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Ayr CitadelAyr citadel was built using stones from nearby Ardrossan Castle. The turret on the wall facing the swimming pool is known as Miller's Folly, after John Baron Miller who bought the land and added window's to the sentinel post. Standing roughly at the centre of the citadel is St. John's Tower. This dates from the 14th century and is all that remains of the older Church of St. John. In 1315 Robert the Bruce attended a Scottish Parliament in the tower while John Knox also preached here - the latter's son-in-law was the minister from 1600-6. Knox's daughter is said to be buried near the tower. Maggie Osborne is also said to be buried here. She was supposed to be a witch and used witchcraft to sink a ship in the harbour. She also turned herself into a beetle and placed a curse on a shepherd that almost crushed her. The shepherd, his wife and children were killed soon after. Osborne may have been confused with Maggie Wallace. There is no evidence that the former was a witch, however the latter was burnt at the stake in 1692. |
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