The Kennedy
family coat of arms, as worked in petit point on a pole screen
displayed in the Old Eating Room at Culzean Castle The Kennedy
family coat of arms, as worked in petit point on a pole screen
displayed in the Old Eating Room at Culzean Castle
If we could go far enough back in history, we could be certain of the origins of the Kennedys. Some sources suggest that the original base is Irish, others that the family is completely Scottish. We can only go by the documentation which is available, the rest is supposition.
Claiming descent from the Earls of Carrick and affinity with the Bruce family. The earliest official mention of the Kennedys in south Ayrshire (or Carrick, as it used to be called), was the granting of land to John Kennedy of Dunure in 1358. He was recorded as being Steward of Carrick in 1367, although as early as 1243 the steward of Carrick was Gillescop MacKenedi. There were other mentions of the name in various guises at around the same time (MacKenedy / Makenedy / MacKenede) demonstrating the rising importance of the family. The very earliest mention that I have come across is that of "Gilbert MacKenedi who witnessed a charter of the Doon Fishings in William the Lion's reign (1165-1214)" (The Kennedys, Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran, 1958, p6).
The first Lord Kennedy was Gilbert in 1458. Earl of Cassillis (taken from the ownership of Cassillis House - since 1373 through marriage) was the title given to David in 1509. He died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
"Cullean" was the name of a manor house owned by Sir Thomas Kennedy, brother of the 4th Earl and guardian (known as the "Tutor of Cassillis") of his son the 5th Earl. Sir Thomas acquired the ruined tower house of "Coif" in the 1590s, rebuilt it and brought the name with him from his former home. It was around two centuries later that the spelling acquired the "z".
The Tutor of Cassillis (1549-1602)
from a painting displayed at Culzean Castle
(artist unknown)
Every family needs its "Black Sheep" - The Tutor of Cassillis achieved notoriety through his part in the family feud which set one branch against another resulting in 'murder & mayhem' and eventually in his own murder. The "Roasting of the Abbot of Crossraguel Abbey" is a famous tale whereby the Abbot was roasted alive by the Earl and the Tutor, in "the black vaults of Dunure Castle" in a bid to obtain the ownership of the Abbey lands. The abbot later reneged on the forced signature but the family did acquire the lands and I'm pleased to say that the Abbot lived to tell the tale!
The Tutor is painted in a much kinder light by the author S R Crocket, in "The Grey Man" - but I think that he looks decidedly 'shifty' (I certainly wouldn't buy a second hand horse and carriage from him!), but you must judge for yourself!
Upon the death of the 8th Earl of Cassillis, the nearest male relative was a descendant of the Tutor - another Thomas, who became the 9th Earl. He was a bachelor who had great plans for Culzean, he liked the place so much that instead of moving to Cassillis House on his inheritance, he decided to stay and make improvements.
The old tower house had grown considerably over the last 200 years and the result was rather a hotch-potch. Thomas had plans drawn up by the architect Robert Adam, but sadly he died before they could be put into effect. It was his unmarried brother, David, on becoming the 10th Earl who put aside these plans and went on to create Culzean much as we see it today. He also commissioned Adam to design the new building - in a much grander manner than before.
From a portrait in the Picture Room at Culzean, painted by Pompeo Batoni whilst David was on his grand tour
- you wouldn't dream of coming home without a portrait by someone famous!)
After David's death in 1792 (the year that the Castle was completed), the title passed to an 'American' branch of the family (Captain Archibald Kennedy of the Royal Navy, living at 1 Broadway, New York). Sadly, the new Earl lived for only 2 years and the title then passed to his son, who went on to be created firstly, Baron Ailsa of Ailsa and then 1st Marquess of Ailsa (1831). His great grandson, the 3rd Marquess (founder of the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company- 1885), made alterations to Culzean during his long lifetime and some of these have been incorporated into the Culzean which you will find today. It was he who displayed the 716 flintlock pistols and 367 swords (you can count them if you like and let me know if I'm right!)on the walls of the Armoury in a most dramatic array. These along with the canon outside, were to 'fight off Napoleon', and issued to the local volunteer force The West Lowland Fencible Regiment. This force was disbanded soon afterwards and the Ayrshire Yeomanry was formed.
Although the family stayed for a few years in the West Wing of the house after it was given to the Trust, they have since made Cassillis House their family home. The title is presently held by Charles, who is the 8th Marquess of Ailsa and 19th Earl of Cassillis.
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