NS14NE 1 1783 4910

(NS 1783 4910) Fort and dun (NR)
OS 6" map (1969)

The much-decayed ruins of a vitrifed fort occupy the precipitous tail of a ridge called Auld Hill. The rampart appears as a grass-grown mass enclosing a level sub-rectangular space about 100ft N-S by 50ft. Immediately to the S, the ridge is crossed by two rock-cut ditches, and farther S a higher ridge of rock forms, the N boundary of the dun, 45ft N-S by 27ft, defended on the W, S and SE by a wall of coursed rubble masonry. This dun is probably secondary, cutting off part of the precincts of the earlier fort.
V G Childe and A Graham 1943; R W Feachem 1963

The fort is generally as described above. Possible traces of the fort's rampart are evident on the N side in the form of a slight outward-facing scarp. The dun has no apparent entrance.
Resurveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (JTT) 11 October 1964

Only a sporadic, turf-covered, scatter of stone survives of the fort rampart, and this has no measurable height. Vitrified material is not conspicuous; only one isolated example was found on the SW perimeter. The relationship of the slight medial ditch(es) (0.7m maximum depth) to the fort appears as stated, but there is no suggestion that the dun, occupying the highest point of Auld Hill, is within the precinct of the earlier fort.
The dun itself shows approximatley 1.5m wide walling around the E side but it is lost on the W, where its course must have followed a curving line of outcrop. The entrance could only have been on the N, skirting the medial ditches(es).
Revised at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (JRL) 18 November 1982

Excavations at this site hitherto identified as an Iron Age vitrified fort have shown that in its present form it is a medieval castle of motte and bailey type. Substantial remains of a rectangular stone structure were uncovered on the motte. It is 17m long and 12m wide and the walls are lime mortared. It supercedes a timber phase of construction and 12th-13th century pottery is associated with both phases. The motte is separated from the bailey by 2 rock cut ditches of medieval date, with the surface between them leading to a ramped access on to the motte summit.
There are also remains of a stone rampart, vitrified in several places, encircling the whole site and which is earlier in date than the motte phase. Also traces of occupation (hearths, metalled surfaces and crude paving, of uncertain date) have been discovered in the bailey.
G J Ewart 1987.

A second season of excavation concentrated on the motte element of this bipartite fortification and showed that the 13th and early 14th century presence on this part of the site is reflected primarily by a rectangular enclosure (measuring 14m by 9m approximately) of lime mortared masonry. This proved to be the rampart associated with a large hall-like building which although only partially revealed, appeared to be of stone and timber construction and measured some 10m by 6m. There were prominent eavesdrip drainage channels to the south and west of the hall structure, while to the east of the building there was evidence of complex timber work, possibly supporting a wall walk. Finds from the excavation reflected the great antiquity of the site with various prehistoric artefacts as well as a large assemblage of early medieval pottery from the construction and occupation of the hall.
G J Ewart 1988.

The previous excavations indicated that the medieval presence on this multiphase fortified site consisted primarily of a hall-like, mainly timber building, within a stone-built rectangular rampart. The 1989 season showed however, that this layout was in fact the last in a possible series of lordly residences dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. It is now apparent that the stone rampart surrounding the hall was originally a form of hall-house with garderobe tower at its NW corner, generally similar to other West Highland types of the 13th and 14th centuries.
There was evidence that the subsequent hall was built on a new, raised platform within the denuded remains of the hall-house.
Sponsors: National Museums of Scotland, South of Scotland Electricity Board.
G J Ewart 1989.



