108-680: Eglinton Castle was a large Gothic castellated mansion in Kilwinning , North Ayrshire , Scotland . The ancient seat of the Earls of Eglinton , it is located just south of the town of Kilwinning . The original Eglinton Castle was burnt by the Earl of Glencairn in 1528. The current castle was built between 1797 and 1802 in Gothic castellated style dominated by a central 100-foot (30 m) large round keep and four 70-foot (21 m) outer towers, it
216-502: A copy of the Hameau de la Reine 'cottage orné' that Marie Antoinette had famously possessed at Versailles . This building, now a golf clubhouse, was thatched until the 1920s and is built of whin with steeply pitched roof sections and many gables. The tradition was that a dowager countess would move out of the Earl's ancestral seat and move to a lesser dwelling. The Lady Susanna , wife of
324-615: A dig in Kilwinning Abbey in 2010, which revealed much about the life of the people in the area during the medieval period. Abbot Adam's Bridge, was constructed in mediaeval times with much of the original structure standing today. The bridge was widened in 1859. Kilwinning is located on the banks of the River Garnock in Ayrshire , west/central Scotland . Kilwinning's neighbours are the coastal towns of Stevenston to
432-464: A dowry of 6000 merks , a considerable sum. Lady Frances Montgomerie was buried at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh on 11 May 1797. She was the daughter of Archibald, 12th Earl of Eglinton. At the coronation of Charles I at Holyrood, the Earl of Eglinton had the honour of bearing the king's spurs. Glasgow University 's Eglinton Arts Fellowship was established in 1862 by subscription to commemorate
540-624: A fad; for some, it was an urgent need". Lord Eglinton's own stepfather, Sir Charles Lamb , as Knight Marshal of the Royal Household, would have led his horse into the Great Hall of Westminster as part of one of these colourful and widely loved rituals. On 4 August 1838, the "Court Journal" printed a rumour that the Earl of Eglinton, was going to host a great jousting tournament at his castle in Scotland . It has been speculated that it
648-518: A fantasy at a time when the economy was in a shambles, when poverty was rampant and many workers were starving. Emotions ran high, with satirical cartoons, insults and passions aroused on both sides, the Whigs calling the Tories wastrels and the Tories calling the Whigs heartless. Whatever Eglinton's original intent, the tournament was symbolic of romantic defiance in the face of the spirit of revolution that
756-453: A fertile field for the propagation of the faith. Kilmarnock , Kilbride , Kilbirnie , are all, like Kilwinning, verbal evidence of the existence of 'Cillean' or cells of the Culdee or Celtic Church ." In the distant past, the town was called Sagtoun, or Saint's Town, after St. Winning, the founder of an early seventh-century church on this site. However, the actual identity of St. Winning
864-488: A fine view of the castle, towering majestically over the dense foliage. Among our wanderings we passed an enormous quadrangular building, resembling some of our London hospitals. It forms the stables, and it is quite detached, at some distance from the Castle. We mistook our way, owing to the many devious paths, and wandered deeper and deeper into the recesses of this extensive domain. In passing through one long avenue, which
972-533: A foolish amusement, the choice of the Duchess of Somerset as Queen of Beauty was to her liking. With only two months to live, Lady Flora Hastings wrote in 1839 to her mother on the subject of the upcoming Eglinton Tournament, expressing her concern that one of the knights might be killed in the violent sport. On the other hand, the Whigs, the social reformers, and the Utilitarians expressed outrage at such
1080-414: A handsome avenue to the gardens. The hot-houses for fruits and flowers are on a magnificent scale, and on reaching the parterre we were delighted with the elegance which pervaded it. A glassy river with a silvery cascade came gliding gently through these fairy regions, as though conscious of the luxuriant paradise which it was watering. Nor was the classic taste wanting, nor horticultural skill, to render this
1188-570: A house contents sale in December 1925, and progressively ruinous, the building finally came to an undignified end during the Second World War when it was seriously damaged during army training held there. The army also partly destroyed the iron bridge running to the old walled gardens. The 1925 house sale by Dowell's Limited, included 1,960 items auctioned, raising £7,004 19s 6d. The auction catalogue provides an interesting insight into
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#17327724679961296-444: A knight clad in armour. In autumn of 1838 one-hundred and fifty prospective knights met in the showroom of Samuel Pratt, a dealer in medieval armor at No. 47 Bond Street, London. Many backed out when they realised the astronomical costs and difficulties, but "about forty" were determined to try regardless. Pratt was to be in charge of all the arrangements, the pavilions and armour, banners, decor and costumes. He also would supply
1404-496: A lady, officer, or knight, and return to the lists. But there was only one drive to and from the castle, so that the knights had to jostle back and forth past and through each other. There had been no arrangement for parade control, and the knightly gridlock took hours longer to unfold than had been planned. Elaborate rehearsals and training in St John's Wood had not prepared participants for the crowded and already sodden conditions on
1512-534: A living re-enactment of the literary romances". In Eglinton's own words "I am aware of the manifold deficiencies in its exhibition — more perhaps than those who were not so deeply interested in it; I am aware that it was a very humble imitation of the scenes which my imagination had portrayed, but I have, at least, done something towards the revival of chivalry". While others made a profit, Lord Eglinton had to absorb losses. The Earl's granddaughter, Viva Montgomerie recalled in her memoirs that "he had spent most of
