Skelmorlie - 1879 Guide Book

 

 AN  A N 1879 GUIDE TO

 WEMYSS BAY, SKELMORLIE, INVERKIP, LARGS  AN  A ND THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS  WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

 Written By  By  The Rev John Boyd, M.A. Minist Mini ster er (1 (1871 - 1899) of  of   Wemyss Ba Bay an and Skelmorlie Un United Pr Presbyterian Ch Church 'The North Church Church'

for  Strangers Residing Residing in The The District and

 Viisitors at  V at The Wemyss Bay Bay Hydropa ydropathic thic Establishm stablishment ent ( Skelmorlie Hydro Hotel )

Publish Pu blished By ALE ALEXANDE XANDER R GARDNE GARDNER, PAISL PAISLEY 1879 1

 

PREFACE.

This brochure is principall principally y intended for strangers residi residing ng in the distri district ct and for vi visit sitors ors at The Wemyss Bay Hydropathic Hydropathi c Establi Establishm shment, in quest of health or recreation, tion, who may desire to know something of the places which they vi visit sit iin n their dail daily y excursi xcursions. ons. At the same time time, it is hoped that it may not be alto altoge gether witho without ut interest to permanent residenters, by affordi affording ng inf information regarding the locali locality, ty, which the writer finds is not always possessed by those most ffam amililiar iar with its sce scener nery. Wha Whatever tever is of value in a histori historica call or or antiquarian point o off vi view ew, the writer has attempted to bri bring ng before the reader in the ffol ollo lowing wing pages. The district north of Inverkip has n not ot bee been n described, as that iis s taken up by a another nother pu publi blication cation shortly to be issued (in 1879). CONTENTS

Skelmorlie Ske kelmorlie lmorlie Cli Clifff  Wemyss Bay Kell lly, y, The Origin of Name and Histor History y Livi Living ngstone's stone's Hut Smuggling Skelm kelmorli orlie e Castle, Its Hi History story a and nd Walks at Skelmorli lmorlie e Castle Skelmorl lmorlie ie A Aiisle and Monument Notes on Skelmorli orlie e Cas Castle tle Skelm kelmorli orlie e Gl Glen en Bridge Bri dgend House Serpent Mou Mound nd Meigle Skelmorl lmorlie ie to L Larg args St. Fil Fillans lans St. Fillan's Fillan's Chapel Knock Castle BrisbaneGlen and Prophet's G Grave rave Inverkip and T The he Roman Bridge  Ard  Ar dgowan Old Castle of Inverkip "Auld "Auld Kirk" - Ecclesia siast stica icall His History tory Inverkip Notorious ffor or Witches Witch Tale Dunr unrod od an and d The Ball llad ad of "Auld D Dunr unrod" od" Largs Battle of Largs and The Remains of The Battle Largs to Fairli Fairlie e Fairli Fair lie e - Vil illag lage, Ca Castle stle and Glen Parish of Kilbride Portincross Porti ncross Castle Rothesay Millport Names of Pl Place aces and Roman Remains ILLUSTRATIONS

Map of the Firth of Clyde (missi issing ng) Facsim simil ile e of the Hut b built uilt ffor or Dr. Livi Living ngstone to D Die ie in Roman Bridge, near Inverki nverkip p Map of Inverkip, D Dunrod, unrod, and Roman Bridg Bridge e Serpent Mou Mound nd Knock Hil Hilll - Ancient Tripl Triply-E y-Entr ntren enche ched Ca Cam mp 2

 

SKELMORLIE THE dist district rict designated by the terms Skelmorli kelmorlie e and Wemyss Bay incl includes udes a tract of land strtchi strtching ng alo long ng the coast of  The Firth of Clyd Clyde e, abou boutt thr thre ee m miles iles in exte xtent, nt, from Ske kelmo lmorlie rlie Bur Burn n to Wemyss yss Point, divide divided, d, as the names indicate indi cate, into into two separate but clo closelysely-connected connected settlements and bounded south and north by two col colossal ossal castles, Skelmorl lmorlie ie and Wemyss, the one with the remains of its huge thick walls and low arched gateway, remindi inding ng us of the past and connecting us with the rude manners and warlike rlike habits bits of the 15th century, when strength and security ffrom rom aggression ssion were of more concern than internal comfo comfort; rt; the other, with iits ts modern adornments and recentl ntly y laid out grounds, possessed and occupied occupied by one of the great company of Cunard, symbol boliic of the industry and enterprise of  the present 19th century. Like Li ke several of the other Clyde wateringtering-places, places, Skelmorli kelmorlie e is of quit quite e recent origin and may be said to date no ffurther urther back than 1850, in which year 'f'feuing' euing' was commenced. Bef Before ore that ti time me, the tol tolll-house and one or two others, were the only houses on the shore. Original riginally ly the feuing price was £8 per acre - the last feu on the shore was £35 per acre. Feus on the upper ground may be had fo forr £15 per acre. Skelmorli kelmorlie e owes it its s popularit popularity y chiefl chiefly y to its naturall turally y beauty of situation and pu pure re bracing air, but no doubt much also to its eas easy y access to Gl Glasg asgow. Considerable imp impetus etus was given iven to ffeuing euing by the opening of the Wemyss Bay Rail Railwa way in 1865, which brings it withi within n an hour's reach of  Glasgow, seventeen minutes ffrom rom Greenock and in consequence, it has become the favouri avourite te summer residence of  many G Glasgow lasgow and G Gree reenock merchants, several residing residing throughout the whole ole year. Nearly all the houses are buil builtt of  red sandstone, obtai obtained ned from a quarry in the neighbourhood, which are quit quite e in keepi ping ng with the lo locali cality. ty. The principal houses are alo long ng the s shore, hore, on the road leading from the s stata- tio tion. n. A second row, buil builtt on the s sum umm mit o off the clif cliff in a line wit ith h The Hyd Hydropa ropathic thic E Esta stabli blishm shmen ent, t, commands ands very exte extensive nsive views. A tthird hird row, higher up, is in course of buil building, ding, and above that, a beauti utifful crescent is in course of formation. Upper Skelmorli kelmorlie e is ffurther urther back, and contai contains ns several houses at a cheaper rate for working men. Wi With th this exceptio exception, n, the feu contracts forbi orbid d the erectio ction n of a house of less than a certain specif specified ied valu value, e, and no more than one house can be erected on each feu. In consequence of thi this s restricti triction, on, Skelmorli Skelmorlie e can never become atown, or even a vi villllag age of any extent and always lilie e a favourite resort fo forr those who llove ove ret retirem irement ent and seclusion from the busy hau haunts nts of men. In 1856, The Est Establi ablished shed Church was buil builtt and enlarged in 1858 and in 1874 the Uni United ted Presbyterian Church, near the the station tion,, was erecte cted. In 1860 Skelm lmor orlie lie was formed int into o a quod sacra  parish, parish, includi including ng portio portion n of  the par parish of Largs, from St. Fi Fillllan ans s on the south to Kelly Burn (fl (flowing owing p past ast th the e Un United ited Pre Presbyte sbyterian Chu Church) rch) on the north and also incl including uding a portion of In- verkip par parish, ish, ffrom rom K Kelly elly Burn to Castle Wemyss, yss, extending altoge ltogethe therr about four miles a and nd a half along the shore shore.. T The he Kel Kelly ly Burn divi divide ded d the Pa Parishes rishes of Largs a and nd Inv Inver erkip, kip, and still div divides ides the Counties of Ayr and Renfrew. havi ving ng been built in 1844 1844,, lo long ng before feuing Beach House, near the pier, is one of the oldest houses in the district, ha became general and 1ong the residence of Mr. Arbuthnot, the father-i ather-inn-law law of Mr John Burns. It has recently been much enl nlarge arged and improv improved ed Mr. James Galb albrait raith, h, the present propri proprietor etor and forms a charming marine residence. Immediately above it, nearly hid by trees, is Morland House This is House, the residence of Mr. Lawrerence Robertson. Th house has also been much enlarged and occupi occupies es a most commanding sit situation uation with deli delightfu ghtfull v views iews to the north and west. In 1868, The Hydropath Hydropathic Establishmen Establishment was erecte ted. d. It is buil builtt of red sands ndstone tone,, in the Scottish baronia roniall style and is noted for the beauty a and nd g gra randeur of its si situa tuatio tion. n. The c clilifff on which it and the houes houes a adjoi djoining ning are built iis sa bold rugged rock of cong conglo lom merate erate sandstone and pebb pebble, le, overg overgrown rown w with ith tre trees es and iivy vy and risi rising ng to a perpendicular height of about 100-f 100-feet above the shore road. The situation situation iis s perhaps unsurpassed by that of any simil similar ar insti instituti tution on in the country. Perchcd on the edge of thi this s precipi cipitous tous rock, it af afffords to its occupants the most bracing air impregnated with health-givi health-giving ng ozo ozone, ne, whil while e at the same ti time me the student of nature can feast his eyes on some of the grandest scenery which the Firth of Clyde aff affords. ords. Ver ery y extensive new baths wer ere e buililtt in 1875 1875,, when, in ad additi dition on to all all the most modern appli ppliance ances of hydropathy fo forr the treatment of disease, incl including uding a very complete Turki urkish sh bath, salt water was introduced introduced and is dail daily y pumped up ffrom rom the sea by a powerf rful ul hydrauli ulic c engine at the rate of 1,000 gall allons ons per hour. This iis s one of the few establi stablishme shments in the country where saltsalt-wa water baths (hot and col cold) d) can be had at any time, and where (i (iff the reader wililll pardon the IIrishi rishism) sm) the lux luxury ury can be enj njoyed oyed of salt water fresh ffrom rom the sea. O One ne great great source of enjoyment, particul particularly arly to those whose health compels them to remain indoo indoors, rs, is the number of shi ships ps of all so sorts rts conti continuall nually y passing ssing and as "The Measured Mile", ile", by which nearly all Cl Clyde yde-buil builtt steamers try their speed, stretches from from the establi stablishm shment to Skelmorli kelmorlie e Castle tle (i (indicated ndicated by the whit hite e pol poles es on the shore and underneath the clif cliff) tthey hey may be seen every day passing and repassing the house. The vi view ews ffrom rom most o off the houses here are matter of constant remark by strangers. Views may be had elsewhere on a more extensi xtensive ve scale, revealing ling richer scenes and wider tracts of country, but none where sea and shore, mountain and 3

 

sky, so harmonio moniously usly combine to produce shif shifti ting ng panoramas and transf transforma ormati tionon-scen scenes the whole day lo long. ng. To a true over over of nature, the sea especiall cially, y, with its endless variety, is a nevernever-ffail ailing ing source of deli delight. ght. So abruptly does the height, on which many of the houses stand, ri rise se fro from m the shore that you ffee eel as if ov overh erhanging the water and one neve verr gro row ws weary of gazing up upon on it, for it is neve verr for for tw two o succ succe ess ssive ive hou hours rs th the e sa sam me - now ly lying ing c ca alm an and d motionless motionl ess as an inland lake, without a ripple on its surf surfac ace e and now tossing its wil wild d bil billo lows ws and rioti rioting ng in the fury of  the storm - one day steali aling ng sof softl tly y up the shore, "ki kissing ssing the shells and pebbles wit ith h a gentl ntle e sigh as though they were gifts gifts of lo love" ve",, the very next dashing its crested waves against the rugged rocks. Magnif gnificent icent views are at all ti time mes obtained obtai ned here of tthe he Arran hills, hills, with "t "the he warrio rrior" r" llying ying at rest, helmet and breast-plate st-plate easil sily y disti distinguished nguished and Goatfell Goat fell ris rising ing to a heig ight ht of 2866 ffe eet. Wh Whe ethe ther vie view wed in th the e gloom of winter, with th the eir snow snow-ca -capp ppe ed peaks mingling mingli ng witl witlii tthe he clo clouds, uds, or as colo coloured ured by the glowi glowing ng ti tints nts of a summer sunset, no nearer approach to the grandeur of Alpine lpine scenery can be had than these Arran hil hills ls aff afford. ord. SKELMORLIE CLIFF

One of the disti disting nguishing uishing ffea eature tures s of Ske kelmorli lmorlie e is the hig high h cli clifff running parallel with the coas coastt line, line, upon the brow of  which, as already menti ntioned, oned, many of the houses are buil built. t. This cli clifff fforms orms a conti continuous nuous liline ne for many miles along the coast and is an interesting specimen of what geol ologists ogists call a ra aiised sea-b -beach. That the se sea a once wa washe shed its sur surfface is beyond doubt ffrom rom the fact that it consists of sand, gravel vel,, shells and other beach deposits, such as are found in abunda abu ndance on the s shore hore be belo low. w. Like Like other raised beaches aches of a simil imilar ar kind - severa several of of wh which ich are to be found a alo long ng the coast line of the B Briti ritish sh Isl Islan ands ds - this cli clifff points to a fo form rmer er sea-margin and to an ele elevation vation of tha thatt sea-ma a-marg rgin in into dry land. Prof Prof.. G Geikie, eikie, in his geol ology, ogy, says, "In some pa parts rts of the world, wecan can detect th the e ground ground in the very act act of  rising. risi ng. In the southsouth-ea east of Sweden, for example, rocks have been marked at the place where high water reached them, and, in the course of years, have been fo found und to be consi considera derably above their fo forme rmer level. From observatio observations ns of  this kind, it has been inferre inferred that the la land nd the there re is risin rising g at he ra rate te of abou boutt two two or three fe feet in a ce centu ntury ry.. This appears to be but a slo slow w movement - too slow slow to be appreciated except by careful measurement and yet, if it were to go on for for another thousand years, what is is now the beach woul ould d have risen to a height of twenty or thirt thirty y ffee eet above the sea level. Now just as the coast of Sweden is rising witli itli no vi viol olen ence ce or shock, so in ol old d time times, s, the upraisi ising ngof the sea-bed into d dryland ryland may have been a gentle and quiet process" process"..  WEMYSS BAY 

 Although included in the quoad sacra Parish of Skelmorli  Alt kelmorlie, e, Wemyss Bay is a separate group of houses, lying on the north side of the ra raililwa way station tion and, lilike ke Skelmorlie, it iis s a water teringing-place place of modern origin. The house houses, s, numbering in all about 20, are irregularly buil builtt in in a bay, with a beautif autiful ul beach gentl ntly y slopi sloping ng down to the water's edge and securely sheltered from the north and east winds by a range of wellll--wooded heights. At eit ither her extremit ity, y, the bay is bo bounded unded by red sandstone rocks of irregular appearance, worn and honey-co honey-combe mbed by the actio action n of the waves. A co considerable nsiderable extent of the beach to tthe he north o off the bay is also composed of thi this s same red sandsto stone, ne, interm intermingled with a coarse conglo onglome merate and dykes of trap, but in several pl place aces it relaxes int into o a ki kind nd of ro roug ugh gravel or sh shing ingle, le, which fform orms a conve convenie nient nt footing ffor or the bather, and aff fford ords s an easy lla aun unch ching ing plac place e for small fishing boats, and other kindred kindred craft. Originall riginally, y, Wemyss Bay formed part of the A estate te - it p pre resently sently  Ar rdgowan esta belonging to Sir Michael Shaw Stewart - and was given iven to Wall Wallace ace of Kell elly y in return for the lands of Fi Finnock, nnock, iin n the  ye  year 1814. Kelly  wa  was sold in two di distinct stinct and nearly equal po portions, rtions, Mr. Scott of Glasgowpurchasing the one(K (Kelly elly portio portion) n) and Mr. Wi Wilso lsone ne Brown, also of G Glasgow, lasgow, being the purchaser of tthe he other. The latter buil builtt the castl tle, e, Castl Castle e Wemyss, and ffe eued severa veral por portions tions of the g grou round nd,, bu butt was oblig oblige ed to sell in the year 18 1860 60 wh whe en Mr. John Burns became possessor. He has si since nce consi considera derably enlarged the castle, stle, designed by Bill Billiings and lai laid d out the grounds with great taste. Long Long befo before re any of the present houses were erected, the whol hole e bay was ov overg ergrown with trees and shrubs down to the water's edge. The only habitatio itation n was an old ffisherma isherman's house calllled ed " W old d  Wemyss Cottage" and so named on on the ol plan annexed to tthe he Ardgowan estate's ti titl tle e deeds. At that ti time me the salmon ffishi ishing ng at Wemyss was very valuable and was let by the Laird of Ardgowan to a Mr. Main o off Edinburgh. Befo Before re the excambio bion n took pl place ace between Mr. Wall Wallace ace and and Sir Michael'l's s ancestor, porti portion on of the ground in the centre of the bay was feued for ffour our houses. These houses were buil builtt consi considera derably bef before ore the end of the last century by Mr. O Orkney, rkney, grandfather of P Provo rovost st Ork Orkney ney of  Rothesay. Ro thesay. They were designated "New Glasgow " from the fact that G Glasgow lasgow merchants occupi occupied ed them and ffor or many  ye  years they were the only houses in in tth he bay. Th The ey were all o off th the same design and the proprietors seemed to have constitu con stitute ted d themselves into a "De "Dean of Guild Cou Court" rt" on a small sca scale as we are credibly inform informe ed that there was a

clause in the titl ti tles, es,alter oror atimprove least a written agre ent, bindi binding ng eant chof propri oprietor etor to T rehis spect the simil si milarity arity ofate design desi and forbidding him to his dwelling elli ngem without the c conse onsent the others. agree re eme nt, of wh vergn kind it was, must have sadly fall fallen en into into abeyance, since one of th the e houses, Dunloe, be belo long nging ing to Mr. Hunte Hunter, r, ha has s been so altered and improv improved ed as to be scarcely recognisabl nisable e in it its s origi original nal fform, orm, the other two have been improved away 4

 

altogether and their pl altoge place aces suppl supplied ied by o one ne large and commodio commodious us house, call called ed Redholme, pos possessed sessed by Mr. Ronaldson. The only remnant of the past s stil tilll standing entire entire is the property of Mr. Jo John hn M'Kinnon, 'Kinnon, Glasgow. One can can have some idea of the increased val value ue of house property in thi this s lo locali cality ty ffrom rom the fact that this house was bought in 1857 for £ £280 280 and sol old d in 1877 for £ £1,400. 1,400.  Adjoining Dunloe, but near  Adj nearer er the shore, is A  Ar rdvar  , the property of Mr. N. B. Stewart, partner of the celebrated firm of Stewart & M'D M'Donald, onald, Glasgow, who occupi occupies es it during the summer months. Passing Tighnamara, occupi occupied ed by Mr. Edwi Edwin n Hi Higg gginbo inbotham tham, a large and commodi odious ous house, but with no  Viilla Clutha, we come to Ferncliff , a Goth architectural archit ectural beauty and V othic ic structure designed by Rochead, beauti utiffull ully y situated and snugly ensconced beneath the precipi situated precipitous tous ro rock ck which ri rises ses immediately behind iit. t.

Perched on tthe he abrupt precipi precipice ce abov bove e Ferncliff   and commanding a m most ost extensive v view iew, is the reside sidence nce of Mr. Martini, Danish Consu Consull for Glas lasgow gow. Adj Adjoining oining Ferncliff  on  on the north is The English Episcopal Episcopal Church, a ver very y elegant ant G Gothic othic structure of red sandstone ndstone,, de designe signed d by Mr. Burne Burnett of Glasgow and buil builtt in in 1879 in m mem emory of the late Mrs. G Georg eorge Burns. It contains a fi fine ne c chime hime of eigh eightt bells set in the 'key of G', the only chime, so ffar ar as weare aware on the West Coast of Scotl cotland. and. Service is co conducted nducted here during the summer months, when clergymen of abili ability, ty, selected by Mr. Burns from various part rts s of Engla land nd an and d Ire Irela land nd,, officia officiate. A little furt furthe her on iis s WEMYSS HOUS OUSE, a large and commodi odious ous familily y residence, buil builtt of white sandstone, from designs by Mr. Salmond of G Glasgow, lasgow, possessed and occupi occupied ed by Mr. GeorgeBurns, to whom Wemyss Bay belongs. Leaving the shore, the road now turns inl inland, and, passing the gates of the cattl ttle, e, fr from om which a sight may be had of the Castle e Wemyss, the grow fine llaw awn and beauti utifful shrubbery of  Castl rowth th of which, to all who know the exp expose osed d nature of  the site, must appear a marvel of gardening ski skillll.. Fol Follo lowing wing the road, the vi visit sitor or can now go right on unti untill he comes to the massiv ssive e gates and porter's llodge, odge, where the Inv Inverkip erkip road is reached and by which the visi visito torr can return home, or, after passing the castle castle gates, let the visito visitorr take the first road to the right, wh which, ich, after traversing the wood fo forr a short distance, lead leads s along thebrow of the clif liff homewar ard. d. THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME

" W applied ed to this llocality, ocality, is matter of doubt. It occurs in old maps of the last c centur entury and is at least one  Wemyss Bay ", appli hundred years old. The general term 'Wemyss' or 'Weems' is common in Scotl cotland. and. It is deriv ived ed from the Gaelilic c uamh, 'a cave' an and d iis s app appli lied ed to those s subte ubterranea nean dwellings llings or ea earth-house rth-houses, built by the pr primitive imitive Picts, which served to hide the people and their goods oods in time of war. Many of tthese hese have been fo found und in dif diffferent parts of the country - in Forfar Forf ar and Perth Shires and in the Orkney Islands. Daniel aniel Wil Wilson, son, in his 'Archoeology and Pre-histo historic ricA nnals of Scotl otland' and', to which the reader is referred for a more minute account o off these these 'Weems', says "In general, no external indi indicatio cation n affords affords the sli slighte ghtest clue to their disco discovery. very. To the common observer, the dry level heath or moor under which they linatura lie e prese nts n no o has appebe ara nce of ever been disturbed sturbed by the hand o off ma n and heffee m tra verse the waste every l ffea eature come fam iliar iliarhaving to his eye wdi ithout ithout suspecting that unde rnea th his eeay t lilie e the dwe llllings ings anduntil dom estic utensil uten sils s of remote antiqui ntiquity". ty".  As to the origin of the general term then, there can be no doubt. Th The e only diff ffiiculty is that none of those caves having ever been discov discovere ered in thi this s lo locali cality, ty, so ffar ar as we can learn, it is is not easy to trace any connectio connection n between the name and this particular particular place unless, indeed, it may have been appli pplied ed to one or two natural caves which maybe seen in the clif cliff at dif diffferent ent places. It is to caves of this description that the vi villllag ages of East and West Wemyss, in Fif Fifes eshire, hire, owe their names, but there thecaves are very conspi conspicuous. cuous.  A story is told us which, if authentic, would explain the origin of th the name on a very diff ffe erent principle. It is to the effect effect that an ol old d ffisherma isherman call called ed Robert Wemyss used to reside here some time during llast ast century and that three gentl ntlem emen who had been in the habit of hiri hiring ng his boat ffor or ffishi ishing ng during several summers thought they would giv give e the place aname, porti portion on of the bay having previo previously usly been called lled " W  White Wick  " of Wemys yss s - 'wick', a 'l'little ittle bay' - an and d sometimes "Kelly Bay "".. They discussed se severa veral nam names es b but ut could not agre ree e on any until o one ne of tthem hem said, "Let's call it af after ter old Bob" Bob"..  Acc  Ac cordingly, the place was called "(Bob) Wemyss' Bay" . 5

 

K E L L Y 

Near the raililwa way stati tion, on, on the opposi opposite te side of the road and overlo overlooki oking ng the liline, ne, stands the large and commodi odious ous house of  Kelly . Its external appearance, though neat, is very plai plain n and has no pretension to architectural beauty. The situation situation ho howe wever is particul particularly arly good, ood, the pleasure grounds carefull ully y laid out and the surrounding scenery rich and attractive. attractiv e. The house is buil builtt of red sandstone but, a former propnetor, thi thinki nking ng to improve it its s appearance, got it painted white and it iis s now a conspicuous object ffrom rom the opposite coas coast. t. "The coast at this place and indeed a alo long ng th the e whole course of The Fi Firth, rth, from Inverki nverkip p to A Ardrossan, rdrossan, is bounded at a short distance back from the shore with a range of hil hills, ls, sometimes risi rising ng in gentl ntle e slope and at other times in abrupt rocky precipices fro from m whi hich ch can be had a succes succ essio sion n of rich and varied views". Advantage has b bee een taken of this conf conform ormation ation of ground fo forr the buildi building ng of  several fi fine ne houses a along long the coast, such as Skelmorlie Castle, Knock Castle, Routenburn and Fairli Fairlie e Cas Castle. tle. Among these, Kelly  stands pr pre e-eminen inentt as one of the olde oldest st as well as one of the most beautif utifully ully situa situate ted d of them a all ll.. Dr.  Young, the present proprietor, has added a large picture-gallery to the south end of the house and to his collection of   You  ve  very fin fine pictures he has recen:ly added two masterpieces of Salvator Rosa, brought fr fro om Florence. ORIGIN OF NAME AND HISTORY.

The name is Celti Celtic, c, meaning 'a wood' and is of often ten found in combinati ombinations, ons, such as Kelburne (a wooded burn). The estate, as has already said, is v ver ery old and was th the e seat of an ancient fam familily y named Bannatyne. The fi first rst of the familily y who possessed the lands was James Bannatyne who had a grant of them from James III. In Crawford's ford's History History of   Re  Renfrcwshire, i  itt iis s sta state ted d tha thatt the original charter was extant in his ti tim me, but he d does oes not g give ive iits ts da date te.. As, how howeve ever,  Ja  James II IIII was s sllain iin n1 14 488, at B Ba annockburn, the gift must h ha ave been b be estowed b be efor fore that. The Bannatynes continued conti nued to hol hold d the estate fo forr more than 300 years, until 1792, when it was purchased by Mr. John John Wall Wallace ace, the acknowledged representativ ntative e of the El Eldersli derslie e Wall Wallace aces and descendant of Sir Wi Willlliam iam Wallllace ace. The old man mansion sion house house,, Kelly Castle, stoo stood d in the present garden, "nested up among the cli clifffy rocks" rocks",, about a quarter a milile e higher than where the house now stands, but it was destroyed by fi fire re in the time of the Bannatynes. It is evidently to this situation situation that th the e words apply " There lilived ved a carle on K Kell ellyy-burn burn braes, Hey an' the rue grows bonni bonnie e wi' thyme." The present house was erected by Mr. Jo John hn Wall Wallace ace in 1793 and subsequentl ntly y greatly enl enlarg arged by his son son,, Mr. Robert Wallace. "By him chief Wallace chiefly" ly",, says Crawford, "the place has been formed, not only by his energetic improv improvem ements in agriculture, by which he h has as gre reatly atly extended the ar arab able le lands, but by extensive plantatio tions ns of wood, both valuab valuable le and ornamental" ental".. Origi riginall nally y the southern boundary of K Kell elly y estate was Kell elly y Burn but, in 1814, by a contract of  excamb mbion ion enter entered ed into betwix ixtt the Earl of Egli Eglinton nton and Mr. Wallace, the latter got possession of Auchinda uchindarroch, rroch, that portion porti on of ground between K Kell elly y Burn and the Beithglass Parish road, leading fro from m the U.P. Church to Upper Skelmorli kelmorlie. e. Another exchange was effected between Mr. Wall Wallace ace and the Laird of Ardgowan, by whi hich ch the lands of  Finnock Fi nnock were given up to Sir Michael's ancestor iin n return ffor or Wemyss Bay, which, from being part of Ardgowan, became porti portion on of Kelly estate and conti continued nued to be so until Mr. A Alexander's lexander's time, when the estate was div divided. ided. Mr. Wallace Wall ace, senior, seems to have been a very shrewd and energetic man of business and carried on an extensive trade with the West IIndies. ndies. A story is tol told d of him which may not be u unintere ninteresting. Having reason to suspect the hone honesty sty of his o offficials icials in the West IIndies, ndies, he adopted a s stran trange expedient to detec detectt the imposition. impositi on. Disguising him himse self lf and going out to the Indies in the cap capac acity ity of a clerk, he soug sought ht and obtaine obtained d employment in his own of offfice. None of the off offici icials als recognised him him.. An old old n neg egress, suspecting who hewas, said to someone in the of offfice, "If Massa had been in this country, I woul would d have said that was him" him".. Not much attenti ntion on was being paid to her her remarks and Mr. Wall Wallace ace was undetected. He however detected the ffraud raud whi hich ch was being practi ctised sed on him him, dismisse dismissed d his pri principal ncipal of offficials icials an and d had their places supplied by more trustworthy men. At his death in 1803 1803,, Mr. Ro Robert bert Wall Wallace ace, the eldest son, succeeded to the estate. After the passing of T The he Refo Reform rm Bil Billl he entered Parliam Parli ament as the representativ ntative e for for G Gree reenock and his name is inti intima mately associated with the systemof 'Penny Post Postag age'. Indeed, we beli believe eve that to his labo labours urs as Chairman of T The he Parli Parliam amentary Committee, the country is chief chiefly ly indebted for to him for its introdu introduction". ction". The Postma Postmaster of Greenoc nock, k, Mr. Macmilla illan, has in his pos posse session ssion papers give given n to him by Mr Mr.. "Walla "Wallace ce sh shortly ortly bef before his de dea ath, exh exhibiti ibiting ng facsimiles of a SINGLE and a DOUBLE Letter in 183 1838, 8, which he, Mr. Wallllac ace, got printed to drawthe attention of Parliament ent to the absurdity. The fol follo lowing wing is printed on the SINGLE Letter "Postage Charges in 1838 6

 

"This paper, 4 inche inches s by 2 2½ ½ inches an and d its cov cover er of simil similar ar siz size e weighs 7 g gra rains, ins, or, under the 60th p par art of an ounce. weight and is is charged DOUBLE Post Postag age, whil whilst st the accompanying sheet, 33 inches by 23 inches, weighing just under 1 ounce oun ce is ch charge arged as a SINGLE Letter. "N. N.B. B. - In France, G Germ ermany and throughout Europe, postage is charged by weight" ight".. The reason of this absu absurd rd inequ inequality ality was because one, the s sma mall one, was in an envelope, the other, the large one, although altho ugh equalllly y secured by sealing-wax, aling-wax, was simply ffol olded ded ! The enthusiasm wit ith h which Wallace was received by the worki orking ng cl classe asses in G Gree reenock o on n the occasio occasion n of his electio election n was immense. Feeliling ng ran very high and no stone was left unturned by either party to gain the seat, but on the declarati tion on of the poll poll,, it was found that Mr. Wall Wallace ace was returned by alarge majori ority. ty.  As ilillustrative o off the v viigorous e eff ffo orts p pu ut fo forrth, a s sttory was tto old u us sb by y Mr. W Wa allace's c co oachman, Mr. W Wiilliam Beith, who died recentl ntly, y, aged 89 and who remembered the scene. A drunken shoemaker, belongin belonging g to the town, was ea eage gerly canvas canvasse sed d by both parties. As his craving ffor or drink wa was s mu much ch stronger th than an his poli political tical pri principles, nciples, it was well known that the party which ttrea reated him best and watched him most clo closely sely would be certain to secure his vo vote. te. A  Mr. Jo Johnstone hnstone,, on behalf of the Conser onservativ vatives, es, agreed to sit up with him a allll night, regale him with potations tions of whisky at judici udicious ous interval intervals s and have him early at the pol polll on the fol ollo lowing wing morning. How Mr. Jo Johnstone hnstone passed the night we are not tol told, d, but next morning he and his companion set out ffor or the voti voting. ng. On the way he kept conti continually nually dunning dun ning into his ear the name of "Cochrane", the gentleman for whom he was to vote and who wa was s Mr. Wa Wall llac ace's opponent oppo nent on thia occasio occasion. n. As they got near the doo doorr an immense crowd was gathered which kept conti continuall nually y shouting "Vote "Vote ffor or Wallace", ''Wall ''Wallac ace fo forr ever". Entering the poll olling ing booth the shoemak aker er was aske sked d fo forr whom he  vo  voted. Mr. Cochrane's name was doubtless on his mind when he entered, but just at the moment of b be eing asked the question, questio n, the shout was again heard outsi outside de "Wall Wallace ace for ever", which so completely eff efface aced the remembrance of  'Cochrane 'Co chrane' ffrom rom the shoemaker's mind tthat hat he stammered out ""WaWa-Wall Wallace ace" and to tthe he disgust of Mr. Johnsto Johnstone ne and his friend, friend, who all knew of tthe he self-denying efforts which had been made to secure hi him, m, the shoemaker's vo vote te went to the other side ! Shortl hortly y after Mr. Wall Wallace ace entered Parliam liament he was obl obliged iged to part with K Kell elly. y. He had previ viousl ously y buil builtt that row of  houses on the side of the turnpi turnpike ke road leading to IInverki nverkip, p, situate situated about a mil mile e from the statio station n and calllled ed by him "Forbes Pl Pla ace ce"", after h his is wif wife, e, a daug ughter hter of Sir Wil Williliam amForbes, Bar Bart. t. of Craigievar in A Aber berdeens deenshire. hire. In anticipatio nticipation n of leaving K Kelly, elly, Wallace had inten intende ded d the house at the north end of the row as a residence for himse himself lf but, chang nging ing his mind, or his af afffairs turning out to be more invol involved ved tha than n was at ffirst irst suppose supposed, d, the whole estate was s sold old and Mr. Wallace Wall ace lef leftt the dist district. rict. Mr. Alexander, an Australi ustralian an merchant, was the purchaser, but he onl only y retained possessio possession n for two or three years. Becoming bankrupt, the estate fell iinto nto the hands of hi his s credito reditors rs by whom it was sold sold in two distinct disti nct and nearly equal p portions ortions tto o Mr. Jam James es Scott of Glasgowan and d to Mr. Charles Wilsone Brown, also of Glasgow. The one part forms the present estate of K Kell elly, y, the other, forming Wemyss Bay. Mr. Scott, in his turn, sold sold Kell elly y to Dr. James Young oung,, the pre prese sent nt proprietor, in 1867, Mr. Br Brown own having sold his portion of the estate estate,, Wemyss Bay, to Mr. Burns, the present proprieto proprietor. r.  WALKSABOU OUT T KEI.LY 

Through the kindnes kindness s of D Dr. r. Yo Young ung, visitors visitors residi siding ng in the district may obtain, by written appli pplica catio tion, n, cards cards admit itti ting ng them to walk through the glen any day during the week, except Sunday and avail available able ffor or the whol whole e season. Entering Enter ing by the gate beside the b burn urn a and, nd, passing th the e lodge, the fi first rst roa road d to the left leads to the h house ouse; the rroad oad leading straight on conducts through the glen and is one of the most delightf ightful ul walk lks s which the distri district ct affords. The burn bu rn fflows lows throu throug gh a rom roma antic narrow dale which hich,, on both side sides, s, is covered with tr tre ees and wild fflowe lowers in rank  luxuriance lux uriance and the vi visit sitor or may here spend a few hours with great pleasure. The road sheltered by overover-sprea spreading trees runs alo long ng the right bank of the burn unti untill it it comes to the sawmil mill,l, a rusti rustic c Swisswiss-lo looki oking ng cottage clo close se beside the water. Before com coming ing to the sawmill mill,, a n nar arrow row rustic bridge is seen crossing the b burn urn at the foot of the garden. By thi this s the vi visit sitor or may pass grassy path through the wood ood on the Skelmorli kelmorlie e side of the burn and come out o on n the Beithglass road (see map), by either of the two gates which enter off that road. But, if the vi visit sitor or wishes to conti continue nue his walk throug through hK Ke ell lly, y, he must take the road to the left, near the sawmil ill. l. Continuing this road, which sk skirts irts the wood behind the gardens, unti untill it bri brings ngs him, in about ten minutes, to the Home Farm, he then gets clear of the wood and continues continues the road which passes through the centre of the estate and which iis s an ol old d road leading to Inverkip, until he c come omes to Binny Hi Hillll,, a shep epher herd's house at the northern bound boundar ary of the estate. Here the roa Here road d div divides ides,, that to the left leads by a circuitous route thr throug ough h a wood, past past the sta stables bles a and nd the m man ansion house and then out by the gate by which entrancewas obtained. Instead of taking this road, if the visitor visitor conti continues nues his 7

 

walk past Binney Hil Hilll, through the iron iron gate, the boundary between Kell elly y and Ardgowan, he emerges on a beauti utifful tract of country, from which the most charming vi view ews may be obtained of the farms adj djace acent to IInverkip nverkip and of the opposite side side of the Clyde - to Dunoo Dunoon, n, Kirn and Hunter Hunter's 's Quay, the en entra trance nce to The Hol Holy y Loch, to Ben Lomond and the the su surrounding rrounding hil hills. ls. Continui Continuing ng along this road to Finnock Bog, the fi first rst ffar arm-house aftercrossing the Brewacre acre Burn and at the poi point nt where the road again div divides, ides, he can either ither take that to the lef left, t, which reaches the Greenock  Turnpike, ab about out a mile an and d a half from the Weymss Bay Station or, he can go past the second ffar arm m house, Berfer ern, n, to Inverki Inverkip p and return either by road or rail. il. The whol hole e walk to IInverki nverkip p will be about two and a half o orr three mil miles es and, to Fi Finnock nnock Bog and back, about the same. LIVINGSTONE'S HUT

Dr. James Y Young, oung, be being ing one of Dr. D David avid Li Livi ving ngstone's stone's ear arly ly ffriends riends and en enthusiastic thusiastic admirers, ha has s all along taken a deep interest in the great traveller's explorations and, at his own expense, fitted out an exped xpediti ition on ffor or his discov discover ery a and nd relief.. After Li relief Livi ving ngstone's stone's death, the two Nassick Af African rican boys, Susi and Chuma, who had so ffaithf aithfull ully y attende attended their master til tilll tthe he last and who brought home his his remains, resided some ti time me in thi this s country and, during the summer of  1875 1875 sp spe ent a fortnigh fortnightt at K Kelly. elly. They h ha ad, at the b bidding idding of the their ir sick m mas aste ter, r, built him "a hu hutt to die in" and and,, at D Dr. r.  You  Yo ung's request, they erected a facsimile of that hut in the Ke Kellly grounds.

