The original site of Broadstone Castle (or Braidstone Castle) is just next to the small village of Gateside, about a half a mile east of Beith, in North Ayrshire. The castle is no longer there, but it’s rich history and local significance remain.

The ruins of Broadstone Castle or Braidstone remained until approximately 1850, but when the Broadstonehall Farm was being rebuilt, the entire castle was demolished and its stones were taken for its building works. However, the Broadstone Crags, the castle’s original site, still remains today. The vestiges of a garden and an avenue of trees also remained until the farm was constructed.

Broadstone Lime Kiln Wall

Due to the underlying geological condition of this place, many limestone quarries are found nearby. Lime kilns are used to produce lime for soil improvement, a common feature of this area before the Great Britain became fully industrialised. The last large traditional lime kiln could be found in Nettlehirst near Barrmill, and survived until the 1970s. Broadstone also has significant remains of one of the biggest of the early stone-built lime kilns. Lime kilns created substantial pollution in the whole area, which was only offset by the large employment opportunities it had created.

In the late nineteenth century, the Hessilhead castle was already described as a ruinous and roofless castle. By 1956, The Royal Commission officially reported that the castle had been entirely demolished.

Early recordings claim that back in 1604, the castle was encircled by a large moat and built on a loch. The moat has long since been filled in and the loch drained. By 1747, maps show the castle named as “Heeselhead”, and located in a farming community called Hazlehead. Further reports at that time describe the castle as a 15th to 17th century keep, which coincides with records showing an expansion built onto the castle by Francis Montgomerie in 1680.

Hessilhead was once home to the family of Lord Glasgow and after they departed, a Mr. Macmichael in 1776, removed the roof and left the estate to go to ruin. Circa 1887, it was reported as being treated as a garden. James D. Dobie, a historian and author, recorded the plunderer of Hessilhead as Carmichael, who removed sellable materials from the estate and also took off parts of the stone walls, and also cut down and sold a large old Yew tree. In the 60s, the remains of the estate were demolished as instructed by Howie of Dunlop.

Dobie also wrote that at south of the ravaged castle, a person can create a singular echo, which plaintively and slowly repeats the voice only once, throwing a melancholy aura over the area.

Now, there is a wildlife rescue center at Hessilhead run by Andy and Gay Christie for over twenty years. They rescue and nurture abandoned and injured mammals and birds, and treat over 3000 animals annually. They even have a swan treatment facility, X-ray equipments and a surgery room, as well as a part-time veterinarian.