Stewarton is a town located in
East AyrshireEast Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders onto North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
,
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. In comparison with the neighbouring towns of
KilmaursKilmaurs is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It lies on the Carmel, 21.1 miles south by west of Glasgow by the Glasgow & South-Western railway. Pop. , 1803.- History :...
,
FenwickFenwick is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland, UK. As of 2001, its population was 863.Fenwick is the terminus of the M77 following its extension which was opened in April 2005, at the beginning of the Kilmarnock bypass....
, Dunlop and
LugtonLugton is a small village or hamlet in East Ayrshire, Scotland with a population of 80 people. The A736 road runs through on its way from Glasgow, to the north, to Irvine in North Ayrshire. Uplawmoor is the first settlement on this 'Lochlibo Road' to the north and Burnhouse is to the south...
, it is a large town, with a population of 6,582
[Scotland's Census Results OnLine 2001]. It is 300 feet above sea level.
[Groome, Francis H. (1903). Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland. Pub. Caxton. London. P. 1506.]
The town is served by
Stewarton railway stationStewarton railway station is a railway station in the town of Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Glasgow South Western Line.- History :...
.
King Malcolm Canmore and Friskin
Historical records show that Stewarton has existed since at least the 12th century with various non-historical references to the town dating to the early 11th century. The most famous of these non-historical references concerns the legend of Máel Coluim III the son of Donnchad I of Scotland who appears as a character in
William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's play
MacbethThe Tragedy of Macbeth, commonly just Macbeth, is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
. As the legend goes,
Mac BethadMac Bethad mac Findlaích was King of the Scots from 1040 until his death...
had slain Donnchad to enable himself to become king of Scotland and immediately turned his attention towards Donnchad's son Máel Coluim (the next in line to the throne). When Máel Coluim learned of his father's death and Mac Bethad's intentions to murder him, he fled for the relative safety of
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Unfortunately for Máel Coluim, Mac Bethad and his associates had tracked him down and were gaining on him as he entered the estate of Corsehill on the edge of Stewarton. In panic Máel Coluim pleaded for the assistance of a nearby farmer named either Friskine or Máel Coluim (accounts differ) who was forking hay on the estate. Friskine/Máel Coluim covered Máel Coluim in hay, allowing him to escape Mac Bethad and his associates. He later found refuge with
King HarthacanuteHarthacnut was a Danish-Norman King of Denmark from 1035 to 1042 as well as King of England from 1040 to 1042...
, who reigned as Canute II, King of England and Norway and in 1057, after returning to Scotland and defeating Mac Bethad in the Battle of Lumphanan in 1057 to become King of Scots, he rewarded Friskine's family with the Baillie of Cunninghame to show his gratitude to the farmer who had saved his life 17 years earlier. The Cunninghame family logo now features a "Y" shaped fork with the words "over fork over" underneath - a logo which appears in various places in Stewarton, notably as the logo of the two primary schools in the area - Lainshaw primary school and Nether Robertland primary school.
Another reference to Stewarton, this time a historical recorded version, is that one Wernebald was given the Cunninghame lands by his superior,
Hugo de MorvilleHugh de Morville was a Norman knight who made his fortune in the service of David fitz Malcolm, Prince of the Cumbrians and King of Scots .His parentage is said by some to be unclear, but G. W. S...
, the builder of
Kilwinning AbbeyKilwinning Abbey is a ruined abbey located in the centre of the town of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.- History :It was a Tironensian monastic community dedicated to Saint Winning, founded sometime between 1162 and 1188 with monks coming from Kelso...
who lived at this time in Tour near Kirkland in Kilmaurs. The family were originally from
Morville- Belgium :* Morville, Belgium, a part of Florennes in the province of Namur- France :* Morville, Manche, in the Manche département* Morville, Vosges, in the Vosges département* Morville-en-Beauce, in the Loiret département...
in
NormandyNormandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is situated along the English Channel coast of Northern France between Brittany and Picardy and comprises territory in northern France and the Channel Islands.Normandy is divided between French and British...
(Wernebald was from
FlandersFlanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands...
