Castles of Clan Cunningham
Finlaystone Castle and House
Finlaystone Castle, near Port Glasgow in Renfrewshire, became the principal seat of the Chiefs of Clan Cunningham in the 15th century. Originally acquired through marriage to the heiress of the Dennistoun family, the estate evolved from a medieval castle into a grand classical mansion. The Cunninghams, later Earls of Glencairn, held the estate until the late 18th century. The house was remodeled in the 1900s and still stands today amid landscaped gardens. It remains the most iconic and enduring seat of the clan.
Kilmaurs Castle
Kilmaurs Castle, near the village of Kilmaurs in East Ayrshire, was the early seat of the Cunningham chiefs. The original castle was likely a 13th-century fortification located at Jocksthorn Farm, near the Carmel Water. It was described as a strong building in the early 1600s but fell into disuse when the family relocated. Only earthworks and stone fragments remain. The site represents the origins of the clan’s power in Cunninghame.
Kilmaurs Place
Kilmaurs Place was a 17th-century mansion built to replace the older Kilmaurs Castle. Situated above the Carmel Water, the house featured a tower and a grand but unfinished wing. It was briefly used by the Earls of Glencairn before they established Finlaystone as their main residence. The structure is now a partial ruin, with its remaining walls and vaults still visible. It reflects the clan’s transition from medieval strongholds to more comfortable estate living.
Caprington Castle
Caprington Castle, near Kilmarnock, was a seat of the Cunninghams from the 15th century. Acquired through marriage to the Wallace family, it remained with the Cunninghams of Caprington for several generations. The original keep was later enveloped by 17th and 19th-century additions. The house is still inhabited and stands as a blend of fortified tower and stately mansion. It highlights the success of a prominent cadet branch.
Aiket Castle
Aiket Castle, near Dunlop in North Ayrshire, was the seat of the Cunninghams of Aiket, a cadet line involved in many clan feuds. The castle is best known for its role in the 1586 assassination of the Earl of Eglinton, which was signaled from Aiket’s battlements. It was later restored and is now a private residence. The structure includes a 16th-century tower and later wings. It remains one of the best-preserved Cunningham tower houses.
Giffen Castle
Giffen Castle, near Beith, served as the caput of the Barony of Giffen, which was long held by the Cunninghams. It may have originated as a stone hall or tower house and was used by the heirs of the Earls of Glencairn. The castle was allowed to fall into ruin in the 18th century. Today, only earthworks and field names mark its location. It reflects the breadth of Cunningham landholding in Ayrshire.
Robertland Castle
Robertland Castle, near Stewarton, was home to the Cunninghams of Robertland, a cadet line deeply involved in the clan’s feuds. In 1586, David Cunningham of Robertland took part in the murder of the Earl of Eglinton. The original castle was likely destroyed afterward and replaced with a new house nearby. Only slight remains of the original structure survive. The estate’s name endures in the surrounding countryside.
Kerelaw Castle
Kerelaw Castle, near Stevenston, was sacked by the Montgomeries in 1488 during the Cunningham–Montgomery feud. The castle was later rebuilt and again attacked in the 16th century. The ruins include the base of a rectangular tower and parts of a courtyard wall. Though reduced to fragments, it remains one of the clan’s more evocative feud sites. The ruins are open to the public and part of a local park.
Hessilhead Castle
Hessilhead Castle, near Beith, was home to the Cunninghams of Hessilhead, a cadet branch known for its involvement in feuds and politics. The L-plan tower was abandoned and eventually demolished in the 20th century. Only scattered stones and grass-covered foundations remain today. The site was once notable for its melancholy setting by a small loch. It was part of the clan’s dense network of holdings in north Ayrshire.
Lainshaw Castle
Lainshaw Castle, near Stewarton, was held by a cadet line of Cunninghams who intermarried with the Montgomeries. The estate became the backdrop for the infamous 1586 murder of the Earl of Eglinton, plotted by Lady Margaret Cunningham of Aiket. The original castle was replaced by Lainshaw House, which still stands. Only faint traces of the earlier structure survive. The estate reflects both the clan’s legacy and its entanglement in blood feuds.
Cunninghamhead Castle
Cunninghamhead Castle, near Dreghorn, was the seat of a Cunningham cadet line. The tower house was demolished in the 18th century and replaced with a mansion, which has also since been lost. Nothing remains of the medieval structure above ground, though the name lives on. The site is remembered for its connection to early baronial lineages within the clan. It illustrates the fading of older clan structures into gentrified estates.
Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Cunningham
Eglinton Castle
Eglinton Castle, seat of the Montgomeries, became a key target during the Cunningham–Montgomery feud. In 1528, it was burned by Cunningham forces. The castle was later rebuilt as a grand Gothic mansion. Though never owned by the Cunninghams, their assault on the castle was a pivotal moment in the clan rivalry. Its ruins are a central feature of Eglinton Country Park.
Montgreenan Castle
Montgreenan Castle, near Kilwinning, was the residence of Alexander Cunningham, Commendator of Kilwinning Abbey. He was believed to have helped orchestrate the 1586 ambush of the Earl of Eglinton and was killed at his own gate in retaliation. The site includes the remnants of a 16th-century fortified house. Though overgrown, the ruins still bear witness to this violent episode. It remains closely linked to clan history through the feud.
Dean Castle
Dean Castle in Kilmarnock, seat of the Boyd family, was not owned by the Cunninghams but played a role in local power dynamics. The Boyds were sometimes allied with the Cunninghams against the Montgomeries. The castle includes a 14th-century keep and 15th-century palace. Its proximity to Cunningham territory makes it relevant to the clan’s regional history. It now operates as a museum and heritage center.
Dumbarton Castle
Dumbarton Castle, though never a Cunningham stronghold, was governed by William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn, in the 17th century. As Governor, he held command of this strategic fortress during a time of political instability. The castle, perched atop a volcanic rock, overlooks the River Clyde. Its massive defenses and long royal history connect it to national as well as clan politics. It stands today as a prominent historic site.
References
Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle Records and Listings.
RCAHMS. (n.d.). National Monuments Record of Scotland.
Cunningham, A. (1904). A History of Clan Cunningham. Edinburgh: Scottish Clan Society.
National Archives of Scotland. (n.d.). Feudal Records and Property Registers, 15th–17th Century.