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References
Caldwell, Ewart and Triscott, D H, G and J (1998 )
'Auldhill, Portencross',
Archaeol J, 155, 1998, 22-81,
Childe and Graham, V G and A (1943 )
'Some notable prehistoric and medieval monuments recently examined by The Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland',
Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 77, 1942-3, 39,
Ewart, G J (1989 b)
'Auldhill Portencross (West Kilbride parish), castle',
Discovery Excav Scot, 1989, 60,
Ewart, G (1988 b)
'Auldhill, Portencross (W Kilbride parish), enclosures, foundations, Medieval pottery, prehistoric artefacts',
Discovery Excav Scot, 1988,
Ewart, G (1987 b)
'Auldhill, Portencross (W Kilbride parish), motte and bailey castle, stone rampart, hearths, pottery',
Discovery Excav Scot, 1987,
Feachem, R W (1963 b)
A guide to prehistoric Scotland,
London, 109, 1st
Nisbet, H C (1975 a)
'A geological approach to vitrified forts, part II: bedrock and building stone',
Sci & Archaeol, 15, 1975, 11, no.14,
Strickertsson, Placido and Tate, K, F and J O (1988 )
'Thermoluminescence dating of Scottish vitrified forts',
Nuclear Tracks Radiation Measurements, 14, 1/2, 1988, 317-20,

NS14NE 2 17542 48926

See also NS14NE 3.

(NS 1754 4891) Portencross Castle (NR) (remains of)
OS 6" map (1969)

Portincross Castle appears to have been built in the 14th century, with later modifications. It has been ruinous since it was unroofed in 1739, but its massive walls are still entire. It consists of an oblong keep, three storeys and a garret high, with a wing, one storey higher, placed at one end. The whole of the ground floor is vaulted and there are entrances on the ground and first floors.
Macgibbon and Ross state that there has been a wall with a gateway between the castle and the edge of the rock on which it stands.
This was the fortalice of the barony of Ardneil, which belonged to the Rosses, and was given by Bruce to Sir Robert Boyd of Kilmarnock. Several royal charters are signed from here, possibly used as a crossing-point to Bute.
D MacGibbon and T Ross 1889; N Tranter 1965

Portencross Castle is as described, the exterior being in good condition. No trace was found of a wall between the castle and edge of the rock.
Visited by OS (DS) 12 September 1956

Previous field report confirmed.
Visited by OS (EGC) 30 October 1964

No change.
Visited by OS (JRL) 18 November 1982

The SW wall of this tower house, when viewed in oblique sunlight, shows the trace of a wraggle which corresponds to the right hand slope of the gable of a later, unrecorded building, probably wooden. The wraggle rises to a visible height of 6.1m above ground level. The corresponding left hand slope is not visible, having been obliterated by weathering. The gable covered a window which opened on to a wheel stair.
E M Patterson 1988.



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References
Dobie, J S (ed.) (1876 )
Cuninghame, topographized by Timothy Pont, A M, 1604-1608: with continuations and illustrative notices by the late James Dobie of Crummock, FSA Scot.,
Glasgow, page 357,
Lamb, J (1896 )
Annals of an Ayrshire parish: West Kilbride,
Glasgow, pp 43, 85, 157,
MacGibbon and Ross, D and T (1887-92 )
The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries,
5v, Edinburgh, Vol.3, 151-6,
Patterson, E M (1987 )
'Portencross Castle (West Kilbride parish), survey of construction materials',
Discovery Excav Scot, 1987, 47-8,
Patterson, E M (1988 )
'Portencross Castle (West Kilbride parish), evidence of later structures',
Discovery Excav Scot, 1988,
Tranter, N (1962-70 )
'The fortified house in Scotland',
Edinburgh, Vol.3, 57-8,

NS14NE 3 1756 4890

See also NS14NE 2 and NS14SE 8001.

An iron cannon, about 8ft long, traditionally from 'one of the large ships of the Spanish Armada which sank in about ten fathoms of water at no great distance from the shore' was recovered from the sea in 1740 and now lies at Portencross. Hewitt, after examining various accounts, concludes that the gun is either of late 16th or 17th century design, and is almost certainly Spanish. The remains of the ship that carried it lie somewhere between the point and Little Cumbrae. Although not necessarily a member of the Armada, as the Spanish navy was frequently in Scottish waters after 1588, it could be that the wreck was of a ship listed as 'fate unknown' by Philip's officials.
NSA 1845; G R Hewitt 1967.

