The Barony of Kersland

The remains of Kersland Castle stand a short walk north-east of Dalry in North Ayrshire, beside the River Garnock. The old barony once stretched across seven hundred acres of fertile riverside land, including farms and mills. A tower built in the L-plan still forms part of East Kersland Farmhouse. The barmkin wall and its corner tower survive, showing how the place was defended centuries ago. A carved stone above the farmhouse door carries the Ker family arms and the date 1604. Nearby, the ruins of Kersland Mill lie beside the Powgree Burn below Tianna Falls.

The Kers family held the barony for more than five centuries, leaving a clear mark on local history. Their coat of arms, showing a chevron with three stars and the motto ‘Praise God’, was once displayed in Dalry church. The family produced notable figures such as Captain Thomas Crawford, who captured Dumbarton Castle for the young King James VI. Later, Robert Ker became a leading Covenanter, losing his estates and spending years in exile before returning to imprisonment. His story shows how the barony’s fortunes rose and fell with national events.

Visitors today see the tower built into the farmhouse, its thick walls still standing. The barmkin wall and corner tower give a sense of the old defences. The carved stone bearing the Ker arms and the date 1604 remains in place above the entrance. Downstream, the remains of Kersland Mill sit beside the burn, with traces of dams and mill ponds nearby. The surrounding fields and the nearby River Garnock complete the scene, linking past and present.