Monkcastle, Monk Castle sometimes known as Old Monkcastle formed a small estate in the Parish of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire lying between Kilwinning and Dalry on the A737. The property was originally held by the Tironensian monks of Kilwinning Abbey and was probably the site of the abbot's country retreat. The 17th-century Monkcastle is a category B listed ruin, although it has been consolidated and stands next to a private house, constructed from the converted old home farm buildings. The 19th-century mansion of Monkcastle House is nearby, and is also category B listed. The castle may have been used as a dower house or retreat. History Timothy Pont, in about 1606, described Monkcastle as "a pretty fair building veill planted". Abbots of Kilwinning Monkcastle was the administrative centre for the north-west portion of the extensive estates held by the monks of Kilwinning Abbey. Rents were collected here, leases arranged, etc. It was associated with the monk's mill at Craigmill, Dalry. The commendator, Alexander Hamilton, became the Duke of Chatelherault, and under this French title he obtained the tower of Monkland, later Monkcastle, from the last abbot, Gavin Hamilton. He also obtained Dalgarven, Auchenkist, and Birklands. Monkcastle was a "part of the ancient halydom of Kilwinning, which about this time was beginning to be parcelled out by the Abbots, to whoever would best remunerate them for the ostensible gift, foreseeing that their own possession was becoming doubtful and unsteady." Alexander passed the property to Claud, his third son, who became Commendator of Paisley, at the age of ten, duly ratified and approved by Pope Julius III in 1553; this may account for the mitred head which appears in a panel above the doorway, together with other sculptures, typical of early 17th-century castles and also found at sites such as Barholm, Ardblair, and Dundarave. Salter sees two of the carvings as being lizards with human heads and Close and Riches see them as 'watchful dragons. They appear to be more like head lice. Monkcastle The ruins of Monkcastle are in woodland to the west of the A737 trunk road on the right bank of the River Garnock, south of Dalry and north of Kilwinning and represent a small, late 16th or early 17th century 'T-plan' laird's house which has replaced some of the earlier structures that stood on the site; a Monkcastle is recorded in 1536. The castle measures around 48 ft by