Ayr Mount is a Federal style plantation house located east of Hillsborough, in Orange County, North Carolina, the United States of America.Ask Inspirock to suggest an itinerary and make planning a trip to Hillsborough fast, fun, and easy.
In 1799, William Kirkland (born in Ayr, Scotland) bought 500acre east of Hillsborough. Circa 1815, he had a home built for himself, his wife, Margaret, and their children. The brick dwelling consists of a two-story, three bay main block flanked by one-story, two bay wings. It features a one-story, full width front porch added about 1894.
The Kirkland family lived at Ayr Mount for four generations, with the last Kirkland, Mrs. Samuel (Emily) Kirkland, residing at Ayr Mount until 1985.
The property had gone through several owners prior to Kirkland's purchase of the property, the most well-known being William Few, Jr., whose father, William Few, Sr., had a house built on the property c. 1764.
Today, Ayr Mount is a publicly accessible historic site located on 265acre. It is owned and operated by Classical American Homes Preservation Trust. The home has been furnished with Federal period antiques and decorative art, including some original Kirkland furnishings. Ayr Mount features guided house tours and the one-mile (1.6 km) hiking trail the "Poet's Walk."
Source
Ayr Mount Historic Site reviews
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The grounds and the exterior of the house are the main things to see here as the interior of the house is closed for tours. Not sure if it is closed due to Covid or if they ever plan to reopen the...
The grounds and the exterior of the house are the main things to see here as the interior of the house is closed for tours. Not sure if it is closed due to Covid or if they ever plan to reopen the... more »
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Ate is a beautiful house just outside the historic town of Hillsborough. As indicated by other reviews was built in 1815 by a Scottish Merchant We did but take the tour which wasn't offered when we.... more
Ate is a beautiful house just outside the historic town of Hillsborough. As indicated by other reviews was built in 1815 by a Scottish Merchant We did but take the tour which wasn't offered when we.... more »
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I just love the historic homes in our country. They vary depending on the region but here in the south, you can always see the large plantation like homes and just imagine what it was like to live in that time. Ayr Mount is no exception. The property is vast and you can walk about unrestricted to enjoy all that it offers. The Poet's Walk is a lovely walk as well as walking about the house or sitting outside in an Adirondack chair (scattered on the property) and just enjoying the peaceful setting and sounds of nature. The property has the house, trails, a small family cemetery, and ample parking. Great to take a picnic or to bring the kids out to let them run about in the open land.
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Cool to have a place like this in historic Hillsborough that you can visit for free. I'll likely make the Poets Walk trail a regular visit, it'll be a nice walk on lunch during work. Plenty of reason to drag the big camera around too, lots to see.
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