Ayr Mount Historic Site

Ayr Mount is a Federal-era brick house set in the North Carolina Piedmont near Hillsborough, built in 1815 for the merchant William Kirkland and his wife, Margaret. Kirkland named the house for his former home in Ayr, Scotland, and commissioned it after establishing himself as one of Hillsborough's leading merchants — a grand brick residence that stood apart in a region of modest wooden dwellings. Once the center of a working farm of more than 500 acres, the property is crossed by a colonial-era road that traces a much older Native American trail. The house showcases the craftsmanship of the early nineteenth century, including the brick masonry of William Collier, the decorative joinery and mantels of Elhannon Nutt, and the stair and wainscoting of John Joyner Briggs. Acquired by Richard H. Jenrette in 1985 and carefully restored to its original paint colors and furnishings, Ayr Mount remains a remarkably intact example of the period and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the house and grounds are stewarded by the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation, which opens the site for tours, educational programs, and events.