In 1197, the castle was built by King
William the Lion of Scotland, who later in 1205 created a
burgh at Ayr.
Robert the Bruce burned the castle in August 1298 in order to keep it out of the hands of the English. The castle in 1542 was garrisoned by French troops and appears to have been demolished before the Cromwellian occupation between 1650–1651. ==References==