) and had been established in Scotland for at least twenty years when one of the family was involved in the murder of
Thomas BecketThomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to his death. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
.
Dervorguilla of GallowayDervorguilla of Galloway , was a 'lady of substance' during the 13th century, wife from 1223 of John, 5th Baron de Balliol, and mother of the future king John I of Scotland. The name Dervorguilla or Devorgilla was a Latinization of the Gaelic Dearbhfhorghaill...
, mother of
John BalliolJohn de Balliol was elected King of Scots from 1292 to 1296.-Early life:Little of John's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location, possibilities including Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham...
, was a daughter of the Morvilles on her mother's side, and when Robert the Bruce won the crown the family of Balliol lost their lands in Cunninghame. The Red Comyn, whom Bruce murdered, was a nephew of Balliol. William Cunninghame de Lamberton was Archbishop of St. Andrews and a supporter of Bruce.
Pont in 1604 - 08 records that so thickly was the district about Stewarton and along the banks of the Irvine populated for a space of three or four miles "
that well traveled men in divers parts of Europe (affirm) that they have seen walled cities not so well or near planted with houses so near each other as they are here, wherethrough it is so populous that, at the ringing of a bell in the night for a few hours, there have seen convene 3000 able men, well-horsed and armed."
The Murder of the 4th Earl Of Eglinton
Another significant event from Stewarton's history involves the Cunninghame family. In the 16th century Ayrshire was divided into three regions or
bailiariesA baillie was a local civic officer in Scottish burghs, approximately equivalent to the post of alderman or magistrate in other countries. They were responsible for a jurisdiction called a bailiary...
-
KyleKyle is a former comital district of Scotland which stretched across parts of modern day East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire...
,
CarrickCarrick is a former comital district of Scotland which today forms part of South Ayrshire.-History:The word Carrick comes from the Gaelic word Carraig, meaning rock or rocky place. Maybole was the historic capital of Carrick. The county was eventually combined into Ayrshire which was divided...
and Cunninghame. The two powerful families residing in Cunninghame - the Cunninghame's and the Montgomeries - had been involved in a dispute over landholdings which came to a head in 1586 when Hugh, 4th the Earl of
EglintonEglinton can refer to:United Kingdom*Eglinton, County Londonderry, a village in Northern Ireland**RAF Eglinton, a former air base nearby, now City of Derry Airport*Earl of Eglinton, a peerage title in the Peerage of Scotland...
was attacked at the ford on the river
AnnickThe Annick Water is the largest tributary of the River Irvine. The river runs from Long Loch, just inside East Renfrewshire, in a generally south-western direction through North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire, to confluence with its parent river at Irvine, North Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland...
(which flows through Stewarton) by 30 or so members of the Cunninghame family and shot dead by John Cunninghame of Clonbeith. Hugh was on his way to attend the court of King James VI at Stirling when he decided to stop off at Langshaw house (now Lainshaw house which was for a long time a home for the elderly) to dine with his associates. The lady of the house Lady Montgomery - told several of her Cunninghame associates who lived in the area of the Earl's planned visit. As a response to the killing the Montgomery family declared they would kill every Cunninghame who had been at the river that day and a series of 'tit for tat' killings were carried out between the two families. John Cunninghame of Clonbeith was eventually slain in Hamilton, Scotland, but several of those responsible for the murder fled to
DenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe and the senior member of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries; southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and it is bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark borders both the Baltic and the North Sea...
and were eventually granted a pardon by King James upon his marriage to
Anne of DenmarkAnne of Denmark was queen consort of Scotland, England, and Ireland as the wife of King James VI and I.The second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark, Anne married James in 1589 at the age of fourteen and bore him three children who survived infancy, including the future Charles I...
.
Lady Montgomery, who was alleged to have signaled the murderers by placing a white 'napkin' on a window sill, is said to have escaped and lived with her retainer Robert Kerr at Pearce Bank (now High Peacockbank) for several years until the 'hue and cry' died down at which point she returned to the castle and was not molested on the understanding that she did not 'show her face' outside of the grounds. A path known as the 'Weeping or Mourning Path' runs upstream from the Annick (previously Annack or Annock Water) ford and this is where the Earl's widow is said to have wept as she later followed the trail of blood left behind as his panicked horse took him away. The Earl's body was placed in Lainshaw Castle until arrangements were made to remove it to Eglintoun Castle.
