After the murder, by Mungo Campbell, of her son Alexander, tenth Earl of Eglintoun, in 1769, she retired from the position which she held in society ; and when her second son Archibald was married in 1772, she took up her residence permanently at Auchans. Whilst there she received a memorable visit from Dr Samuel Johnson and his companion, James Boswell of Auchinleck, her High-Churchism and Jacobite fervour having won the heart of the Doctor. The right of the Stewart-Kings to reign she maintained most steadfastly ; and it is said that for many years she kept the portrait of the unhappy Prince Charles Edward hung up in her bedroom, so that her glance might first light upon it when awaking. She died at Auchans in 1780, having attained the advanced age of ninety-one years. 

Since that time the House of Auchans has been allowed to fall into disrepair  through neglect, though the exterior portion is still almost complete. Some valuable documents connected with the Eglintoun family were recently discovered in one of the apartments, and it is not improbable that further disclosures would result from a diligent search of the venerable ruin. In the orchard at Auchans — part of which may still be traced — the famous pear-tree once stood, from which the Auchans pears were first obtained. It is saud that it was brought originally from France, and remained in good condition until a violent storm destroyed it about a hundred years ago.