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Summary

Description

Attributed to Robert Hunter of Ayr, circa 1735 (see Notes). Largely symmetrical remains of Castle Semple House facing S to Castle Semple Loch. Central ruins of external basement walls with linking screen walls to former wings and with further L-plan former stable pavilions to far right and left (currently converted to form 4 separate residential dwellings, 2011). Ashlar with chamfered rusticated quoins to outer sections. Raised margins, cornice. Rusticated lintels to basement window openings. Screen walls with open key-stoned round-arches and round-arched niches. Round-arched key-stoned niches to inner elevations of former wings.

LANDAU HOUSE: to far right (NS 37790 60095): 2-storey, 5-bay L-plan house with re-entrant angle to W. Exterior stone stair in re-entrant angle with balcony supported on single Ionic column. Single-storey, piended roof section to N. Pair of wide, key-stoned, round-arched window openings to S. Low, rubble wall to S with decorative metal gate.

CASTLE SEMPLE HOUSE: to right (NS 37761 60096): 2-storey 6-bay former wing with courtyard to W. Small window openings to upper storey. Some key-stoned round-arched window openings to W elevation. Tall curved boundary wall to W. Slated roof.

SEMPLE HOUSE: to left (NS 37714 60075). 2-storey, 6-bay former wing. Low coped rubble wall to S. Small square window openings to upper storey.

LOW SEMPLE HOUSE: to far left (NS 37704 60046): 2-storey, 5-bay L-plan house with later, single storey U-plan extension to N, forming courtyard. Later, lean-to glass covered walkway to N and W courtyard elevations. Pair of wide, key-stoned, round-arched window openings to S.

Mixture of glazing. Predominantly small pane replacement timber sash and case windows; some 6-over 6-pane to ground and with 3-over 3-pane to upper storey. Casement windows to property at far left. Grey slates; Bell-cast roof to Landau, Castle-Semple House and Semple House. Cast iron rainwater goods.

INTERIORS (partly seen, 2011). Later interiors.

Statement of Special Interest

These remains of the former Castle Semple mansion form an impressive group in the landscape and are the core buildings of the former Castle Semple Estate. Each is well detailed with raised quoins, and round-arched details and are witness to the high quality work of the former mansion house. Together with the external walls of the original basement storey, these remains clearly define the original footprint of the mansion. The decorative detailing in the key-stones arches and round-arched screens add to the interest of the building.

The architect of the house is, as yet, unconfirmed, although a number of sources credit it to Robert Hunter, of Ayr, a mason. Photographs from the late 19th century show a 2-storey and basement pedimented Classical House with steps leading to the central front entrance in Palladian style. The 2-storey inner wings contained bedrooms, and the outer wings or pavilions, with their double arches, contained stables for a dozen horses and 2 coaches.

This house existed until the early 20th century, when it was initially let, and then abandoned. It was gutted by fire in the 1920s and by 1971, it was roofless. It was demolished to the basement storey in the 1970s.

Castle Semple Estate has a long history, originally associated with the Semple family who built the first Castle Semple and the collegiate church (scheduled monument, 2011) around 1504. In 1727, the Semples sold the estate to a sugar plantation owner, William McDowell. McDowell began a range of land improvements to the estate, which form the basis of the current estate, including building a new Castle Semple House and landscaping the grounds. The previous house was known as Castleton. The 2nd William MacDowell continued the improvements to the estate in the latter half of the 18th century, including erecting the Temple at the deer park in Kenmuir Hill. The Estate was sold in 1814 to a Major John Harvey who continued to improve the landscape. The family finances declined during the course of the 19th century and the estate was sold in 1908 and the house was let. After this, the house was converted to apartments and the land broken up into small holdings. The House was damaged by fire in 1924 and the central portion of it demolished to basement level in the 1970s. The remains of the house was used as storage facilities and were redeveloped gradually from the 1960s to the beginning of the 21st century into four residential dwellings.

The central section of the estate is currently a Regional Park.

List description updated, 2012.

References

Bibliography

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