2014

NS2882 : Ardencaple Tower: detail

taken 9 years ago, near to Rhu, Argyll And Bute, Scotland

Ardencaple Tower: detail
Ardencaple Tower: detail
For context, see NS2883 : Ardencaple Tower, where this feature can be seen above blocked-up windows and a plaque that is shown in NS2883 : Plaque on Ardencaple Tower, Helensburgh.

Although the castle was long associated with Clan MacAulay, the coat-of-arms shown here refers, instead, to Clan Campbell, members of which owned Ardencaple Castle for parts of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; the lymphads/galleys and Latin motto ("ne obliviscaris") refer to that clan. The Y-shaped elements are shakeforks.

I have found no reference that explains in detail the heraldry shown here. However, two coats-of-arms are incorporated, side by side (this is called "impalement"). The (viewer's) left-hand side contains the coat-of-arms of the Dukes of Argyll; the tower was built by Lord John Campbell, who would become the 7th Duke of Argyll.

I consider it likely that the right-hand side contains the arms of his third wife, Anne Cunninghame, whom he married in 1831, and who was probably his wife at the time when this tower was built; the shakefork is certainly a feature of the Cunninghame arms. As the end-note points out, the tower was built following a fire that damaged the north-western parts of the castle; that fire is said to have occurred in about 1830.

Click on the end-note title for more pictures of the tower.
Ardencaple Tower :: NS2883

Ardencaple Castle used to stand here (see LinkExternal link at Canmore for more information), but it was demolished c.1957 to make way for housing. All that remains of the building is Ardencaple Tower. Fire damaged the north-western section of the castle in about 1830, and Lord John Campbell (the future 7th Duke of Argyll) took the opportunity to make considerable additions, including this square tower, which, as a result, also came to be known as the Argyll Tower. The structure, which is situated above a precipice, presently bears two green navigation lights.


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Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Image Buckets ?: Closeup other tags: Ardencaple Tower Coat of Arms Architectural Detail Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Ardencaple Tower [4] ·
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NS2882, 59 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Lairich Rig   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 17 November, 2014   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 9 December, 2014
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 2822 8299 [10m precision]
WGS84: 56:0.5384N 4:45.4104W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 2822 8300
View Direction
Southwest (about 225 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Supplemental image
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