Galston, East Ayrshire

Galston is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland which has a population of 5194, (2001). It is situated in wooded countryside 4 miles up-river from Kilmarnock and is one a group of small towns located in the Irvine Valley between the towns of Hurlford and Newmilns.

Loudoun Academy, the secondary school for the Loudoun area, is located in Galston.

The area of Loudoun is also home to the famous Loudoun Castle theme park.

History

Galston is steeped in history, and has associations with William Wallace and Robert Bruce. The town has been described as 'the historical heart of Ayrshire'. After it received its charter in 1717 it developed rapidly as a centre of handloom-weaving and later the manufacture of gauze and lawn. From the beginning of the 19th century until 1933 it was a major coal mining area. The textile industry flourished until the 1960’s.

Barr Castle

Barr Castle is the oldest building in Galston. It is a fortified tower house built by the Lockhart family of Barr in the 15th century. It has three floors and would have originally had battlements. George Wishart and John Knox have both preached within Barr Castle. In the 17th century Barr passed to the Campbell family of Cessnock, but was unoccupied after the covenanting period. In later times part of one of the walls of the Castle was concreted over to be used in the game of handball. Galston handball players became world champions - and large crowds gathered on Glasgow Fair Saturday to watch the competition for the silver Challenge Cup.

The Burnawn or Burnanne

The burn joins the Irvine at Galston. It is named after St Anne, said to be the mother of the Virgin Mary. St Anne's holy well is marked on the 1860 OS and lies above Bank wood, flowing into the Burnanne. The Holy well has been destroyed by the construction of a concrete tank which collects the spring water for Cessnock Castle, first constructed for the Duke of Portland in Victorian times. The Carsewell Hole nearby was used for adult baptism.Kyle, Thomas (1928). "Burnawne" Kilm Glenf Ramb Soc. Annals. 1919 - 1930. P. 126.]

The woodlands here are of a very high plant biodiversity value and are a registered provisional wildlife site as designated by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Species noted in 2007 include the Woodruff, Bird cherry, Primrose, Common violet, Oak, Stitchwort, Golden male (Scaly) fern, Bugle, Opposite-leaved Golden saxifrage, Bluebell, Dog's mercury, Broad buckler fern, Watercress, Lady fern, Male shield fern, Kidney vetch, Woodrush, Woodsedge, blackthorn, hawthorn, Marsh marigold, Foxglove, Sweet Cicely, Herb Robert, Red campion, Bistort, Ribwort plantain, Water avens, Wood avens, Moschatel, elm, alder, and many liverworts. A pair of Buzzards were noted.

A great danger is the presence of the alien invader, the Pink Purslane or Stewarton Flower which will spread rapidly and destroy the native herbs by out-competing them (2007). It needs to be removed as matter of urgency.

A new metalled path has been created through part of these woods, greatly improving access. A new wood has been planted along part of the new path and this will in time extend and protect the habitats and the biodiversity of the site.This tributary of the Irvine was famousMacIntosh, John (1894). "Ayrshire Nights Entertainments: A Descriptive Guide to the History, Traditions, Antiquities, etc. of the County of Ayr." Pub. Kilmarnock. P. 11.] for its rich jasper pebbles; semi-precious stones which were collected, cut and polished for use in jewellery.

Burnawn and Saint Anne's Holy Well gallery

Galston railway station

This station on the Glasgow and South Western Railway line to Stonehouse via Strathaven, closed in 1964.

The Judge's Hill

A Justice Hill survives in a patch of woodland on the Hag Burn near the Loudoun Country Club. This site may have been linked to the old Barony of Galston and the feudal rights of the Campbell's of Loudoun.

The site has a nearby lime kiln and old ruins next to the Hag Burn which may have been a forge (See map).

References

ee also

*River Irvine - the Irvine, local burns, history, etc.
*Moot hill - Details of the nearby Shinny hill, etc.
*Darvel

External links

* [http://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/corpres/admin/eabynos.pdf Census data (PDF)]
* [http://www.east-ayrshire-forums.co.uk/ East Ayrshire Forums - Tenants Portal]
* [http://www.old-maps.co.uk/ 1860 OS Maps]
* [http://www.agatesofscotland.co.uk/burn%20anne%20page.htm Burn Anne agates]