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