57-561: Helenton Loch was situated in a low lying area between the farms and dwellings of Helentongate, Mains, and Burnbank in the Parish of Symington, South Ayrshire , Scotland. The loch was natural, sitting in a hollow, a kettle hole , created by glaciation. The loch waters ultimately drained via the Pow Burn. Helenton Hill is a prominent landmark to the west of the old loch site. The nearby lands of Rosemount were in 1549 known as 'Goldring' and were
114-440: A piscina sits as the sill of a south-facing window. The church received an addition and alterations in 1797 which increased the accommodation of the building, but detracted considerably from the unspoilt appearance. A belfry, possibly incorporating some medieval work, was erected on the east gable end in the 17th century. Notable stained glass windows are on display, by Gordon Webster, Douglas Strachan, and others. The patronage of
171-628: A branch of this family. Two other villages in Scotland are named for Simon Lockhart: Symington, South Lanarkshire – located about 38 miles (61 km) from its Ayrshire counterpart and on almost the same latitude, though smaller in size – and Symington in the Scottish Borders. Stevenston in Ayrshire is named for Steven Loccard or Lockart. Symington has a primary school, church, a restaurant, War Memorial, an abandoned water tower and
228-510: A cottage once sat in the field opposite the mill entrance, most probably the miller's dwelling. The mill pond is now an infilled area near Helenton Mote, following the closure of the mill in the late 19th century. A footpath is shown on OS maps as running down from Underhill and then crossing the Pow Burn at the old mill. In 1884, three-quarters of a mile of the Catcraig Road was removed from Helenton Mains to Benacres, thereby truncating
285-768: A herd boy, his father being a gardener. John moved to the village of Dundonald and became a respected artist, noted for portraiture. In 1847 he exhibited at the Royal Academy in London before becoming a regular exhibitor at the Royal Scottish Academy for the next 25 years. Hunter published two books: ‘Retrospective of an Artist’s Life’ (1868), and ‘Life Studies of Character’. He is buried in the Southern Necropolis in Glasgow. In 1932 Dankeith
342-607: A lade running close to one side and a road lying on the other. Symington, South Ayrshire Symington is a conservation village in South Ayrshire , Scotland . It is located in Symington parish, covering 0.41 square kilometres ( 3 ⁄ 16 sq mi), and lies close to the A77 road from Ayr to Glasgow. Its church, built in 1160, remains one of the finest examples of a Norman church in Scotland. The name of
399-406: A library. The parish covers 3,736 acres (1,512 hectares) and is mainly a farming community. The Wheatsheaf Inn (NS 38417 31331) is an 18th-century vernacular building that has been a hostelry since its earliest days; in the days of stage coaches the inn was a posting stage on the route to Ayr. Dating from 1937 this substantial mock-Tudor building was previously a hotel and replaced an inn that
456-411: A mill pond substituted. The loch remnant is now a well-drained area in the fields of Helentongate Farm. The loch may have served as the head water for Ellingtone or Helenton Mill which is dated from 1583 in one source and 1549 in another. Two dams provided the head of water and the fall was around eleven feet powering a breast wheel and driving the two pairs of stones from Kameshill at West Kilbride. Half
513-576: A new wing added. In the 1980s the house was put on the market. Various plans for its redevelopment failed and in the meantime the house deteriorated and was vandalised and burnt out. The house was eventually rebuilt as individual flats. In 1850 James Ogilvie Fairlie of Coodham organised a meeting at the Red Lion in Prestwick of fifty-seven gentlemen from the West of Scotland, leading to the formation of
570-602: A recorded population of 4,105. It is home to the National Burns Memorial. The town lies by the Glasgow and South Western Railway line, 8 miles (13 kilometres) east-southeast of Kilmarnock and 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Ayr . It is situated on a gentle slope about one mile (1.5 kilometres) from the River Ayr , which flows through the south of the parish of Mauchline. In former days Loch Brown
