Kilwinning Old Parish church is located (NS 30321 432940) on the site of the old Kilwinning Abbey, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
Kilwinning Old Parish church is located (NS 30321 432940) on the site of the old Kilwinning Abbey, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
It is often claimed that the abbey was destroyed during or shortly after Scottish Reformation, but there is no real evidence for this and Timothy Pont, the famous cartographer stated that most of it was still standing in the early 1600s. The structure of this monastery, said Pont, ‘was solid and grate, all of freestone cutte, the church fair and staitly after ye modell of yat of Glasgow, with a fair steiple of 7 score foote of height, yet standing quhen I myselve did see it.’ He also saw the original abbey records, further proof that it was not destroyed by the Reformers, though they may have been kept at Eglinton Castle by then. Without the revenues from church lands and property, the parish church could not afford to maintain a great building already damaged by wind and weather and as it deteriorated, local builders, including the Earls of Eglinton, helped themselves to a lot of free building material. A'new' parish church seems to have been constructed in the ruins, sometime after that date Pont visited, reusing existing stones. The first Protestant minister was William Kilpatrick in 1587. [1]
This building was designed by John Swan [2] and built by John Wright and John Garland at the cost of £546, [3] being completed in 1774 on the site of its 16th century predecessor. It was constructed at the expense of the Earl of Eglinton. [4] [5] An old stone bearing the arms of the Eglinton family and the date 1593 is incorporated into a wall of the church. [3]
The interior is a little less spartan and austere than the exterior. A prominent feature is the Eglinton Loft or Gallery, built as an area for the exclusive use of the Earls of Eglinton and their retinue. A private entrance and the Eglinton Room, complete with fireplace, provided the deference and comfort that the Earls expected. [6]
The fine organ was built by Foster and Anderson in 1897. The Memorial Screen was dedicated in 1990 to the memory of Colonel A. R. Cole-Hamilton who died at Gallipoli in 1915, his mother Sarah, and his wife Gladys. The screen features the coat of arms of the Cole-Hamiltons and the seal of the Abbot of Kilwinning Abbey. [6]
The church has some fine stained glass windows, including one to Lady Sophia Montgomerie, Countess of Eglinton and wife of the 9th Earl of Eglinton and another by Stephen Adam to the Rev Lee Ker, minister of this church and author of a detailed book on the churches of Kilwinning. [2] [7] The Conn and Hendrie families are likewise commemorated as are James Gaul, Alexander Stewart, Thomas Borland, and the Rev Archibald Hunter. [3]
An 800th Tapestry was created by the members and friends of the Abbey church to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the founding of the abbey. [6]
An unusual marble memorial stone is to David Muir, Chamberlain to the 9th Earl of Eglinton, who generously left his lands of Woodgreen to the poor of the parish.
The tower of the old abbey fell in 1814, however it was rebuilt on a smaller scale by Messrs Connell of Dalgarven, who also built the Eglinton Tournament Bridge, the architect being David Hamilton. [8] Considerable restorations were made on the choir of the abbey church and in parts of the nave in 1814. [9]
The Glasgow's of Montgreenan are buried here, as are the said David Muir (see photograph), a number of the Earls of Eglinton and their families, as well as the Reverend Doctor James Steven who Robert Burns mentions in 'The Calf'. [3]
Kilwinning 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 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.
Kerelaw Castle is a castle ruin. It is situated on the coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland in the town of Stevenston.
Kilwinning Abbey is a ruined abbey located in the centre of the town of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.
Eglinton Castle was a large Gothic castellated mansion in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
Eglinton Country Park is located on the grounds of the old Eglinton Castle estate in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland. Eglinton Park is situated in the parish of Kilwinning, part of the former district of Cunninghame, and covers an area of 400 ha ([98 acres ] of which are woodland. The central iconic feature of the country park is the ruined Eglinton Castle, once home to the Eglinton family and later the Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton and chiefs of the Clan Montgomery. Eglinton Country Park is managed and maintained by North Ayrshire Council and its Ranger Service.
Benslie is a small village in North Ayrshire, in the parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. Map reference NS 336 429.
