Historic Scotland - Stewarton

NOTES:
This is a good example of a small early 19th century estate which retains some elements
of a previous castle to the south east. The principal elevation of the house has welldetailed
Classical elements and good proportions. The estate retains some good
outbuildings close to the house, in particular a little altered, piended roof cottage.
Together with Robertland Lodge and Robertland Bridge (see separate listings) the house
forms an important small estate group.
Robertland is noted as belonging to Sir John Hunter Blair in the 1st Statistical Account of
Scotland of1791-9. The 2nd Statistical Account of1845, notes that the old castle of
Robertland which was formerly the stronghold of the Cunningham’s, Baronets of
Robertland, and situated behind the modern mansion of Alexander Kerr, Esq of
Robertland and James Paterson, in his History of the County of Ayr of 1852, notes that
Robertland was purchased by Alexander Kerr at the beginning of the 19th century,
probably around 1913.
Alexander Kerr was a native of Stewarton who had spent many years in America and
made his fortune in the tobacco trade. Davis (1991), suggests that the house may have
been built by David Hamilton, the renowned and prolific Glasgow architect, but currently
this has not been confirmed.
The house has since passed through a number of owners. In 1914, when the house was
lying empty, two suffragettes broke in through the conservatory window which lay to the
South, and set fire to the building. Only the front of the house was severely damaged and
this was restored shortly afterwards. The Estate was sold in 1913 and consisted of
2,243acres with 26 farms.
The initials IR and AR on one of the stones in the walled garden commemorates the
marriage of James VI of Scotland to Anne of Denmark of 1589.
List description updated as part of Stewarton Parish resurvey, 2009.
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