| Lylestone | |
|---|---|
 The old school at Lylestone | |
  Lylestone Location within North Ayrshire | |
| OS grid reference | NS 32814 45407 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Dialling code | 01294 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
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.
Lord Lyle was a local landowner, connected with the Montgomeries of Eglinton by marriage; Lord Nicholas Montgomerie, had married the daughter and only heir of Lord Lyle about 1500. [1] Lylestone Farm stands on the minor road to Auchenmade and Drumbuie that branches off from the B778 and runs past the old school. The name does not indicate a stone, but refers to the farm settlement or 'ton', 'toun' or town [2] of Lyle.
The ruins of the old Lylestone Row still stand (2012) on the roadside beyond Monkredding House, opposite to the old Monkredding Quarry and close to the old Sevenacres Quarry. In the 19th century the row contained circa nine dwellings with several buildings on the opposite side of the road. These dwellings were home to railway workers and quarrymen from the nearby extensive freestone and limestone quarries and coal pits. At least three smithies once stood in the quarries near to the row and a mineral railway ran up to the site, running through the woods, parallel to the main road from the old Kilmarnock to Dalry mainline railway. A freight line or tramway also once ran up through Lylestone to a limestone quarry near to High Monkredding. By 1958 the OS map shows a new row had been built at the 'triangle' close to the school and that the old Lylestone Row and nearby dwellings had been abandoned. In 1970 the OS map shows the new Lylestone Terrace and the old Lylestone Row in ruins. [3]
The Lylestone school buildings still stands at the end Lylestone Terrace, undergoing conversion into a private dwelling. In 1906 a local paper records that Miss Stewart, teacher at Lylestone Infant School, was promoted to the staff of Eglinton District School, Kilwinning. [4] The school is first shown on the OS map in 1909.
In 1747 the settlement of Lylestown is indicated on Roy's map with Monk Redden (sic) nearby. [5] Thomson's map of 1832 shows Lysleton (sic) and at this date the course of the present day B778 did not exist and the road stopped at Monkreddan House. [6] Lylestone Cottage sits on the B778 next to old limestone quarries which are on both sides of the road. The 1897 OS map shows a Quarry House and a Sevenacres House at the junction to Clonbeith at Sevenacres Wood. The Quarry House has since been demolished. [7]
A mineral railway ran up to the site, running through the woods, parallel to the main road from the old Kilmarnock to Dalry mainline railway. A railway or tramway also ran up to a limestone quarry near to High Monkredding and another railway in 1909 ran from the Lyslestone limestone quarry near Darmule Farm to the Lylestone Brick and Pipe Works at High Gooseloan that were connected to the old Dalry to Kilmarnock railway line. Coal pits were located near to the Lylestone Row and also close to Golconda, the old Monkreddan lodge. A tramway is shown in 1909 as running from Sevenacres Quarry to Sevenacres Mill and from there to Fergushill. [8] A limestone quarry also existed at nearby Goldcraigs.
Progressive closures of the quarries led to the decline of this once thriving local community in the 20th century. The old flooded Monkredding Quarry at NS329452 is a Provisional Local Nature Conservation Site as designated by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in co-operation with North Ayrshire Council.
Coal workings and wastes at Monkridding near Kilwinning were recorded by Timothy Pont as far back as 1608, extending between 50 acres (200,000 m2) and 100 acres (400,000 m2), associated with the limestone. [9] As stated, stone and coal workings came close to the mansion house of Monkredding and the old main entrance at Golconda House had to be moved.
"In the lands of Monkridding there are old coal wastes, connected with the limestone series, from 2½ to 3 feet in thickness, which had been opened several hundred years ago and they extend over between 50 and 100 acres. This coal-bed must have been of great value in those days of defective machinery from the peculiar position of the coal and lay of the land, as it was all wrought water-free and from the old waste there is now a constant run of fine water. There is a great extent of the lower seam yet to work. Among the Blair papers were found receipts for coal from this locality dated 200 years ago."
Monkredding Quarry, with its associated smithies and railway, was a freestone quarry with associated hamlet, limestone and coal pits; as shown on the OS 6-inch (150 mm) to the mile map. The Inspector of Mines' Report in 1874 lists Monkredding amongst the twelve operating mines in the Irvine area. [10]
The Monkridden No.1 coal seam was abandoned before 1879 and No.2, Wee coal and limestone was still working in 1877. [11] Goldcraig's limestone quarry closed in 1891 and the Wee coal working was abandoned in 1927. [12] Lylestone had Wee coal and fire-clay workings. The upper quarries were abandoned in 1918. [13]
The OS map shows that the quarry at High Monkredding had become a fish pond with a boat house and a contiguous plantation by 1909.
