| The Cunninghams of Kilmaurs originally owned the Skelmorlie Estate, but according to charter dated 24th March 1453, Alexander Montgomerie of Ardrossan, the first Lord Montgomerie who already owned large Estates in Renfrew and Bute, acquired it. This first Lord Montgomerie granted, by Charter in 1461, the Estate of Skelmorlie to his second son George, and thus George became the first Laird of Skelmorlie. The Castle was built in 1502 but it may have been built earlier, particularly as George received the Estate in 1461. The history of the family of Montgomerie during the last one thousand years is a particularly fascinating one, and would require a book to relate all of it. However, as it was during the 16th century that the Castle was built, and reflects so much of the history of the period, it is worth recalling some of the events surrounding the Montgomerie family, and the part they played in Scottish history at that time. The main event concerning the Montgomerie family was the long and bloody feud between the Cunninghams and Montgomeries, and because of this it was vitally necessary to construct their castles for the principal expedient of defence. The feud between the Montgomerie family and the Cunningham family started around 1448, when James II granted the hereditary Baillieship of Cunningham to the first Lord Montgomerie. Up until that date the Cunningham family and Earls of Glencairn had held this post, and they never forgave the Montgomerie family for having been granted this Baillieship. In 1448 the Montgomeries burnt Kerelaw Castle, the stronghold of the Cunninghams, and in reprisal Lord Montgomerie was attacked and wounded by the Cunninghams in 1507. In 1509, Hugh Montgomerie, first Earl of Eglinton, killed both Edward Cunningham of Auchenhowie and Archibald Cunningham of Waterston. It was just a question of time before the Cunninghams decided on revenge and in 1528 they burnt Eglinton Castle to the ground, whilst Lord Eglinton took refuge in Ardrossan Castle. The first Earl of Eglinton must have been a remarkable man as he was born in 1460 and died at age 85 in 1545: a very rare age to achieve in those days. He had lived in the time of five Scottish Sovereigns - having been born in the last year of the reign of James II, and died in the third year of the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. After his death, Hugh the second Earl, succeeded but died after one year and it was the third Earl (an ardent supporter of Mary Queen of Scots) who succeeded in 1546. The Montgomerie family were related to Lord Darnley, who married Mary Queen of Scots, as the sister of George, first of Skelmorlie, had married Darnley's grandfather. In 1561 Hugh, third earl of Eglinton, went to France with Lord Bothwell to conduct Mary thence to Scotland. On his return by ship from France he was captured by the English but was not detained. He was at the trial of Lord Bothwell, who was accused of murdering Darnley. He declared him not guilty. A year later he was one of the nobles who met at Stirling to adopt measures for securing the young Prince James from the power of Bothwell and Mary. They entered into a solemn bond; this was the agreement that ultimately led to the banishment of Bothwell and the imprisonment of Mary. However, when she made her escape from Loch Leven Castle in 1568 he joined her Standard and fought under her banner at the Battle of Langside, which ended in a disastrous defeat for Mary. A Regent was appointed after this defeat and Lord Eglinton was the only nobleman not to declare for the Regent, he was therefore imprisoned in Doune Castle on 26th April 1571. He was released, and although he had supported Mary, Queen of Scots, he seemed to be out of favour with James VI and he was excluded from Parliament. This may have owed chiefly to his avowed hostility to the Royal favourites, the Earl of Lennox and the Earl of Arran. He took part in the raid at Ruthven in 1582 and died three years later in 1585. His son Hugh, fourth earl of Eglinton, survived his father by only ten months. For in 1586, at the young age of 23, a party of Cunninghams at Roberland cruelly murdered him. The Earl's brother, Master of Eglinton, avenged the death with a party of Montgomeries who killed every Cunningham, man woman and child that they could lay their hands on. Robert Montgomerie of Skelmorlie rode to Montgreenam and shot the Earl of Glencairn's brother who was commander of Kilwinning Abbey. Earlier that very same day, the Maxwell's of Newark Castle, at 'Port Glasgow', had killed the father and brother of Robert Montgomerie. The murder of Hugh, 4th Earl of Eglinton, resulted in the Scottish Council declaring the assassins rebels and making some of their lands forfeit. The Cunninghams who owned the famous house of Maxwellton near Moniaive, Dumfriesshire, had to sell that Estate to help pay the fines levied. It can be well seen then that the Scottish aristocracy during the 16th century had to build their Castle houses with an eye to defence. Also, because of the restlessness of the country, Scotland possessed a castellated architecture far longer then most countries in Europe, where the Renaissance had superseded it. There were thirteen Lairds of Skelmorlie, and as previously mentioned, George founded the line in 1461. John, whose eldest son Cuthbert fell at Flodden, succeeded him in 1505. The next in line, James, was incapable of managing his affairs, and was succeeded by Robert Montgomerie, the sixth of Skelmorlie. He fell victim to the feud with Cunninghams and was killed along with his eldest son, William. Sir Robert Montgomerie, seventh of Skelmorlie, was a man of great courage and took a very active part in the feud with the Cunninghams. He was said to have "Set no bounds to his feudal wrath, but indulged with such eagerness as to occasion very much bloodshed of his enemies". Robert Montgomerie was knighted by James VI and created a Baronet by Charles I on 1st January 1628, being the 17th created by that King. On becoming patron of the old Parish Church of Largs, Sir Robert showed taste equal to his courage when he built the beautiful Skelmorlie Aisle that still stands today. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir William Douglas of Drumlanrig, and she died tragically from a horse-riding accident travelling from Largs to Skelmorlie. The Skelmorlie Aisle was built as a memorial to her and, after her death, Robert became deeply religious and performed many acts of charity. A contemporary describes him in his later years as a "man mighty in prayer and much at it but very short at a time". He was important in the history of Skelmorlie, as he enlarged the Castle in 1636 and built the L-shaped red sandstone section south of The Keep. Part of this was used as a chapel and indeed was the only chapel in the area; as such, it was used by the local population for prayer. The large, round tower southwest of this building, was original and it is interesting to note that the Tower has gun loops and shot holes pierced through the masonry of the wall. These were a feature of the time and special entries were built to command the entrance. The holes were just large enough to allow the muzzle of a musket to pass through and they were widely splayed in order to afford as wide a field of fire as possible. Shot holes and spy holes were habitual until well into the 17th century and their presence is an index of the cautious spirit prevailing at the time. At Skelmorlie Castle it was a very necessary precaution in lieu of the continuing feud. This Sir Robert died in 1651 at the advanced age of 80, again an unusual achievement for the time. Five baronets were to succeed Sir Robert. The second Sir Robert, who died in 1648, married the youngest daughter of Archibald, Earl of Argyll. This Earl of Argyll was the leader of the Scottish Covenanters, and at the restoration of Charles II he was sentenced to execution at the Tollbooth in Edinburgh. In John Bowie's book "Scots Worthies" it is noted that Sir Robert, laird of Skemorlie, accompanied the Earl of Argyll to the block, and was the last person the Earl spoke to before his head was severed by the guillotine. His Grandson, Sir James, was an active politician and became deeply involved in the 1699 revolution. He was chosen by the County of Ayr to act as their commissioner in the Convention of States, which met Edinburgh in 1689. He strenuously supported the resolution proposed and carried by the States that King James II had forfeited his throne and kingdom for, and when this Resolution was passed he, the Earl of Argyll and Sir John Dalrymple were appointed by the Convention to proceed to London to offer the Crown of Scotland to King William and Mary. Sir James felt he should be offered the position of Secretary of State but was passed over for this office. Such was his disappointment that he entered into correspondence with the exiled Stuart family and received from James VII of Scotland in 1690 the Commission to be Secretary of State and a "Patent for an Earl". Sir James retired to France but only for a short time as he returned to London and died there in 1694. The next was sir Robert, tenth of Skelmorlie, who became Governor of Northern Ireland and was succeeded by his Uncle, sir Hugh, the eleventh Laird of Skelmorlie and the sixth baronet. He was the last Baronet of Skelmorlie and was active in the life of Glasgow, being both Provost and the member of Parliament for the City and was also a Commissioner of the "Treaty of Union". Lillias, the eldest daughter of his nephew Robert, succeeded and through her marriage the Estate became united to the senior branch of the family, the Earls of Eglinton. Skelmorlie Castle is a good example of the characteristic dwelling place of an important Scottish laird during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The old Scottish Keep with its clean-cut outlines is seen in the main part of the Castle, and it is the stonework that gives the Scottish building its distinctive character. Almost every Castle of the sixteenth century shows a certain amount of stone corbelling and often it was the only relieving feature as masons were ever ready to introduce it in some form or another. The turrets on either side of the Castle show a good example of this corbelling and the old Gargoyle on the northeast turret is an outstanding example of the mason's skill. In 1856 the Victorian wing was added, and thus there are three distinct styles and periods; the original Keep, built in 1502; the old chapel L-shape building built in 1636, and the Victorian wing built in 1856. In terms of outlook, Skelmorlie Castle must have one of the most beautiful views in Scotland: looking directly to Rothesay, the Isle of Bute and down across the Clyde to the peaks of Arran. Truly it can be said, as described by Pont as - "North Skelmorly a fair weill bult housse and pleafantly featted
decorred with orchards and roodes the inheritance of Robert Montgomerie Laird thereof". |
