Lochend Loch, Coylton
Encyclopedia
Lochend Loch, once nearly 3 acres in surface area, is now only a small freshwater loch remnant in the South Ayrshire
Council Areas, lying on the hill above Joppa
, between Gallowhill and Lochend Farm, 0.5km from Coylton, in the parish of Coylton
and 3 miles from Ayr
. The loch once had a small island within it.
The OS maps suggest that the water flow could be controlled so as to set the level of the loch. OS maps also show that the size has been greatly reduced and in 2011 only a small area of open water survives, surrounded by wetland with no significant outflow remaining. The main drain sets the present water level and the previous ditch is now infilled for part of its length with a pipe within it.
The height differential between the present outflow and the presumed natural overflow is illustrated by the 'fossilised' lochshore features. A quoted depth of 4.3m or 14ft for the early 19th century is reflected by this evidence. Although the old lochs outflow passes close to the site of the now demolished Bridgend Cottages, no evidence of a watermill survives.
(Phylloscopus trochilus) are present, the European hare
(Lepus europaeus), Meadow Brown
, (Maniola jurtina), and Small Tortoiseshell
(Aglais urticae).
Plants found include typical wetland species such as sedges, willows, and rushes. Hedge woundwort is plentiful, as are Wild Angelica
(Angelica sylvestris) is plentiful, as are Hedge Woundwort
(Stachys sylvatica), Yellow flag Iris
(Iris pseudacorus), and Reed canary grass
, (Phalaris arundinacea). The open water area exhibits Yellow Pond-lily
(Nuphar lutea). Wild angelica, Reedmace (bullrush), yellow meadow vetchling, Yorkshire fog grass, Tussock grass, and Meadowsweet were also noted and Brooklime speedwell grows within the ditch of the Joppa Burn inflow.
. The Hamilton family purchased it within a year, and it remained with them until 1917, when it was sold to Mr. Earnest Coats, a director of the Paisley firm of thread manufacturers. In 1936, Sundrum was sold to a hotel syndicate and later the castle fell into disrepair before being restored again in recent times.
The site in 2011 had waterfowl shooting hides and feeding areas for pheasants. Light grazing was noticeable up to the fence around the open water.
may refer to the site of the feudal barony gallows. The death sentence involved hanging for men and women were drowned.
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
Council Areas, lying on the hill above Joppa
Joppa
Joppa appears in the Bible as the name of the now Israeli city of Yafo, otherwise known as Jaffa.Joppa can also refer to:-Locations:United Kingdom...
, between Gallowhill and Lochend Farm, 0.5km from Coylton, in the parish of Coylton
Coylton
Coylton is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is located east of Ayr, and west of Drongan, on the A70. Sundrum Castle Holiday Park is located to the west of the village, in the grounds of Sundrum Castle, which partly dates to the 13th century...
and 3 miles from Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
. The loch once had a small island within it.
The loch
Lochend Loch was a post-glacial 'Kettle Hole' lying within a substantial depression and fed by the relatively minor flow of the Joppa Burn, field runoff and rainfall, it's outflow running into the Water of Coyle as the Barwhey or Barquey Burn. A small islet is indicated on the early OS maps, no longer shown when the loch level was lowered in the late 1890s or early 1900s. Roy's map of 1747 shows the then sizeable loch with a roughly circular island near the centre of the loch; the outflow joined the Water of Coyle near Coyle bridge. Armstrong's map of 1775 shows the loch.The OS maps suggest that the water flow could be controlled so as to set the level of the loch. OS maps also show that the size has been greatly reduced and in 2011 only a small area of open water survives, surrounded by wetland with no significant outflow remaining. The main drain sets the present water level and the previous ditch is now infilled for part of its length with a pipe within it.
The height differential between the present outflow and the presumed natural overflow is illustrated by the 'fossilised' lochshore features. A quoted depth of 4.3m or 14ft for the early 19th century is reflected by this evidence. Although the old lochs outflow passes close to the site of the now demolished Bridgend Cottages, no evidence of a watermill survives.
Natural history of the site
The loch is eutrophic and is surrounded by a wide wetland margin that dries out progessively towards the surrounding pastures. Animals found at the site include Willow WarblerWillow Warbler
The Willow Warbler is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia...
(Phylloscopus trochilus) are present, the European hare
European Hare
The European hare , also known as the brown hare, Eastern Jackrabbit and Eastern prairie hare, is a species of hare native to northern, central, and western Europe and western Asia. It is a mammal adapted to temperate open country. It is related to the similarly appearing rabbit, which is in the...
(Lepus europaeus), Meadow Brown
Meadow Brown
The Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina, is a butterfly found in European meadows, where its larvae feed on grasses, such as Sheep's Fescue.Similar species are Gatekeeper and Small Heath ....
