Ardgowan Castle

Inverkip, United Kingdom

Ardgowan Castle is located in the grounds of Ardgowan House near Inverkip. In 1306, Inverkip was besieged by supporters of Robert Bruce, led by Robert Boyd of Cunningham. In 1403, King Robert III granted the lands of Ardgowan to his natural son, Sir John Stewart. The castle is dated to the late 15th century.

In 1667 Archibald Stewart was created a baronet. The 3rd baronet married, in 1730, Helen Houston, heiress of the Shaws of Greenock. Their son Sir John Shaw-Stewart, 4th Baronet, commissioned a design for a new house from the architect Hugh Cairncross. Construction began in 1797, and was completed around 1801, after which the old castle was abandoned. The ruin was consolidated and repaired in 1936.

References:

Comments

Your name


Address

The Stables 6, Inverkip, United Kingdom
See all sites in Inverkip

Details

Founded: 15th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Levan Tower House (3,6 km)


Paisley Abbey (29,3 km)
Inveraray Castle (37,9 km)
Kilchurn Castle (55,1 km)
Dumbarton Castle (19,4 km)
Rothesay Castle Ruins (14,4 km)
Newark Castle (12,3 km)
Lochranza Castle (35,1 km)
Brodick Castle (39,8 km)
Skipness Castle Ruins (33,3 km)

User Reviews

Robbie Smith (2 years ago)
Beautiful house and grounds.
anna wilson (3 years ago)
I found this wee gem on a bright afternoon few weeks ago while heading through Inverkip. Lovely stroll along a good road surface with my baby in pram and my dog. Beware electric fences line the road, due to horses being kept in neighbouring fields. The house is nice to see once you reach the end of the drive/road upto it.
Tessa (3 years ago)
I had the most wonderful weekend at Ardgowan last month; I felt like I had stepped onto the set of Pride and Prejudice in the very best way. It is simultaneously grand and warm. Our host was charming and knowledgeable - sharing lots of interesting facts during the tour and making us all feel super welcome. As well as the spectacular house, there is a castle in the grounds and a chapel that has fallen into a romantic state of disrepair. The room where I stayed was immensely comfortable with beautiful period furniture and a lovely view. It was warm and the bathroom was also great with an excellent shower and huge bath. I couldn't recommend Ardgowan highly enough!
Bonnie Taylor (3 years ago)
I have never taken the time to provide comments or ratting ever before. However I must today!!! What a wonderful, knowledgeable host. Treated us like family opening his home (Castle) and history to us. Wish we had more time to to spend exploring the grounds but scheduled trips must be adhered to. Just an amazing experience, highly recommended for all who enjoy a bit of history.
angjane06 martin (4 years ago)
Not a place for horse's,bad experience with my own horse there,Again lovely place to walk through??????.......Never Wrote This My Post Has Been Changed To This Line Above,as plenty of people who Had Read what I had Put Is All True Shocking What Happened to my horse and The Management Don't Want My Experience Shared, Shame on Them,For Trying to Keep the Truth, Hushed,
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania
Photo from Flickr, copyright CONTROTONO

Historic Site of the week

Palazzo Colonna

The Palazzo Colonna is a palatial block of buildings built in part over ruins of an old Roman Serapeum, and has belonged to the prestigious Colonna family for over twenty generations.

The first part of the palace dates from the 13th century, and tradition holds that the building hosted Dante in his visit to Rome. The first documentary mention notes that the property hosted Cardinal Giovanni and Giacomo Colonna in the 13th century. It was also home to Cardinal Oddone Colonna before he ascended to the papacy as Martin V (1417–1431).

With his passing, the palace was sacked during feuds, and the main property passed into the hands of the Della Rovere family. It returned to the Colonna family when Marcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere, the niece of pope Julius II. The Colonna"s alliance to the Habsburg power, likely protected the palace from looting during the Sack of Rome (1527).

Starting with Filippo Colonna (1578–1639) many changes have refurbished and create a unitary complex around a central garden. Architects including Girolamo Rainaldi and Paolo Marucelli labored on specific projects. Only in the 17th and 18th centuries were the main facades completed. Much of this design was completed by Antonio del Grande (including the grand gallery), and Girolamo Fontana (decoration of gallery). In the 18th century, the long low facade designed by Nicola Michetti with later additions by Paolo Posi with taller corner blocks (facing Piazza Apostoli) was constructed recalls earlier structures resembling a fortification.

The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew the Connestabile Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and includes works by Lorenzo Monaco, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Salviati, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (painting of The Beaneater), Guercino, Francesco Albani, Muziano and Guido Reni. Ceiling frescoes by Filippo Gherardi, Giovanni Coli, Sebastiano Ricci, and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role of Marcantonio II Colonna in the battle of Lepanto (1571). The gallery is open to the public on Saturday mornings.

The older wing of the complex known as the Princess Isabelle"s apartments, but once housing Martin V"s library and palace, contains frescoes by Pinturicchio, Antonio Tempesta, Crescenzio Onofri, Giacinto Gimignani, and Carlo Cesi. It contains a collection of landscapes and genre scenes by painters like Gaspard Dughet, Caspar Van Wittel (Vanvitelli), and Jan Brueghel the Elder.

Along with the possessions of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavacini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.

Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
© 2021 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.