Monkredding House, North Ayrshire lies nearby(NS 3240 4534), a property originally held by the Tironensian monks of Kilwinning Abbey, was the 'Monk's Garden', the rest home for the brothers. [14]
Auchenmade railway station was located approximately one mile north of Lylestone. It served the hamlet of Auchentiber and the surrounding rural area as part of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway.
Sevenacres Mill is fairly close by, known by the locals as 'Snakers Mill.' A small estate existed near here in the 1560s, held by William Montgomery, said to be descended from the Montgomeries of Smithstone. [14]
The old roads to Lylestone branched off at Goldcraigs Toll and the other ran via Hullerhill Farm, running up from near the Bannoch Road and up via Crofthead Farm before continuing to Clonbeith. All of the Bannoch Road to Clonbeith via Hullerhill is now abandoned.
Dalry is a small town in the Garnock Valley in Ayrshire, Scotland. Drakemyre is a northern suburb.
Cunninghamhead is a hamlet in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It was the centre of the lands of Cunninghamhead, Perceton and Annick Lodge in Cunninghame. This mainly rural area is noted for its milk and cheese production and the Ayrshire, Cunninghame or Dunlop breed of cattle.
Lugton 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, 15 miles (24.1 km) 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. The settlement lies on the Lugton Water which forms the boundary between East Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire as well as that of the parishes of Dunlop and Beith.
The hamlet of Auchentiber is in North Ayrshire, Parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. Auchentiber is four miles northeast of Kilwinning on the Lochlibo Road, 2+1⁄4 mi (3.5 km) from the hamlet of Burnhouse and 2+1⁄2 mi (4 km) from the village of Barrmill. Grid Ref. NS3647. Some new housing has been built, but the settlement is still very much a hamlet. The settlement is on the Lugton Water, which runs into the River Garnock after running through Montgreenan and Eglinton Country Park in Irvine.
The Barony of Giffen and its associated 15th-century castle were in the parish of Beith in the former District of Cunninghame, now North Ayrshire. The site may be spelled Giffen or Giffin and lay within the Lordship of Giffin, which included the Baronies of Giffen, Trearne, Hessilhead, Broadstone, Roughwood and Ramshead; valued at £3,788 9s 10d. The Barony of Giffen comprised a number of properties, including Greenhills, Thirdpart, Drumbuie, Nettlehirst and Balgray, covering about half of the parish of Beith. Giffen was a hundred merk land, separated from the Barony of Beith, a forty-pound land, by the Powgree Burn which rises on Cuff hill. The Lugton Water or the Bungle Burn running through Burnhouse may have been the Giffen barony boundary with that of the adjacent barony and lands of Aiket castle.
Gateside is a small village in North Ayrshire, Scotland about 1⁄2 mile east of Beith on the B777.
Highfield is a small village or hamlet in North Ayrshire, Parish of Dalry, Scotland. It is situated between the settlements of Barkip and Dalry on the A737 at a junction with the B777. It lies in the lands of the old Barony of Kersland, the ruins of Kersland Castle and East Kersland Mill being situated nearby at East Kersland.
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 Castle of Clonbeith is in the old feudal Baillerie of Cunninghame, near Auchentiber, on a sideroad off the B778, in what is now North Ayrshire, Scotland.
Broadstone lies close to the small village of Gateside in North Ayrshire, Scotland about half a mile east of Beith in the old Barony of Giffen.
The Eglinton Castle estate was situated at Irvine, on the outskirts of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland in the former district of Cunninghame. Eglinton Castle, was once home to the Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton and chiefs of the Clan Montgomery. Eglinton Country Park now occupies part of the site.
The Lands of Kirkwood (NS3947) formed a small estate in the Parish of Stewarton, East Ayrshire lying between Stewarton and Dunlop, which in 1678 became part of the lands of Lainshaw, known as the Lainshaw, Kirkwood and Bridgehouse Estate. Kirkwood was anciently known as Bloak Cunninghame. Kirkwood remains as a farm in 2010.
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, 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 Lands of Ashgrove, previously known as Ashenyards, formed a small estate in the Parish of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, lying between Kilwinning and Stevenston. The Georgian mansion house was demolished in 1960, the substantial walled garden survives.
Drakemyre or Drakemire was once a distinct village on the Rye Water in North Ayrshire, Parish of Dalry, Scotland. The settlement on the B780 road to Kilbirnie has become incorporated as a suburb within the town of Dalry.
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 Lands of Sevenacres known locally as Snacres were originally part of the holdings of Kilwinning Abbey in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The Laird of Sevenacres's residence once stood at what became known as Little Sevenacres on the high ground above the farm of Sevenacres Mains, a short distance from Sevenacres Mill. The name "Sevenacres" may have derived from the size of the land holding of the mill itself.
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