Maybole Castle, High Street, Maybole

L-plan 4 storey tower, the stair in the southern wing. Harled, with ashlar dressings, rubble-built 2- storey crowstepped, gabled extensions to south and west added prior to 1856.

Built as town Mansion of Earls of Cassillis hereditary bailiffs of Carrick. Probably built for John, 6th Earl, who was appointed Extra ordinary Lord of Session at the Restoration. ( Historic Scotland).

February 2009: Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust bring the Castle to the attention of SCT. The ground and first floors are in use, the upper floors are vacant. An appraisal carried out on the building identified a number of required repairs, principally to parts of the roofs/ rainwater goods which are defective and are allowing water ingress, which together with cement harling, is likely to be the root cause of the dry rot.
The Maybole Castle Steering Group, working with the building owners, has commisioned SBPT to bring together a funding package for an options appraisal to find new, viable, community uses for the building. The second phase of fund raising will be for capital works on the building which will arrest any decay of the historical fabric and potentially reintroduce the orginal lime harling.

August 2009: SBPT report that they are seeking funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund to complete a full options appraisal.

October 2009: External inspection reveals that the guttering is blocked in places and the windows appear to require maintenance.

December 2009: The Carrick Gazette reports Ayrshire LEADER Local Action Group has awarded Maybole Castle Community Project £12,000 to fund a feasibility study with options appraisal for the Castle. The Trust is working with Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust to prepare a study exploring options to secure the long-term sustainable use of the building.

January 2010: Ayr Advertiser reports on a survey being carried on by consultants on potential uses should the castle come into community ownership.

June 2010: SBPT report they are working with the Maybole Castle Community Trust to prepare a business plan and seek funding for the development of the community’s ideas and aspirations for the building as set out in the appraisal, which can be viewed on their website.

October 2011: Maybole Castle has been awarded a grant of £109,024 towards repair & refit the building for a variety of community activities, including local heritage centre, Clan Kennedy facitility, meeting/events resource, arts & natural history exhibition space.

March 2012: Local planners advise Cassillis & Culzean Estate Office has vacated the ground floor. Some funding has been secured by the Maybole Castle Community Project.

4 May 2012: External inspection finds no significant change from the previous site visit.

16 August 2014: External inspection finds the building remains in much the same condition as seen previously. The condition of the roofs and gutters remain of concern.

8 December 2021: £729,659 has been awarded for the renovation and remodeling of Maybole Castle to create the Enterprising Carrick Hub, with the aim to deliver economic and social benefits to the surrounding community. This is part of a wider project to bring 63 vacant buildings in the area back into use.