History

The first reference to Montgreenan we have come across is contained in the description of the ancient county of Cuninghame by Timothy Pont in the period 1604-1608. In it he describes Mongrynen Castle as “…ane old strong Dunijon veil (well) and pleasantly planted ye inheritance of Cuninghame Laird thereof sone to the abott of Kilwinin quho wes brother to James Earle of Glencairne”.

The ruins of Montgreenan Castle lie in a loop of the river known as Lugton Water and this is one of our favourite walks from the hotel.
The Abbot of Kilwinning was shot at his gate in 1591, apparently having upset some of the locals. A pair of ancient gateposts still stands in the woods behind the hotel. It seems likely that the Abbot had a house in what now constitutes the field with the Highland cow between the hotel and the gateposts. The pillars at the entrance to the hotel appear to be from an earlier building but no other trace of the earlier house remains.

The present Mansion House was built by Sir Robert Glasgow in 1817. Sir Robert, in common with other entrepreneurs from the Glasgow area, made his fortune through a shipping company based in St Vincent in the West Indies, undoubtedly trading between Britain, Africa and the sugar plantations of the West Indies.

Montgreenan Mansion was a private dwelling until 1982, since when it has been a hotel. The building is Category A listed by Historic Scotland where an A listing signifies:

“Buildings of national or international importance, either architectural or historic, or fine little-altered examples of some particular period, style or building type.”