Last week two castle prominent experts visited Ardrossan Castle.

David Caldwell the retired Keeper of Scotland and Europe, and Archaeology at the National Museums of Scotland and Geoffrey Stell a renowned buildings historian were in town as part of an ongoing project.

Following the visit, David said: “Geoffrey is a leading expert on castles, having spent most of his career working for the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS). We are planning a conference in April 2020 for the Castle Studies Group. It will be based in Irvine and involve visiting several Ayrshire Castles. Ardrossan will be one of the key sites. The conference will be attended by many of the main experts on medieval castles from Britain and Ireland.”

Ardrossan Castle Heritage Society is delighted that the town’s castle has been chosen. Secretary Amanda Simpson described the prospect as “massive”.

Being approved for the study by two highly-regarded specialists is an honour for the society.

Ardrossan-born David wrote a document on Ardrossan Castle in 1972 that is still referred to today. He has authored several books since then and is currently President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Geoffrey is the retired Head of Architecture at RCHAMS and, like David, is a prolific writer. The Society looks forward to its involvement with the Castle Studies Group.