During the Wars of Independence in 1304, Fergus of Ardrossan was part of the Scottish force at Stirling Castle which was besieged by Edward II. Unable to hold out against the English king, they surrendered. Fergus was among the prisoners taken back to England. He was held first at Newcastle before being taken to Corfe Castle in Dorset.
Whilst Fergus languished in captivity, the Ardrossan lands – including Ardrossan Castle – were given to an English nobleman, Sir William Latimer. When Fergus was eventually released in 1312, the Scottish king, John Balliol, was unable to return his Ardrossan lands and Fergus was instead forced to settle near Kilmarnock.
Following the battle of Bannockburn, however, Robert the Bruce returned the family’s lands and Fergus became a staunch supporter of Bruce. Fergus accompanied Bruce’s brother Edward on an expedition to Ireland, where he is thought to have met his death in a battle at Ardoyne in 1316. His son was one of 32 Scottish noblemen who signed the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.
