Ayton Castle

Earlier Houses: There were two earlier houses on, or near, the site of the current house. The first of these, a Medieval tower house, was replaced in the 18th century by a classical style house, which burned down in 1834.

Built / Designed For: William Mitchell-Innes

House & Family History: Ayton Castle, and its 6,000-acre estate, was sold in 2014.

Collections: Mark Twain visited in 1873 and insisted upon buying the dining room fire surround, which today remains in the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut.
Garden & Outbuildings: As of 2012, the Ayton Castle Estate comprised 6,000 acres.
Architect: David Bryce

Date of Birth: 1803
Date of Death: 1876
Nationality: British

Date: 1860-61
Designed: Extended Drawing Room and Family Wing and added Billiard Room

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Architect: James Maitland Wardrop

Date of Birth: 1824
Date of Death: 1882
Nationality: British
Notes: Edinburgh architect. Father of Hew Montgomery Wardrop.

Date: 1864-67
Designed: Raised Family Wing, extended Dining Room, Billiard Room, Kitchen Wing, and Stableyard. Added Smoking Room.

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Architect: James Gillespie Graham

Date of Birth: 1777
Date of Death: 1855
Nationality: British
Notes: Graham was a Gothic Revival architect with a large practice in Scotland. He specialized in Gothic churches and castellated country houses and was the leading practitioner of the Picturesque castle style house in the second and third decades of the 19th century.

Date: 1845-51
Designed: House for William Mitchell-Innes

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House Listed: Category A

Park Listed: Listed as a Garden & Designed Landscape
Current Seat / Home of: Brian Parsons and Richard Syred; here since 2014.

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Home family, 15th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: William Mitchell-Innes, until 1860; Alexander Mitchell-Innes, 1860-86; Mitchell-Innes family here from 1851 until 1895. Henry Liddell-Grainger, 1895-1905; Liddell-Grainger family (including Lady Christine de la Rue) here from 1895 until 2014.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

Ownership Details: The castle can be booked for events and accommodation
House Open to Public: Limited Access
Email: [email protected]

Awards: https://www.aytoncastle.co.uk

Historic Houses Member: Yes

House, Family & Collections History

Gardens, Outbuildings, Chapel & Church History

Architects

Listings for House & Park

Families Who’ve Lived Here / Current Ownership Type & Use

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