Corsehill and Ravenscraig Castles
The name Ravenscraig or Reuincraig is derived from 'Ruin Crag', i.e. ruined castle. Godfrey de Ross and his family of Corsehill Castle were Lords of Liddesdale in the Borders and later on the
CunninghameCunninghame is a former comital district of Scotland and also a district of the Strathclyde Region from 1975 – 1996.-Historic Cunninghame:...
s became the holders. Corsehill (also Crosshill) castle is said to have been on the east side of the Corsehill Burn.
The 1860 OS map does record the site of Templehouse which had a small fortalice associated with it and its site was at Darlington, the village which lay just beyond Stewarton on the Kingsford road before the East Burn. Corsehill castle is shown in one old print of 1691 by Gross as Corsehill House and substantial remains existed until the railway was constructed and most of the ruins were used to build the embankment. It is recorded that an avenue of trees ran down from the well planted Corsehill into Stewarton. The single tower that remains today (2006) of Ravenscraig / Corsehill was repaired to stabilise it.
It seems that Ravenscraig and Corsehill Castles were separate entities, and that a vague memory of Templehouse and its fortalice at Darlington on the lands of Corsehill farm, may have caused some extra confusion as in the King’s Kitchen tale of the location of the Baronial residence. An area opposite the site of Templehouses was known as 'The Castle' and this may reflect the existence of the castle or fortalice here (Hewitt 2006).
Archibald Adamson in his 'Rambles Round Kilmarnock' of 1875 only records three castles, these being Robertland, Auchenharvie and Corsehill. He makes no mention of the name Ravenscraig, calling the site he visited Corsehill. Aitken only marks Crosshill Castle in 1829 on the west side of the Corsehill Burn. The first OS maps show only the existing castle site, so the new survey has not perpetuate the error.
To sum up, the map in Pont's 'Cuninghame' of 1604-8 shows two buildings, "Reuincraige" and "Corshill", at approximately NS 417 467 and NS 422 465 respectively, and Dobie (1876) comments that the two have often been confused, but that "Reuincraig" stood on the W of the Corsehill Burn and "Corsehill Mansion" on its E. "Reuincraig", he says, was so modernised about 1840 that it was difficult to realise that it had been ruined in 1608, while the ruins of "Corsehill" were removed about the beginning of the 19th century and only foundations could be traced when he wrote. He also thought that "Reuincraig" (i.e. Ruin Craig) was not an original name. If Dobie is correct, the ruins published as "Corsehill Castle" on the OS 6", must be those of "Reuincraig", both because they are standing remains, and because they are on the W bank of the burn. Macgibbon and Ross, describing "Corsehill Castle" at the end of the 19th century as a very ruinous mansion, evidently of late date and apparently of the L-plan, and ascribe it to the period 1542-1700, must be referring to "Reuincraig". Grose, in 1791, published an illustration of "Corshill House", but does not give it a close siting. As, however, he mentions that "at a small distance from this ruin are some small remains of a more ancient building belonging to the same family", he is also probably referring to "Reuincraig", the "small remains" being those of "Corsehill". (Grose 1791); (MacGibbon) and (Ross 1889).
General Roy's Military Survey of Scotland (1745 - 55) marks 'Ravenscraig' as 'Old Corsehill' and also marks the 'new' Corsehill on the other side of the burn, thereby apparently confirming that they both had the same name and one replaced the other, although only 'Old Corsehill' is still in anyway visible, just the foundations of 'new' Coresehill being apparent in 2007. The same map shows buildings named 'Temple' in the area of 'Templehouse'.
The Stewarton Flower
The Stewarton Flower, so named due to its local abundance and recorded as such by the Kilmarnock Glenfield Ramblers, is otherwise known as
Pink PurslanePink Purslane may refer to:*Claytonia sibirica, a plant native to Siberia and North America*Calandrinia calyptrata, a plant native to Australia...
