title: Dunlop Castle
text: # Dunlop Castle
  
  55°42′42″N 4°30′17″W﻿ / ﻿55.7117°N 4.5047°W﻿ / 55.7117; -4.5047
  
  Dunlop Castle was a 14th-century castle, about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north of Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland. A large Jacobean-style house, Dunlop House, was built on the site in 1833.
  
  The castle may be known alternatively as Hunthall.
  
  ## History
  
  The property belonged to the Dunlops from the 13th century.
  
  ## Structure
  
  There is no record of the structure of the castle. It was described as “"an ancient strong house fortified with a deep foussie [ditch] of water". There was a stone dated 1599 over the doorway (and it was transferred to the present house; it is inscribed, “"O Lord let ever thy blessings remain within this house".
  
  ## Tradition
  
  Dunlop cheese is said to have originated here,
  
  