1620-404: A local car dealership that now uses the site. The Nethermains Industrial Estate is home to many industrial units of the type commonly built in the 1960s and 1970s as modular units ideal for light industry. Fullarton Computer Industries are one of the large employers in this site. Modern Kilwinning's industries include the manufacture of plastics and electronics. Almost 1/4 of Kilwinning's workforce
1728-557: A poet conjectured to have been writing sometime in the 14th century. Some academics, following the Scottish antiquarian George Neilson (1858–1923), have identified him with Hugh of Eglington, and advanced his authorship of several other significant pieces of verse. Viva Seton Montgomerie records that a gipsy put a curse on the Montgomerie family that for three generations the property would not go from father to son. The origin of
1836-515: A private house across the street from Seagate Castle , then next morning made his way to the tournament. The tournament was held near Eglinton Castle, eight miles from the west coast of Scotland in Ayrshire, an imitation Gothic, an 18th-century Georgian mansion with battlements and turrets added. The event took place on a meadow or holm at a loop in the Lugton Water . The ground chosen for
1944-628: A public auction and the glasses and crystal used in the marquees for the medieval ball and feast were sold off soon after. A ship named the 'Eglinton' was partly constructed from the wood used for the jousting arena. The bow used at the tournament by one of the Cochran-Patrick family of Ladyland House is preserved in the Kilwinning Abbey Tower Museum. This bow was made by David Muir of Kilwinning, using Degame wood, otherwise known as lemonwood. The flag that flew over
2052-417: A region of enchantment. Two elegant cast-iron bridges, vases, statues, a sun-dial; these pretty combinations from the world of art could not fail to please the beholder. Leaving these luxurious regions we again wandered among thick woods, and occasionally obtained glimpses of the proud castle, peering over the trees. At length we found our way to a seat beneath some noble weepers of the ash tribe, and here we had
2160-507: A satire on romantic affectation. The Montgomerie family had a romantic tale of chivalry which bound them to the idea of a revival of such ideals, this being the acquisition of the pennon and spear of Harry Hotspur , aka Sir Henry Percy, at the Battle of Otterburn by a Montgomerie. The price for Hotspur's release was the building of the castle of Polnoon in Eaglesham , Renfrewshire for
2268-543: A sort of carriage which plied upon a coal train and carried a large assortment of passengers, all drawn by one horse, and set out for the little town of Irvine. Dismounting thence, we changed after a time into divers coaches and cars, and turning into a romantic and wooded road, passed close by the lodge of the Castle of the Lord of the Tourney. " After looking round the busy preparations, he returned to Irvine and found lodgings in
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#17327724679962376-561: A substantial earth mound or motte stands and excavated pottery was found tentatively dating the site to the thirteenth century. The Montgomerie's' first holdings were the Barony of Eaglesham and its Castle of Polnoon . In 1691 the 'Hearth Tax for Ayrshire' records show 25 hearths in use, the highest number for a single dwelling in Ayrshire. It is noted that the earl had not paid the tax. The earl's house in Kilwinning, Easter Chambers or
2484-402: A tavern close to Regent's Park , the last one on Saturday 13 July 1839. Nineteen knights participated. The audience was invitation only; many of "the very elite of the most elite" (said the "Court Journal") were invited to watch, and 2,690 attended. The rehearsal went perfectly. The weather was sunny, the banners and armour and tents impressive, the jousting successful. Even critics conceded that
2592-530: A view of the event. The venue was Edinburgh in 1839 or 1840. The tournament inspired a successor event at Earls' Court, London, in July 1912. Armour used at the tournament has been preserved in the Leeds Armoury, Kelvingrove Museum , Dean Castle and elsewhere. The family sold the Earl of Eglinton's own armour during the 1925 sale of the castle contents. The remnants of the tournament were sold off at
2700-425: Is also said to run from the castle to exit at the old waterfall near the rockery. It is reported that a tunnel ran from the castle to near the existing Castle Bridge. This tunnel was stone lined and tall enough for a man to walk through. This is likely to have been the main drain from the castle. Sir William Brereton in 1636 describes the landscape on his journey south from Glasgow as "a barren and poor country", but
2808-413: Is best remembered for the lavish, if ill-fated Eglinton Tournament , a medieval -style tournament organised in 1839 by the 13th Earl . The expense and extent of the preparations became news across Scotland, and the railway line was even opened in advance of its official opening to ferry guests to Eglinton. Although high summer, in typical Scottish style torrential rain washed the proceedings out, despite
2916-569: Is employed by manufacturing. The services stopping at Kilwinning : Kilwinning has road links with the rest of Ayrshire. The town is bypassed by the A78 dual carriageway, which provides connections to the A71 and A77 dual carriageways and the Glasgow bound M77 motorway . Kilwinning is served by Stagecoach West Scotland and Shuttle Buses. Kilwinning is well served by Glasgow Prestwick Airport , which
3024-681: Is known locally, was launched in July 2002 in the Pennyburn area of Kilwinning. In 2022, Kilwinning Rangers Amateurs became known as Eglinton F.C. and joined the fifth tier of the WoSFL. Eglinton Tournament The Eglinton Tournament of 1839 was a reenactment of a medieval joust and revel held in North Ayrshire , Scotland between 28 and 30 August. It was funded and organized by Archibald, Earl of Eglinton , and took place at Eglinton Castle in Ayrshire . The Queen of Beauty
