Auchans House - Old Auchans

The ruins of Auchans House or Old Auchans House are located about a mile west from the village of Dundonald (Scottish Gaelic: Dun Dhomhnaill) in South Ayrshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir a Deas, Alba). This is north from Ayr (Inbhir Air) and east along the A759 road. It dates from the 16th-century and originally belonged to the Clan Wallace, then passed along the family line to the Cochrane family who later became the Earls of Dundonald. It afterwards came into the possession of the Clan Montgomery/Montgomerie. It remained in the hands of the Montgomery family, but by the mid-19th century was mainly inhabited by workers and tenants and fell increasingly into ruin.

Originally the house was made of three main floors and had high gables. It had a vaulted basement and a stair-tower was situated externally, central to the South side. Over the years additions and alteration were made to the property including a new three storey wing with a garret. A stair-tower, with a Renaissance-style doorway was built and this still remains visible. Further extensions were made to this new wing with the addition of a block with two towers. Domestic buildings were added on the South and East sides of the courtyard. During the 1840's onwards the house was mainly used only to accommodate foresters and tenants and by the 1880s the building had fallen into a terminal state of decay. A caretaker was employed for the property and remained until 1897. However, it is reported that by 1922 the roof had largely collapsed.

Image: This image of  Auchans Castle near Dundonald, Ayrshire, Scotland. Source: The Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland by R. W. Billings published 15th October 1901.