Archibald MacAulay, 9th laird (died 1752), began the process around 1700, and the sales continued under his sons - one of whom wrote a primer on shorthand in an effort to raise money. The fortunes of the Lairds of Ardincaple failed in the 18th century, and they were forced to divide and sell, piece by piece, the lands of Ardincaple and their other estates to pay debts. By this time the Laird of Ardincaple was considered the clan chief of Clan MacAulay. By the late 15th century or 16th century the lairds had adopted the surname MacAulay. From the Middle Ages the lands of Ardencaple were controlled by the Lairds of Ardincaple. In 1351 this place name was recorded as Airdendgappil. The word Ardencaple or Ardincaple has been said to be derived from the Gaelic Ard na gCapull, meaning "cape of the horses", or "of the mares", or "height of the horses".
Today, that sole remaining tower is used as a navigational aid for shipping on the Firth of Clyde. The original castle was thought to have been built sometime in the 12th century, and part of the remains of the original castle were said to have existed in the 19th century. Today, all that remains of the castle is a tower, perched on the edge of a plateau, looking down on a flat tract of land between it and the shore of the Firth of Clyde.
MacAulay lairds of Ardincaple: c.1460s-1760s.Īrdencaple Castle, also known as Ardincaple Castle, and sometimes referred to as Ardencaple Castle Light, is a listed building, situated about 1 statute mile (1.6 km) from Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Unknown lairds of Ardincaple: c.1100s-1460s.