Fergushill is a small community in North Ayrshire, Parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. The Barony of Fergushill was held by the Fergushill family of that Ilk and the area has a complex history.
Montgreenan is an estate in North Ayrshire, Parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. The Lugton Water runs through the policies and farmland of Montgreenan. Nearby are the hamlets of Torranyard and Auchentiber.
The Eglinton Tournament Bridge is a bridge located within Eglinton Country Park near Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The bridge crosses the Lugton Water a short distance northwest of Eglinton Castle and was named after the Eglinton Tournament of 1839. The castle and surrounding grounds were once home to the Montgomerie family, Earls of Eglinton and chiefs of the Clan Montgomery.
The Drukken, Drucken Steps or Drunken Steps were stepping stones across the Red Burn in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland and are associated with Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns. Drukken is used on the commemorative cairn plaque, but Druken or Drucken may also be used.
Skelmorlie Castle stands on the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, at the north-western corner of the county of Ayrshire. The structure dates from 1502, and was formerly the seat and stronghold of the Montgomery Clan. The modern village of Skelmorlie lies to the north of the castle.
Seagate Castle is a castle in North Ayrshire, in the town of Irvine, close to the River Irvine, Scotland. The castle was formerly a stronghold, a town house, and later a dower house of the Montgomery Clan. The castle overlooks the oldest street in Irvine, which was once the main route between the town and the old harbour at Seagatefoot, which by 1606, was useless and abandoned due to silting. The remains of the castle are protected as a scheduled ancient monument.
Ardeer was a small town now officially incorporated into Stevenston on the Ardeer peninsula, in the parish of Stevenston, North Ayrshire, originally an island and later its extensive sand dune system became the site of Nobel Explosives, a dominant global supplier of explosives to the mining and quarrying industries and a major player in the design and development of products for the chemical and defence industries during the 20th century. The peninsula is now part of North Ayrshire's most important area for Biodiversity.
Monkredding formed a small estate in the Parish of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire lying between Kilwinning and Auchentiber on the B778. The property was originally held by the Tironensian monks of Kilwinning Abbey and was the 'Monk's Garden', the rest home for the brothers. Monkcastle near Dalgarven was the abbot's country retreat. Monkredding remains in good condition and is in use as a private house in 2010.
Monkcastle, Monk Castle sometimes known as Old Monkcastle formed a small estate in the Parish of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire lying between Kilwinning and Dalry on the A737. The property was originally held by the Tironensian monks of Kilwinning Abbey and was probably the site of the abbot's country retreat. The 17th-century Monkcastle is a category B listed ruin, although it has been consolidated and stands next to a private house, constructed from the converted old home farm buildings. The 19th-century mansion of Monkcastle House is nearby, and is also category B listed. The castle may have been used as a dower house or retreat.
The old Barony and castle, fortalice, or tower house of Hill of Beith lay in the feudal Regality of Kilwinning, within the Baillerie of Cunninghame, and the Sherrifdom of Ayr, now the Parish of Beith, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
Lylestone is a hamlet in North Ayrshire, Parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. The habitation is situated between Kilwinning and Auchentiber on the B778. It was originally built as a row of housing for quarry workers.
The Lands of Doura, Dawra, Dawray, DowreyDowray, Dourey or Douray formed a small estate, at one time part of the Barony of Corsehill and Doura, situated near the Eglinton Estate in the Parish of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
The ancient lands of Willowyard, Willieyeards, Williyard or Willizeards were part of the holdings of the Regality of Kilwinning, Barony of Beith, and Bailiary of Cuninghame. They later became the property of the Montgomerie family before being sold to the Simson family in 1723. The manor house still survives as part of a business premises and the nearby industrial estate and whisky bond carry the name 'Willowyards'.
The Murder of Hugh Montgomerie, 4th Earl of Eglinton at the Annick Ford in Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland, took place in 1586 as a consequence of a long running feud between the Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton and the Cunninghames, Earls of Glencairn, families who were competing for power and influence locally and nationally. The significant repercussions of this act were felt throughout the county of Ayrshire and beyond. The spelling 'Montgomerie' is used throughout for both the family and Montgomery for the clan and clan and district names 'Cunninghame' in the same fashion.