Scotland holds a treasure trove of history in its many castles, both standing and ruins. Many of these castles were constructed in the 11th and 12th century and Kerelaw Castle is no exception. Unfortunately all that remains of Kerelaw Castle are the ruins.

Stevenston, Scotland is home to Kerelaw Castle, built in the 12th century. The castle has a very turbulent history. First held by the Lockhart’s who were given a land grant, it was passed to the Campbell’s of Loudoun and then to the Cunninghame’s of Kilmaurs. In 1488, while in the Cunninghame’s possession, the castle was burned to the ground as a result of a feud with the Earl of Eglinton. As an act of vengeance, the Cunninghames burned Eglinton Castle. Read the full story

The town of Stevenston derives its name from Stephan Lockhart. In 1170, Stephan Lockhart’s father received a land grant from the Lord High Constable, Richard de Morville. The first time the town is mentioned in a charter is 1240.

Coal mining was the town’s mainstay for several centuries until the coal pits were mined out toward the end of the 1800’s. During the 1900’s, explosive and chemical production was the town’s lifeblood. The town was devastated when ICI closed plants and reduced its presence in the town. Although the ICI site was taken over and is operated as Nobel Enterprises, the level of production is at a much smaller scale. Read the full story

In North Ayrshire, there are three towns that that form what is known as “Three Towns”. These towns are Stevenston, Saltcoats, and Ardrossan. The close proximity of these towns has led to their being dubbed “Three Towns”. These towns are so close that they are practically a single town. Residents of these three towns are known as “Three Towners”. Read the full story