Kilmaurs

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Kilmaurs
gaelic_name= Cille Mhàra
scots_name=
population=
population_density=
area_total_sq_mi=
os_grid_reference= NS407413
latitude= 55.639444
longitude= -4.530278
unitary_scotland= East Ayrshire
lieutenancy_scotland= Ayrshire
constituency_westminster=
constituency_scottish_parliament=
post_town=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
static_

static_image_caption=The former Kilmaurs Parish Council chambers and jail
edinburgh_distance=
london_distance=

Kilmaurs (Scottish Gaelic: "Cille Mhàra") is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It lies on the Carmel, 21.1 miles south by west of Glasgow by the Glasgow & South-Western railway. Pop. (1901), 1803.

History

Kilmaurs was known as the hamlet of Cunninghame until the 13th century.Groome, Francis H. (1903). "Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland." Pub. Caxton. London. P. 938.Tranter, Nigel (1965), "The Fortified House in Scotland. V. 3. South-West Scotland." Pub. Oliver & Boyd. P. 40.]

The modern view is that the name Kilmaurs is derived from the Gaelic "Cil Mor Ais", meaning Hill of the Great CairnYoung, Alex F.(2001). Old Kilmaurs and Fenwick. ISBN 1-84033-150-X.] .

It was once noted for its cutlery, shoe and bonnet factories, and there were iron and coal mines in the neighbourhood. The parish church, Saint Maurs , now Kilmaurs: St Maurs-Glencairn, dates from 1170, and was dedicated either to the Virgin or to a Scottish saint of the 9th century called Maure. It was enlarged in 1403 and in great part rebuilt in 1888.

Cunninghames and the Glencairn Aisle

Adjoining it is the burial-place of the Earls of Glencairn, the leading personages in the district during several centuries, some of whom bore the style of Lord Kilmaurs. The aisle, designed and erected in 1600 by David Sewgal, Mason burgess from Carel, (he was also responsible for designing the tomb dedicated to William Schaw, James VI's Master of Works in Dunfermline Abbey), contains the restored tomb of the 7th. Earl with his wife and eight children. Their family name was Cunningham, adopted from the baillie which they acquired in the 12th century, or more probably from the district of Cunninghame (Ayrshire) where the town is situated.The De Morville family lived at Tour nearby. The family built Kilwinning abbey, a daughter was the mother of John Baliol and another member was one of the murderers of Thomas a Becket. The town was made a burgh of barony in 1527 by the earl of that date. Burns's patron, the fourteenth earl, on whose death the poet wrote his touching "Lament," sold the Kilmaurs estate in 1786 to the marchioness of Titchfield, later the family held the title of Duke of Portland.

Kilmaurs has strong links with the Cunninghame family who are associated with the toun of Lambroughton for a significant period during their rise to power. James, the fourteenth Earl of Glencairn broke the centuries old connection of the Cunnighame family with the area by selling the Barony and estate of Kilmaurs, including Kilmaurs place, in 1786 to the Marchioness of TitchfieldRobertson, William (1908). "Ayrshire. Its History and Historic Families". Vol. 2. Grimsay Press (2005). ISBN 1-84530-026-2. P. 326.] .

Laigh Milton viaduct

One sad story redolent of its era is that of a 'professional class' couple from England, Mr. & Mrs. Barker, who committed suicide in Victorian times (1844) by tying themselves together and jumping from Laigh Milton Viaduct into the Irvine, which has a depth of only around three feet at this point. They were buried in the Kilmaurs churchyard in an unmarked grave. They are known to have spent a few weeks in lodgings and apparently enjoyed the 'sights and sounds' of Ayrshire. It transpired that they had recently become bankrupt and were fearful of the shame and disgrace that poverty would inevitably bring*McNaught, Duncan (1912). "Kilmaurs Parish and Burgh." Pub. A.Gardner.] Adamson, Archibald R. (1875). "Rambles Round Kilmarnock." Pub. T.Stevenson, P. 175.] .

