Barony of Bonshaw

The Barony of Bonshaw was in the old feudal Baillerie of Cunninghame, near Stewarton in what is now North Ayrshire, Scotland.

The History of Bonshaw

The Irvine's and Boyd's

William Irvine (c.1298) (also known as William de Irwin) was a soldier. He was granted land in Aberdeenshire in 1323 by Robert the Bruce for faithful service. This grant included a defensive work known as the Drum Tower, thus William became the first Laird of Drum. The family had previously held the lands of Bonshaw and took their name from the village of Irvine in Annandale.Strawhorn, John (1985). "The History of Irvine." Pub. John Donald. ISBN 0-85976-140-1. P. 4.]

An Irvinehill Farm is found near Kennox which may relate to this family name or simply signify that a good view of Irvine is to be had from this eminence. Alexander Smith (died 1938) and his spouse Robina Robb (died 1959) farmed Irvinehill in the mid 20th century and were buried in the Stewarton cemetery. The Bonshaw estate originally included Sandielands, Bankend as well as High and Laigh Chapelton.Robertson, George (1820). Topographical Description of Ayrshire; more Particularly of Cunninghame: together with a Genealogical account of the Principal families in that Bailiwick. Cunninghame Press. Irvine.] Bonshaw (formerly Bollingshaw or Bonstonshaw) was a small estate and barony of the Boyd's, a cadet of the Boyds, Lords of KilmarnockDobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). "Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont" 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.] . A daughter of the family, Margaret Boyd, was Mistress to James IV and her bastard son, Alexander Stewart, became Archbishop of St. Andrews. She later married John Mure of Rowallan. In 1592 Robertson records that Barbara Lawson, daughter of John Lawson owned the lands and that by the 1690s they were in the hands of the Dundonald family, the mansion being in utter ruins. A Charter of sasine under the Great Seal of Queen Anne was issued to the successors of the deceased Alexander Cochrane of Bollingshaw on 20th March 1706.Bonshaw Papers. Scottish National Archives.] The mansion house has been long demolished and all that remains are the entrance gateposts and an ice house.

Alexander Reid and the Hutt Knowe

Near to the existing farm is the Hut KnollSmith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. Pub. Elliot Stock.] or more commonly Hutt Knowe (Huit is a 'stack' and Knowe is a 'knol' or low hill), also known as Bonshaw or Bollingshaw Mound, 17 m in diameter and 2.7 m high, variously described as a mounded corn-kiln or lime kiln.Linge, John (1987). Re-discovering a landscape: the barrow and motte in north Ayrshire. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland. V.117. P. 28.] Corn-drying kilns were often built into sloping ground or existing mounds.Fairhurst, Horace (1967-68). Rosal:a Deserted Township in Strath Naver, Sutherland. Proc Soc Nat Hist V.100. P. 152.] It has large integral basal stones and was described in 1890Smith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. Pub. Elliot Stock.] as having culverts or 'penns' in its sides, although these are not visible today.

In 1828, Alexander Ferguson Reid inherited the estate, he was known as the "Ayrshire Genius" and was an inventor and collector of antiquities, as well as geological and natural history specimens. Reid dug into this Druidical Mound or Moot Hill several times and found nothing to help explain its age or purposeDobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). "Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont" 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.] . Most maps do not show the ice house which lies to the east of the driveway and some confusion in the descriptions may have arisen from misidentification of the ice house, limekiln and the Hutt Knowe. In the grounds of the present farm are curved ditches which are shown to have held water, either as ornamental ponds or for some practical purpose now unknown. The site had an apple orchard within the last 50 years or so, for John Hastings remembers raiding it.Hastings, John (2006), the Younger. Oral Communications to Roger S.Ll. Griffith.]

Dr. Duguid's visit to Bonshaw

Dr. DuguidService, John (Editor) (1887). The Life & Recollections of Doctor Duguid of Kilwinning. Pub. Young J. Pentland. Pps.81- 83.] visited 'Bonnshie', circa the 1840s and lists some of the items in Reid's collection, including garden seats made of bog-oak from Auchentiber Moss, his grandfathers Ferrara sword with which he fought at Drumclog, the first winnowing machine and teapot in Stewarton, devices for catching robbers, etc. etc. He had the stirrups from the horse that the Earl of Eglinton was riding when he was shot and killed by gauger Mungo Campbell.

The 'Hut Knoll' is described as a 'humplock', built by the 'wee Pechs' or by Druids. In a small planting is described the place where Alexander Watt, a Jacobite participant in 1745 rebellion, hid his silver when he was forced to flee to Ireland. He comments that it is said that Reid has "A fouth o'auld nicks nackets" and that Captain Grose himself (the author, artist & historian, and friend of Robbie Burns) was envious of the collection.Service, John (Editor) (1887). "The Life & Recollections of Doctor Duguid of Kilwinning". Pub. Young J. Pentland. P. 81 - 83.]

References

See also

* Barony of Peacockbank
* Lambroughton
* Corsehill

* [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/A_Researcher's_Guide_to_Local_History_Terminology A Researcher's Guide to Local History terminology]

External links

* [http://geo.nls.uk/roy/] General Roy's Military map of Scotland.
* [http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk] Details of the De Soulis, De Morville and other Cunninghame families.