Facsimile of Livingston Livingstone' e's s Hut in Kelly Esta Estate

It is in all respects, even to the rude bed on which the great travell traveller er died, exactl tly y simil similar ar to the ori original ginal and is well worth a visit visit by all who revere the great and good man whose name it bears. Entering by the princi principal pal gate at the Lodge Lodge and immediately after passing the road to the left left which, as already stated, leads to the house, a flilight ght of  wooden steps conducts to a broad avenue which leads fro from m Kelly elly House to the garden. Fol Follo lowing wing thi this s avenue to the right, a lit littl tle e gate is passed clo close se by the garden wall and, to the lef left, t, about fi fiffty yards nearer the sea than the garden, may be seen, on a grassy slo slope, pe, the rudehut erected in memory of tthe he immortal L Liv ivingstone. ingstone. SMUGGLING

This sam same e district was notorious ffor or smuggling. A little little to the north-west of Forbes Place ther there e stood a num numbe berr of  houses forming forming a small vi villllag age or cl clacha achan, and kno known wn by the name of Fi Finnock, nnock, and when one was asked how many houses there were at Fi Finnock, nnock, there was a common saying iin n reply, ""there there were as many as woul ould d fi fill ten boats ffor or tthe he smuggling."  A co correspondent in info forrms u us s that in his early days his father's family used to v viisit this district, about the year 1810, having havi ng hired apartments ffrom rom a shoemaker who resided near the shor shore. e. O On n one occasi occasion on he remembers being taken by the shoemaker to Ro Rosene seneath in a small boat, which he kept ostensibl ostensibly y fo forr fi fishing shing or amusement, but really ffor or other purposes. It It was late in the afternoo afternoon, n, and when they landed, says our inf informa ormant, ""Here Here was I lef leftt in chargeof the boat untill the shoemaker brought to the shore, and placed in tthe unti he boat small cask of whisky, which was taken to his ho house, use, having eluded the custom house off officers icers statione tioned d at G Gourock. ourock. It iis s needless to say that the w whisky hisky was sm smug uggle gled, d, or that this was was neithe neitherr the fi first rst nor the last venture of our landlord iin n the contr contraba aband tra trafffic." ic." The inhabitants al along ong the shore at G Gourock ourock,, Inverki Inverkip, p, and down to Largs were, late late in tthe he last and early iin n the present century, notorio notoriously usly addi addicted cted to smuggling. ling. Whisky ffrom rom A Arran rran and the Cowal shore and Bute was taken across the 8

 

Firth, and carried into tthe Firth, he interior, but a still till larger and more prof profiitable contraband traffic was carried on with outward bound ships, ships, ffrom rom whic ich h large quantiti quantities es of rum, brandy, to tobacco, bacco, and other exciseable good oods, s, were landed and carried on horseba horseback int into o the count country ry to pl place aces of concealment. T There here was a strong party of revenue of offficers statio stationed ned at Inverkip, and ffights ights between them and the smugglers were ffreque requent, and on some occasions sions the of offficers were severely handled, and on one at lea least, an of offficer was murdered. SKELMORLIE CASTLE

Let us now giv ive e a brief de description scription o off those properties lying to the south of the vil village lageof Ske kelmorli lmorlie e and, about amile an and d a half from Wemys yss s Bay S Sta tation, tion, prominen inently tly si situa tuate ted d on the clif clifff, but ne near arly hid by trees, is Skelmorlie kelmorlie Ca Castle, stle, the stronghold stronghold and residence of the ancient ffam amily ily of Montgomery. To To iitt apply the words writ ritten ten by Cartwright regarding another castle equally ally strong and equally lly ancient cient " Deep in the bosom of a wood, An antique castle towering s stood; tood; In Go Gothic thic gr gran andeu deurr rosethe pilile." e." but unlike it, it, Skelmorli lmorlie e Castle is not given up to the "o "owls wls and and ba bats." ts." "It iis s one of the few exa exam mples of o old ld bar baroni onial al castles of the d district istrict now inhabited bited""; an and d tha thatt it it iis s so, iis s due tto o the present occu occupier pier,, Mr. Jo John hn Graham, a wealthy Glasgow merchant. Alt lthough hough onl only y a tenant, Mr Graham, in 1852, with consent of the propri proprietor, etor, The Earl of  Eglint Egl inton, on, rebuilt tthe he old rui ruin, n, at his own expense and nowit forms apicturesque picturesqueand pl plea easant residence commanding a a varied and most ext extensive ensive vi view ew. The modern improvements and additio ditions ns have been carried out iin n keepi ping ng with the original design. design. HISTORY 

The old castle dates as ffar ar back as 1503 1503,, and is described in Font' Font's s Cunningh Cunningham ame a as s ""a a ffair air weililll-buil builtt house an and d pleasantly seated, decorred with ith orchards and woodcs, the inheritance of Robert Montgomery, Lai Laird rd thereof" of" The estate attached to iitt ori originall ginally y incl included uded the barony of St. Fi Fillllans, ans, together with all the land to the south as far as Knock, and belon belong ged, in the reign of Robert IIII II., ., to Sir William Cun Cunning ningham of Kilmaur urs; s; bu butt sh shortly ortly afte after, r, in 14 1460 60,, it was divided div ided int into o two parts. T The he northern half became the property of tthe he Egl Eglint inton on ffam amilily y under the name of Skclmorli SkclmorlieeMontgomerie, the the southern part remain ained ed with the Cunni Cunningham nghames, and became kno known wn as Skelmo kelmorl rliie-Cunni e-Cunningham nghame, now St. Fi Fillllans ans.. Skelmorli kelmorliee-Montg Montgomerie has remained in th the e hands o off the Montgomerie ffam amily ever si since; nce; and the present proprieto proprietor, r, the Earl of Egli Eglinton nton and Winton, though removed b by y tw twen entyty-ffiv ive e genera ratio tions ns ffrom rom the first possessor, iis s the lineal descendant of Sir A Alexander lexander de Montgomerie of Ardrossan, ffirst irst L Lord ord Montgomery. T The he sixth in descent, Ro Robert bert Montgomerie was kni knighte ghted by James V VII., and was afterwards created a Baronet by Charles I. IIn n the early part of his llif ife, e, he was cruel and bloo bloodd-thi thirsty, rsty, and "i "indulged ndulged his wrath with such eagerness as to occasion much bloo bloodshed dshed to his enemies. ies. For this this he was afterwards rds seize ized d with remorse orse, and in expiation perfor rform med many acts cts of ch cha arit rity y and mortification mortif ication iin n his latter days" (Robertts sonsCunnin inghame). He erected the the elegant monument, Skelmorli lie e Aisle, in the aisle of the old Parish Chur Church ch a att Largs, which it has been said "has "has never been surpassed, iiff indeed equall ualled, ed, by any work of the kind iin n this co country untry and which at oncestamps its author auth or as a man of genius an and d high highly ly culti cultivated vated taste" - (Full (Fullar arton's M said id that Sir Rober Robert, t,  Me emoir of Eglinton Family)  It is sa in the the latter part of his llif ife e was in the habit of de desce scending a att ni nigh ghtt iinto nto the vault at L Lar args gs for devotio devotion n an and d meditation an and d on the lid of his coff coffin in , the fo foll llowing owing inscr inscription, iption, having rrefer efere ence to this strange h hab abit, it, ma may y still be seen - "I "Ipse pse mihi pra praem emortuus fui, fato funera / Praeripui, unicum idque Caesare sareum um,, / Ex Exem emplar, inter tot mortales secutus" secutus" of which the ffol ollo lowing wing translati nslation on may be given, ""II predeceased myself self:: I antici anticipate pated my proper funeral; al alone one among all mortals ffoll ollowing owing the example of Caesar." The meaning of the phrase "f "fol ollo lowing wing the example of Caesar" iis s thought to ref refer er to a circumstance in the liliffe of  Charles V wh which ich will be in the recollection of those who ha have ve read h his is lif life e, viz viz., ., this - that his ffune uneral obse obsequie quies s were perform perfo rmed before his death. He ordered his to tomb mb to be erected in the chapel of of the monastery of St. Justus, Justus, to whi which ch he had betaken himself himself.. Hi His s domestics stics marched thither in ffunera uneral processi procession, on, wi with th black tapers in their hands. He himself fol ollo lowe wed in in his shroud, and w was as laid iin n his cof cofffin with gre grea at sol solem emnity. T The he service ffor or the dead was chan anted, ted, and Charles jjoi oined ned in the prayers which were of offfered up ffor or the repose of his so soul ul,, mingli mingling ng his tears wit ith h those whi hich ch his attendants shed, as iiff they had been celebrating a real funeral (Robertson's Li Life feo of Charles V) V) It iis s suppos suppose ed that Sir Robert Montgomer ery, y, by per perfform orming ing his devotions in tthe he funeral vault at L Lar args," gs," foll ollowe owed his example."

9

 

Sir H Hugh, ugh, another descendant of the Montgomery family, ily, was one of the slain at the famous battl ttle e of O Ottertterburn, fought fought iin n 1388. Hi His s remains are also iinterre nterred in the Montgomery vault at Largs. He is thus referred to in the ballad, "Chevy "Chevy Chase" :  A knight amongst the Scots there was, Who saw Earl Do Dou uglas die, Who straight straight in wrath di did d vo vow w revengeUpon the E Earl arl Percy: Sir Hugh Montgomery was he called, alled, Who, wit with h a spear full full bright, Well moun mounted ted on a gallllan ant sl slee ee'l, Kan tiercely through the fi figh ghtt ;  And  An d past the English archers all, Without dread or fear;  And  An d through Earl Percy's body then He thrust his hateful spear; With such vehment fforce orce and migh mightt H He e did hi his s body gore, The staff ran through the other side A large clo cloth th yard and more. So thus did bot both h these nobl nobles es die, Whose courage none could stain.  An English archer then perceived The noble Earl was slain : He had abow bent in hi his s hand, Made of a trusty tree;  An arrow of a cloth yard long To the hard head haled he:  Against Sir Hugh Montgomery So right the shaft he set, The grey goose oose wing that was thereon IIn n hi his s heart' t's s bl blood ood was wety. SKELM ELMORLIE ORLIE AIS AISLE AND MONUMENT

In the ol old d burying ground si situated tuated near the centre of the town, may be seen the remains of the ancient Parish Church of Largs. These remains consi consist st of an aisle, isle, extending northward from from the demoli molished shed church. Thi This s aisle was erected in 1636, by Sir Ro Robert bert Montgomery, and contai contains ns a burial vault and monument, said to be the most magnif gnifiicent sepulchral design extant in the the West of Scotl otland. and. There may be dif iffference of o opini pinion on about thi this, s, but as the monument is well worth a visi visit, t, we subjoi subjoin n a short description o off it, mainly inly taken ffrom rom th the e account giv iven en in the Pa  ParishChurches, etc., of A yrshire.  The aisle iis s built o off chiselled free freestone. stone. Abov Above e the entran ance ce door, on a panel enclosed wit ith h mouldi oulding ngs, s, are  ve  very neatly sculptured the quartered armorials of Montgomerie and Eglintoun. On it are a helmit, an anchor, a shield, an and d an escr scroll oll with the quotations - "The Lord on only ly is my sup support;" port;" ""O Only to G God od be Lau Laud da and nd Gl Gloir," oir," the initi initials als of  Sir Robert and his Lady, Lady, with the date, 1636. On entering, tthe he tattered remnants o off two o old ld escutcheons may be seen hanging on the wallll,, wi with th a rusty ol old d helmet and sw sword. ord. T The he aisl isle e withi ithin n is llof ofty, ty, and its roof is vaulted with boarding boarding.. It is thrown, b by y painted Go Gothic thic arche hes, s, mouldings, mouldi ngs, and panels, into into ffortyorty-one one compartments of vario various us fo forms rms and dime dimensio nsions, ns, each of which iis s adorned wit ith ha religious, moral, emblematic, fancif anciful, ul, or heraldic subject; and whilile e the drawing a and nd perspectiv tive e are very inf infer erio ior, r, the colouring colo uring is sti stillll fre resh sh a and nd br bright. ight. T The he following ollowing are someof the subjects represente esented - the twelv lve e signs of the Zo Zodiac, diac, Esau sau hunting, JJac acob ob pl ploughing oughing, Eve Eve being tempted by the serpe rpent nt to eat the fforbidden orbidden fruit. There is also a vi view ewof the church with a stream flo lowing wing past spanned by a bridge, and a representation o off Skelmorli kelmorlie e Castle; stle; and the fi figure gure of a lady receiv iving ing a ffatal atal ki kick ck ffrom rom a horse. T This his iis s beli believed eved to depict the tragical death of Lady Margaret Montgomery. Being on horseback at Largs during the fair o off St. Col Colm, m, she was thrown amidst a number of the peopl ople. e. IIrritated rritated at the accident, she arose and pursued the animal, when, very unf unfortunately, ortunately, she receiv ived ed a ki kick ck that inst instantly antly proved fatal. The monum onumen entt stand stands s ac across ross the aisl isle e to the left o off the entran entrance ce. In length it iis s eleven-andleven-and-a-half a-half feet; breadth, adth, ffiv ive e feet, height, eighteen ffee eet. IItt presents two ffronts ronts and prof profiiles respondi sponding ng to each other in every respect, save that the elevation elevatio n next to the entrance door is hi highe gher than its counterpart. To the right of tthe he monument a stair of seven steps conducts to a small area between the north elevatio evation n and the gable of the aisl isle. e. From this platf platform, orm, the carved detail tails s of the monument may be examined. The monument is iindee ndeed not lless ess remarkable for the taste, variety, and fi finish, nish, exhibited in its its ornamental ental details, ils, than ffor or the purity of its arch archit itec ectura turall profil profiles es and gen ener eral proportio proportions, ns, considering the per erio iod d of its construction. The base of the monument has three panels on each side; standing on thi this s areeighteen Cori Corinthi nthian an columns bearing an arch and side aisl aisles; es; and on the corners of these aisles isles aresculpt sculptured ured figures. The fi figur gure abov bove e theright hand col column umn is represented leaning wit ith h the lef leftt arm resting on an inv inverte erted fl flambeau resting on a skul kull; l; the other ffigure igure holds a spade 10

 

in the the right hand, and an apple in the lef left. t. The figures have grotesque appearance, the fform orm of ttheir heir heads and the expression o off their ffac aces be being ing considerably iin n advan advance ce of the undeveloped anatomy of their bodies. The crowning member of the monument is a pyramid surmounted by a ball ball.. Its Its sides are inscul insculped ped with an ingenio nious us  va  variety of o orrnaments. On One e is allotted to musical in instruments, another to martial gear, including a helmet and coat of  mailil;; a thi third rd to se severa veral kinds o off native ffruit ruit suspend suspended ed by drape pery; ry; and the fourth iis s decked with emb emblem lems s of mortality. The subjects are arranged or grouped with co considerable nsiderable address, and the workmanshi hip, p, as on every other part o off the monument, is fre ree e, spirited, and carefull refully y ffini inished shed. On dif diffferent parts of the monument are the ini initi tials als S. R. M., and D D,, M. D D.,., repeated to sati tiety ety ; and on each side are tablets with the respecti ctive ve epitaphs of Sir R Robert obert and Dame Margaret. The The fo forme rmer, on the princi principal pal elevatio elevation, n, iis s completely comp letely effaced, b but ut the latter is stil stilll legible. IItt is as follows ollows "Hi His s duo bi bisq sq de dece cem m transegi vi virg rgini inis s an annos; nos; Ter duo ter dece cem mc consociata onsociata viro, Et bi bis s opem Lucina tuli tulit. t. Mas Paris imago; Spesq domus superest: Femina idv idvasa asa mon. Cl Clara ara genus generosa, anima speci speciosa osa decore. Cara Dec vi vivi via; a; nunc mihi cuncta Deus". This iinscript nscriptio ion n is is a good example of epitaphs of persons of rank, two hundred years ago. IItt represents the deceased as speaking from the tomb. The The fol following lowing is a ffre ree transla nslation tion - "Twice times two, and twice times ten years, I li lived ved a  vi  virgin life ; twice times three, and twice times ten, I lilived a married life, (married to a husband.) Twice I required the assistance ass istance of Lucina. My h husba usband was the image of Paris; he still surviv survives es as the hope of his house, II,, the ffem emale, w was as alone destined to die. die. My birth was noble, my mind was bril brilliliant, ant, my heart was generous my beauty was splendid. I was de dea ar to G God od when a alilive, ve, and now God iis s all to me." In the ffam amilily y vault below the monument, may be seen the two large large leaden cof cofffins, containi containing ng the relics of Sir Robert Montgomerie and those of his L Lady ady. That That of the latter bears on the cover in raised characters, "Dame Margaret Douglas, spouse To Sir Robert Montgomery, Scalmurlie, calmurlie, 1624 1624.'' .'' On the c cover over of the former is the inscripti iption on "I "Ipse mihi praemortuus ffunera unera Praeripui, uni unicum cum idque Caesareum, Exemplar, inter tot rnortales secutus" - "I predeceased myself: elf: I antici anticipated pated my proper funeral; al alone one among all mortal mortals s fo follllowing owing the example of Caesar." There are also, in another cof cofffin, tthe he remains o off Sir Hugh Montgomery, who was slain at the Battle of O Otterburn. tterburn. Several years ago, whil while e alt ltera erati tions ons were being made in the aisle, isle, a number of bo bodies dies became exposed to vi view ew. Havi Having ng been em emba balme lmed, d, tthe hey y were fresh a and nd in good co conditi ndition on and strang ngely ely en enough, ough, on being e exam xamined, the skull of one of  them was observed to have received a severe injury, b but ut to have been careful refully ly mended. This was the body of Sir Hugh, and the scalp wound was believ believed ed to have been the result of his encounter at the famous "C "Chevy hevy Chase". Two of the cof cofffins have been partially da dam maged, owing to the cupidity of somefishermen about Larg Largs, s, who stol stole e the lead to make 'si 'sinks' nks' ffor or their ffish ishing ing lilines. nes. T The he place has sin since ce been secured from such depredators, and the aisl aisle e repaired by the late late Earl of Eglinton. NOTES ON SKELMORLIE CASTLE.

Since the foreg foregoi oing ng was printed, a desire has been expressed that a ffew ew additi additional onal notes shoul should d be added on Skelmorl lmorlie ie Castle; and as as a descr descripti iption on of the Pi Picture ctureGallery has already been given to the pub publilic c in an admirablyirably-wr writt itten en articl rticle e in the Gl Glas asgowDaily aily Mail newspaper, we presume the generous o occupa ccupant of the Castle stle wililll no nott vi visi sitt with the penalty of his displea displ easure what in o other ther circumstances might be deemed an unpardonable int intrusio rusion. n. We di direc rect the attentio attention n of those who may desire sire further details ils to the above articl article e in the Mail, of Monday, June 9, 1879. The castl stle e is approached fro from m the north by a modern avenue; on the lef leftt hand side of which (cl (close ose by the castl tle) e) is the garden, surrounded by a very high wall, all, evi evidently dently a relic lic of the past. T This his wall must have enclosed part of the "gardens" and and ""orcha orchards" referred to by ol old dT Timothy imothy Font. T The he enorm normous ous siz size e of the lau laure rels ls and holl hollies ies affords e evi vide dence nce of their age, and a gigantic pl plane ane tree on the right hand side of the avenue must have cast iits ts shadow on the old castle in the days when it was iinhab nhabited by the Montgomeries. Some of the ffruit ruit trees in in the garden are als lso oo off very great age. The present ffront ront o off the castle, stle, wit ith h its doo doorwa rway faci facing ng the north, was the back in ol olden den ti time me, whil while e the old ffront ront was on the south south of the buil building. ding. T The he ancient gateway still still stands enti ntire, re, but serves now as a means of co comm mmunicati unication on between the castle and the of offfices. The porti portion on of the buildi building ng facing the sea (i (includi ncluding ng dini dining ng and drawing rooms) is all new, ha havi ving ng be been en buil builtt by Mr Mr.. Gra raha ham m in 185 1856; 6; and o on n the southsouth-ea east a wing has been added at a stil stilll more rece recent nt date.  Abo  Ab out a year ago, while alterations were being made on the offi ffices, the old chapel was discovered, which, until then, 11

 

had been unknown. IItt stands to tthe he south of the dini dining ng room, with an arched gable, and is evi evidently dently of great age. The roof is o off oak, the joi joists sts supported by wooden pins, and is stil stilll in in ver very y good conditi condition. on. T The he conjecturewhich some one hazarded on seeing the ruin iis s very lilikely kely correct, tthat hat it was bui built lt by old Sir Ro Robert bert Montgomery, the same who became so pi pious ous iin n hi his s llate ater years, and who went do down wn to the sepulchral v vault ault iin n Largs after the example of  Charles V.  According tto  Acc o the a arrticle a allready rre eferred to to,, there iis s in part of the a an ncient building a q qu uaint old to tow wer, " in which there there is stil stilll to be seen an iron bol bolt, t, from which, according to local ttra raditi dition, on, malefactors used to be hung." PICTURE GALLERY 

It is is well known that Mr Graham possesses one of the fi fine nest st col collections lections of picture pictures s in tthe he west of Scotl cotlan and d and and fo forr the guidance of those who may obtain per guidance permission mission to view view the collection, ollection, we sub subjo join in a lilist st of those ch chief iefly ly deserving rving attentio ntion nThe Two Sisters (Gainsb (Gainsborough); orough); St. John in Pa Patmos tmos (Ary (Ary Sche chefffer er); ); Mary at th the e Sepulchre (A (Ary ry Sche chefffer er); ); A  High Highland land Raid (Rosa Bonh Bonheur eur); The Wreck Buoy (Turne (Turner); Antwerp Cathe thedra dral (so called) (T (Turne urner); Vale of T Tem empe (T (Turn urner er); Lan Landing ding of Ulysses (Linne (Linnell ll); ); Chr Christ ist a and nd W Wom oman an of Samaria (Linnell ll); ); The Nile Boat (J- L. Jerome); The Shepherd's Bibl Bible e (Landseer); Christmas at Antwerp during the Spanish Occupati Occupation on (Leys); Moonl oonlight ight on Coast of  Holland Hol land (Stanfi (Stanfield); eld); Caerlaver rlaverock ock Castle (Roberts); Gra rand nd Can Canal, al, Venice (Roberts); Christ Amidst th the e Doctors in the Temple (H (Hol olma man Hunt) Hunt);; Venice by Moonl Moonlight ight (Co (Cooke); oke); Cattl Cattle e (Co (Cooper); oper); Stormy Sea (Bi (Birket rket Foster) and Villllag age School (Wilkie). Owing to the addit dditio ions ns which are constantl constantly y being made to the col collecti lection on (f (for or Mr. Graham is cont continual inually ly adding to his store) the pi picture cture gallllery ery seldo ldom m remains in all respects the same. For example, tthere here has this year been added to it a magnif gnificent icent painting by Müller üller of the "A "Acropoli cropolis," s," wh whilile e shortly be beffore that he purchased at the sale of Albert G Gra rant, Holman Hunt's celebrated " Chri Holman Christ st among the Docto octors." rs." But iits ts prin principal cipal pi pictures ctures have ffor or several years now remained the same, and have become well known. T The he gem of the coll collectio ection n is usuall usually y supposed to be G Gainsborough's ainsborough's " Two Sisters," isters," sai said d to have cost the enormous sum of £6,000; altho although ugh about 100 years old, the colo colouring uring is ffresh resh and rich. Then we have fo four ur masterpieces by T Turner, urner, three of which are specimens of his workmanship at the three diff different stages of his career. T The he fi first rst of these, " Antwerp Cathedral, or an Artist iin n Search of a Subject, ubject,"" represents the white towers of a cathedral in in the distance, iin n the fforeground oreground the movi oving ng waves of the G Germ erman Ocean, said to be unsurpas unsur passed sed as a rep repres resentation entation of water in motion. otion. It was of this pi picture cture that Stan tanffield, wh when en hevi visited sited this col collection, lection, said, " It would be dif diffficult for any man to equal that." "The Vale of Tempe," a rich glowing landscape in IItaly, taly, in wh which ich the sun is is llost ost in his own rays, re repre prese sents nts the second stage; and the third is re repre presented sented by " Mer ercury cury a and nd A Arg rgus," us," so often often referred to by Ruski Ruskin, n, iin n which ""the the pale and vaporo vaporous us blue of tthe he heated sky is broken with grey and pearly whit white, e, the gold co colo lour ur of the lilight ght warming it more or lless ess as it approaches and reti tires res from the sun." "Not o one ne liline ne out of the milli illions ons there is wit without hout meaning; yet there is not o one ne which is not aff affecte ected and disguised by the indecisio indecision n an and d da dazz zzle le of distanc distance. e. No fform orm is made out, and yet no form is unknow unknown." n." (Ruskin's Modern Painters) The "Wre "Wreck ck Buoy " iis s the fourth of Turner Turner's 's paintings in the coll collec ection. tion. The story is tol told d of thi this s picture, that whe hen n it was iin n possessio possession n of a fo forme rmer owner, Mr. Turner vi visit sited ed the house, and hearing the gentl ntlem eman complai plain n of it its s dark  an and d gloomy app appea earance, got a brus brush h dipped in paint and dash dashed ed it in a circle over the pi pictur cture; ""'O 'Oh," h," sa said id the owner, "you have spoil spoiled ed my picture ! '' T The he dash of extra paint, int, according to the story, fforms orms the rainbow in the "Wreck  Buoy." In the dining room is Mil Millai lais' s' celebrated picture of the "Caval "Cavalier," ier," in which the arti rtist st has painted the lilikene kenesses of two of his own fam familily y - a boy and girl. The benevolent loo look k of the old m man an,, evidently delighte delighted d at doing an act of kindne kindness ss to the two little little chil childre dren, n, and the half half--trustf trustful, ul, half half--suspicious llooks ooks o off the y youngs oungster ters s areadm dmirably irably pourtraye yed. d.  Above the mantelpiece in the dining room is a very celebrated painting, " C  Abo Ch hristmas at An Anttwerp during the Spanish Occupation," tion," by Bar Baron on Henri Leys, while on the left is a very fi fine ne sea piec piece e by Birket Foster. O On n the wall o opposite pposite the fireplac ireplace e is a fi fine ne p painting ainting of " Cattle," by Sy Sydne dney Cooper. Ev Ever ery y vi visito sitorr to the coll collec ecti tion on will be inte intere rested sted in Rosa Bonheur's ffam amous ""Highland Highland Raid.'' id.'' T This his picture acquires a special intere interest ffrom rom the fact that when, at the request of the artist, rtist, iitt was sent by Mr. G Graha raham to the Paris Ex Exhibi hibiti tion, on, she thought she could could improve improve the pict picture ure by adding another sheep to the group. Wi With th the owner's co consent nsent this was done, and now this additi additional onal sheep occupies a conspi conspicuous cuous posi positi tion on iin n the foreground. T The he owner fearing that this might afterwards throw doubt on the iidentity dentity o off the picture when compared with engravings taken at a prior date, the fair artist replied replied tha thatt she w would ould neve neverr be a affraid o off that picture, it it would spe speak ak for itself. There is another picture by Rosa Bonheur recently acquired, "Stags Coming to D Drink, rink,"" iin n which the graceful ffigures igures of tthe he animals are refl reflected ected in 12

 

the transparent blue of the stil stilll waters. Two very fi fine ne Scripture subjects by Ary Scheffer are "St. JJohn ohn in Patmos" and "Mary at the Sepulchre." The fo forme rmer represents the aged apostl apostle, e, with pen in hand, llisteni istening ng to tthe he mysterious v voi oice ce which inspired inspired his v visi isions, ons, when he wrote ""II heard behind me a great v voi oice ce as of a trumpet saying, I am Alpha and Omega." In the drawing room ar are e seve vera ral Linnells, the lar larg gest and fine finest being the "Land "Landing ing of Ulys Ulysse ses at Itha Ithaca ca" by JJohn ohn Linne Linnellll,, who iis s stil stilll aliv alive, e, an and d occasionally uses his brush, although a att the advanced ced ag age e of over 80 year ars. s. H Her ere, e, a also, lso, is a masterpiece b by yG Ger erome ome, o off the "Ni "Nile le Boat" in wh which ich the grim face of the old captiv ptive e lying on hi his s back, unmoved by the grimaces of his tormentor, iis s worthy of car careful eful study. A Among mongst smallller er pictures ar are e " Venice byMoonl oonlight," ight," by Cooke, - a copy of whi which ch has been painted by the gifted gifted daughter of Mr. G Graha raham, herself an amateur arti rtist st of very considera consi derable power. T The he one picture is such an exact ffacsimil acsimile e of tthe he other that the onloo onlooker ker need not be ashamed if he mist istake akes the copy ffor or the ori original, ginal, as weare informed informed that a late President of the Royal A Acade cademy very nearly co comm mmitted itted the mistake, and several celebrated art crit critics ics have ffall allen en into the trap. O Other ther pictures are "The Shepherd's Bibl Bible," e," by Landseer; the "Gen "Genevieve" evieve" of Noel Paton; Wil Wilkie's kie's ""V Vilillage lageSchool, chool,"" ""The The G Gra rand nd Canal, V Ve enice," by Roberts Roberts ; ""M Moonl oonlight ight on the Coa Coast st of Hol Holland,'' land,'' by Stanfi tanfield eld ; "T "The he Savio aviour ur Bles Blessing sing litt little le Children," by Scott Lauder, and a h host ost of other others, s, all worth worthy y of careful careful iinspe nspection. ction. Those who remember what tthe he Skelmorli kelmorlie e coll collection ection was llik ike e many years ago, wil willl no now w miss a paint inting ing which at that time attracted considerable attenti ttention, on, v viz iz.,., ""T The Di Disti stinguished nguished Member of a Humane Soci ociety," ety," by Landseer. IItt was purchased from A Agne gnew of Londo London n at a cost of £2,000. ""E. E. L Landse andseer" was duly inscri inscribed bed on the canvas, and no one doubted doubted that on examining ining it, he was loo looki king ng at a genuine painti painting ng by the disti distinguished nguished arti rtist. st. A Frenchman who visit visited ed the Skelmorli kelmorlie e Gal Gallery lery was the only exceptio exception. n. He expressed doubts as to iits ts genuineness, and alt lthough hough lilittl ttle e attenti ttention on was paid at the ti time me to hi his s remarks, Mr. G Graha raham, to have all doubts remov oved, ed, ordered the picture to be sentt o sen offf to Lands Landsee eer himself himself,, (who at that ti tim me w was as liv living ing near London, London,)) with the requ reques estt that he would examine it it,, and certify certif y as to iits ts genuineness. Strange to say the report was unf unfavourable avourable ; Landseer signif signifying ying that the painti painting ng was a good copy, but was not hi his. s. Mr. A Agne gnew, on being apprized ized of tthe he result, was equalllly, y, with it its s owner, surprised and chagrine rined, d, an and d agreed at once to ta take ke back the pictur picture e and refund the mone oney. y. Inqu nquiry iry was of cour course se made as to the history of tthe history he pict picture ure which had thus deceived so many criti critics, cs, when the follo ollowing wing facts were ascertained - Landseer had a sister residing residing wit ith h hi him m named E Elilizabeth, zabeth, who, like like her brother, was able to handle the brush, and who had been in the habit of copyin copying g some of her brother's most successf successful ul paint paintings. ings. IItt seems that Landseer himself had proceeded so far far with tthe he picture in que question, stion, having sketche tched d the fi figu gure re, and done the "f "fililliling ng up" o off the head, ad, but not being being satisfied satisf ied wit with h the workmanship at this po poiint, he had thrown it asi aside de and commenced the work anew. Hi His s sister, who had pos- sessed herself of the discarded out outliline, ne, sometime afterw afterwards began ffiilllling ing up wit ith h great care, copying every detail from from her brother's ffini inished shed work. Her name, ""E E. Landse Landseer," was inserted in the comer, and when at her death the whole of her property was sol sold, d, the pi picture cture was bought by Mr. A Agne gnew, no one ever doubti doubting ng that it was the ori original ginal painting painti ng by her fam famous brother, ""Edwi Edwin." n." Mr. A Agne gnew, on receiv eiving ing back the picture fro from m Mr. G Graha raham, expos xposed ed it ffor or sale again, but thi this s ti time me as a copy. It was purchased, we understand, ffor or about £ £250. 250. The col collecti lection on has taken more than si sixty xty years to reach its its present complete fform, orm, and is unsurpassed by any in tthe he Westt of Scotland. Its owner, with ra Wes rare re gener enerosity, osity, allows others to view wha hatt aff affords ords so m much uch deliligh ghtt to hi him mself self,, and in consequence the Skelmorl kelmorliie Picture G Gall allery, ery, alt lthough hough a priv private ate col colllection, has become more widely kno known wn than many publi public c ones.

 WALKS AT SKELM ELMORLIE CASTLE

Skelmorli kelmorlie e Castl stle e is approached from the shore by the first road to the lef leftt after passi sing ng the Skelmorli kelmorlie e vi villllas. as. At the lodge lo dge, which may be seen about sixt sixty y yards fro from m the turnpike, thi this s road div divides. ides. That to the right through the gates leads lead s by a gradual ascent to Skelmorli lmorlie e Heights Heights.. Alo long ng the s shore hore roa road, d, about a quar quarter ter of a m milile, e, a se second cond road lead leads s behind behind the Cas Castle, tle, an and d by this roa road d se sever veral al bea beautif utiful ul walks may be ha had d in var various ious dire directions. ctions. Af Afte terr passing passing the Ca Castle stle and Gar Garde dener's house, and cont continu inuing ing ou ourr walk abo bout ut a qu qua arte rter of a mile, we com come to a place near th the e far farm m of  Skelmonie Mains, where two ro roads ads cross, and where walks may be had in tthree hree diff different di directions. rections. (i) If we go right on, (continui (continuing ng the rroad oad on which we have started), we are led by the high roa road d to the vi villllag age of Upper Skelmorli lmorlie. e. A Allll along this this road the m most ost exte extensive nsive and varied vi view ews may be had. (2) Taking the road to the right clo close se by the ffar arm m of  Skelm kelmorli orlie eM Mains, ains, a most deli deligh ghtf tful ul and and bracing walk may be h had ad ffor or a couple of mililes es up the h hilills, ls, with magnif gnificent icent  vi  views of tth he Firth of Clyde, and farms lying to the South. Th Thiis road leads to the farms of North and South Fardens the former former a ruin, cl close ose beside the road, and the latter inhabited by a shepherd and ot others. hers. The lands have been added to the far farm of Skelmorli orlie eM Mains. ains. By the si side de of this road in the wood, about a qu quar arter ter of a milile e from from Mains Farm, may 13

 

be seen a mound covered with ith trees. Here, iin nA Anglonglo-S Saxon ti time mes, cri criminals minals were tried and executed. Hence the name of the mound, ""Judge Judge Hil Hill.l."" These mounds are common in many parishes of Ayrshire, and are int intere eresti sting ng remains of  the customs of our ancestors. ((3) 3) T The he turning to the left left joi joins ns the road leading from Skelmorl kelmorlie ie Castle Lodge to Skelm kelmorli orlie e " Heights." SKELM ELMORLIE GLEN GLEN

Skelmorli kelmorlie eG Glen len is a place of unending interest to those who take delilight ght in the scenes of nature. O One ne entrance is obtained obtai ned through an opening iin n the hedge, on the road behind the Castle. H Here ere a path llea eads ffor or a short di distance stance through throug h the wood, with iits ts tangled underr-wood, wood, lluxuriant uxuriant ferns, llichen ichens, s, and other forms of vegetable liliffe. A Another nother entrance is behind tthe he gamekeeper's house, where a more regular road, ffol ollo lowing wing on the north side the curves of the burn, winds through through the wood ood ffor or a di distance stance of about a mile. ile. when it abruptl uptly y terminates. A As s we ascend, two small smaller er glens - call called ed Shaw Glen and Farden's glen - branch of offf to the lef left, t, but Skelmorli kelmorlie e Glen proper is the finest, and extends ffor or a lo long ng distance inland in a n northorth-ea easterly direction. A Asce scending still higher, numer erous ous lilittle ttle water terffalls and cascades enli nliven ven the scene, and the view view which opens out to towa wards the shores of Bute, ov over er the lower porti ortion on of the glen, will will amply repay the toi toill of of the ascent. BRIDGEND HOUSE

 A few y ya ards s so outh o off Skelmorlie C Ca astle, n ne earer tth he m ma ain rro oad, is B Brridgend H Ho ouse, a c co omfor fortable, c co osy-l -lo ooking residence, charmingly sit situated uated on a gentle slo slope, pe, and securely sheltered fro from m every wind. IItt is is the property of the Earl of Egli glinton nton but let by him, along with ith the Castle, to Mr. Graham. The house and grounds, extending to about fforty orty acres, o originall riginally y belonged to the Earl of Glasgow, but in 1814 they were purchased by Mr. Wall Wallace ace of Kell elly, y, and giv iven en by him to the Earl of Egl Eglint inton on iin n exchange for A Auchenda uchendarroch, which ffrom rom being part of Skelmorli kelmorlie e estate, was attache ched d to K Kelly, elly, and now fform orms the part of tha thatt estate on the south side of Kelly burn. Behind Bridge Bridgend House iis s a hil hilll o orr mound risin rising g to a height o off 100 ffee eet, whi which ch has recentl ntly y become an object of interest to the a antiquarian ntiquarian. SERPENT MOUND

It prese sents nts the ap appea peara rance nce of an irregular hil hilll or mound, partly ov over ergr grown own with trees. That it iis s artif artifici icial al therecannot cannot be an any y doub doubt. t. In the newly publishe published dG Geog eography of Ayrshire, iissu ssued ed b by y Coll Collins, ins, ( Colli Collins' CountyGeographies), there is the follo ollowing wing reference to iitt - "In Skelmorl kelmorlie ie is one of tthe he most remarkable antiqui antiquiti ties es in Scotl cotland and : a ' Serpent Mound, ound,'' supposed to have been used by the ancient Brito Britons ns in tthe he worshi orship p of the sun and serpent, and iin n other religio religious us rites. rites."" The fi first rst to di discov scover er the mound, and to speak of it as connected wit ith h the worshi orship p of the serpent, was Dr. Phene of  Chelsea, who has come to tthis his di distri strict ct ffor or several years during the summer months. He made several cutti cuttings ngs in the mound, and discovered discovered the remains of bones and charcoal, and two or three years ago publi published shed an account of his researches in th the e Scotsman and GlasgowHerald. If thi this s be indeed a serpent mound, then it iis s closel closely y connected wit ith hD Druid ruid worship; ffor or the worshi orship p of the serpent by the Druids Druids iis s a matter of hist history. ory. Whatever may have been the true origin o off thi this s snake reverence, certain iitt is, that in countless countl ess old G Gae aelic lleg egends of tthe he West Coast and the Hebrides, the serpent hol holds ds a pl place ace of much importance. We are are told told how they wer ere ew wont ont tto o pl plac ace e lilive ve serp serpen ents ts as symbols at the ffoot oot of the a altar ltar during the time of sacrif rifice. ice. T The hey y were also in tthe he habit of forming artif rtificial mounds iin n the form of a huge serpent, and several o off these have been discovered disco vered in Scotl cotland and through the inv investigations estigations of Dr. Phene and others, the most perfect of which is the famous serpentnt-shape shaped mound of Loch Nel Nell,l, near Oban. We give the account of the Skelmorl kelmorlie ie mound in D Dr. r. Phene's own word ords s - "In "In my inve investig stigations in Scotland I have lately disc discove overe red, iin nA Ayr yrsh shire ire,, a m monu onum ment wh which ich ap appe pears to combine the most iimpona mponant customs I have touched on in o one. ne. The D Diagra iagram represents the form of a mound with a largecircul circular ar head and serpenti ntine ne rid idge ge400 feet long. It appears, though in in a dif diffferent atti attitude tude to the serpent mound in A Argy rgyllshire llshire to bear the characteristi ristics cs of a serpent emblem.  Atttracted by the outline, I excavated the mound, and discovered a paved platfo  At forrm of great interest. Th The e hill is 100-f -fe eet high on on iits ts western si side, de, iis s most uni unifformly shaped, and on the north and south si sides des measures 60 ffee eet hi high gh ; to the east it is o only nly 40 ffee eet, and here it its s true circul circular ar form is lo lost, st, and a dist distinct inct elo elonga ngati tion, on, terminating in broken ground, occurs  ju  just over a roadway fo forrmed at no very remote date. On the other side of this roadway similar broken ground appears, where a beautif autifull ully y curved serpentine embankment, 300 ffee eet long long commences. It is ev evident ident that the embankment once  jo  joined the circular mound or head, and was severed when the road was made. Th The e embankment for forms a ridge about five ffee eet across on tthe he top, and was on once ce nearly 400-f 400-fee eet long; long; iitt tapers as it recedes fro from m the head and also sl slopes opes 14

 

downwards towards the end or tail tail,, terminating almost verti verticall cally, y, the earth havi ving ng been retained in po posit sitio ion n by a facing of uncemented stonework, the remains of which stil stilll preserve the shape. The rid idge ge, which runs sinuo sinuously usly ffrom rom theeast side of the mound northwards, has been fo form rmed on the cr crest est of a lof lofty ty ban bank, k, and is at an elevation of 130 feet above a stream still still further north. T The he serpentine ridge did not contain any relics, but on cutting through it, iits ts ar artif tifici icial al formation was plainl plainly y shown, the materials havi having ng been brought fro from m the adjacent sea-shore, and being quit quite e disti distinct nct from the original summit it,, which was clearly denned. T Trenche renches were cut iin n the head or ci circular rcular hil hilll at the fo four ur cardinal points, from the summit to tthe he base se,, witho without ut any result; but on conti continuing nuing these over the plate platea au, so as to fform orm a c cross, ross, a dive ivergence had to be made to avo void id some trees, when the soil il,, hit ith herto of li lig ght colo lou ur, suddenly changed to bl black. ack. Thi This s discol discoloratio oration n being fol ollo lowe wed, a paved platf platform orm was found about two feet, in some places, under a rich v veg egetable so soilil,, which co covered vered the whole hil hilll uni unifformly, ((except except where it h had ad been severed from the embankment), and which iitt must have taken ages to deposi deposit, t, the trees that have been ffor or many years on the hi hillllock  ock  assisting assisti ng lilittl ttle, e, as they are coni coniffers. This disco discovery very took place at the northnorth-ea east, and was on the verge, just where the plateau joined joined the decliv decliviity. Cutt Cuttin ings gs were then made at intervals intervals o off a few feet all round the edge, in the same posi positi tion, on, without witho ut success, til till,l, on arriv arriving ing at the northnorth-we west, tthe he same appearance was exhibi exhibited. ted. IIn n result it was found that the platform was was 80 ffe eet lo long ng and 5 ffee eet wide, pave paved d with smooth flattened stones from the shor shore e in in a true curve rve,, forming a segment o off a circl circle, e, and cov covering ering a space between and incl including uding the northnorth-ea east and northnorth-we west poi points nts of the compass. The platf platform orm itsel itselff, and the earth beneath it tto o a consi considera derable ble depth, were highly charred, llarg arge masses of  charcoal filllled ed the interstices between the stones, and on washing hing the earth obtained ffrom rom the same positi position, on, it was found to be fful ulll of of porti portions ons of bone, so reduced in si size ze as to show that the crematio ation n must have been most complete. Taking the lati latitude tude of the mound, and the poi points nts o off the compass where the sun would ri rise se and set on the longest day, this segmentent-sha shape ped d platfo platform rm,, de devo voted ted apparently to sacrifice rifice by fi fire re, is is ffound ound to ffililll up the remaini ining ng interval, and thereby complete the fi fiery ery circl circle e of tthe he sun's course, which would be defici icient ent by that space. Near the centre of tthis his hillo hillock ck was found found under the surf surface ace a larger stone than any on the hil hill,l, and which may have fo forme rmed part of the found oundat ation ion of an altar. Independe pendently of the time of year indica indicated by this fire agreeing with that of the m midsum idsummer fires of the Druids, wehave have here not onl only y an evide vidence nce of solar an and d ser serpen pent worship, but also o off sacrif sacrifice." ice."  Apart fr  Apa fro om historical interest, the mound and adjoining glen are well worth visiting, if on only for for a sight of tth he fl flo owers with which at certain seasons they are covered. MEIGLE

Continuing the turnpike road and crossing the Skelmorl Continuing kelmorlie ie and Meigle Burns fl flowing owing on each side of Bri Bridge dgend, a road turns tur ns to the left, past a grou roup p of hou house ses calle called d Meigle, and wh whe ere a small ch cha apel has recently be bee en erected - in November 1876 - by the Misse isses sS Ste tewa wart of Ashcraig, for the benefit of those residing in the district. T The he c cha hape pel iis s builtt of concrete - a fact buil act w which, hich, though not very inmportant in itself explains the fol ollo lowing wing convers conversation ation w which hich took  place shortly shortly aft after er it was erected.  A gentleman rre esiding iin n tth he H Hy ydropathic E Es stablishment h ha appened tto o tta ake a walk iin n tth he direction o off M Me eigle, a an nd observing observi ng a new buil building ding resembli bling ng a place of worship. asked a gardener's wif wife, e, who resided in tthe he locali locality, ty, " What church chur ch is tthis his ?" "It's Miss S Stew tewart's church," was the response. " Yes ; but what denomination do does es it belo belong ng to?" asked the stranger. "Oh! sir, iit's t's the concrete kirk." Concrete it certainl tainly y is, not onl only y in regard to it its s material construction, but also iin n the sens sense e of being a meetingting-place place fo forr members of all denominations who choose to atte attend. nd. The road here win winds ds up a steep hill past Meigle S Sch chool, ool, and con condu ducts cts to several farms. When the top of the hill is reached (150 ft. ft.)) an extensive vi view ew is o obtained, btained, and several walks may be had in vari various ous di directions. rections. 1st - Walk by Thirdpar Thirdpart and Barr 

Soon after after passing the school school,, a road to the lef leftt leads to the farms of Thirdpart, D Dykes, ykes, and Barr. The name Thirdpart, is a ver very y common designation tion ffor or ffar arm m hous houses, es, and occurs in seve severa rall parishes. It belonged at one ti tim me to the Glengarnoc rnock k ffa amil ily, y, but iis s now the pr prope operty rty of the Ear Earll of Glasgow. D Dyke ykes far farm, on the righ right, t, is about ffour our hund hundre red  ya  yards off tth he road, and fo forrms part of tth he estate of St. Fillans. T Th he name Barr, is supposed by some to be connected with the dispensa dispensatio tion n of justi justice ce in A Anglonglo-S Saxon ti time mes; and near this, o on n the opposite side of the glen, iis sas sma mall moun mound d call called ed " T Tndg ndge Hil Hill,l,"" wh wher ere, e, in all likelihood, likelihood, crimina criminals ls were tried tried.. The The road pr properly operly e ends nds at Barr, but iiff the visito visitorr is  ve  venturesome, he may pass through the fie fields to the left, ft, and crossing Skelmorlie Burn, climb up on the opposite side, through the wood, unti untill he reaches the Fardens Road, whence hemay easil sily y ffind ind his way home. 2nd - Walk past Millri Millrig g and AnchengarthFarms and Home by Shore Road

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Instead of turnig to tthe he left after after passing Meigle School chool,, iiff we keep straight on, a beauti utifful vi view ew may be had alo long ng the high road leading past Auchengarth (not seen fro from m the road; on the right; and on the lef leftt Mill Millrig, rig, both fforming orming part of  the estate of St. Fi Fillllans. ans. Shortl hortly y before reaching Mill Millrig, rig, the highest elevatio elevation n (200 ft. ft.)) on the road is reached. A Affter passing Milillri lrig g about a hundred yards, the road goes down a steep hil hill,l, then through the thi thicklyckly-wooded wooded grounds of St. Fillllans, Fi ans, close by the garden wall, ll, where the height abov bove e the sea-level a-level iis s onl only y thirtythirty-six six feet. A Att the bridge which here crosses the Blackhouse Burn, the road divides. divides. T That hat to the ri right ght leads to the turnpike road along the shore, by which the visitor visitor can fi find nd his wayhome. 3rd - Walk over the Hil illl to Brisbane Glen Glen

For those those who are good pedestrians, and who don' don'tt obj object ect to a climb ov over er the hil hills ls,, this walk strongly recommended as affording affording m mag agnif nificent icent vi view ews of the Firth of Clyde on the one side and of the Br Brisbane isbane Glen or the other. T The he hill may be approached ffrom rom any part of the road described under the second walk lk;; but the the fol ollo lowing wing course is recommended as being on the whole the least ffatiguing, atiguing, and not lilikely kely to llea ead the pedestrian into bo bog gs or iimpr mpracticable byways. T Taking aking the road past T Thirdpart hirdpart Farm, stri strike ke of offf to tthe he right by the road (through a gateway) llea eading to D Dykes, ykes, and passing in ffront ront of the house conti continue nue the road for about 100 yards, until the second ffiel ield d on the lef leftt is reached, then leavi leaving ng the roa road d begin to asce cend nd the hil hilll in a southsouth-ea easterly direc directio tion, n, keeping w well ell to tthe he right, an and d in in a short ti time me the summit wil willl be reached. By keeping to the right the steep hil hilll iis s avoi avoided, ded, and the walk v very ery much shortened, althoug althou gh the view views s are not so fine. D Direc irectly behind D Dyke ykes the he height ight is ab about out 650 650 fee feet, wh whe ereas ffurt urthe herr south in the hollow of the hill it is not above 50 500 0 feet. Afte Afterr the sum summit is reache ched the desce scent on the e ea ast side shou should ld be m ma ade close clo se by Const Constablew ablewood F Farm arm, ffrom rom which a road leads by a bridge crossing the Noddl Noddle e Burn to Bri Brisbane sbane Glen. (See  Br  Brisbane Gfen, Largs.)  Largs is about two and a-half mil miles es dist istant, ant, and fro from m thence the Skelmorli kelmorlie e pede pedestria strian n can return home by any of the num nume erous steamers which regularly ply dur during ing summer. The walk from Skelmorii kelmoriie e to Bri Brisbane sbane Glen Road will take about two hours, and another half or three-quarters should be allowed allowed fo forr reaching Largs. 4th - Walk to Knock Hil illl

 A clear day should be chosen for for this excursion. Starting fro from the bridge referred to at the end of walk No. 2, behind St. Fi Filllans, and which may be reached either by the ro route ute there described or (which iis s pref prefera erable) b by y the shore road from Skelmorii kelmoriie, e, let the vi visit sitor or cont continue inue his co course urse along long the hi high gh road to Largs. Before the present turnpik turnpike e was formed, thi this s was the direct route ffrom rom Largs to G Gree reenock. IItt is now lilittl ttle e used except by the farmers in the distri district. ct.  Aftter leaving the bridge the road gradually ascends, and is skirted at fi  Af firrst on the left and then on both sides, by a thickly planted wood belonging to the Knock Knock estate. In a short time time a view may be obtai obtained ned of Knock Castle. Passing the stables on the left left,, the road proceeds in a straight di direc rection tion unti untill the highest elev levatio ation n is reached (300 ft.) iimm mmediately behind beh ind Q Qua uarter rter House. At thi this s poi point nt and all along long the road, a m mag agnif nificent icent prospect is obtained to the south and west. est. If  If  thi this s road is cont continued, inued, af after ter passing the ffarm arms of Rout Routenburn enburn and Bankhead, iitt descends to the shore and ioi ioins ns the turnpike at at No Nodde ddesda sdale le T Tol olll-ba bar, r, whe when n Larg Largs s can be reached a about bout half a milile e ffurthe urther on. But as our obj objec ectt now iis s to guide gu ide the pede destrian strian to K Knock nock Hi Hillll,, we have to di dire rect him to conti continue nue this ol old d Largs Road only untill it reaches the highest poi unti point nt ref referr erred to abov above. e. Here a path to the lef leftt takes of offf at right angles through a gateway; continuing continui ng this until three fi fields elds a are re crosse rossed, d, K Knock nock Hil Hilll is is se seen en rrisi ising ng conspicuously, and after mounting two stone dykes can be rrea dykes eache ched d easil sily y in half half--anan-hour. IIff the d day ay is ffine ine a and nd the air cl clea ear, the vi visitor sitor wil willl iin n all probabili probability ty stop several ti time mes bef before ore reachi ching ng the summit to admire tthe he prospect whi hich, ch, as he ascends, gradualllly y enlarges on all sides, untill at the top iitt reveals a panorama unsurpassed in beauty and extent by any in thi unti this s dist district. rict. The hil hilll ri rises ses to a height of  711 ft., ft., and fro from m the top a vi view ewcan behad in all directi directions. ons. Up the riv river er you can see Castl stle e Wemyss on its conspi conspicuous cuous promontory, prom ontory, IInne nnellllan an on the opposite side, with the Cow Cowal al hil hills ls behind. Further down, the wh whol ole e east ast coast of Bute may be seen, with tthe he Paps of Jura in tthe he far distance; next, the two Cumbraes, and Arran hills hills to towe wering up into the clouds. The peninsu peninsular lar district of A Ardn rdneil rise rises s on tthe he left, while down the Firth - fif ifty ty mil iles es away - is Ai Ailsa lsa Craig Craig,, faithf aithfull ully y guarding the entrance to the river. O On n the east we overlo overlook ok Bri Brisbane sbane Glen with iits ts variegated scenery, its farms sn snug ugly ly nestling on the hil hillsi lside; de; while hile to the north, ffar ar away, the tops of Ben Lom Lomond, ond, T The he Cobbler, &c., ffrown rowning ing in mountain mountain grandeur. On the summit of Knock H Hiill are to be seen the remains of ancient entrenchments. T The he hililll belongs to the the estate of Bri Brisbane sbane, altho although ugh at one ti time me it fformed ormed part of tthe he estate of Knock. T The he remains of an old cart cart road winding round the hill and and le leading to the very top, may stil stilll be traced. If after de desce scending nding the h hililll on the north side this road be foll followe owed, iitt will ill lea lead d by the most direct cour course se back to Skelmoriie. kelmoriie. A shor shortt dista distance nce from the foot of  the hill hill iitt div divides ides - the one part may be seen leading down to the right through the wood ood to Brisbane Glen, the other leads to the the spot at St. Fi Fillllan's an's Bri Bridge dge, from from which westarted; or the whole route may be reversed.

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SKELM ELMORLIE ORLIE TO TO LARGS

Largs is dista Largs distant nt from S Ske kelmor lmorii iie e about ffive ive an and d a half miles iles,, and may be re reac ached either by road o orr wat ater er. During the summer months, steamers pl ply y freque frequentl ntly y between Wemyss Bay Pi Pier er and Milillpo lport, rt, calli calling ng at Largs. The latter is reached in half half--anan-hour, the fform ormer er in one hour by steamer. The road be betwe tween Skelm kelmorii oriie e an and dL Lar args gs skirts tthe he shoreall the way, and is of neve neverr-ffaili ailing ng interest, owing to iits ts variety. In su sum mmer it is a very very ple plea asant walk, and a favour favourite ite dr drive. ive. Shor hortly tly after passing ssing Skelm kelmoriie oriie Castle and Brid Bridg gend nd,, we reach A Ashcra shcraig, a modern mansio nsion n house, bui built lt of red sandstone, belongin belonging g to the Misses Stewart, ffiinely sheltered beneath the cli clifff from the east winds, and protected on the west by a stri strip p of pines. IItt may be noti noticed ced how the trees here and at Bri Bridge dgend give evi evidence denceof the prevaili iling winds : those on the si side de next tthe he sea, stunted and weatherther-bea beaten, lilikene kened by some one to tho those se senti ntinel nel soul souls s of humaniry who bear the brunt of the storms of llif ife, e, and shield ot others hers from their ffury ury. ST. FILLANS

 About a mile fu  Abo furrther on, we pass the huge commodious modern mansion house of St. Fillans. Th The e situation is one of  the fine finest st iin n this llocality, ocality, the house being situated at the summit of a knoll knoll,, gently sl sloping oping down to the sea; whil hile e behind, the hills, hills, with their thi thickl ckly y planted woods, oods, ri rise se as a protecti protection on ffrom rom the east. T The he house commands a magnif gnificent icent prospect bo both th up and down the ffirth, irth, and and the grounds, which aretastefull ully y laid o out, ut, contain so some mevery fi fine ne trees. O One ne Auracaria near the house is of very largesize. size. ST. FILLAN'S CHAPEL

Close by the garden wall is St. Fi Close Fillllan's an's Well and near the Blackhouse Blackhouse Burn, which ffllows through the grounds, so south uth of  the man mansion sion house, is a place c called alled Chapell-ya yards, iindicating ndicating the site of an ancient chapel ded dedicated icated to St. Fi Fillllan an.. Not a stone is is now lleft eft to mark the spot, but the exact si site, te, as laid down in tthe he ordnance survey map, iis s near the Blackhouse bridge, between the burn and the road. T The he Refo Reforma rmation, tion, which shoo shook k the whol hole e fabric of the Scotti cottish sh Church, introduced introduced considerable changes both in tthe he regime and in the number of the ecclesiasti cclesiastical cal div diviisio sions ns and many churches which pi piety ety had reared were allo allowe wed to go to rui ruin. n. A Among mong these was the chapel of St. Fil Fillan. lan. The burn fl flowing owing past the mansion ho house use on the north, and which jjoi oins ns the Blackhouse burn near the lodge, is the divi di visio sion n between the parish of Largs and the quoad sacra parish of Skelmorlie. KNOCK CASTLE TLE

The present Castl tle e was built in 1850, while hile the estate was in the hands of Mr. Robert Steele, shipbui shipbuilder, lder, G Gree reenock. IItt is a largeand stately mansion, occupyi occupying ng acommanding site, and the view ffrom rom its windo windows ws is magnif nificent. icent. But But,, larg large and imposing imposi ng though the modern buil building ding be, it may be doubted whether the style of architecture and col olour our of stone of  the old castle castle (part of which sti stillll remains) be not more in keepi ping ng wit ith h the surroundi roundings ngs. T The he red stone harmoniz rmonizes es with the green fo folliage much better than the white, and the poi pointed nted style of the old ((S Scott cottish ish baroni baronial) al) design adapts itself to the irregular and precipito cipitous us nature of the cli clifff. For several centuries the estate of Knock belonged to a family ily called Fraser - the Frasers of Lo Lovat. vat. A As s far back as 1380, John John Fraser, thi third rd son of Hugh Fraser of L Lov ovat, at, married the heiress of K Knock, nock, whose name is unkno unknown, wn, and thereby became possessor of the property. IItt remained in possessi possession on of the Frasers fo forr about 300 years. IIn n the history of that family we fi find nd som some e curious a and nd interesting inf informa ormation, tion, ilillustrative lustrative of the c custom ustoms s of our a ance ncestors. For example, iin n the year 1572, iitt seems that John F Fras raser, the representativ ntative e of the ffam amilily y then in possession, possession, had got iinto nto debt, and in consi considera derati tion on of (J (John) ohn) Bri Brisbane sbane of Bishopto Bishopton n discharging this debt, he engages "that his grandson, John Frissal, Fri ssal, ((a a mere chil child) d) o on n attaini attaining ng the age of fourteen, shall marry one of Brisbane's daughters ; either Margaret, tthe he eldest, or, or, ffail ailing ing her by death, JJea ean the second, whom fail failing, ing, Marion the thi third rd daughter. T The he marriage was actuall ctually y consummated in 1563 with JJea ean, tthe he second daughter. In In the records of the Presbytery of Irvi rviine, ine, we find A Allexander Frazer of Knock summoned befo before re that august body, and proceedi dings ngs taken against hi him m "f "for or havi having ng taken protection from the Duke of Montrose," which was regarded as a grave of offfenceby the ecclesi cclesiastical astical rul rulers ers of those days.  Abo  Ab out 1674, the estate of Kn Kno ock passed fro from the Frazers into the Montgomery family, and was by them sold to the Earl of Glasgow, who in turn gave it to the Laird of Brisbane in exchange for cer certain tain other land lands. s. IIn n 1835, K Knock nock was sold by Brisbane to a ffam amilily y called Wil Wilson, son, in wh whose ose ha hands nds it was greatly improved. IIn n 1850 1850,, it was purchased sed by Mr. Robert Stee Steele, shipbuilder, Gree Greenock, who built the modemmansion ho house use; and in 185 1858, 8, iitt passed into the hands of its present propri proprietor, etor, Mr. G George eorgeElder, Elder, a deputyeputy-Li Lieute eutenant and Magist istrate rate for the county. 17

 

 About half a mile fr  Abo fro om Kn Kno ock and about two miles fro from Largs, is QUARTER , situated on the cliff. It formed part of  the (old) estate of Knoc nock, k, and iis s now in pos posse sess ssion ion of Mr. James Stew tewart, M.P, for Greenoc nock, k, who also ow owns ns the adjoining adjoi ning mansio nsionn-house house of Rout Routenburn enburn (a lilittl ttle e more than a quarter of a mil mile e from Quarter). Some have supposed that the name is deriv derived ed from the rout or defeat of D Dane anes, but the most probable explanatio explanation n is that the name is descripti criptive ve of the littl little e roaring rivulet ivulet which runs near the h house. ouse. Abo About ut ha half lf--a-mil a-milc c ffurthe urther on, the vil villas las on the north side of Largs begin. They are be beau autif tifull ully y situated and ffinely inely sheltered from the east winds. A Att Nodesdale tol tolll-bar barthe old Greenock ro road ad joi joins ns the turn- pi pike, ke, and a short distance back is a large mansio nsionn-house house of red sandnd-stone stone and whin, recentl ntly y erected by Sir Wi Willliam liam Thomson. T The he Conchol Conchologist ogist may find o on n the shore here the Rt  Rtssoa calathisca, an exceedingly rare shell hell.. BRISBANE BANE GLEN GLEN AND PROPHET' PROPHET'S GRAVE GRAVE

Brisbane G Brisba Glen len li lie es to the north-east of La Larg rgs, and for for three or four miles aff afford ords s a mos mostt deligh lightful tful inla inland nd walk in summer. G Goi oing ng up Nelson Street, tthe he fi first rst turning on the lef leftt is Bri Brisbane sbane Road, which leads through the Glen, and is the old road to Greenock. enock. About ha half lf a mile ile from the road road,, at the foo foott of the hill hills, s, and about one milile e from the town, may be seen the modern mansio nsion n house of Burnside, bui built lt by D Dr. r. Wm. Campbell pbell,, son o off the late Dr. Jo John hn Campbell pbell,, Largs. A Affter passing the farm of Chapelton lton on the lef left, t, Pro Prospect spect Hil Hilll on the right, (a small modern mansion house wit ith h a fine fine view), then Rail Raillilie's e's ffarm armon the lef left, t, Bri Brisbane sbane avenueis reached where the Haylee burn joi joins ns the Noddle. BRISBANE HOUSE is of of great antiquity, and and is is surr surrounde ounded d with some fine old tre trees es.. The The fam familily y of Brisbane is also v ver ery

old, old, the name being found in documents of date 1360, in the time of Davi avid d II. The earli rliest est estate which belo longe nged to them was Bishopt Bishopton on in R Renfrewshire, enfrewshire, which they held bef before ore 1400; and about tthat hat time they acquired property in Largs. In the house house,, thereis a magnificent nificent old oak chair which is of often ten talked about. It is orna orname mentedwith acareful efully ly executed carving of tthe he Brisbane coat of arms, and is in a state of good preservatio ervation, n, although bearing date 1357. The late proprietor, Sir Thoma Thomas M'D M'Douga ougal Brisban Brisbane, e, was a man of great celeb celebrity rity as w well ell for his v valour alour in the ffield ield as ffor or his scientiffic labo scienti labours. urs. A Astrono stronomy my was his ffavouri avourite te study, and his perseverance and success in thi this s department may be inferre inferred ffrom rom a volume volume enti ntitl tled ed "T "The he Brisbane Catalogue of 7385 Stars of the Southern Hemisphere." To shew the esteem in which he was held by sci scientif entifiic men, he was unanimously elected President of the Royal Soci ociety ety of  Edinburgh, Ed inburgh, on the death of Sir Walt Walter er Scott cott.. For many years he was Go Governorvernor-G General of New South Wales, during which time time he did much to iimpr mprove ove the the system of conv convict ict punishment. He was also the means of working many other improvem improvements in the colo colony, ny, the good result results s of which are felt at the present day. A sto story ry is tol told d by his ffriend riend Colonel Col onel M Man ansell, sell, which ilillustrate lustrates his intense devotio devotion n to his ffavourite avourite study. The Col Colonel onel an and d Sir T Thoma homas on their return home from the West IIndies ndies had embarked on board an unsound ship which ffoundered oundered on the voyage. Bef Before ore she wen wentt down, a boat ffrom rom a convoy ship arr arrived ived to sa save ve the li lives ves on board board.. As Colonel Brisba Brisbane ne w was as in the a act ct of  stepping in from from the si sinki nking ng ship, hip, with hi his s nautical iinstrume nstruments in hi his s hands, the lilieute eutenant in charge stopped him saying, the Captain had had given peremp mptory tory o orde rders to take no ba bagg ggage of any sort wh whate atever and he could not therefore allow allow these things to be put iinto nto tthe he boat. Co Collonel Bri Brisbane sbane immediately retraced his steps, desiri desiring ng the lieutenant to give his respects to the ca captain ptain an and d tell him that, ""be beffore I pa part rt with these things I hold in my hand, I will go down with the ship." The lilie euten utenan antt iim mmediate diately ly replied, ""S Step in, sir."  Aftter his retirement, he resided chiefly  Af fly at Brisbane House, and took a deep interest in all that concerned the town of  Largs. It was princi principall pally y by his munif unifiicence that the Bris Brisbane bane Academy was buil builtt and endowed. He died in 1860, "From the same ol old d mansio nsion n house o off Brisbane, even ffrom rom the same bed in whi which ch he had been born nearly 87 years earli rlier, er, he was taken to his heavenly home." Passing the Brisbane Brisbane avenue and conti continuing nuing the parish road unti untill we reach the second turning on the lef left, t, whi which ch leads to Brisbane Milill,l, we fi find nd a lo lonely nely sequestered spot iin n the wood ood,, about 130 yards ffrom rom the house, and here a rude grave consisting cons isting of a large fflat lat stone laid o on n four four uprights, known by the name of the "PROPHET'S GRAVE." It contains the following ollowing inscripti inscription on in v ver ery bad Latin - "Conditus in tumuo hoc jac jaceo, eo, juveni&que sen senexque exquenempe an annis nis juv juven enis is sed pietate senex, di divi vino no elo eloquio quio co coelestia elestia dogmata vi vidi, di, abstersi tenebras menti ntibus, bus, ore tonans attoni attonitoque, toque, haesit animo perveramalo lorum rum col colluv luvias ias verbis iimpr mproba ffacta acta mcis.' mcis.''' It It may be rendered thus "Withi Within n this gr grave ave I lilie e entomb ntombed ed,, A ttype ype of youth and a ag ge, In years a stri tripli pling, ng, young was I, In piety a sage. From secret chambers of the mind Cross darkness I hav have e driven; I truth proclaimed, with thund'ring voi voice ce,, Inspired Inspired by liligh ghtt ffrom rom Heave aven. n.  A horror of all wickedness, My inmost feelings moved;  And  An d, with my words, unrighteous deeds, I fearlessly reproved." 18

 

Like Like othe otherr ep epit itap aphs hs of that period, another another example of which w wililll be fo found und und under er "Skelmorli lmorlie e Ai Aisle," sle," it represents sents the deceased as speaking king ffrom rom the grave, and generall rally y in llang anguage not conspi conspicuous cuous ffor or modesty. IIn n additi addition on to the Latin inscripti inscri ption, on, tthe he fo follllowing owing words are added : ""Rene Renewed by James Smith, h his is nephew, in in the year 1710." "Renewed 1769." Round the border is iinscribe nscribed d . ""Her Here e La Laye yeth th Mr. Wil Williliam amSmith, mini minister ster of Larges, es, a faithf faithfull ull minister of the gospell, removed oved by the pestil pestilence ence, 1644." The stone, as the inscri inscripti ption on ind indicates, icates, commemorates the death of Mr. Smith, a fo forme rmer minister of Largs, and the fol ollo lowing wing traditio ditional nal circumstance gave rise to the ti titl tle e "prophet" being associated with hi his s name. A About bout tthe he year 1644, L Larg args was vi visit sited ed by a pestil pestilence ence, under which iitt suf sufffered very severely. The m mini inister ster, Mr Smith, was o one ne of the vi victims; ctims; and shortly bef before ore his de death, ath, he asked that two ho holllly y trees, planted at each end of his his grave, sho should uld be prevented from ever meeting, ting, saying that if this weredone, Largs woul ould d not be vi visi sited ted by the plague; but should should tthe he trees meet ov over er his grave, tthe he pestilence stilence would return. T The he trees are carefull ully y kept from from meeting, but as to tthe he e efffect ect of of this on the pestilence pestilence,, the read ader er is all allowe owed to judge. This pl plag ague is one of the most memorable everts in the hist history ory of L Larg args. Various references are made to iitt in the records of the the Irv Irvine ine Presbytery, which at that ti time me incl included uded Largs withi within n its bo bounds, unds, showing what a calamit itous ous affair affair it must have been to the town and distri district. ct. On the 26th of O October ctober (1644) the minutes of Presbytery bear that, ""T The Laird of Bishopton, havi having ng rrem emonstrate the calam lamito itous us conditi condition on of the Parish of Largs, and tha thatt iiff it were not tymousli ouslie e helpit, the people wald be fforcit orcit to break out athort the countrie. The Presbyt sbyter erie, ie, af after ter hearing, ordains that these brethern of the Presbyterie, who, upon tthe he report of their p prese resent necessit ssity, y, had already gathered something fo forr supply of the same, should presentli ntlie ea apply pply themselves ffor or their relief relief,, either in money or in v victuall ictuall as suld be though thoughtt most expedient; and that the rest of the brethern sould use all possi possible ble dil diligence igence in co collllecting ecting a contri contributi bution, on, tto o be sent to them to ref refresh resh them in their necessit ssity." y." The aid of the neighbouri ighbouring ng parishes being call called ed for, a lilist st is given of tthe he  va  various sums subscribed by Newmylnes, Irv Irvin, Kil Kilrnaurs, Stewartoune, etc., fr fro om which it appears that a considerable amount was obtai obtained ned to aid the peopl ople e of Largs in their di distress. stress. By this pesti pestilence lence the popul opulatio ation n was greatly reduced. "Besides those who were carried of offf, the alarm and excit excitem ement caused many famili families es to llea eave the place." On a small holm hol m at O Outervrards, utervrards, (a farm situated about ffour our mil miles es further along the Brisbane Road,) there were disco iscovered vered the foundati oundations ons of several small bui buildi ldings ngs or huts, said to have been the retreat of numbers of the inhabit inhabitants ants during the plague. Near the prophet' t's s grave, on the ot other her side of the parish ro road, ad, iis s the ffarm arm of Middleton, where the new water works may be seen, by which gravi gravitatio tation n water is suppl supplied ied to the burgh of Largs. If the visi visitor tor ffrom rom Skelm kelmorli orlie e wishes to complete the circuit of his tour, iinste nstead ad of returning to L Lar args, he ca can n re reac ach home by conti continuing nuing his walk or dri drive ve along the Brisbane road ffor or a distance of eight mililes, es, until he reaches Loch Thorn. From this a road leads over the hill hills s past the D Dunrod unrod quarries to IInverkip. nverkip. Bef Before ore reaching aching Loch T Thorn, horn, the scenery is wil wild d and weird, the road passing thro through ugh a bare and barren moor, oor, and the distri district ct has not inaptl inaptly y been named the "Back o' the Warl'." This iis s the sce cene ne of the Witch T Tale ale which fol follo lows ws tthe he s sec ectio tion n on IInverkip. nverkip. Near the road, not ffar ar from Loch Thorn, iis sah hililll nam named ed "Mount Pisgah," rising to a he height ight of 105 1057 7 feet. Loch T Thorn horn in the parish of Inverkip, is one-and-a-half one-and-a-half--miles iles long by half a mile ile broad. Two small burn burns s fa fall into iit, t, and th the eK Kip ip fflows lows out of it. It belo long ngs s to the Greenock enock Water Trustees, M Mr. r. D Dunca uncan Darroch of G Gourock, ourock, and other adjo djoini ining ng proprietors. The loch contains trout and and perch, and yields very good sport when the weather is ffavoura avourable, ffrom rom April to Septe Septemb mber er; but it iis s not ope open n fo forr fi fishing shing to the public without permissi ission. on. The distanc distance e from he here re to IInverkip nverkip is about about four four mil miles, es, and the whol hole e circuit circuit about twenty miles. iles. IItt is qui quite te practi cticable cable to make the round by driv driving, ing, althou lthoug gh the roa road d is rather rou roug gh. In dr driving, iving, it will be ad advisa visable ble to go the re reve vers rse e way, startin rting g from Inver Inverkipa kipand returning by Larg Largs.

INVERKIP

Inverkip llies ies about three miles iles n north orth of Wemyss Bay Railway Station. The vil village lage's name denotes its positi position, on, near the inf influx lux of the s sm mall river K Kip ip into the Clyd Clyde e. 'Ynver', or 'Inver', in Ce Celti ltic, c, denote notes s the outlet or issue of a river and is used use d as the pre preffix of many names of place places s at the mouth of streams or riv iver ers, s, e.g e.g.. Invern Inverness ess.. The vi villllag age of IInverkip nverkip is small, sm all, with a population iin n 1871 of 637 and it consi consists sts chiefl chiefly y of two long rows of houses on each side of the turnpike road, but but the district around is very beautif utiful. ul. One great pe peculiarity culiarity of Inverkip is its luxuriant ffoli oliag age, Loo Looked ked at from from the river, it it appears completely buried among trees. In consequence, the district iis s rich in varied walks and sylv sylvan an retreats. One ve very ry ffine ine walk ((which which visi visitors tors should not omit,) is that leading through the Daff Glen. Near the northern 19

 

extremity of the vi villllag age, iimm mmediately aft after er crossing the bridge, a gate is seen on the right hand leading to a path along the burn. Ent Entering ering through the wicket (at the side of the large gate), the visito visitorr has freeaccess at all time times to the varied scenery. Here the Daff flows in iits ts rapid and rugged course to the sea, and the charming lilittl ttle e cascades which appear here and there through the glen, together wit ith h the rich and v varied aried ffol oliage iage, co combine mbine to render the spot one of the most attractive attractiv e in the neighbourhoo neighbourhood. d. Wal Walks ks have been fforme ormed alo along ng the banks of the winding stream, and seats pl place aced at diff differ eren entt place places s ffor or the accom ccomm modation of visitors. visitors. The Daft rises in Lea Leapp-M Muir. and after a run of one-and-aone-and-a-half half tthroug hrough a very pretty country falls iinto nto the Ki Kip p at Inverki nverkip. p. It contains some good ood trout but permissio ssion n to fi fish sh must be obtai obtained ned from the propri oprietors, etors, Sir M. S. Stewart or Mr. M'Fi 'Fie e of Langhouse, who preserve it. The K Kip, ip, meandering through the southern part of the Ardgowan pol polici icies, es, is neatly embanked, taught to rippl ripple e over lilittl ttle e fal falls ls and crossed by ahandsomebridge; and risi rising ng abruptl bruptly y on on the east fro from m the streamis the precipi cipitous tous hi hillll of  Idston with iits ts thi thicklyckly-inv investing esting mantle antle of wood, " the romantic antic de den n at it its s souther southern n and eastern base." ROMAN ROM AN BRID BRIDGE GE

 A visit may also be paid to the old Roman bridge. Passing the parish church, a large plain square building with a belfr fry y in front, front, ttake ake the fi first rst road to the lef leftt immediately behind the manse, and ten minut inutes' es' walk wililll llea ead to the bridge. It stands stan ds beside the p pres resent ent bridge cr crossing ossing the K Kip, ip, and the vi visitor, sitor, if antiquarian in hi his s tastes, can can judg judge e fo forr himself as to its antiqui antiquity. ty.  A  AR RDGOWAN

The mansionansion-house house of Ardgowan, the residence of Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, Bart, o offGreenock and Blackball, may be seen to the north of the vi villllag age, on the lef leftt hand side of the turnp turnpike ike road, most pleasantly situated amidst extensive and beauti utiffull ully y wooded pl plea easure grounds. Many of the trees are of great siz size, e, and are well wort worth h seeing. T The he house was erected about the beginnin beginning g of the present century, from from designs signs by Cairncross, and is a large handsome buil building, ding, forming a splendi splendid d and commodi odious ous ffam amily ily residence. Near the house is a neat lit littl tle e priv ivate ate chapel (Scotch Epi Episcopal) scopal),, where servi rvice ce is conducted every Sunday. The The situatio situation n of the house is very ffine, ine, co completely mpletely screened on the one side by its stately trees, but with an uninterrupte rupted d an and d extens extensiv ive e view to the ffront, ront, facing acing the Firth of Clyde. OLD CASTLE OF INVERKIP

