Client: East Ayrshire Council
Location: East Ayrshire
Value: £5,000,000
Status: Complete

The Castle Site was developed in 1350 when Robert the Bruce rewarded Sir Robert Boyd lands in Kilmarnock. The Keep was the first part of the castle to be built by Sir Thomas Boyd (son of Sir Robert Boyd). About 110 years later a Palace was built beside the earlier tower keep at a time when Lord Boyd served as James III’s guardian. In 1735 there was an accidental fire in the palace kitchen. This spread into the thatch roof and onto the roof of the keep. The castle was in complete ruin.  Due to financial problems, William Boyd 4th Earl of Kilmarnock could not afford to repair the castle. In 1899 Howard De Walden, 8th Lord, inherited the estate.   He arrested the decay of centuries and restored the castle, though not strictly speaking with any degree of historical accuracy. 

Lord de Walden was an avid collector of arms and armour, as well as early musical instruments.   Both collections are now housed in the castle and are among the finest such collections in Europe. In 1975 the 9th Lord de Walden gave Dean Castle to the town of Kilmarnock, and its grounds became a popular country park. The current project is funded by Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) and covers a 4 year program to carry out major stonework repairs to the Keep, Palace, Gatehouse, Dower House and the old laundry buildings.

Internally the Keep, Palace and Laundry buildings are to be electrically upgraded / rewired and new heating installed. Working with the conservation accredited Architect, routes for cabling and pipework are carefully planned to minimize the impact of the services installation within Castle buildings.  Wireless fire alarm system installed to avoid the  need for additional wiring requirements. Within the Palace and Keep each area will be fitted with display cabinets and various interpretation features which include audio and visual presentation. The old laundry buildings are being refurbished to create a renovation workshop and a stone masons display and teaching / training areas.