Dean Castle takes its name from ‘The Dean’ or wooded valley – a common place name in Scotland. The original keep dates from around 1350 with the Palace being added around 110 years later. Built by the Boyd family, it has strong historical connections with many people and events in Scottish history – Robert the Bruce who gave the lands to the Boyds, James III whose sister married a Boyd, the Covenanters – some of whom were imprisoned there, Bonnie Prince Charlie – whose rebellion was joined by the 4th Earl of Kilmarnock and Robert Burns who was encouraged to publish his poems by the Earl of Glencairn who owned the castle at the time.
The castle is situated in Kilmarnock’s Dean Castle Country Park and the castle and buildings form an important example of an accurately restored medieval Scottish courtyard castle. The castle houses the Howard de Walden Collection of arms and armour and tapestries, the Charles van Raalte collection of early musical instruments and items relating to Robert Burns.
Admission free.
Access to the Castle is part open access and part guided tour.
April– September: 11am – 5pm daily
October – March: Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Our Collection
Musical Instruments
This collection consists mainly of the van Raalte Collection, which encompasses around 100 European musical instruments. These include lutes and guitars from the 16th to the 18th centuries, with examples of work by famous makers like...
Keywords
Costume & textiles, Decorative & applied art, Music, Weapons & armour
Dean Castle
Dean Road
Kilmarnock
East Ayrshire
KA3 1BX
Tel: 01563 554902
Email:
john.thomson2@east-ayrshire.gov.uk
For more information visit:
http://www.visiteastayrshire.com
The Robert Burns Collection cared for by the National Burns collection Partnership is a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland