Brodick Castle was originally a mid 13th century stone rectangular enclosure fortress, founded by the Stewarts of Menteith. Encased by a water-filled rock-cut ditch, the eastern wall was pierced by a simple entrance, flanked on its north side by a substantial round tower. In the late 13th or early 14th century, a massive barbican was constructed to defend this entrance and its truncated remains still survive. Occupied by English troops under King Edward I during the Wars of Independence, in 1307 it was recaptured the Scots. The castle was damaged by English ships in 1406 and by the MacDonald Lord of the Isles in 1455. In the early 16th century a tower house of three storeys and an attic, was added by the Hamiltons but this was torched in 1528 and 1544. Extended and remodelled in the mid 16th century by the Regent Arran, in the mid 17th century occupying Cromwellian forces added an eastern battery. The Dukes of Hamilton made extensive additions in the late 18th and early 19th century, when the castle was absorbed in the construction of a Scottish baronial mansion. 12 miles south is Kildonan Castle and 13 miles north-west is Lochranza Castle.