The historic Kilmarnock and Troon Railway is a nine and a half mile stretch of railway. It was constructed by a man named William Bentinck, who was the 4th Duke of Portland and was built for a mere 42,000 pounds. It was built to carry loads of coal from mines located in the western area of Kilmarnock to the area of Troon. With the building of this railway, the Troon area began to blossom. Mr. Bentinck, also built docks north, around the harbor of Troon. This improved the areas 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