NS 1756 4890. A much-rusted iron cannon, bearing an indecipherable coat of arms, lies on the beach 10.0m SE of Portencross Castle (NS14NE 2).
Visited by OS (DS) 12 September 1956

No change to the previous report. The cannon, 2.3m long with central pivot rods, rests on stone paving.
Visited by OS (JRL) 18 November 1982

Re-sited 1990 to location outside administrative offices of Hunterston Power Station (NS15SE 28). Other discoveries probably from the same wreck are held in the McLean Museum, Greenock.
(Undated) information in NMRS.

This cannon is no longer at Hunterson.
Information from Fiona McLean (Edinburgh University), 28 November 2006.



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References
Hewitt, G R (1966 )
'A Portincross cannon',
Ayr Archaeol Natur Hist Collect, 2nd, 7, 1961-6,
NSA (1845 )
The new statistical account of Scotland by the ministers of the respective parishes under the superintendence of a committee of the society for the benefit of the sons and daughters of the clergy,
15v, Edinburgh, Vol.5 (Ayr), 258,
Ridley, G (1984 )
Dive West Scotland,
London, 65, nos. 104-5,

NS14SE 8001 175 489
N55 41.9 W4 54.3

See also NS14NE 3 and 8002.

(Name cited as Portincross). `This port and castle have become still more remarkable, from an occurrence that happened near them, and which deserves to be taken notice of here, namely, the loss of one of the Spanish ships, that composed the famous Armada, intended for the conquest of England, in the year 1588, in consequence of their dispersion by a storm, after the action with the English fleet. She sunk in about 10 fathom water, at no great distance from the shore. It is difficult to assign a reason for the accident; the probability is, that coming up the Frith, with easy weather, and all sail up, and ports open, a sudden gust from the land, which often happens in narrow seas, had overset her. An attempt was made, some more than 50 years ago, by means of a diving machine, to examine her situation, and whether it was possible to weigh her up, or to recover what was most valuable belonging to her. The diver reported, that from the size of her guns, she appeared to have been a capital ship; and a very large chest was perceived fixed upon deck. The operation succeeded so far, that some fine brass guns were brought up, and a smaller iron one, which still lies upon the beach. This piece of ordnance, has undergone many inspections, and various opinions have been formed about the weight of its shot. To judge from the caliber of it, in its present corroded state, it seems to have been a 14 or 16 pounder. A second attempt was to have been made, with a new and more complete apparatus, when, it is probable, much more of the wreck would have been recovered, but the death of one of the undertakers, unfortunately put an end to the scheme.'
OSA 1794.

An iron cannon, about 8ft long, traditionally from 'one of the large ships of the Spanish Armada which sank in about ten fathoms of water at no great distance from the shore' was recovered from the sea in 1740 and now lies at Portencross. Hewitt, after examining various accounts, concludes that the gun is either of late 16th or 17th century design, and is almost certainly Spanish. The remains of the ship that carried it lie somewhere between the point and Little Cumbrae. Although not necessarily a member of the Armada, as the Spanish navy was frequently in Scottish waters after 1588, it could be that the wreck was of a ship listed as 'fate unknown' by Philip's officials.
NSA 1845; G R Hewitt 1967.

NS 1756 4890. A much-rusted iron cannon, bearing an indecipherable coat of arms, lies on the beach 10.0m SE of Portencross Castle.
Visited by OS (DS) 12 September 1956

No change to the previous report. The cannon, 2.3m long with central pivot rods, rests on stone paving.
Visited by OS (JRL) 18 November 1982

Cannon re-sited 1990 to location outside administrative offices of Hunterston Power Station (NS15SE 28). Other discoveries probably from the same wreck in McLean Museum, Greenock.
(Undated) information in NMRS.



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References
Moir and Crawford, P and I (1988 )
Clyde shipwrecks,
Wemyss Bay, 77-8,
OSA (1791-9 )
The statistical account of Scotland, drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes,
Sinclair, J (Sir), Edinburgh, 12 (1794), 417n.,
Ridley, G (1984 )
Dive West Scotland,
London, 65, no. 104,