3132-625: Is not known why the earl named it thus. The Montgomerie family are said to have had a pre-reformation chapel in the Weirston - Lady Ha' area dedicated to Saint Issyn. A 'Ladiehall' dwelling still existed in 1691, occupied by John and James Weir. Two other 'Weir' families also lived on the estate. In 1811 Aiton records that Galloway Cattle were kept at Eglinton and one stot yielded 52 stones of beef and 14.5 stones of tallow in Ayrshire weights, being 78 stones and 21.75 stones in English weights. Oddly
3240-501: Is now fully established with free entry and is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Ayrshire. Eglinton Estate was in disrepair until Robert Clement Wilson purchased the grounds and built a meat canning factory in what was the old stable block. He also restored the grounds to their former splendour at his own expense. The canning factory closed following the BSE crises in 1996. In 1963 Ian Anstruther wrote an entertaining account of
3348-907: Is only 12.9 miles (20.8 km) south on the A78 dual carriageway (around 21 min), or three stops on the train (around 14 min). Airline operators within the Airport maintain routes to many UK, European and North American destinations. There is one secondary school in the town, Kilwinning Academy , although until recently the town was also served by St Michael's Academy . Kilwinning's primary schools are: Corsehill Primary School, Abbey Primary School, Blacklands Primary School, St Winning's Primary School, Pennyburn Primary School, Whitehirst Park Primary School and St Luke's Primary School. (St Michael's Academy amalgamated with St Andrew's Academy of Saltcoats. Both previous Catholic secondary schools have since been demolished. A new building stands in its place, next to
Eglinton Castle - Misplaced Pages Continue
3456-528: Is said to have had a moat. In the 1640s Alasdair Mac Colla had been sent by Montrose to suppress support for the Covenanting cause. He plundered the Ayrshire countryside for some days and then demanded financial penalties. Neil Montgomery of Lainshaw negotiated a 4,000 merks penalty for the Eglinton Estates; three tenants having already been killed, with some deer and sheep also taken from
3564-624: Is unclear. Some scholars have associated him with the Irish saint known as St Finnian of Moville , who died in the late sixth century. Others believe he was a Welshman by the name of Vynnyn, and the Aberdeen Breviary of 1507 asserts that he was from Scotland . The work of Professor Owen Clancy of the University of Glasgow in 2001 makes another identification possible. Clancy argued that, in fact, Saint Ninian and Saint Finnian were
3672-712: The Irvine Herald , recorded that the so-called Buffs had had an emphatic victory over Kilmarnock Belgrove. Kilwinning Rangers have had periods of success throughout their history, and proudly boast that they were the first, and last Ayrshire Club to win the Scottish Junior Cup in the twentieth century! Dirrans Athletic AFC were formed in 1946. They currently play in the Ayrshire Amateur Football League Premier Division. Kilwinning Sports Club, or KSC as it
3780-567: The "Sea Horse" previously. A croquet lawn existed on the northern terrace, between the castle and the Lugton Water, also the old site of the marquee for the tournament banquet. The 13th Earl developed a variation on croquet named 'Captain Moreton's Eglinton Castle Croquet', which had small bells on the hoops 'to ring the changes' and two tunnels for the ball to pass through. Several incomplete sets of this form of croquet are known to exist. It
3888-474: The "heid and secund ludge of Scotland". The lodge's own legend attributes the formation to the building of the Abbey at Kilwinning in the 12th century. There existed in this period corporations or fraternities of masons, endowed with certain privileges and immunities, capable of erecting religious structures in the Gothic style. A party of these foreign masons is supposed to have come from Italy, or Cologne , for
3996-457: The 1839 tournament entitled The Knight and the Umbrella . William Aiton relates in 1811 that near the end of each June each year the Earl of Eglinton held three days of races at Bogside, following which he always gave a grand ball and supper at Eglinton Castle. Lady Susanna Montgomerie , wife of the 9th Earl of Eglinton, was a renowned society beauty and her husband built for her at Kidsneuk
4104-464: The 9th Earl, moved to Kilmaurs House and then to Auchans Castle for instance. Over the centuries Seagate Castle, the Garden or Easter Chambers in Kilwinning, Kilmaurs House , Auchans Castle and Redburn House were some of the dower houses used. Eglinton has a 'Racket Hall' which was built shortly after 1839, the first recorded match being in 1846. The court floor is of large granite slabs, now hidden by
4212-477: The British Isles" — applied to Lord Eglinton for tickets. Through the month of August letters came by the hundreds into Castle Eglinton requesting tickets for parties of twenty, fifty, a hundred people. A scrapbook of nearly a thousand of these letters still survives, filled with pleas, anecdotes, promises of medieval dress, and assertions of Tory sympathies. Lord Eglinton accepted the challenge, issued
4320-403: The Earl of Eglinton. The Earl launched her at Ardrossan in 1860. Kilwinning Kilwinning ( / k ɪ l ˈ w ɪ n ɪ ŋ / , Scots : Kilwinnin ; Scottish Gaelic : Cill D’Fhinnein ) is a town in North Ayrshire , Scotland . It is on the River Garnock , north of Irvine , about 21 miles (34 km) southwest of Glasgow . It is known as "The Crossroads of Ayrshire". Kilwinning