(
Claytonia sibirica) is found in damp areas. This plant was introduced from North America, quite possibly at the Robertland Estate.
In 1915 it was stated to have been in the area for over 60 years and was abundant on the
Corsehill BurnThe River Irvine is a river flowing through southwest Scotland, with its watershed on the Lanarkshire border of Ayrshire at an altitude of above sea-level, near Drumclog, and SW by W of Strathaven. It flows 29½ miles westward, dividing the old district of Cunninghame from that of Kyle, until it...
below Robertland in 1915. As far away as
Dalgarven MillDalgarven Mill is near Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland and home to the Museum of Ayrshire Country Life and Costume. The watermill has been completely restored over a number of years and is now run by the Dalgarven Mill Trust. The village of Dalgarven itself was largely destroyed by the...
the white flowered variety still dominates. The plant is very adept at reproducing by asexual plantlets and this maintains the white gene pool around Stewarton. The pink variety has not been able to predominate here, unlike almost everywhere else in the lowlands of Scotland, England and Wales.
The Conventicles and the Highland host
To prevent the
CovenanterThe Covenanters formed an important movement in the religion and politics of Scotland in the 17th century. In religion the movement is most associated with the promotion and development of Presbyterianism as a form of church government favoured by the people, as opposed to Episcopacy, favoured by...
s holding 'Conventicles', King Charles II moved highland troops, the 'Highland Host' into the west-land of Ayrshire. "They took free quarters; they robbed people on the high road; they knocked down and wounded those who complained; they stole, and wantonly destroyed, cattle; they subjected people to the torture of fire to discover to them where their money was hidden; they threatened to burn down houses if their demands were not at once complied with; besides free quarters they demanded money every day; they compelled even poor families to buy brandy and tobacco for them; they cut and wounded people from sheer devilment." The cost of all this amounted to £6062 12s 8d in Stewarton parish.
The 1767 Toll Road to Irvine
Thomas Oliver was titled "roadmaker in Stewarton", being employed by the Kilmarnock to Irvine road committee. He worked with the specifications of a road twenty four feet wide, fourteen inches thick in the middle to ten inches in the sides, the understratum to be made of stones not exceeding six pounds tron weight and six inches thick, etc. Very precise requirements which would cost seven shilling per fall from Annick Bridge to Gareer Burn, but ten shillings per fall from Gareer Burn to Corsehouse bridge (Crosshouse) because of the lack of suitable materials locally.
Local Events
Stewarton, like many other Scottish towns, holds a gala festival annually at the beginning of summer. Dating back to the days when Stewarton had a prosperous trade in bonnet-making, the 'Bonnet Guild' organises activities for the local residents and proclaims a 'Corsehill Queen', the most academically successful girl in 2nd year at Stewarton Academy.
The Cadgers’ Fair was an annual event unique to Stewarton in the 18th Century. "Our annual fair took place on Monday last. In the morning there was a large turnout of cattle. . . . Our Cadgers’ procession was a slight improvement on some former occasions, and headed by a brass band they marched through the town, thence to a field on the farm of Robertland where the races took place". Horses were traded and much of the 'action' took place in the Avenue Square.
One of the most exciting growing events in Stewarton is the 'Live Traid' music event. Run by the 'Stewarton Fair Trade Group', it gathers unsigned (and now signed) musical acts from the West of Scotland together bi-annually to raise money and attention for fair trade charities.
Over the years, Live Traid events in Stewarton have raised over £5000. The latest Live Traid was to be held on 30 June 2006. Previous acts to play Live Traid include:
Drive-by Argument, Chris Gorman Band, All My Logic, Mummy Short Arms, Gregor James (formerly of Rolla), After Christmas, My Final Wish, Daedalian, What the Dead Know, Airstrip Won, One Life Lived, Voodoo Blue, Regis, Dave McArthur Band, Kinky Wizards, G to the power 1D, Punkture, DJ FAD, Chester Says and The Fools, The Passions, Spandau Ballet, The Black and White Minstrel Band, Robert Mugabe (motivational speaker), John Deacon, The Gammon Rolls, Nightcloud, Larry David, Stratchlyde Police Nose Flute band, Chris Akabusi and The False Starts, Hear'say, The Swingle Singers, Pual Simon, The Milfs, Jenna Jameson, Sally Traffic, Cheesybean (now married), Rab and Ryan (Of Consolevania), Rednex, Glen Campbell, Richard O'Brien, Leslie Waters, Brian Blessed (formerly Gordon's Alive), Nestle, Michael Barrymore and The Floaters, Stig.
