Dean Castle is a beautiful, sprawling historical part of Scotland. It lively people and past have been at the heart of many events in the history of Scotland. It lies just to the north of Kilmarnock and the earliest known part of the castle is the large square called “The Keep”. In the year 1316 the Boyd family was handed the large parcel of land and estate by Robert I. He gave it to the Boyd’s for their loyal backing and support of him, during two important wars. The castle was then built in 1350. Read the full story

Kilmarnock Scotland gets its name from St. Memoc or Marnock. St. Mernoc first founded a church in Scotland and many settled the town of Kilmarnock, due to their love for the saint. Kil is also Celtic derived and stands for where the beloved saint now rests in peace. Many famous people have had connections one way or another with the area of Kilmarnock Scotland. Authors, painters, writers and many master craftsman, have all taken refuge in Kilmarnock over the past years. Read the full story

DEAN CASTLE was the family seat of the Boyds for over 400 years. Known as Kilmarnock Castle until about 1700 it was described by Pont in Dobie’s Pont’s Cuninghame, pp. 292-3:

“Killmernock Castle, it is a staitly faire ancient bulding arysing in tuo grate heigh towers and bult arround courtewayes vith fyne low buildings. It [sic] is veill planted and almost environed vith gardens, orchards, and a parke, it belonged first to ye Locartts, Lordes thereof, then to the Lord Soulis, and now the chieffe duelling almost for 300 zeirs of ye Lords Boyde.” Read the full story