4428-1291: The Eglinton Castle grounds were open to the public on Saturdays. The 'Fauna, Flora and Geology of the Clyde Area' lists the notable Clyde Area trees at Eglinton in 1901, showing that the estate at the time had one of the foremost collection of significant trees in southern Scotland. Tree removal for sale as timber was one of the first acts of the new owners of the estate when it was sold in the late 1940s, however many had already been removed in 1925 by Neill of Prestwick and Howie of Dunlop, both being timber merchants. The significant trees were:- Holly (6' 10'' girth); Sycamore (13' 2'' girth – Deer Park); Field Maple (6' 5'' girth); Horse Chestnut (11' 4'' girth); Gean (girth 11' girth – Bullock Park); Hawthorn (8' 3'' girth); Fraxinus heterophylla (4' 6'' girth – Lady Jane's Cottage); Elm (12' 7'' girth – castle); Hornbeam (14' girth – between Castle & Mains); Holly Oak (5' 2'' girth – gardens); Sweet Chestnut (16' girth – Bullock Park); Beech (18' 3'' girth – Old Wood); Cut-leaved Beech (8' 11'' girth); Larch (8' 9'' girth); Cedar of Lebanon (9' 11'' girth – Bullock Park); Scots Pine (11' girth – between Castle and Mains). Eglinton
Eglinton Castle - Misplaced Pages Continue
4536-777: The Eglinton coat of arms restored and displayed in the Stables Courtyard have the armorial bearings as a mirror image of the standard Eglinton representation. In the early 1900s the records show that Mr Priest was the Head Gardener, Mr Muir the Head Groom, Mr Brooks the Coachman, Mr Pirie the Gamekeeper, and Mr Robert Burns was the estate blacksmith. A single span iron bridge once crossed the Lugton Water at
4644-454: The Hebrews subsequently defeated the enemy. Judith is considered as a symbol of liberty, virtue, and victory of the weak over the strong in a just cause. In the 1970s plans were made to open the extensive grounds (988 acres) around the ruins to the public, and to that end what remained of the structure was made safe by demolishing all but a wing facade and a single tower. Eglinton Country Park
4752-521: The Love Memorial Hall. The Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers is believed to date back to 1483 and while records are only available from 1688, there is a reference in the early minutes, which would appear to confirm this assumption. The sport still continues in Kilwinning to this very day. The annual papingo shoot is held in the grounds of the old Abbey on the first Saturday in June, when
4860-564: The Montgomeries. It is said that the Duke of Northumberland , head of the Percy family, made overtures for the return of the pennon in 1839 and was given the answer, "There's as good lea land at Eglinton as ever there was at Chevy Chase (Otterburn); let Percy come and take them." In 1838 Whig Prime Minister Lord Melbourne announced that the coronation of Queen Victoria would not include
4968-573: The St Andrews Academy site now known as St Matthews Academy providing education for the towns surrounding Saltcoats. A large campus of Ayrshire College (formerly James Watt College ) was built in Kilwinning in 1998 and was completed in the summer of 2000 ready for the first intake of students in August that year. Its arrival has brought some benefits to the town with increased revenue from the students supporting local businesses. Since 2013
5076-433: The area of the rockery on the castle lawns. The appearance of the old waterfall may have inspired this story as it looks like a sealed doorway. The total acreage of the Earl of Eglinton's holdings was 34,716 Scots Acres (1 Scots acre = 1.5 English Acres) in 1788. This included Little Cumbrae, and lands at Southannan and Eaglesham (Polnoon). The original castle of Eglinton may have been near Kidsneuk, Bogside (NS 309 409) where
5184-579: The campus has been part of Ayrshire College, having merged with the Largs campus as well as Kilmarnock College and Ayr College. It is notable that 37% of Kilwinning residents aged 16–74 have no formal qualifications; the national average is 33%. There are a number of Community Halls in Kilwinning: Nethermains Community Centre, Cranberry Moss Community Centre, Whitehurst Community Centre, Pryde, The Woodwynd Hall and
5292-539: The castle bearing the earl's coat of arms was eventually donated to North Ayrshire Council and is now kept in the North Ayrshire Heritage Centre. The Gothic bridge now at the site of the tournament was not actually built at the time of the tournament and even the previous bridge, originally located 100 yards further up the river, had been in place for at least 25 years at the time of the tournament. The label Tournament Bridge has stuck, despite
5400-400: The castle contained a chair built from the oak timbers of Alloway kirk and the back of the chair was inlaid with a brass plaque which bore the whole of Burns' poem Tam o' Shanter . This was sold at an auction in 1925. The previous Eglington castle (sic) was described circa 1563–1566 as a fare castell, but noo strength againsts any power. An escape tunnel is said to run from the old castle to
5508-504: The damage to the site, including attempting to drain the Lists and mending the grandstand. The weather for the final day of the tournament was much better, and crowds gathered again to watch, albeit with fewer in fancy dress. The procession took place, followed by jousting, which was won by James Fairlie on points, although Eglington was nominated the symbolic victor. Edward Jerningham suffered an injury, and required medical attention. A melée
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#17327724679965616-439: The day. By the time the parade was ready, it was a half mile long and over three hours late. The opening parade comprised forty knights, each with his own entourage who were to ride to the castle, picked up a lady, officer or knight, and returned to the lists, the picturesque estate drive being lined with thousands of spectators. Although the day had dawned clear and fine, as the knights and their entourages struggled to organise
5724-415: The earls had clearly enhanced Eglinton for he comments that the land at Irvine was "dainty, pleasant, level, champaign country." The grounds of the castle were described in one record of the 1840s as follows: Its princely gates soon presented themselves and we thought we should easily find our way to Irvine through the park. It was a rich treat to wander in these extensive grounds. We soon made way through
