The 'Magnificent Castle' of Culzean and the Kennedy Family

by Michael S. Moss

Explore Culzean Castle with this book!Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire coast is the most visited property of the National Trust for Scotland. This lavishly illustrated book tells the whole history of the castle. Michael Moss has carried out extensive research, drawing on estate records, original plans and family correspondence to create a major new history of the castle and a fascinating account of the running of a Scottish country estate. With new pictures, many of them in colour, and an accessible style, this is essential reading for anyone interested in Scottish history and Scottish architecture.Built in the late sixteenth century above a network of caves, the castle became a centre for smuggling during the eighteenth century. Sir Thomas Kennedy, 9th Earl of Cassillis, went on an extended grand tour in the 1750s and returned full of ideas as to how to improve his vast estates and home. His brother and heir commissioned Robert Adam to create his masterpiece and became bankrupt as a result. The estate was rescued when wealthy American cousins inherited it in 1792. Archibald Kennedy, 1st Marquess of Ailsa, completed the house and lavished money on the property.Key new account of Culzean’s history, going back four hundred years.*Beautifully produced and lavishly illustrated, with many new pictures.*Includes easy-to-read story of the family, plus family tree.*Essential reading for anyone interested in Scottish history and Adam architecture.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2002

Reviews

[Steve Pinder-Banthorpe · Rating 1 out of 5]

As an authoritative reference book, I'm sure it's as good as you can get, but endless names, dates and events became too mind-numbing for me after about ten pages and I ended up flicking through the rest looking at the many pictures and speed reading. What I got was an overall picture of wealth and privilege, which is, of course, de rigour with all aristocrats. Much information is given about the various building changes at Culzean, and the luxurious lives the Kennedy family lived but scant detail about how their wealth was gained and/or maintained other than through rich marriages and a nod to slavery. One wonders about the life of the peasants whose toil ultimately paid for it all.