MORE than £50,000 has been awarded to Ardrossan Castle Heritage Society to stage a medieval carnival on Castle Hill.

The £53,304 Big Lottery Fund grant will enable Ardrossan Castle to come alive on Saturday, June 18 with the sights and sounds of medieval Scotland in a special celebration reconnecting people with their local heritage.

The project is the first in Scotland to receive funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s latest Our Place initiative, which supports local people to decide for themselves where Lottery money should be spent.

Dr Amanda Simpson of the Ardrossan Castle Heritage Society, said: “We are utterly thrilled to be the first recipient in Scotland of the latest Our Place funding from the Big Lottery Fund. This incredible support will help us host the carnival for at least three years.

“Ardrossan Castle Carnival 2016 will commemorate the recently uncovered story of the Privy Council of Scotland meeting in the castle, on June 18, 1546, to broker peace between two warring landowners.

“The meeting was presided over by Lord James Hamilton, the 2nd Lord of Arran and Regent for the four-year-old infant Mary, Queen of Scots.

“We believe this offers a tantalising clue to the historical significance of Ardrossan Castle in mid-16th century Scotland.”

The free carnival will transport visitors back to medieval Scotland with archery, birds of prey, jesters, a gun-firing display and lots, lots more.

Costumed tour guides and local performers will show visitors around the castle and church ruins sharing the unique Medieval and Bronze Age history of the site.

Dr Simpson added: “ACHS hope this event will help stimulate Ardrossan and the Castle as a place of local pride and a place to visit; for the local community as well as further afield.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to work with local community groups and businesses to host this amazing event together.”

Local groups and volunteers will play an important role in the success of the carnival.

Sue Martin from Les Amis d’Onno, a jousting group taking part, said: “All the team at Jousting Scotland are pleased to be a part of the Ardrossan Castle Carnival! It is fantastic to bring some real old fashioned entertainment into the 21st century!”

Announcing the first grant from the latest Our Place initiative, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chairperson, Maureen McGinn, said: “I am delighted that families and individuals living in Ardrossan will be the first to benefit from Our Place.

“The Ardrossan Castle Carnival is a wonderful example of people using Lottery money to learn more about their local history, encourage volunteering, share skills and knowledge and above all have fun spending time with others in their community.”

Follow Ardrossan Castle Heritage Society on Facebook here.