5832-691: The end of the proceedings, people tried to obtain valuable tableware as souvenirs. King William IV had cancelled his banquet to prevent a repeat. Although there was some popular support for government refusal to hold the traditional event, there were "many complaints and various public struggles, as well as on the part of the antiquaries, as on that of the tradesmen of the metropolis". Critics referred to Victoria's slimmed-down coronation scornfully as "The Penny Crowning". Despite attempts to achieve economies, contemporary accounts point out that Victoria's coronation in fact cost £20,000 more than that of George IV . Nevertheless, her coronation did feature an innovation:
5940-421: The entire audience, apart from Eglinton's personal guests, was stranded without transportation. They had to walk miles through the rain and the mud to nearby villages, where only the first people found any food, drink, accommodation or transport. The next morning, Eglinton consulted with the other participants at the tournament. They agreed to hold a second joust on 30 August. The estate staff set about repairing
6048-402: The family crest is unclear, however a link may exist with the popular biblical story of an Holofernes , an Assyrian general of Nebuchadnezzar. The general laid siege to Bethulia, and the city almost surrendered. It was saved by Judith, a beautiful Hebrew widow who entered Holofernes's camp, seduced, and then beheaded Holofernes while he was drunk. She returned to Bethulia with Holofernes head, and
6156-468: The feelings of the family at this sad time, with much of the Montgomerie history sold off, such as the 13th Earl's suit of armour from the tournament, the panel from the door of the murdered 10th Earl's coach and many paintings of the family and the castle, including a portrait of that great beauty, Susanna Kennedy, Countess of Eglinton. The family moved to Skelmorlie Castle near Largs in 1925. Architects' drawings from March 1930 survive for plans to adapt
6264-440: The first night beneath the grandstand or even in hollow tree-trunks. One visitor who travelled from London took steam trains from London to Liverpool, where he boarded a paddle steamer packed with people attending the tournament, its deck heavily laden with boxes, armour, lances and horses of participants. They landed at Ardrossan pier, terminus of the horse-drawn Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway : " Disembarking, we seized upon
6372-525: The formal opening of the line in 1840). Today the castle is a ruin. The Tournament perhaps marked a turning point, being a severe drain on the Eglinton family fortune, which coincided with bottomless expenditure on the Ardrossan harbour and the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal . The castle fell into disrepair after being unroofed in 1925 and was used for Commando demolition practice during World War II,
6480-886: The guests and comfortable seating for the expected crowd of about 4000. He notified the press ( The Times , the Morning Post , the Court Gazette , and "the other important or popular journals") of the offer of free tickets to all. The response returned from across the social spectrum: readers of the Bath Figaro , the Cornish Guardian , the Sheffield Iris , the Wisbech Star in the East and many other newspapers — readers "from every county in
6588-439: The inaccuracy. Contemporary engravings and paintings show that it was however heavily embellished with Gothic additions for the event and possibly an ornamental archway. As 1989 was the 150th anniversary of the tournament, the staff of the newly opened Eglinton Country Park organised a re-enactment which ran over a period of three days in August of that year. In May 2011 East Ayrshire Council held an exhibition entitled 1839
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#17327724679966696-456: The kitchen or walled garden. This bridge was removed at some time after WWII and only the ornate vermiculate ashlar masonry abutments survive. The "Egidia" was one of the largest, if not the largest wooden vessels ever built in Scotland. She measured 219 feet long, extreme breadth 37 feet, depth 22 feet, registered tonnage 1,235, builders measurements 1,461 tons. Lady Egidia was the daughter of
6804-437: The lists, apologised for the rain, and announced that, weather permitting, they would try to joust again the next day or the next. Then he announced to the special guests in the grandstand that the medieval banquet and ball that evening would have to be cancelled as banqueting tents had also succumbed to the weather. The rains had flooded the Lugton Water, which ran around the Lists on three sides. No carriages could cross it, so
6912-490: The many works of art commissioned for or inspired by the Eglinton Tournament, had an effect on public feeling and the course of 19th-century Gothic revivalism. Its ambition carried over to events such as the lavish Tournament of Brussels in 1905, and presaged the historical reenactments of the present. Features of the tournament were actually inspired by Walter Scott 's novel Ivanhoe : it was attempting "to be
7020-454: The occasion. The ball had 2,000 guests, most in medieval costume, who were entertained by an orchestra and the band of the 2nd Dragoon Guards. Heavy rain returned towards the end of the ball, and it was agreed to call the tournament to a close. The Eglinton Tournament became part of English popular culture. Astley's Amphitheatre in London used it to promote their own medieval reenactment, which
7128-582: The old abbot's dwelling, had 15 hearths. Thirty-seven other dwellings were listed within the barony of Eglinton. The stables were built from stones taken from the Easter Chambers of Kilwinning Abbey; being the Abbots lodgings and later that of the Earls of Eglinton. In 1784, over a period of four months, the building was demolished and the stones were taken to Eglinton. The construction of the new castle
7236-472: The panelling from a room in the castle as it was all being allowed to rot in the rain anyway, since the roof had been removed. He went to the castle to take away as much as he could carry, however one of the last pieces he selected left exposed the skeletal hand of a woman. The whole skeleton was later removed by a student doctor, but for fear of prosecution the matter was never reported to the police. In 1583 Lady Anne Montgomerie brought her husband, Lord Semple,