Near the mansion ho house use are the remains o off an ancient ttower ower (of quadrangular shape) which fforme ormed part of the old house - the re residenc sidence e of the lords of the manor, ca calllled ed the Castle Castleo of IInv nverki rkip. D  During uring the time of Robert the Bruce, and while whil e he was making king his gallant llant struggles ffor or the throne thi this s ol old d keep was ffor or some time in the possessio ssion n of the English. Engli sh. ""IIt was," says the p poet oet Ba Barbour, rbour, "well stuf stufffed all with Englishmen," Thi This s same old poet, in his poem of "T "The he Bruce" say says s that one of the ill illustrious ustrious Engli English sh ffug ugiti itives, ves, S Sir ir Phi Phililip p de Mowbr owbray ay, after his defeat by Sir JJam ames Douglas, fled to this castle, castle, whe where re of course he re rece ceiv ived ed a welcom elcome e reception tion ffrom rom his iintruding ntruding Eng Englilish sh ffriends riends.. He came b by yK Kililm mar arnock nock and K Kililwinning, winning, thence to A Ardrossa rdrossan, - "Syne throu the Largis him alan alane, e, Ti Tillll Innerkyp." Sir Mi Michae chael Shaw Stewart, tthe he present Lord o off the Manor, iis s a lilinea neal descendant of Sir Jo John hn Stewart of Ardgowan, a natura natu rall son of Robeert IIIII, K King ing of Scotland. The royal parent ent bestowed several other estates on Sir M Michae ichael'l's sa ance ncestor, among them being Blackhall Blackhall,, near Paisley, and iin n 1404 he gave him the lo lordship rdship o off Ardgowan. "AULD KIRK" - ECCLES ECCLESIASTICAL TICAL HIS HISTORY 

The name, IInverki nverkip, p, iis s of course Celtic, tic, and indicates the ancient date of the vil village lage. But in more recent times it was popularly popul arly known by the name of "Auld K Kiirk." The ori origin gin of thi this s name leads us to say somethi thing ng regarding its ecclesiastical ecclesiastical histo history. ry. IIn n 1164 the Church, with all its pa parochial rochial ri righ ghts ts and pe pertinen rtinents, ts, ""wa was granted gran ted by Walter, the son of Alan, to the Monastery of Paisley,'' an and d was held by the monks ti tillll the Reform ormation. ation. T They hey enioyed the rectorial revenues, and all allowed owed the cure to be served by a vi vicar car who had 100 shil shilllings Scots ots yearly as his share of the spoil spoil.. T These hese revenues, together with ith those of Largs and Lochwinnoch Lochwinnoch (all of which belo longe nged to the Monastery of Paisl Paisley ey), amounted to £ £460 460 yearly— rly—a a consi onsidera derable sum in tho those se days. Af After ter the Ref Reforma ormati tion on the patronage and ti tithes thes were vested in Lo Lord rd Claud Hamilt Hamilton, on, and inheri inherited ted by his grandson, the Ear] of Abercorn. IIn n the reign of Charles IIII. they were acquired by Sir A Archibald rchibald Stewart of Blackhall Blackhall,, in in the hands of whose descendants the patronage conti continued nued unti untill the passing of the late Act of P Parliame arliament abol bolishi ishing ng patronage. Original riginally ly the parish was a 20

 

 ve  very extensive one, and there were several c ch hapels in it befor fore the Refo forrmation. On One e of tth hem, viz., th the chapel o of  f  Christswellll,, was nea nearr the pres presen entt v vilillage lage, and and wa was s endowed w with ith a large quantity of land. IItt had ffor or iits ts chaplain, during part of the fi fiffteenth century, Sir JJohn ohn Card, who obtained a decree in Parl Parliame iament ""ag against si sixx- men, ordai ordaining ning them to  va  vacate the lands of A Ac chenmilane, and pay him the rents of the same fo forr the terms gone by." T Th he Refor formation, which shook shoo k the whol hole e fabric o off the Scotti cottish sh Church, in introduced troduced consi considera derable ble changes. ""Ma Many churches and chapels, whi which ch piety had reared, were thrown into ruins ffrom rom hardships and penury;" and among these was the chapel of Christ Christswe swellll.. The whol ole e of Gre ree enock was originally pa part rt of the IInverkip nverkip par parish, ish, and near the Bay of Greenock (call (called ed at that ti tim me St. Lawrence Bay) tthere here was a chapel call called ed by the same name. At At the Refo Reforma rmati tion, on, when thi this s chapel was all allowed owed to go to ruins amid the the general wreck, great iinconveni nconvenience ence was ffelt elt by tthe he people residi residing ng there, owing owing to tthe he distance fro from m the parish church. In In consequence ot this. Jo John hn Shaw of Greenock obtained obtained a grant ffrom rom the King "authorisi authorising ng hi him m to build buil d a church ffor or tthe he accommodati odation on o off the tenants and inhabit inhabitants ants of hi his s lands and he and they were exempted ffrom rom any further attenda ndance nce at their ""auld auld Par Parish ish K Kirk irk o off Inverkip, and from all taxa taxatio tions ns an and d imposts ffor or upholdi upholding ng the same." Hencethe nam name "Auld "Auld K Kirk," irk," which was appli pplied ed to Inv Inver erkip. kip. INVERKIP NOTORIOUS FOR WITCHES

The crime, o orr supposed crime of witchcr witchcraft, aft, was fi first rst referr referred ed to iin n the crim criminal inal co code de of our country shortly before the Reforma Ref ormati tion, on, when an act was passed, ordaining that every person fo found und guil uilty ty of ""sorcery," sorcery,"or or ""consul consulti ting ng with witches,'' shoul should d be put to death. From that ti time me forward, unt untilil the year 1736, when the penal statutes were aboli abolished, shed, hundreds of persons, young and ol old d and of both sexes, were put to death fo forr the supposed crime. The number of   vi  victims fro from fi firrst to last in Scotland has been estimated at upwardwards of 400. Inv Inverkip, in particular, was notorious for witches. Such annoyance had they caused to the Laird of Ardgowan and others, that in 1662 appli application cation was actualllly y made to the Priv Privy y Counci Councill for for a Royal Co Comm mmissi ission on to enquire into tthe he matter. T They hey summoned before them a considera consi derable number of persons on whom suspici suspicion on had ffall allen en and many of them were burned at the stake. Surprise has been expressed at the ffact act of so many of theses unhappy persons actuall tually y confessing confessing themselv lves es guil uilty ty of this cri crime me; butt it mus bu ustt be re rem membered that many of them were examine ined d un unde der tort tortur ure e. Arnot, in his Cr Crim imina inall Trials, says, ys, "Thrusting of pin' into the fl flesh esh, and kee keeping ping the accused from from sleep, were the ordina ordinary ry tre trea atment of a witch ; but if the prisoner priso ner were endowed with uncommon fo forti rtitude, tude, other methods were used to exto extort rt conf confession. ession. T The he Boo Boots, ts, the Caspie Claws, and the Pilni Pilnie e Winks, engines ffor or to torturing rturing the lleg egs, the arms, and the fingers, wereappli applied ed to either sex, and that with such vi viol olence ence, that sometime times the bl blood ood woul would d have spouted fro from m the imbs." imbs."IIn the trial by Commissio Commission n at Inverkip, Inverkip, one Mar arie ie Lamont, onl only y 18 years of age, conf confe esse ssed d iin n the presenceof Archiba rchibald ld Stewar artt of of Blackballll,, and J. Hamililton, ton, mini inister ster of IInverkip, nverkip, that "f "fiv ive e years since, K Kattre attren Scott llea earnt hir to tak' kyeis mil milk, k, biddi bidding ng he herr g go o out iin n misty mor morning nings, s, and tak tak'' with her a hairv tether, and dr draw aw it ov ove er the m mouth outh of a m mug ug; saying in G God's od's name - 'God 'God send us mililk, k, G God od send it, and meikl eikle e of it.' By thae ways, she and the said K Kattren attren gat muckle o' ttheir heir neibour's mil milk, k, and mad made e butter a and nd cheese thairof irof.. T That hat the deil nipt he herr upon the right si side de,, quhilk was vcra painf painfull ull for a tym, but thereafter after he straiki traikitt iitt with hi his s hand and healed iit. t. T That hat she was at a meeti ting ng at the BrigBrig-Li Lin, n, &c., where the deililll was with them, in in the lilikene keness of a brown dog; and the end of their meeti ting ng was to raise stormie wather, thereby to hinder boats from from the kill killing ing ffish. ish. T That hat sh she e knew su sum m witches carreit meikle ililll-will will to Bl Blac ackball kball younger an and d Mr. John John Ham Ha milton, and wa wad d fain give them an iillll-ca cast gif they cou could. ld. Tha Thatt Jean King ing,, Kaitie Scot, Jan Jane et Holm, her herse self lf,, and sundrie sundr ie o other thers, met togidder in the mirk, at the Buchtgait of Ardgowand. wha wharr the devil was with themin the shape of  a black man with cl clov oven en feet, and di direc rectit tit them to ffetch etch whyt sand fra the shore, and cast it about the yetts of   Ardgowand, and about the minister's hous; but Go God d wad not give thame libertie to get any evill done. Th Tha at she and several others went o out ut to the sea betwix and the land of Arran, to doe skaith tto o boi boits ts and shi hips ps that sould come alang; they gart the storm to wax greatli atlie e and fforega oregathering of Col Colin in Campbellll's 's shi ship, p, they rave the sailils s fra fra hi hir. r. T That hat she was at a meeting at K Kem empock, whar they designit to cast thel thelang ang sten int  into o the sea, tharby to destroy a whein boats and ships ships;; and that the deill, deill, for o ordinar rdinar iin n the shape of a black man, s sang angto them; he gave themwyn to dri drink, nk, and wheat bread to eat; when they dancit they were all verra merrie, and he kist them ane and all when they skail skaillilit." t." The resul sultt of the trial was that Marie Lamont, no notwithstandi twithstanding ng her youth, was put to death "i "in n the usual manner." Trace races s of this belief in witchcr witchcraft aft remained about the distri district ct ffor or many years and long af after ter the pena nall statu statutes tes ha had d been abolished people of pe peculi culiar ar hab habits its sti stillll continued objects of susp suspici icion on by the their ir iign gnoran orantt neig neighbours. hbours. A case in poi point nt is supplied suppli ed by the oldest iinhabitant nhabitant of the distri district, ct, who remembers the name of a woman who had been employed on the  Ard  Ar dgowan estate, and who came under the suspicion being "un "uncanny" fr from a very trivial circumstance. A n nu umber of  workers were engaged ri ricki cking ng hay in a fi field eld near the Brueacre Burn, when the one referred to ((call called ed Margaret) t),, sai said d they must ""put put up" the hay for a storm was gathering. Her neighbours demurred and the old Lai Laird rd of Ardgowan, who happened to be passing at the ti time me, asked what she meant by putt putting ing up tthe he hay, as there was no sign of rain. ""O Oh, aye," said Margaret, "there will be a downpour iimm mmediatel ediately." y." Sureenough adeluge of rai rain n did come, and poo poorr Margaret in conseque consequence of  her superio riorr ski skillll as a weather prognosti prognosticator, cator, was repined a witch. 21

 

 WITCH TALE

 As the belief iin n witchcraft was almost universal, nearly every county or district had some legend or tale embodying the popular popul ar impressio ssions ns regarding the extraordi xtraordinary nary powers of witches. T These hese legends are useful as ilillust lustrations rations o off what the popular popul ar belilief ef reall really y was regarding the natureof the infl influen uence b bes estowe towed d by the Ev Evilil One, and the conditions under which that influence influence c could ould be exercised. O Offtentimes the le lege gends are but dif difffer erent ent ver versions sions of the same tale tale,, found found in various forms in diff diffe erent pa parts rts of the c coun ountr try. y. The ta tale le of Tom Conn Connor's or's cat, for exam xample ple,, in H  Ha andy And Andy, gives one story which may be found iin n many dif diffferent versions, versions, and those who have read the letters of the poet Burns to Francis Grose rose,, Esq., will find several tales a about bout witches witches,, the best of which has become kn known own to all reade readers by its rende rendering in the immortal ""T Tam O'Shanter." We proceed now to give what may be call called ed the "I "Inverkip nverkip v version" ersion" of one of tho those se legends of Scotti Scottish sh supersti rstiti tion. on. The story is to be fo found und in v var ario ious us fforms orms, one ver versio sion n ha havi ving ngapp appea eared in the Scott ttiishJo Journal of April, 1848, to which we chiefly chiefl y adh adher ere, e, but we be belilieve eve in iits ts present fform orm it will be new to most readers. The scene of the story is the ""Muir Muir road" llea eading ffrom rom Largs to G Grecn recnock, tthe he main personage a sailo sailorr lad, travell travelling ing homefrom the la latter tter to the fform ormer er plac place, e, ffor or the purposeof seeing his ffriends riends : the time. the gloaming of the O October ctober 31stt - the well31s ell-known known Hall Hallowe owe'en still obser observed ved in m man any y parts of Scotland. Jack had imbibed pretty freely be beffore leaving leavi ng G Gree reenock, and although the ni night ght threatened to be dark and the weather sto stormy rmy, he ascended the hi hillll with a lilight ght heart and a ffiirm step, and was soo soon n ""care careering it" merrily rrily on the lo long ng and barren moor which stretches between Loch Thom Thom a and nd wh what at is not inaptly termed "the Back o' the Warl.'' rl.''  As he went on, the sun set and every half-h f-hour gave additional evidence that a terrible storm was gathering. Jack threw a scrutinizi scrutinizing ng glance toward the hil hilll top, top, to ascertain whether ""A Auld D Dunrod unrod and his cummers" were there at their inferna infernal o orgies; rgies; but the fast iincrea ncreasing darkness soon shut everything fro from m his vi view ew. A Att length the storm became a perfect hurricane hurricane. "The wind bl blew ew as 't 'twa wad bl blaw awn iits ts llast, ast, T The he rattl ttling ing showers rose on the blast, T The he speedy gleams the darkness swallllowe owed, Loud, lo long ng a and nd deep, the thund thunder er bellowe llowed; T Tha hatt ni nigh ght, t, a child might unde understa rstand; nd; T The he D Deil eil ha had d business on his hand." It was with the greatest di diffficul iculty ty that the sailor ilor cont continued inued his jjourney. ourney. He had now reached that part of the moor where the rugged road runs alongsi alongside de the "Ro "Rotten tten burn," and every ffllash of lilightning ghtning revealed to hi him m the dangerous nature of his course. A Att lleng ength, on approaching the southern ext xtrem remity of the mocr, near where the present ffarm arm of  Outerwards is si situated, tuated, he perceived what he too took k to be the light light of a candle shini shining ng through a cottage windo indow. w.  App  Ap proaching nearer, h he e discovered that what he supposed to be a cottage, was an old ruinous hut, without roof, or door or windows. windows. Mustering courage to loo look k in in,, he saw a woman, evid idently ly a witch, busy preparing some diabol diabolical ical hell hell--broth iin n a large simmering cauldron. A large fire bl blazed azed in the centre (if the hut, and what parti rticularly cularly struck the sail sailor or was the ffact act what al although though the winds were raging wit without, hout, not a breath seemed stirri stirring ng wit ithin. hin. Not a single blade of grass was move oved d no norr a sin sing gle drop drop of rain fell int into o the the fire fire.. Like T Ta arn O'S O'Sha hant nte er, Ja Jack ck "glowered" for a tim time e, "amaze zed d and curious," curio us," and was greatl tly y perplexed as to what he should do do;; but at lleng ength, co contrasting ntrasting the warm, comfo comfortable rtable appearance of the iinterior nterior wi with th the iim mminent peril perils s to which he had been exposed, he determined to enter. Assuming Assuming as easy an air as pos possible sible, and dof doffi fing ng his dr drippin ipping g ""sou sou'-'-w wester," he shu shuff ffled led into the hu hut. t. The ol old d wom oma an was at first inclined incl ined to resent the intrusi intrusion, on, but but,, on second thoughts, she agreed to give Jack shelt lter er for the night, ""prov provided ided he took too k nae noti notice ce o' ought that he heard or sawdone in the howf howfthat that ni night." ght."  Ja  Jack readily agreed, and was conducted to a dark corner of the ruin, where he lay down and was comfo forrtably covered with an old old ttattere attered grey plai plaid. d. B But ut tthe he excitem xcitement had driven away all idea of sleep, and so he determined to watch, as well as he coul ould d the inf inferna ernal proceed proceedings. In a short time several other witches entered the hut, and the foremost o off the party, having completed her charms, llif ifted ted somethi thing ng fro from m the cauldron which had the appearanceof a nightnight-cap. cap. Thi This s was wrung and dried with much cer cerem emony, and then placing it on he herr head, she cried, " Hill Hilloa oa ffor or Cantyre !" !" an and d iin na moment ent up she fl flew ew out at the llum um head, and w was as se seen en no more more.. In two or three seconds, howeve however, r, tthe he night-cap ffell ell "wi' a thud" on the ffloo loor, r, evidently ffalli alling ng from a c considera onsiderable distance, and an another other witch pl plac acing ing it on her head, cried, "Hill Hilloa oa ffor or Cantyre !" and in a simil similar ar manner disappeared. At llast, ast, the whol hole e party having ascended, JJack ack came forth from his corner and examined the cap, which the last witch, llik ike e the others, had thrown back on the fl floo oor. r. He then, half in spo sport, rt, pl place aced it o on n his head, and crying, " Hi Hilllloa oa ffor or Cantyre !" as he had heard the witches do, up he flew, and beffore he could recover his self be self--possessio sion n he was halflf-way ac across ross the Sound of Kililbra branna nnan, n, ffol ollo lowing wing in the w wake ake of  the witches who had preceded him. ""T Twas now in ffor or a penny in ffor or a pound," so wrapping himself up clo closely sely in the 22

 

grey plaid, he determined to pa grey pass ss muster as a witch. In a short time they a aliligh ghted ted on a bare headland in the vici vicinity nity o of  f  the Mull (of Kintyre), intyre), where was assembled a vast number of witches and warlo rlocks, cks, waiti waiting ng the arriv rival al of their llord ord and master ""A Auld N Nick ickte te Ben." This gro tesque personage soon made his appearance, and after receivi ceiving ng the homage of his  va  vassals, proposed that they should adjou journ and "ha "haud their Hallowe'en" in the thew wine nec cellars of tth heKi Kingof ngof France! a proposal which was receiv ceived ed wit ith h acclamati tion, on, and soon tthe he whol hole e party, Jack Jack and all all,, were in midmid-air, air, wingi winging ng their way towards the French capital. pital. The storm was now passed and a clear ful fulll moo moon n shed its si silv lvery ery radiance ov over er land and sea aff affordi ording ng Jack a beautif utiful ul bird's-ey bird'seye vi view ewof the hill hills s and plains of "Mer erry ry England," with which he would have been highly delighted, had not the novelty of his si situa tuatio tion n detrac detracted ted in some measure from his usual cool self self--posse possession. ssion. In due time the whole party arrived in Paris, and entering the winewine-cellars cellars of the K King, ing, co comm mmenced their carousals. All went o on n very well, unti untill Jack, getting tting a lilittl ttle e elev levate ated by the wine, happened to emit an oath, iin n which the sacred name was mentio entioned. ned. Instantly he was struck under the table insensible, and when he recovered the whol whole e party hadvanish anished. ed. Escape from the vaults iin n which he was enclo nclosed, sed, seemed impossi impossibl ble, e, and here Jack was ffound ound iin n the morning by the servants of the K Kiing, and without ithout much ceremony taken away to be hanged. H His is case was now beginni inning ng to llook  ook  desperate, but recoll recollecting ecting that he had sti stillll the enchanted nightnight-cap cap in hi his s pocket, he desired the hangman, as a last dying request, to allow hi him m the ffavour avour of being hang nged ed in his o own wn night-cap t-cap. This This the Parisian readil dily y gran anted. ted. The The cap was put on, the priest retired, the multi multitude tude were in expectatio expectation n ; but jjust ust as the fatal no noose ose was about to be applied,  Ja  Jack cried "H "Hiilloa fo forr Cantyre !" when up he fle flew, leaving the hangman and his crowd of admirers to gaze aft fte er him in mute astonishment, llong ong after distance had concealed his eagle fl flight ight ffrom rom their vi view ew. He soon soon reached Cantyre, whence he found hi his s way to L Larg args, and lilived ved lo long ng and happily, often often recounting, with much humour, the wondrous tale of his midnight adve adventure ntures with " the witches o' the AuldAuld-kirk. kirk."" DUNROD