, (Maniola jurtina), and Small Tortoiseshell
Small Tortoiseshell
The Small Tortoiseshell is a well-known colourful butterfly.-Range:It is found in temperate Europe, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Siberia, China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan. There are a few records from New York City which, however, are believed to have arrived human-assisted.-Subspecies:*A. u. urticae...
(Aglais urticae).
Plants found include typical wetland species such as sedges, willows, and rushes. Hedge woundwort is plentiful, as are Wild Angelica
Wild Angelica
Wild Angelica is a species of plant that grows about one metre tall. It has broad, double-finned leaves. The stem is coarse, tubular and violet at the bottom, with broad leaf shafts.At the top the stem has fine hairs....
(Angelica sylvestris) is plentiful, as are Hedge Woundwort
Stachys sylvatica
Stachys sylvatica, commonly known as Hedge Woundwort, is a perennial grassland herb growing to 80 cm tall....
(Stachys sylvatica), Yellow flag Iris
Iris pseudacorus
Iris pseudacorus is a species of Iris, native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa. Common names include yellow iris and yellow flag...
(Iris pseudacorus), and Reed canary grass
Reed canary grass
Reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea, is a tall, perennial bunchgrass that commonly forms extensive single-species stands along the margins of lakes and streams and in wet open areas, with a wide distribution in Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America.-Description:The stems can reach 2.5...
, (Phalaris arundinacea). The open water area exhibits Yellow Pond-lily
Nuphar lutea
Nuphar lutea is an aquatic plant of the family Nymphaeaceae, native to temperate regions of Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia.-Growth:...
(Nuphar lutea). Wild angelica, Reedmace (bullrush), yellow meadow vetchling, Yorkshire fog grass, Tussock grass, and Meadowsweet were also noted and Brooklime speedwell grows within the ditch of the Joppa Burn inflow.
Sundrum Castle
The loch was not an ornamental feature of the grounds in the immediate vicinity of Sundrum Castle, however it lies quite close by. Duncan Wallace, son of Sir Robert Wallace and related to Sir William Wallace, commissioned the building of the present castle in the 1360's. The castle passed to Sir Alan de Cathcart before 1384 as Sir Duncan died without an heir. The estate remained in the hands of the Cathcart family seat until 1753, when it was sold by the 9th Lord Cathcart to John Murray of BroughtonBroughton
-Places:Canada* Broughton, Nova Scotia* Broughton Archipelago, British ColumbiaEngland* Broughton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire* Broughton, Cambridgeshire* Broughton, Craven, North Yorkshire* Broughton, Cumbria* Broughton, Greater Manchester...
. The Hamilton family purchased it within a year, and it remained with them until 1917, when it was sold to Mr. Earnest Coats, a director of the Paisley firm of thread manufacturers. In 1936, Sundrum was sold to a hotel syndicate and later the castle fell into disrepair before being restored again in recent times.
Uses
In the 19th century Lochend Loch was used for curling and probably ice skating. St. Quivox v Coylton is recorded for 20 Jan. 1820 and gagain on 9th January 1862, both times playing for the Coylton medal. The presence of a small island is indicative of its use for breeding and hunting wildfowl and it is likely to have been used for fishing as fish were present.The site in 2011 had waterfowl shooting hides and feeding areas for pheasants. Light grazing was noticeable up to the fence around the open water.
Micro history
The loch lay on the lands of Gallowhill Farm, part of the Sundrum Castle estate. The term GallowhillDule Tree
Dule or dool trees in Britain were used as gallows for public hangings. They were also used as gibbets for the display of the corpse for a considerable period of time after such hangings...
may refer to the site of the feudal barony gallows. The death sentence involved hanging for men and women were drowned.
See also
- CoyltonCoyltonCoylton is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is located east of Ayr, and west of Drongan, on the A70. Sundrum Castle Holiday Park is located to the west of the village, in the grounds of Sundrum Castle, which partly dates to the 13th century...
- Loch FergusLoch FergusLoch Fergus is a freshwater post-glacial 'Kettle Hole' sometimes recorded as Fergus Loch. It is quite visible and is situated in a low lying area close to the B742 road between the farms and dwellings of Trees, Lochfergus and Bowmanston in the Parish of Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The loch lies...
- Lindston Loch, South AyrshireLindston Loch, South AyrshireLindston Loch was a small freshwater loch situated within a glacial 'kettle hole.' The loch lies in the South Ayrshire Council Area, Parish of Dalrymple, Scotland.-The loch:...
- Martnaham LochMartnaham LochMartnaham Loch is a freshwater loch lying across the border between East and South Ayrshire Council Areas, 2km from Coylton, in the parishes of Coylton and Dalrymple, 3 miles from Ayr. The loch lies along an axis from north-east to south-west. The remains of a castle lie on a possibly artificial...
- Snipe LochSnipe LochSnipe Loch or Loch Snipe is a freshwater loch. It is situated in a low lying area close to the B742 road next to Clocaird Farm in the Parish of Coylton, East Ayrshire, Scotland...