7344-482: The parade the sky began to darken. Just at the moment when the parade was finally arranged — just as Lady Somerset, the Queen of Beauty, was heralded by trumpets — there was a flash of lightning, a great crash of thunder, and the black clouds of Ayrshire let loose with a sudden and violent rainstorm. Lord Eglinton immediately ordered the ladies into carriages, but the knights and their entourages, soon soaked in
7452-456: The park. Persistent rumours exist of a Ley tunnel which is said to run from Kilwinning Abbey, under the 'Bean Yaird', below the 'Easter Chaumers' and the 'Leddy firs', and then underneath the Garnock and on to Eglinton Castle. No evidence exists for it, although it may be related to the underground burial vault of the Montgomeries which does exist under the old abbey. A ley or an escape tunnel
7560-481: The participants, in full period dress, gamely attempting to participate in events such as jousting . Amongst the participants was Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (the future Emperor Napoléon III of the French ). The immense cost of upkeep, the poor condition of the castle and death duties took their toll on the family finances; the castle was abandoned in 1925. De-roofed in 1926, the lead being removed and sold, after
7668-530: The planned increase in population. Today Kilwinning consists of the pedestrianised historic town centre, Bridgend (which originally was a separate village), both now surrounded by the estates of Corsehill, Woodwynd, Blacklands, Pennyburn, Whitehirst Park, and Woodside with the last three being added after its incorporation into Irvine New Town. Kilwinning is a diverse town as areas like Whitehirst Park and Woodside are very affluent and have very high house prices, Parts of Woodwynd also have affluent areas while parts of
7776-411: The procession from the palace to Westminster Abbey , which was very popular. However, it was not just the ancient Great Feast itself which had been cancelled but also other rituals which traditionally were not paid for by the state anyway such as the throwing down of the gauntlet by the Queen's Champion, and his symbolic presentation to her of two falcons. "Obeisance to the past was in 1839 was not just
7884-458: The public services of Archibald William, 13th Earl of Eglinton, Rector of the University 1852–54. At the christening of King James IV the Earl of Eglinton had the honour of carrying the salt. The potato was first heard of in Scotland in 1701; it was not popular at first. In 1733 it is however recorded as being eaten at supper by the Earl of Eglinton. Huchoun ("little Hugh") or Huchown is
7992-492: The purpose of building the Abbey at Kilwinning and to have founded there the first regularly constituted Operative Lodge in Scotland. The Lodge is reputed to have been held in the chapter house on the eastern side of the cloisters. On the broken walls and moldering arches of the Abbey numerous and varied Masons' marks may be seen. In 1966, Kilwinning fell within the area designated Irvine New Town . Kilwinning rapidly expanded with new estates built on surrounding farm land to meet
8100-419: The remains were demolished to the level they are today in 1973. Eglinton Country Park is now a tourist attraction. Kilwinning was a noted centre of Archery in medieval times. Later the town had an association with coal mining, quarrying, iron-founding and textile manufacture, now long since declined. The Pringle knitwear company originally manufactured their goods in Kilwinning. Another company that existed
8208-496: The requested tickets and planned for a vastly larger effort. With a turnout two orders of magnitude greater than expected (the final estimate was a crowd of one hundred thousand), area transportation and lodgings were overwhelmed. The nearby town of Irvine had only one hotel. Private homes were able to charge very high prices to take in the tourists. On the morning of the tournament the roads to Eglinton Castle were quickly jammed. The road from Ayr to Glasgow (thirty miles long)
8316-592: The saint originating from a Scottish province, setting sail with companions, and landing at Cunninghame in Lesser Scotland, the latter being a term used in those times to refer to the country which would later be designated by name Scotland. The original town was situated at the Bridgend and Corsehill while the other bank of the river was the site of the abbey, its outbuildings, orchards, doocot , etc. The Kilwinning Community Archaeology Project carried out
8424-617: The same person, the difference being attributed to an error on the part of a medieval scribe. If that is so, then Ninian, who was a missionary to the Picts in Scotland, and Winning, who was deemed a Scotsman in the Aberdeen Breviary, could theoretically be one and the same as the Irishman named Finnian. The Aberdeen Breviary implies he was Irish. In early medieval times the term Scots / Scotland applied also to Ireland. It speaks of
8532-456: The second tier of the West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL). They play in blue and white hoops. The team was formed in 1899 as a Juvenile football club, originally playing at Blacklands Park, which they shared with the then senior side of Eglinton Seniors. They officially became a Junior football club on 26 July 1902. The name Buffs was first recorded on 21 September 1900 when the local paper,
8640-401: The squall and covered in mud, marched into the lists down a parade route lined by the umbrella bearing audience. The tiltyard was designed by Samuel Luke Pratt, with stands to hold 2,000. Pratt's grandstand roof, was a work of art in splendid scarlet, but, after days of rain and now in a new rainstorm of freak severity, it started to leak badly. After the tournament Lord Eglinton appeared in
8748-437: The stable buildings as a residence for the Earl of Eglinton and Winton. Substantial remains of the castle survived WW2, however the buildings were rationalised in 1973 and only one main tower was kept, together with some outer wall, foundations and parts of the castle wings. Eglinton Castle is said by one of the gardeners to have had a room which was never opened. In about 1925 a young man from Kilwinning decided to take some of