627-651: A time, worshipped in this vacant public house adapted for the purpose, whilst the minister lived in a rented room in a nearby farm house. The new Free Church and schoolhouse were built in February 1844. The country seats were Coodham , with its well wooded grounds, sizeable ornamental lake, and once splendid gardens, 1 mile (1.5 kilometres) northeast; Dankeith, 1 mile (1.5 kilometres) north; Townend, 1 ⁄ 2 mile (800 metres) west; and Rosemount, 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (2.5 kilometres) southwest. In 1826 Margaret Fairlie, widow of William Fairlie of Calcutta built
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#1732794596570684-502: A ton of oatmeal per hour was the maximum milling rate. Provender for cattle was produced in addition to oatmeal. The mill had been built for the benefit of the tenants by the Montgomeries of Eglinton and one half of the machinery belonged to the miller. In 1583 William Wallace of Ellerslie held half the mill. In 1875 Adamson records the old corn and saw mill as being ruined when he passes this way when walking from Underhill, crossing
741-561: Is 43/8 miles; its breadth varies between 1 and 2¼ miles; and its area is 3736½ acres, of which 11½ are water. In the extreme S the surface declines to close on 100 feet above sea-level; and thence it rises gently to a maximum altitude of 333 feet at a point 21/3 furlongs NNE of the church, from which it sinks again to 201 feet near the Riccarton border. It thus exhibits a pleasing diversity of swells and slopes, and contains many vantage-grounds commanding extensive views of great part of Ayrshire,
798-543: Is in the presbytery of Ayr and the synod of Glasgow and Ayr; the living is worth £350. The parish church is an old building with Norman features, and, as entirely remodelled in 1880, contains 359 sittings. There is also a Free church; and the public school, with accommodation for 132 children, had (1884) an average attendance of 85, and a grant of £69, 16s. Valuation (1860) £6560, (1885) £7104, 5s. 3d. Pop. (1801) 668, (1841) 918, (1861) 855, (1871) 792, (1881) 697.—Ord. Sur., shs. 22, 14, 1865-63. A Law or Moot Hill once stood at
855-411: Is recorded that William Wallace of Ellerslie held the lands of Mains of Helentoun and Bogend, together with the tower, fortalice, and manor place of Helenton, together with half of the mill. William Wallace of Helenton is recorded as having married Elizabeth Cunningham of Kilmaronok (sic) in the mid 17th century. The derivation of the name is far from clear as 'Helenton' does not appear as a spelling on
912-478: Is the wondrous 'Mauchline Quern ' that ground constantly, except on Sundays. It could be heard working underground and the local place name "Auchenbrain" may celebrate it, translating from the Gaelic as "field of the quern". As well as containing the remains of many of Burns' contemporaries, including the man generally assumed to be the model for 'Holy Willie', Mauchline Kirkyard is the resting place of Mary Cameron,
969-526: The River Irvine near Gatehead . Freestone and whinstone are the underlying rocks and the church itself stands on an elevated outcrop. The parish covered 3725 acres and had a population of 697 in 1881. Mauchline Mauchline ( / ˈ m ɒ x l ɪ n / ; Scottish Gaelic : Maghlinn ) is a town and civil parish in East Ayrshire , Scotland . In the 2001 census Mauchline had
1026-934: The Scottish Parliament adopted the Scots Confession of 1560, the reformation was immediately accepted in Mauchline. Later, Mauchline became something of a stronghold for the Covenanter movement. Mauchline Parish's minister at the time, Reverend George Young, signed the Covenant in Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh in 1633 and subscribed to the Solemn League and Covenant in 1643, and several battles and skirmishes took place in
1083-429: The 1797 church seating plan as 'Laird Auld'. His gravestone records that he died aged 81 in the 50th year of his ministry, that his mother was Margaret Campbell and he had an only sister, Jean. He died unmarried. A motte or Moot hill was located at Helenton, once surmounted by a building and acting as the 'Justice Hill' of the barony of . Smith sees it as a fort with a ditch on the south side but altered in shape due to
1140-533: The 17th century. A ley tunnel is said to run from the castle of Mauchline to that of Kingencleugh . Mauchline featured in the Scottish Reformation . After the reformation the lands of Mauchline passed into the hands of the Earl of Loudoun , and no further historical events are recorded in the parish. The Holy Fair has been revived as an annual event in Mauchline. Formerly horse races were held on
1197-509: The 18th century. The peak of production and demand was at the turn of the 19th century when over 200 men were employed at the quarry. A railway siding was installed and as many as 60 wagons a day were transported from Mauchline. Many old building throughout the West of Scotland are built with Mauchline sandstone, and stone was being sent as far away as America. After 1918 the use of sandstone declined (houses were built with bricks instead) and this coupled with increased costs meant that eventually, in
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#17327945965701254-519: The 1950s, the last quarry closed. In the 18th century, Mauchline was renowned for clock making – John "Clockie" Brown is buried in the Kirkyard. The industry declined in the 19th century. The production of Scottish white-wood products, or Mauchline ware, was carried out from the 1820s until 1939 by the firm of W & A Smith, among other less long-lived manufacturers. The wood used was sycamore . These boxes were extremely collectable. They ranged from
1311-517: The 1960s compared to a dozen now. However, the Kays of Scotland curling stone factory is now the only one of its kind in the world, leading to an upsurge in trade. Robert Burns , Scotland's National Poet, came to live on the outskirts of the village at Mossgiel Farm in 1784. Many of his poems are believed to have been written whilst he was there, notably The Holy Fair , To a Mouse , and Holy Willie's Prayer . Many of his poems were directed towards
1368-416: The 1960s. In recent times Townend Cottage has functioned as a nursing home, Townend Cottage, circa 1810, situated in the village was its former dower house . The Hay-Boyds gave land for the village hall, a school, and a garden next to the church. Dr. Fullerton of Rosemount returned from India, circa 1770 and rebuilt the mansion-house at Rosemount, previously known as Goldring , improved the cultivation of
1425-627: The Firth of Clyde, and the Isle of Arran. Trap rock has been quarried for road metal, and sandstone for building; whilst limestone and coal exist, but not under profitable conditions. The soil, in general, is of a clayey character., on a hard subsoil. Nearly all the land, except about 300 acres under wood, is regularly or occasionally in tillage. The principal residences are Coodham, Dankeith, Rosemount, and Townend; and 5 proprietors hold each an annual value of £500 and upwards, 5 of between £100 and £500. Symington
1482-648: The Prestwick Golf Club and as a direct result in 1860 the first Open Championship was held. First recorded as Dalketh or Freris Dalkeithe this property was given to the Black Friars of Ayr and held by them until the Reformation. Alane of Lawdor had given the lands in memory of his wife. The Cunninghames obtained the lands in 1614 and they held the property until the 1690s, when William Kelso acquired it. In 1839 Lieutenant-Colonel William Kelso
1539-653: The area during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms . In 1684 the Covenanter James Smith was wounded during a skirmish at Burn of Ann in Kyle. He was taken to Mauchline where he died in prison. In 1685 five men from the town were dragged out of their homes and executed at the loan. A monument was placed over their grave (this was removed in 1861 and replaced by a plinth, with the original monument being built into
1596-523: The basic transfer as on small vases, each piece having the view of the place of purchase. The transfer subjects ranged across Scotland and more of the British Isles to the rest of the world. Tartan ware was also extremely popular as a result of the Smiths inventing a machine for "weaving" tartan designs on paper. Fernware was introduced in the 1870s. This involved applying actual ferns to the wood which
1653-507: The character Christian sinks under the weight of his sins and his sense of guilt for them. The burn in this area, rising near the old Broadhirst Farm, has long been known as the Slough, the Scots equivalent spelling is Sleugh, meaning a marsh or quagmire. It is not known how the name 'Slough of Despond' was added to the area, however it is recorded since the mid 19th century and may be linked to
1710-513: The church passed through several hands and was at length acquired by the Earl of Eglinton . The old manse in Kerrix Road is now known as Symington House (NS 38350 31325). The Disruption of 1843 resulted in the establishment of a second church, now demolished, at the junction of Main Street and Symington Road. The minister of the parish, George Orr, and his congregation "came out" and, for
1767-492: The daughter of a local gamekeeper in glowing terms she is perfectly lovely; just seventeen, tall with the figure of a nymph, quantities of golden hair, a skin like milk and eyes like the pearls of a forget-me-not. I never saw anyone more exquisite .. John Kelso Hunter (1802–1873) was born at Gillhead Cottage, close to Symington cemetery, on the Dankeith Estate and was at first employed here during his indenture as
Helenton Loch - Misplaced Pages Continue
1824-636: The five pound lands of Helentoun. He also inherited the lands of Goldring after they had both been held by the King for a period of three years. Helenton was a part of the Lands of Symington until it came to lie within the Barony of Sanquhar-Hamilton, named for the family of Hamilton of Sanquhar. James Stewart, Earl of Arran held the lands for a time, however they passed to the Wallaces of Craigie and in 1583-4 it
1881-555: The foot of the village and upon its removal some iron arrow-heads and horn combs were found. Helenton Moot Hill may have been a fortified site at one time and the Helenton Loch with its associated mill were nearby. On the boundary of Dundonald and Symington parishes lies an area known as the 'Slough of Despond'. The original Slough of Despond is a deep bog in John Bunyan's allegory The Pilgrim's Progress into which
1938-556: The footbridge over the Pow Burn to the mill and then continuing on to the lane to Helentongate and Symington. It had closed in 1858. A Robert Calderwood, aged 68, is shown as living at Helenton Mill in 1841. He was a miller who married Margaret Wilson 1799. The couples children were Elizabeth born Symington, and siblings were born in Craigie - James, Janet, Andrew, Adam, Margaret, Jean, John, William, David, Alexander and Walter who died at Perclewan, Dalrymple in 1903. The OS maps show that
1995-417: The grounds of Ballochmyle and this led to his famous song 'The Bonnie Lass of Ballochmyle.' Robert gave shelter to Adam Armour , his wife's brother, following an incident in which Agnes Wilson, a maid at Poosie Nancie's, was driven out of the village by Adam, aged 15, and a group of 'Auld Licht' friends. Burns wrote Adam Armour's Prayer that describes the incident. William Campbell of Netherplace came to
2052-704: The kirkyard: "Holy Wullie" Willie Fisher, the Reverend William "Daddy" Auld, John Richmond, James Armour , "Clockie" Brown and notably Gavin Hamilton, his best friend. The plaque which marks Hamilton's grave was only placed there in 1919 by the Partick Burns Club. Gavin Hamilton had stated that he wanted no headstone, probably due to his run-ins with the Church in Mauchline. On one occasion Burns encountered Wilhelmina Alexander whilst walking through
2109-562: The land, and ornamented the grounds with the belts of plantings that are apparent today (2011). In 1882–4, Francis Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Symington thus: Symington, a village and a parish in the NW of Kyle district, Ayrshire. The village stands 3½ miles NNE of Monkton station, and 6 SSW of Kilmarnock, under which it has a post office. The parish is bounded NE by Riccarton, E by Craigie, S and SW by Monkton, and W and NW by Dundonald. Its utmost length, from NNE to SSW,
2166-469: The lands to George Boyd of East Overloan Farm. William Hay Boyd, Esq. of Her Majesty's 20th Regiment of Infantry in the Crimea and was the owner of Townend House (NS 37652 31552) and estate in 1839. Townend is an 18th-century building with a Victorian Italianate wing. A dated lintel in the walled garden may have come from an earlier building on the site; the old stables, were converted into a small dwelling in
2223-464: The loch and a mill pond serving Helenton Mill. Armstrong's Map of 1775 shows a substantial loch bordering the mansion house and wooded policies of Helentoun. The 1857 OS map records only a small loch at the site. The 1860s OS map shows a lane running up to the 'mill pond' or loch remnant from the Helentongate to Helenton Road in the 1860s. The loch was drained to provide land for agriculture and
2280-400: The mansion house and in total expended £20,000 on various improvements. She renamed the estate Williamfield in honour of her late husband. In the 1870s William Houldsworth owned the property and added a new wing, conservatory and a private chapel designed by Alfred Waterhouse . It was bought by a religious order after WWII was known as 'Fatima House, Coodham' and used as a retreat house with
2337-516: The maps until the late 16th century, variations of the name 'Ellington' being used by cartographers prior to that date. The village of Ellington in Northumberland may derives its name from the Saxon first name 'Ella'. The Scots word 'Elenge' means remote or lonely. The name 'Pow' or 'Poll' refers to a slow-moving ditch-like stream. The minister at Mauchline Kirk at the time of Robert Burns
Helenton Loch - Misplaced Pages Continue
2394-722: The nearby limekilns that were generally notorious for the acrid 'hell-like' smoke that issued from them. The Slough Burn still rises from the marshy area below the Broadhirst Woods, however the limestone quarry that served the limekilns is now abandoned, surviving as an area rich in wildlife, containing old woodland indicator plants such as Wood Anemone ( Anemone nemorosa ), Bluebell ( Hyacinthoides non-scripta ), Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), Dog's Mercury ( Mercurialis perennis ), Herb Robert ( Geranium robertianum ) and other species. The Slough Burn runs down past Dankeith House, Templeton and Fortacres, Todrigs and Caprington, to join
2451-417: The parish extended to the border with Lanarkshire at Glenbuck . The monks built an abbey, the ruins of which still exist and are known as Hunters Tower or, more recently, as Mauchline Castle. Mauchline was created a burgh of barony by James IV in 1510 and was granted a further charter in 1610; both these charters however have been lost, believed to have perished in a fire at Register House, Edinburgh , in
2508-582: The perceived hypocrisy of the Church. The Church was particularly fanatical in Mauchline, which conflicted with the liberal attitude of Burns and his friends. The minister in Burns' time was the Rev William Auld of Old Helenton near Symington, South Ayrshire . Burns made many friends (his wife Jean Armour was born in Mauchline) and a lot of enemies whilst in Mauchline, many of whom are buried in
2565-554: The poet's attention due to his wife Lilias Nelson, a domineering individual of whom Robert wrote Epitaph on a Henpecked Squire ; "As father Adam first was fool'd, A case that's still too common, Here lies a man a woman rules, The devil ruled the woman." In the 9th century the Welsh monk Nennius wrote a history of Britain, the Historia Brittonum , in which he lists the thirteen wonders of Britain and included in it
2622-452: The property of the Schaws of Sornbeg. The loch is recorded as Ellingtone Loch on Roy's survey of 1747-55, and Elintoun Loch on Blaeu's map of 1654, surveyed by Timothy Pont in the early 1600s, with an 'Elintounmur' nearby. Ainslie's map of 1821 records the name 'Helenton'. Aitons map of 1811 records the house and loch clearly and uses the spelling 'Halentoun'. Thomson's map of 1832 shows
2679-634: The road from the National Burns Memorial past Mossgiel as part of the annual Mauchline Fair. In 1544 George Wishart , an influential Protestant preacher, visited Mauchline to find the doors of St Michael's church barred against him. His reaction to this was to retreat to Mauchline Moor and to preach for over three hours to a large congregation, under the watchful eye of the Sheriff of Ayr and an armed force. John Knox also preached in Mauchline in 1599 after his return from exile in France and Switzerland. When
2736-552: The route following the closure of the corn and sawmill at Helenton. Helentongate is recorded as a curling site by the Royal Caledonian Curling Club . In 1549 Andrew Schaw of Sornbeg is recorded as holding the lands of Goldring (Rosemount) , Knockindail, and Helentoun Mains with the mill. Johne Schaw of Polkemmet next held the lands of Helentoun with its tower, mains, mill, and part of the lands of Helentoun Muir. In 1582 John Schaw, son and heir, inherited
2793-581: The village and parish of Symington is derived from the person of a Norman Knight, Symon Loccard or Lockhart, who held the barony of Symington lands under Walter fitz Alan, the first Steward in 1165. The barony title survives to this day as a Scottish Feudal Barony , held by the descendants of the Bennet Baronets of Grubet (later called Marlfield ), a branch of which family also holds the Barony of Auchinleck . The Lockharts of Barr in Galston were
2850-464: The wall of the school shed where it stands to this day). The Battle of Mauchline Muir took place in 1648 between Covenanters and Royalist troops. A Covenanters' flag from this battle still hangs in the church. The flag was also carried at the battles of Drumlog and Bothwell Brig . The village has at some point been a centre for quarrying sandstone , clock making , box-work, and the production of curling stones. The sandstone quarry dates back to
2907-469: Was about 1 mi (1.6 km) west of the town, but was drained when the railway line from Kilmarnock was built. Bruntwood Loch , near the old laird's house of that name, was once an important site for waterfowl, but drained for agriculture in the eighteenth century. In 1165, Walter fitz Alan , Steward of Scotland , granted a charter giving land to the Cistercian monks of Melrose . In those days
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#17327945965702964-543: Was burnt down in 1935. This Arts & Crafts style house was built in 1931-4 by Noad & Wallace. It is embellished with gargoyles, inscriptions, and other ornamental additions. Broadmeadows is the focus of the residential centre known as Hansel Village. The parish church was founded in the 12th century by Simon Loccard and is the oldest functioning church in Ayrshire. It belonged to the Trinitarian Monastery at Fail (just outside Tarbolton). The Church
3021-582: Was fire damaged, but restored. In WW2 it was used by the RAF and secret planning meetings for D-day and other allied operations took place here. In 1948 the Roman Catholic Passionist Fathers acquired the property as a retreat, however they sold the property circa 1968 and the site is now a leisure centre, with caravans surrounding the house. Hugh Glover held the lands of Townend circa 1701-4 and in 1733 William Kelso of Dankeith sold
3078-460: Was restored in the 18th century and again in 1919. This restoration by P. MacGregor Chalmers revealed that the earlier alterations of 1797 had covered up some fine architectural features, including the 13th century windows and the open-work timber roof. Three windows with semi-circular heads are located in the gable, with heavy hood moulds and dog-tooth ornamentation, the finest of their style in Scotland. The base slab of an aumbrey incorporating
3135-465: Was the owner of Dankeith. The Factor's house of the Dankeith Estate was Craigowan House in Brewlands Road. Dankeith House itself was built in 1893, incorporating an earlier building. The estate had a fine range of hothouses. In May 1857 Dankeith was rented by Janet Story, wife of Dr Story. She published her Early Reminiscences in which she comments on her servants, in particular she refers to
3192-465: Was the somewhat fanatical 'Auld Licht' Rev William 'Daddy' Auld, born at Auld Ellanton or Helenton Farm in 1709. He was the younger son of the Laird of Ellanton (sic), his mother being Margaret Campbell. The poet and Jean Armour appeared before him for 'irregular behaviour' and he baptised their eldest son Robert as well as his sister Jean. William Aulds family held a pew within Symington church, shown on
3249-426: Was then stippled in dark brown, the ferns removed and the wood varnished. These products were sent all over the world. A fire in 1933 stopped production, which was never restarted, and W & A Smith finally closed down in 1939. The making of curling stones began in the 19th century and for many years experienced full production, however for various reasons, the industry began to decline. Forty people were employed in
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