Culzean Castle, (Pronounced Cullayne) Kyle and Carrick Districts.

In 1762, Sir Thomas Kennedy (Who had inherited his boyhood home of Culzean in 1744) succeeded to the title and seat of the Earl of Cassillis. Rather than move to Cassillis House, he chose to remain at Culzean Castle where he had been busy enclosing and improving the estate. During the 1760s he added the new wing, on the edge of the cliff, to the castle, and made repairs to the rest of the building.

On the death of Sir Thomas, David Kennedy succeeded him as the 10th Earl of Cassillis. He also preferred to live at Culzean. He retained Thomas's new farm manager, John Bully, who was to make huge improvements to the estate and bring in greater profits, and he commissioned Robert Adam, the renowned architect who had previously rebuilt the estate buildings towards the end of the eighteenth century, to rebuild and redesign Culzean Castle.

This Neo/Gothic baronial mansion stands on a cliff overlooking the Firth of Clyde, three miles west of Maybole. It was built between 1777 and 1792 on the site of the old castle of Coif, the ancient seat of the Kennedy family, who succeeded the Earls of Carrick, and later became the Earls of Cassillis. The 9th Earl was responsible for additions, which included a new west wing and the 10th Earl the Victorian alterations. Archibald Kennedy - The 14th Earl of Cassillis and 3rd Marquess of Ailsa was responsible for the famous gardens.

The real joy of Culzean is the Adam interior which is a superb expression of Robert Adams genius; the great oval staircase is a breath catching site, the round saloon and former drawing room on the first floor with its five tall elegant windows overlooking the sea, the long drawing room on the first floor with its exquisite ceiling, the Adam room, illustrating some of his other Scottish masterpiece paintings, the green drawing/room, the library, are all features which can be relished by any lover of beauty, be he informed critic or a layman.

In 1945 the property was presented to the National Trust for Scotland by Charles Kennedy, the 16th Earl of Cassillis and the 5th Marquess of Ailsa. The Kennedy family asked that part of the castle be given to General Eisenhower for his lifetime, to show the gratitude of the Scots to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe.

In 1946 a charming suite on the top floor of the castle tower (Now known as the Eisenhower Apartment) was prepared for this purpose. Today there are six double bedrooms, which are available as overnight accommodations or the whole apartment can be hired for private entertainment, for a wedding or to accommodate guests at a bigger function in the castle.

There is a Eisenhower presentation in the castle whose purpose is to explain President Eisenhower's connection with Culzean in the context of the battle for Europe that had just ended. The main display shows something of Eisenhower himself and pictures of him with other leaders of his time. There is also a pictorial record of his visits to Culzean.

The castle is open to the public.

Submitted by: Kip Kennedy, Kipper3003@aol.com