Rozelle estate
The Estate of Rozelle is a beautiful estate that was gifted to the public in 1968
by Commander J. Hamilton, on the understanding that it be utilised for cultural
and recreational pursuits only.
The gardens of Rozelle combine mature woodland, rhododendron walks, parkland and
ornamental ponds, to produce a rich and varied landscape for all visitors.
Rozelle is often used for a variety of sporting events throughout the year and is
the venue of the Ayr Flower Show.
Once you have enjoyed the walks around the estate you may wish to explore the Maclaurin Galleries in Rozelle house and have a coffee at the Rozelle Café.
Historic
Robert Hamilton of Bourtreehill purchased the land on which the Estate is situated
at the sale of the Barony lands in 1754. He originally named the Estate after a
former property that he owned in Jamaica. The original house was a square Georgian
Mansion in the "Adam" style, while the porch & the extension to the
rear were built around 1860.
The existing Estate comprises 96 acres of mixed woodlands, parkland and pond, and
was gifted to the town of Ayr in 1968 by Lieutenant Commander J. Hamilton, R.N.
(Retired) with the proviso that the estate be used for cultural and recreational
purposes only. It is interesting to note that from the time the house was built
to the time the estate was gifted to the town of Ayr it was solely occupied by the
Hamilton family.
The Maclaurin Galleries are housed in what were the stables and servants quarters.
This was only made possible by Mrs. Mary Maclaurin who gifted a sum of money to
the town, which permitted the restoration of these buildings & the establishment
of the Art Gallery, which was opened in 1976.
Visitors maybe interested to know that the "gardens" are thought to be
of conservation value. The Countryside Commission and Nature Conservancy Council
identified eight sites within South Ayrshire that were of particular importance,
Rozelle being one of them.
Wildlife
Rozelle has a great range of common bird and animal life. Around the pond area you
will be likely to see mallards, swans, moorhens and herons. While in the woodland
and parkland areas you will find blackbirds, collard doves, blue tits, housemartins
and swallows, woodpeckers, tree creepers and wrens, sparrow hawk and tawny owls.
Mammals include: - grey squirrels, stoat, weasel and foxes.
Woodland
The woodland of Rozelle is one of its most important features. The shelterbelt dates
back to the time of the purchase of the land in 1754, some of the original Yew,
Beech, Sycamore and Horse Chestnut trees can still be seen. Many of the original
parkland trees still stand and can be seen on the McDermont plan of 1834; there
are also more recent plantings, date around the 1900's - Oak, Acer and Elm. Some
of the most interesting trees within the Estate centre around the house and include:
- The Cedar of Lebanon which is reputed to have been planted on the completion of
the house; the Camperdown Elms, Holm Oak, Cut Leaf Beech and the very impressive
Wellingtonia.