My wife's ancestors - Hunter - Contents

Hunterston Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland

Hunterston Castle, Hunterston, on the coast NW of West Kilbride, N Ayrshire (on the coast SW of Glasgow), SW Scotland.
See Google Maps and streetmap.co.uk.
This was a strategic location at the mouth of the Clyde, the main sea access to Glasgow.

Hunterston Castle.
Click to rotate. From Google street view.

The original Hunter lands were Ardneil (or "Arnele" or "Arnell" or "Arnelle"). Ardneil Bay extends from West Kilbride towards Portencross on the S side of the Hunterston Peninsula. Ardneil is on the road between Portencross and West Kilbride, see map.

The present estate of Hunterston is to the N of this, to the NW of West Kilbride, see map.
The old spelling of the family was "Huntar", and the estate, "Huntarstown".
[Burkes LG] says that Hunter of Hunterston "owned the present estates as early as the time of Alexander II, King of Scotland" (reigned 1214-49).

Hunterston Castle was first built in 13th century by Hunter, Laird of Hunterston.
The 14th Laird of Hunterston built the Great Hall at Hunterston in 1500.
A new Hunterston House was built, starting in 1799, by the dau of the 23rd Laird of Hunterston. It was built N of the old castle.

The Hunterston Peninsula (the lands of the Castle) was zoned for industrialisation in the 20th century. There was a Compulsory Purchase Order in 1956 by the South of Scotland Electricity Board.
Two nuclear power stations were built:

"Hunterston A" nuclear power station was built on Hunterston lands on the W (sea) side of the Castle (see map). Construction began 1957. Opened 1964.
"Hunterston B" nuclear power station was built adjacent to Hunterston A. Construction began 1967. Opened 1976.

Hunterston A closed in 1989.
Hunterston B is still running.

Hunterston House and Hunterston Castle.
From old map. Survey date: 1855. Publication date: 1856.

Hunterston Castle.
Close-up of above.

Hunterston House and Hunterston Castle.
From old map. Revised: 1895. Publication date: 1897.

Hunterston House (to N) and Hunterston Castle (to S).
Click to toggle map/satellite view. Click to zoom in/out. Drag to move.
From Google Maps.

Hunterston Castle.
Photo 2007 by Wayne Evans. See full size.

Hunterston Castle.
Photo 2007 by Wayne Evans.
Light adjusted digitally. See larger and original.

Hunterston Castle.
Photo 2006 by Ian Rainey.
From here. See terms of use.

Hunterston Castle.
Photo 2006 by Marian Aelick.
Light adjusted. See larger and original.
See other 2006 photo by Marian Aelick.

Side and rear

Hunterston Castle. Side.
Photo 2006 by Marian Aelick.
See full size.

Hunterston Castle. Side and rear.
Photo 2007 by Wayne Evans. See full size.

Hunterston House

Hunterston House.
Photo 2007 by Wayne Evans. See full size.

Hunterston House.
Photo 2006 by Marian Aelick.
See full size.

Hunterston Castle (interior and surrounds)