8856-484: The stands, marquees and great tents for the feast and ball. Although all the armour supplied by Pratt was supposed to have been genuinely medieval, it is unclear how many of the suits actually were; the only armour that was kept track of, that of the 3rd Marquess of Waterford, on display in 1963 at Windsor Castle, is a pastiche . The dress rehearsals were held in London at a garden behind the Eyre Arms, St John's Wood,
8964-522: The success of the Tournament, as an imitation of ancient manners and customs, we heard only one feeling of admiration expressed at the gorgeousness of the whole scene, considered only as a pageant. Even on Wednesday, when the procession was seen to the greatest possible disadvantage, the dullest eye glistened with delight as the lengthy and stately train swept into the marshalled lists. Participants had undergone regular training. The preparations, and
9072-588: The terminal at Hunterston , with the site being landscaped as Almswall Park. The Main Street of Kilwinning has recently been refurbished as part of the regeneration of the Irvine Bay area by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company. The ancient seat of the Earls of Eglinton, it is located just south of Kilwinning. Built between 1797 and 1802 in Gothic castellated style dominated by a central 100-foot (30 m) large round keep and four 70-foot (21 m) outer towers, it
9180-404: The tilt yard was already in existence at this early date, but it is not recorded what its fate was after the tournament was over. A great parade of knights was supposed to open the tournament at noon. The knights had had little practice mounting their horses and took a long time to get prepared. Then each knight and his entourage (forty different groups) was supposed to ride to the castle, pick up
9288-410: The tournament was likely to be a fine show. Mass-production of memorabilia copies of artworks commissions for the tournament demonstrated that it was not only upper-class Britain that took notice. Tories eyed antique armour and dreamed of courtly love , and Queen Victoria twice noted in her diary that she had discussed the tournament with Lord Melbourne and although her view was that the event would be
9396-457: The tournament was low, almost marshy, with grassy slopes rising on all sides. The Knights on horseback and their retinue reached the tilt yard ('C' on the map) via an enclosed ride ('G' on the map), whilst the guests and visitors made their way to the stands via the route marked 'F' on the map illustrated. Both groups crossed over the three arched Gothic Eglinton Tournament Bridge . An 1837 map of Eglinton Castle, Grounds and Tilt yard shows that
9504-531: The town, More so Blacklands, Pennyburn and Corsehill are more working class Older residents sometimes refer to the Blacklands as the "Ironworks" after the Eglinton Iron Works which once occupied the land, the only surviving building of that time is now Nethermains Community Centre, although for many years the "slag hill" towered over the area. It was cleared in 1979, and the stone used to build
9612-588: The traditional medieval-style banquet in Westminster Hall . Seeking to disempower the monarchy in particular and romantic ideology and politics in general was a normal activity for the Whig party, so, in the face of recession, the more obviously anachronistic parts of the coronation celebrations would be considered an extravagance. Furthermore, memories of embarrassing mishap at George IV's Westminster Hall banquet were still fresh; uproar having resulted when, at
9720-519: The wealth of the estate". The Gothic Revival and the rise of Romanticism of the late 18th and early 19th centuries were an international phenomenon. Medieval-style jousts, for example, were regularly held in Sweden between 1777 and 1800. Gothic novels , such as The Castle of Otranto , by Horace Walpole (1717–1797) and the many works of Sir Walter Scott popularised the idea of passionate romanticism and praise of chivalric ideals . Walpole himself
9828-673: The west and Irvine to the south while inland lies Dalry to the north. Kilwinning is notable for housing the original Lodge of Freemasonry in Scotland . When the Lodges were renumbered, Kilwinning was kept as Lodge Number '0', the Mother Lodge of Scotland . The origin of the Lodge is unclear with the first documentary evidence being a mention in The Schaw Statutes of 1598 and 1599, which identify it in its first paragraph as
9936-568: The wooden bird is mounted on a pole and suspended from the clock tower to allow the archers to attempt to dislodge the wings and then the bird itself. In 2014, Michael Portillo visited the Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers during a visit to Kilwinning on his Great British Railway Journeys TV series for the BBC . Kilwinning Rangers F.C. , or The Buffs as they are more affectionately known, play their home games at Buffs Park and compete in
10044-537: The wooden floor. It is the very first covered racquet court, built before the court size was standardised and is now the oldest surviving court in the World, as well as being the oldest indoor sports building in Scotland. In 1860 the earl employed a rackets professional, John Mitchell and Patrick Devitt replaced him. Mitchell owned a pub in Bristol with its own rackets court and this was named the "Eglinton Arms", having been
10152-454: Was Georgiana, Duchess of Somerset . Many distinguished visitors took part, including Prince Louis Napoleon , the future Emperor of the French. The Tournament was a deliberate act of Romanticism , and drew 100,000 spectators. It is primarily known now for the ridicule poured on it by the Whigs . Problems were caused by rainstorms. At the time views were mixed Whatever opinion may be formed of
10260-425: Was Sir Charles or his son who suggested to Lord Eglinton that he should provide the nation with its missing rites of passage by holding a great mediaeval festival himself, but whatever the details, within a few weeks Eglinton had confirmed the rumour true. At first the suggestion was that mediaeval games would be held at the next private race meeting at Eglinton, including the ceremony of the challenge carried out by