Each year Stewarton holds a small orange parade to mark the anniversary of The Battle of the Boyne. The parade is made up of Stewarton's Annick Crown Loyal Defenders (LOL 253), Kilmarnock Purple Heroes (LOL 289) and the Spirit of Stewarton Flute Band.
Location
Stewarton is located on the Annick Water in a rural part of North Ayrshire (though it is technically a part of the county of East Ayrshire) 6 miles to the North of
KilmarnockKilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,170. It is roughly equidistant between Glasgow and Ayr, and is the second largest town in Ayrshire...
and to the East of Irvine. In the past Stewarton served as a waypoint between the traditional routes from Kilmarnock, Irvine and
AyrAyr 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...
to the city of
GlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, though in recent times a new motorway has bypassed the town. The old road is known as the "auld glesga road" and is still used by Stewarton residents.
Views on the Lainshaw & Annick Cycle and pedestrian paths in 2007 & 2008
The Stewarton Woodland Action Trust is building paths to open up access to the countryside in the Stewarton area.
Stewarton now holds their own Yuletide, where the Main Street and High Street shops stay open. This usually happens in December near Christmas. Dunlop, Fenwick, Lugton and other district towns are also included.
Micro history of the area
The War Memorial used to stand outside the front of the library in the avenue square and was moved to provide a more suitable setting near Standalane house above Lainshaw primary school.
Dunlop cheeseDunlop cheese is a mild cheese or 'sweet-milk cheese' from Dunlop in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It resembles a soft Cheddar cheese in texture. It fell out of popularity some time after the end of WW2, however it has now appreciated for its value in various recipes and for eating on its own or with a...
was made in Stewarton as well as many other Ayrshire localities, such as
BeithBeith is a town in North Ayrshire, Scotland.One of its various claims to fame is that a signatory of the American Declaration of Independence, the Rev...
.
Rabbie Burns's uncle is known to have helped guard the Stewarton Laigh Church graveyard against the activities of body snatchers.
Stewarton's cricket club had its ground located between Lochridge and Ward Park house.
On 27 January 2009 a BP tanker train carrying liquid fuels (diesel and heating oil) from Mossend to Riccarton was derailed near the bridge over the Stewarton to Kilmaurs road at Peacockbank Farm. Several wagons subsequently caught fire. The Lochrig Burn was badly polluted, however the Annick Water escape major contamination.
See also
- Local History Dictionary
- River Irvine
The River Irvine is a river flowing through southwest Scotland, with its watershed on the Lanarkshire border of Ayrshire at an altitude of above sea-level, near Drumclog, and SW by W of Strathaven. It flows 29½ miles westward, dividing the old district of Cunninghame from that of Kyle, until it...
The Annick Water and other tributaries.
- Lambroughton
Lambroughton is a village in the old Barony of Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire, Scotland. This is a rural area famous for its milk and cheese production and the Ayrshire or Dunlop breed of cattle.-Origins of the name:...
- Chapeltoun
Chapeltoun is an estate on the banks of the Annick Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland. This is a rural area famous for its milk and cheese production and the Ayrshire or Dunlop breed of cattle.-Templeton and the Knights Templar:...
- Corsehill
External links
See also
- List of places in East Ayrshire
- Stewarton Hive
The Stewarton hive is a type of historical bee hive. Extra boxes below allowed expansion of the brood, and thus strongly inhibited swarming and any tendency for the queen to enter the honey boxes, while expansion with extra honey boxes above the brood area gave ample space for the bees to create...