Jougs or tolbooth

The former Parish Council chambers and jail in Kilmaurs, the 'jougs', 'Jugs' or 'Juggs' has a fine example of a stepped Mercat Cross in an enclosure behind it, the cross is surmounted by a large sandstone ball and dated 1830.The 'Jougs' was also used as the Kilmaurs fire station in the 19th century. The Fire Brigade Museum in Edinburgh holds the preserved wooden 1830s fires engine in its collections. Sir Walter Scott rescued the 'jougs' from Thrieve Castle in the Borders and attached them to the castellated gateway he built at Abbotsford House.Napier, George G. (1897). "The Home and Haunts of Sir Walter Scott, Bart." James Maclehose, Glasgow. P. 153.] The Old Tolbooth in Sanquhar has a set of jougs attched to the wall just outside the jail entrance. They were last used in 1820 when a housebreaker was held ny them. He was so small that he had to be stood on a stone block.

Public Hall

This fine building was constructed in 1893 at a cost of £1,400. This town hall building had a stage, changing rooms, a reading room and a recreation room."Kilmaurs. A Walk thro' time." East Ayrshire council and Outdoor Access.

War Memorial

Kilmaurs has a particularly fine war memorial situated in the Morton Park (gifted to the village by George Morton of Lochgreen, Troon in 1921.) The memorial itself was erected at a cost of £900 raised by public subscription and unveiled on 3 April 1921. 45 men gave their lives in the Great War and 10 men and 1 woman in the Second World War."Kilmaurs. A Walk thro' time." East Ayrshire council and Outdoor Access.

Highland Host

To prevent the Covenanters holding 'Conventicles', King Charles II moved highland troops, the 'Highland Host' into the westland of AyrshireRobertson, William (1905). "Old Ayrshire Days". Pub. Stephen & Pollock. Ayr. P. 299 - 300.] . "They took free quarters; they robbed people on the high road; they knocked down and wounded those who complained; they stole, and wantonly destroyed, cattle; they subjected people to the torture of fire to discover to them where their money was hidden; they threatened to burn down houses if their demands were not at once complied with; besides free quarters they demanded money every day; they compelled even poor families to buy brandy and tobacco for them; they cut and wounded people from sheer devilment." The cost of all this amounted to £3,250 15s 0d Scots in Kilmaurs parish alone.

mallpox

PatersonPaterson, James (1863-66). History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton. V. - III - Cunninghame. J. Stillie. Edinburgh. P. 344.] records that in the 1790s inoculation for smallpox had not become general, "owing," according to the minister, "to the prevalence of a religious persuasion that the Divine Government, without any care on the part of man, will accomplish whatever is best for him. So deeply are the tenets of this kind impressed, that all attempts to show the necessity of using those means by which the Providence of God operates, both in temporal and spiritual concerns, are 'houted' and despised. Much," he adds, "have the teachers of religion to answer for, who establish faith upon the ruins of practice."

Waverley Novels

Sir Walter Scott makes several references to the Earl of Glencairn as a supporter of the Scottish kirk and the Cameronians in his novel 'Waverley. He also mentions in the same novel, that Kilmaurs Mains farm has excellent breeds of cattle. It is also apparent that the highland clan chiefs did very well out of the 'Highland Host' phenomenon; building extensions or new houses for themselves out of the profits from their plunder.

Kilmaurs Gallery 2006 - 2008

Bowie's munt

Bowie's munt or mound is close to the old Knocklandside and Knocklandhill farms. The name 'Knock' means a small hill, often fortified. This wooded mound is surrounded by a circular ditch and bank. It may be a belvedere or roundel. No internal features are visible, other than the outlines of a lane or track on the Kilmaurs side. In 1636 it was known as Knockallan.Earls of Glencairn papers (1636). Scottish National Archives. Ref. GD39.]

Gallery

Loupin'-on-stane

Outside the Old Person's Cabin in the main street is a large sandstone block which is thought to be a horse-block or Loupin'-on-stane; used to aid a person to mount a horse in times past. This large sandstone block also has a concavity in its upper surface which is reminiscent of the 'plague stones' which would be filled with vinegar into which money could be placed either as gifts to the church or as gifts to the sick. An example also survives at Greystoke in Cumbria.

ee also

*Lambroughton
*Stewarton
*Kilmarnock
*Lady's Well
*Laigh Milton viaduct
*Kilmaurs railway station
*Kilmaurs place
*

References

A Map of the Parish of Kilmaurs

External links

* [http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/ Details of the Kilmaurs Fire Engine of 1830]