10368-482: Was Wilson's Foods, which operated a plant in the grounds of the Eglinton Estate, but this has since closed. The mill on the banks of the River Garnock briefly fell under the ownership of Blackwood Brothers of Kilmarnock before closing entirely. The site of the mill is largely unchanged, though part of the old factory has been demolished, and the former mill shop now operates as the offices and salesroom for
10476-418: Was a commercial success, and the tournament was parodied in a pantomime at Covent Garden. The Eglinton Trophy or Eglinton Testimonial is a Gothic style one metre high silver centrepiece presented to the 13th Earl of Eglinton by friends and admirers to commemorate the 'Eglinton Tournament'. Panoramas illustrated the tournament, using long strips of painted canvas wound round a tube and slowly unwound to give
10584-485: Was a magnificent display. Funded and organized by Archibald Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton, the revival-medieval tournament, attracted thousands of visitors to see the combatants and the ladies in their finery. Among the guests was the future Emperor of the French— Napoleon III . The tournament was an ironic contrast between the old and the new! Excursion trains, among the first ever, were run from Ayr (pre-dating
10692-467: Was also a Civil Parish. The 2001 Census recorded the town as having a population of 15,908. The estimated population in 2016 was 16,460. According to John Hay, once the headmaster of the parish school in Kilwinning, " North Ayrshire has a history of religion stretching back to the very beginning of missionary enterprise in Scotland . The Celtic Christians or Culdees of the period of St Columba and St Mungo found here, in this part of Scotland ,
10800-416: Was filled end to end, and every approach was blocked by abandoned carriages, their owners continuing on foot. The new railway from Ayr to Irvine had just opened to the public on 5 August 1839, and it now charged thrice the normal fee; people fought for the tickets, as it was the only transport guaranteed to deposit them only a few miles from the castle. Some poor folk without lodgings are said to have spent
10908-409: Was frightening so much of old guard Europe during the second quarter of the 19th century. Lord Eglinton announced that the public would be welcome; he requested medieval fancy dress, if possible, and tickets were free but would have to be applied for. Expecting a healthy turnout — the Eglinton race meetings generally got local audiences of up to 1500 — he made arrangements for grandstands for
11016-409: Was held, during which Henry Waterford and John Alford had to be separated by the marshal. Although the day went well, the heavy mud in the Lists continued to cause the knights difficulties. The formal ball concluded the day, commencing with a medieval banquet for 400 people. The dinner was designed to follow authentic medieval recipes, and was served on gold and silver dishes specially manufactured for
11124-478: Was not universally accepted as beneficial; Fullarton records that "The hoary grandeur of the old fortalice lay deeply buried amid the dense groves of immemorial growth which closely invested and obscured it; no innovating projects of improvement, nor change of any kind, had ever been permitted to disturb the sanctity of its seclusion, or to ruffle the feelings even of the most fastiduous worshipper of things as they are, or, more properly perhaps, chance to be". The castle
11232-728: Was one of the first in England to renovate his mansion into a mock-Gothic castle, Strawberry Hill (1749–1777). Medieval culture was widely admired as an antidote to the modern enlightenment and industrial age . Plays and theatrical works (such as Ivanhoe , which in 1820 was playing in six different productions in London alone) perpetuated the romanticism of knights, castles, feasts and tournaments. Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840) of Germany painted magnificent Gothic ruins and spiritual allegories. Jane Austen (1775–1815) wrote her novel Northanger Abbey (written 1798, published 1817) as
11340-492: Was second only to Culzean Castle in appearance and grandeur. The foundation stone of the new Eglinton Castle in Kilwinning was laid in 1797, the 12th Earl of Eglinton, was proud to have the ceremony performed by Alexander Hamilton of Grange , grandfather of the American Hero Alexander Hamilton . Eglinton was the most notable post-Adam Georgian castle in Ayrshire. Amongst many items of interest,
11448-551: Was second only to Culzean Castle in appearance and grandeur. The foundation stone of the new Eglinton Castle in Kilwinning was laid in 1797, the 12th Earl of Eglinton, was proud to have the ceremony performed by Alexander Hamilton of Grange, grandfather of the American Alexander Hamilton. The castle is chiefly remembered, in modern times, as the scene of the Eglinton Tournament in 1839, which
11556-452: Was so dark that we were unable to see our steps; myriads of rooks took flight at our approach, and the air was quite blackened with them. At one time, we found ourselves walking alongside of the preserves, at another we were wandering in the deer park, and startling the early slumbers of these pretty creatures. At length we reached a gate, which we fully expected would lead into the high road to Irvine: but, to our great consternation, we found it
11664-802: Was the point from which several roads diverged, each, apparently, leading into a thick forest, and it was evident that we had much space yet to traverse ere we could be clear of the extensive grounds of Eglintoun. Service quotes a verse pertaining to the Eglinton Woods: The Guid Wee Green Folk Doon by the Lugton, In Eglinton Woods, In blue-bell and foxglove, In the faulded up buds, It's there whaur they bide, It's there whaur they troke, It's there whaur they hide - The guid wee green folk. A mention in Badderley's 'Through Guide' circa 1890 indicates that
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