WHO OWNS AYRSHIRE'S STATELY HOMES? (3) CASSILLIS HOUSE

Ayrshire is graced by some beautiful manor houses and impressive stately homes, but more often than not few people actually know who owns them or lives there. To correct this "information blind spot," this series will endeavour to identify who the "Lords and Ladies of the Manor" are, and tell you a little bit about them.

Cassillis House has a long and varied history, with parts of the property going back to the 15th century or earlier. The 112-room house covers 15,682 square feet and has 13 bedrooms, a ballroom, a library, and a private cinema, and stands in 85 acres of grounds, overlooking the Doon River, about seven miles South of the town of Ayr. It is also a Category A listed building.

The house was the home of the Earls of Cassillis until the title passed in 1759 to Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean, and Culzean Castle became their family seat. Cassillis was then the home of the Marquess of Ailsa, except for a period in 1940s and 50s when the National Trust for Scotland were in charge.

On the 8th of June, 2009, it was purchased by Australian entrepreneur Kate Armstrong. 

Kate is the founder of price comparison site Confused.com, after she had sold her stake to Admiral for £21 million in 2004. Armstrong paid £3 million then embarked on a four-year restoration project, reportedly spending another £3.5 million. The project  to give the estate a facelift was was featured in 2013 on the BBC2 programme Restoration Home.

Armstrong appears to need the money back however. In 2014 she placed the castle on the market for £5 million, and then in 2016 slashed the price to £3.9 -- effectively a loss of £2.6 million on her investment.

It looks like Mrs. Armstrong may have inherited some of the bad luck of the Earls of Cassillis who lived here. 

David Kennedy, the 1st Earl of Cassillis, was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, the second Earl was murdered during an unsuccessful attempt to rescue James V and the third Earl was poisoned in France when he travelled there for the wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots.