1. General theme of war, conflict, protection, arms and armour through the ages. War and conflict is not just about World War 2. The Castle was a family home through the ages and acted as a strong defence against attack.

2. Dean Castle during World War 2
- The 15th century Palace part of Dean Castle became a boys’ boarding school. Children from Glasgow were sent there for protection, as evacuees; but the Castle school also took local day pupils.
- The bell outside the front door was the school bell.
- Many of the rooms in all buildings, including the Dower House, were put into use as classrooms or as sleeping accommodation.
- Some of the Castle’s eerie ghost stories date to this time and were made up simply to stop the children from wandering about at night. The Keep was out of bounds for school purposes. Former boarders tell tales of the mischief they got up to and many have returned as adults to visit the Castle.
- The 14th century Keep was used as an air-raid observation look out post during WWII, due to its height and spectacular views over the landscape.
- Lord Howard de Walden – the Castle’s owner during the war - spent some time motoring in Germany before the war and knocked over a cyclist – who turned out to be the young Adolf Hitler! It is amazing to think how the course of history could have been changed – by a man from Kilmarnock!