We cannot conclude this ske sketch tch of Inverkip and sur surrounding rounding district, without som some e brie brieff account account of the Castle of  Dunrod. IIff the reader wishes to muse on the ruins of former grandeur and the mutabil utabilit ity y of human aff affairs, airs, llet et him repair to the farm-house of Dunrod, a about bout one mile ile from the vill villag age of IInverkip. nverkip. Passing the parish church and manse, and taki king ng the road to the lleft eft,, behind the latter, let him ffol ollo low w the road which crosses the burn at the Roman Bridge, and after passing one or two ffarm arm-houses he will reach Dunro Dunrod d - a plai plain n substantial edif edifiice after the style of modern farmfarm-houses houses in thi this s part of the country; and there in the stackyard, on the opposite side of the rroad oad,, ma may y be seen a rridge idge of earth with a number of stones - the rruins uins of the Ca Castle stle of Dunr unrod. od. The s sit ite e is very fi fine, ne, overlooki overlooking ng a deep d defi efile le thickl thickly y plante planted dw wit ith h trees, at the bottom of wh which ich fflows lows the riv river er Kip, and is just just such a place as the warlike rlike nobles of ol old d would choos choose e for a stronghol stronghold, d, When the reader is tol told d that these few stones are all that remains o off a castle belonging to one of the most po powe werf rful ul and disti distinguished nguished of our Scotti cottish sh nobility, nobil ity, he may well saywith Byron - "Shrine of the mighty, can it he That this is all remains of thee." There can be no doubt that the Li Lindsays ndsays, (the (the ffam amily ily referred to,) can prove by means of authentic evid evidence ence a higher antiquity antiqui ty than any in our peerage. T The he fi first rst of the name who appeared in Scotl cotland, and, was ""Walter Walter de Lindsay, an Anglo Anglo-Norman, who figures figures as a magnate or great baron under Davi David d I., I., Pri Prince nce of Strathclyde," and whose name appears in a Scottish documen entt as early as 1116. From that time through all the vici vicissitudes ssitudes of Scottish history, the nameof Lindsay appears prominent. Sir JJohn ohn L Lindsay indsay was one of the Scott cottish ish nobl nobles es who ffought ought at the battl ttle e of Otterburn. A branch of  thi this s disti distinguished nguished famil family y owned and possessed the Castle of Dunrod, and ""ma maint intained ained fo forr many ages a high statio station n in the West of Scotl otland." and." IIn n addit dditio ion n to the Castle of Dunrod, which was their original residence, they owned the Mains of Kililbride, bride, in L Lana anarksh rkshire, ire, and w which, hich, llike ike the residence of the West, now also iin n ruins. ""T The heir ir sun se sett as it rose in blood." bloo d." The account of the last pr proprietor oprietor iis s very affecting, and affords a sad instance of the su sudde dden decliline ne of huma human n greatness" ss".. T Twe wenty years befo before re his death, A Alexander lexander of Dunrod was one of the haughtiest barons of the West country, and is said "never "never to have ridden fro from m home without ithout a retinue tinue of ttwe welv lve e vassals mounted on gall allant ant steeds attending him," and yet he lliv ived ed to beg bread ffrom rom those who had been his tenants. D During uring the time of hi his s greatness, ""he he exceeded all his predecessors in haughti htiness ness and oppression. oppression.'''' Amongst the instances of his cruelty, iitt is sai said d that "when playing o on n the ice, he ordered a hole to be m mad ade e in it, and had had one of his vas vassa sals, ls, who had inad inadver verte tently ntly di disoblige sobliged him in some some trif trifliling ng circumstance, imm immediately to be drowned." (U (Ure re'sHisto Historyof Ruthe Rutherglen). Traditi Tradition on mentio ntions ns this cruel actio action n as a cause ause of the just jjudg udgm ment ent of God that gave rise to hi his s downfall downfall.. In 'The Lives of T The he Lindsay', by Lor Lord d Lindsay, the following ollowing accou ccount nt is g given iven of hi his se end nd - ''A ''Att the beg beginning of the 17th century, A Allexander of Dunrod, havi having ng in some way or other become engaged in that dreadf dful ul and longlong-lasti lasting ng feud, between the Cunninghams and Montgomerys, ki killlled, ed, by a shot o out ut of the windo indow w of a a farm-house of hi his s own, 23

 

 Alexander Leckie o  Ale off that il ilk k, who w wa as b brrother--in --in-la -law tto oP Pa atrick M Ma axwell of Newark, a g grreat h he ero, a an nd a v ve ery bloody bloo dy m man an on the side of the Cun Cunningha ninghams. T The he murder was never for a llong ong w whil hile e known, til tilll Dunrod, in the decline of his days days,, to told ld and discovered it himself. lf. But as bloo bloodshe dshed always calllls s for for veng vengea eance from h hea eaven, so it ffell ell heavi vily ly on this this gentl ntlem eman; ffor or when he committed itted that act, he had one of the best estates in the West, yet ffrom rom that day forward it melted away visibly from him him.. In lles ess s than twenty years, he sold all his estate; te; for the Laird of Lec Leckle kle wa was s slain in the year 16 1600, 00, and he sold the barony of Dunrod in 1619 to A Archiba rchibald ld Stewar artt of Blackballll,, as app appea ears ffrom rom the charter of ali aliena enati tion, on, which I have seen. Bef Before ore he died, he was reduced to the lo lowe west penury, and really wanted bread, but what what w was as off offer ered ed h him im ffrom rom the charity of his ffriends riends." ." (Hi (Hist., st., Lind Lindsay's M.S.) He eked out his subsist subsistence encelatterl latterly y by selling sell ing ffavourable avourable winds and immunity ffrom rom the Evil Evil One to the sea captains and fi fishers shers of the coast, iin n the character of a warlo rlock, ck, and iin n concert with some reputed wit itches ches among his former cott cottars ars at Inverkip. Inverkip. Hi His s pre-eminence among this inf infer ernal crew is sti stillll cele celebra brated in a tra traditi ditional onal rhyme of the district "In IInverkip nverkip the witches ride thick A And nd in D Dunrod unrod they dwell; ll; But the greatest lloo oon n amangthem a' IIs s auld D Dunrod unrod hi himse msel'." l'." He died in a barn belong belonging ing to one of his fform ormer te tena nants, nts, and the fam familily y san sank k at once into humble liliffe. In the Scott  there e is a ballad llad ill illustra ustrativ tive e of the latte latterr phase of tthis his man's liliffe, and entitl ntitled ed "Auld D Dunrod," unrod," ttiish Journal urnal,, ther which we reproduce for for tthe he amusement of the reader.  A  AU ULD DUNR NROD OD

I - Cer Certain tain premises regar arding ding Dunrod, and a liberal concl conclusion usion which certes none wililll di dispute spute. " AU  AUL LD Dimrod was a gousti oustie e carle, As ever ye micht see ;  And gin he was na a warlock wicht, There was nane in the haill countrie."  And II - A prank or cantrip - the instrument menti ntioned oned - and the consequences which flowed from his necromantic twistings "Auld D Dunrod unrod stack in a pin (A bourtree pin) iin n the wa',  And  An d when he wanted his neighbour's milk, He just gied the pin a thraw." III - Farther on the same subj subject ect and very much to the same purpose, wit ith h the extent of hi his s warlo rlockship ckship - whether the mililk k came over the Firth iin n magic pipes or mortal bo boats ats is not stated "He mil ilkit kit the Laird o' K Kellie's ellie's kye, And And a a'' the ky kye e in D Dunoon; unoon;  And  An d Au Aulld Du Dun nrod gat far mair milk Th Tha an wad mak a gabbart soum." IV - Says liliit itlle to the col olour our of tthe he cheese, which seems to have been too black - peradventure they may have been painted "The cheese he made were numerous, A And nd wonerous tto o descry; For they they kyth't as gin they had been grule, Or peats set up to dry."  V - The neighbours fl flo ocked to Du Dun nrod for for advice. The henpecked are far more numerous than people are willing to believe, beli eve, and therefo therefore re his cli clients ents were a great number " And there was nae cumerwald (henpecked) man about, Wha cam to hi him m fo forr ski skillll,, That gif he didna do him good, H He ed didna idna do him ill. ill.""  VI - The powers ecclesiastic got notice of Du Dun nrod's doings, and began to deal with him accordingly "But the Ses ession sion gat word o' D Dunrod's unrod's tricks, A And nd theytuik him in han',  And  An d there was naething to do but Au Aulld Du Dun nrod Forsooth maun leave the lan'."  VII - Du  VII Dun nrod taketh the earliest conveyance he had, and quittcth his premises; and the sequel sh sheweth he did not return in a hurry "Sae Aul Auld dD Dunrod unrod he muntit hi his s stick, His broomstick munlit he; 24

 

 And  An d he fl fly ychterit twa three times about, Syne through the air did fl fle ee."  VIII  VI II - A geographical or rather topographical account of his passage upon his broomstick - a simile introduced "And he fl flew ew by auld G Gree reenock to towe wer, A And nd by Newark haw,  Ye wadna kenn'd him in his fli flicht Be a huddock or a craw." IX - Sheweth the extent of hi his s journey, and the merry moo ood d he was in "And he fl flew ewto the Rest-andRest-and-be-T be-Tha hanku' nku' Stane (be (betwe tween Port G Glasgow lasgowan and dK Kililma macolm), A mer erry ry auld carle was he; He stottit stottit and fl flutter't utter't as he had been wud, O Orr drucken wi' tthe he barley bree." X - Imp mped edimen iments not fo fores reseen, and and of which hewas not cog cogniz nizan antt "But a rountreegrew at the stane - It is there unto thi this s day,  And  An d gin ye dinna fi fin nd it still, Set donn that's away." XI - An acc ccide ident befalls Dun Dunrod rod "And he ne ne'er 'er wist o' the roun rountree treeTill ill he cam dun duntt thereon; His His m mag agic broomstick ti tint nt iits ts spell, And he d daudit audit on the stone." XII - Comparison be betwe tween his he hea ad and the stone "His His heid was hard and the sto stone ne was sae, A And nd whan they met ane anit nither, her, It was hard to s say ay what wad be the weird, O Off either the tane or the tither." XIII - Ef Efffect ects s of col collilision sion between two impe impene netra trable substan stance ces; s; w with ith a word of advi vice ce to peop people le on a jo journe urney "But the stan stane ew was as muil uiltt (crushed) like like a lilim mpet shell, ll, And saewas A Auld uld D Dunrod; unrod; When yemoun mountt a broomstick to tak a fl flicht, icht, Ye had bes bestt tak anither road." XIV - The prying neighbours unrewarded - Dunrod and the said stane ought to have settled the matter themselves "The neighbours gather to see the sicht, The stane's remains they saw; But as for for A Auld uld D Dunrod unrod himsel'l',, H He e was carriet clean awa'." XV - A lam lamen entation tation - opini opinion on as to theproprie propriety ty of the hero taking the air "And m monie onie noy't (blam (blamed), ed), as weill ill they micht, The RestRest-an andd-be-T be-Than hankf kfu' u' Stane;  And  An d ilk ane said it had been better far, Gin Gin Du Dun nrod had staid at hame." XVI - The la latte tterr end of Dunr unrod od is involv involve ed in some unc unce ertainty "And w wha hatt becam' o' Aul Auld dD Dunrod unrod Was doubtfu' for to say, Some said he wasna there ava, But flew anither way."

LARGS

The name is deriv ived ed ffrom rom Learg rg,, signif signifying ying a plai  This plain extends from th the e lain n with a slope(SeeA rmstrong's Celti tic cDiet. t.''). This sea-shore eastward to the fo foot ot o off the hill hills, s, which rise abruptly and fo form rm a ki kind nd of rampart behind the town. Notwithstanding Not withstanding the great height of these hil hills, ls, they are covered with v verdure erdure during the greater part of the year, and afford afford excell excellent ent pasturage. F From rom all o off them delightful elightful prospects may be had. IIndee ndeed ffew ew scenes can equal iin n rich  va  variety what may be seen fro from the grounds above Ke Kellburn. Th The e town has long been in repute as a watering-pl -place, and of oft'ers t'ers man any y natural attrac attractio tions ns to those w who ho vi visit sit iits ts shore shores s in quest of health and recreation. tion. It is but ffair air to state, 25

 

however, that Largs is not sheltered sheltered fro from m the east winds, as several writers assert. IIn n the statisti statistical cal account o off the parish, e.g., it is stated that " L Larg args is pro protected tected fro from m the east winds by a range of hi high gh ground. round.'''' It It is is evi vident dent that the writ riter er of  thi this s articl article e never resided in the vi villllag age when east wind bl blew ew  ;  and the v visitor isitor wh who o comes he here re seeking " a mild and salubrious salubrious climate te"" need not expe xpect ct it during a continu continuan ance ce of east wind. Thi This s wind, how howe ever ver,, is dry, and although unpleasant, iis s not so prejudi prejudicial cial to health as on the East Coast of Scotl cotland. and. On the whole, the temperature of Largs may be considered " mild mild and salubri lubrious ous "";; tthe he sea breezes are of a peculi culiarly arly bracing and invi invigora gorati ting ng character, and the thousands who crowd to its shores duri during ng summer, ffrom rom the smoky atmosphere of Glasgow, are generall rally y benefit ited ed by the change. Few places possess greater natural ffacil acilit ities ies ffor or sea-bathi sea-bathing ng ; the whol hole e coast is perfectl perfectly y safe (the beach gradualllly y slo sloping ping iinto nto tthe he sea), and one may bathe at all states of the tide. The princi principal pal street is " Main Street, t,"" leading through the town ffrom rom the pier; and here many ffine ine shops may be seen. Beauti utifful and varied walk lks s may also be had, and handsome vil villas las extend on bot both h sides of the town. The Parish Church, bui built lt in 1812, maybe seen on the north side of the pier ffacing acing the sea. A Alt lthough hough possessing no architectural beauty, iitt iis s a large commodi odious ous bui buildi lding, ng, capable of accommodating twelve hundred sit sitters, ters, and has recentl ntly y been enriched wit ith h some fi fine ne stained glass wind indows. ows. Behind the pulpi pulpitt there is a monument to the memory of  Sir T Thomas homas M'D 'Dougal ougal Brisbane, ffor or some years G Gov overnorernor-G General of New South Wal Wales, es, and whose estate lilies es to the north-ea northeast of the town. The monument consi consists sts of a marble medall dallio ion n portrait of Sir Tho Thoma mas, with a sword, telescope, and other instruments cut iin n relief lief upon iit. t. T The he minister inister of the ch church urch is Rev. JJ.. K Kinross. inross. Besides the Established there is a Free Chu Church rch on the south si side de of the pier ffac acing the sea (Rev. Charles Wat Watson, son, minister inister); ); a United Presbyterian (Rev. J. J. B. K. M'lntyre); Scotch E Episcopal piscopal (Rev, Ch. K Keith) eith) rec recent ently ly erected on the north side of tthe he vill villag age; and a Roman Ca Catholi tholic c (Rev. H. V. Baer). In ffront ront of the Establ Established ished Church a handsome drinki drinking ng fount fountain ain has been erected, iin n memory of the late Dr. Camp mpbe bellll,, by the inhabitants inhabitants.. It It is composed of Aberdeen and Peterhe rhead ad Gran ranite ite - principally the former - an and d bea bears the fol following lowing insc inscription ription - "The pe people ople of Lar Larg gs, to John Campbell ll,, for for 61 years the their ir beloved ph phys ysician. ician. Born 1791, died 1873." The The cost of the monument was £550. Largs is is we wellll supplied with schools, and and the BRISBANE ACADEMY , founded founded in 1830 by Sir T Thomas homas Bri Brisbane sbane, has obtained considerable able ffair;e air;e :i~ an educationa tionall instituti institution. on. T The he population of the parish, iin n 1871, was 4 4084 084.. The The plac place e has recentl ntly y been erected iinto nto a burgh, and under the superintende intendence of the new Commissi missioners, oners, gravit gravitatio ation n water has been introduced introduced and other iimprovem mprovements effected, which, it is hoped, wil willl enable Larga to sustain the character of a fashionable and favouri avourite te wateringtering-place. place. BATTLE TTLE OF LARGS

The most remarkable ci circum rcumstance in tthe he history o off this place is iits ts havi having ng been the sceneof the famous battle between the Norwegians and the Scots, which too took k place on 3rd Octo October, ber, 1263; a brief account of which is here subj ubjoi oined. ned. For many ages preceding the battle ttle of Largs, the ffierce ierce Norsemen ffrom rom Norway, Sweden, and D Denm enmark, had conti continued nued their depredatio dations ns on the shores of our country. The anarchical governments of these countri countries es during the middle ages, produced the pirate kings of the northern seas, al almost most unexampled iin n the annals of the world. orld. T They hey were fi first rst ffelt elt on the the shores of Scotl cotland and during the eighth century. T They hey made the Hebrides deplore plore their barbarit rities ies throughout the ninth. nint h. T They hey burnt the reliligious gious ho houses uses which the pi pious ous hands of Col Columba umba and his ffol ollo lowe wers had reared, and paid periodical iodical v visi isits ts to o our ur shores ffor or the pur purpose pose of plunde plunderr and b blo loodshed odshed. The petty chi chiefs efs o off the Western Isl Islands ands of Scotl cotland and had ffor or a lo long ng period been feuda feudatory to the Norwegian crown, and Haco Hac o King of Norway la laid id claim in thethi thethirte rteenth century  to the Hebr bride ides s and the IIsla sland nds s of the Cly Clyde de. Al Ale exa xand nde er III III., ., King of Scotl Scotland, and, decided to resist. The Norse annalists lists say that A Alexander lexander was very anxio anxious us to purchase from Haco his sovere sov ereignty of the western isles, but that Haco ref refused used : at all events treaty ffail ailed. ed. The The Scotch were now encouraged by their rulers rulers to iinvade nvade many of the isl islands ands under the sovereignty of Haco, and commit depredatio dations, ns, which they were only too ready to do. King Haco res resolv olved ed to revenge the these se injuries, and in the a autum utumn of 1263 ffitted itted out an expe expediti dition, on, the magnitude of which spread alarm even upon the shores of England. O On n Jul July y yth the fleet set sail under the command of tthe he ki king ng himself elf.. ""T The united armament," accordi ording ng to Tytl Tytler, er, "amountedto 160 vessels, andas itentered itenter edthe the Firth of Clyde, became conspicuous fro from m the opposite shores of Kyle, Car Carrick, rick, and Wigtown." The Scots were everywhere makin aking g preparati rations ons tto o meet th the e fo foe, e, alt although hough meanti ntime me Alexander, tryi trying ng every means in hi his s power to cause delay, was busy of offfering terms of peace. Thi This s was manif anifestly estly the best pol policy icy of the Scotti cottish sh king. T The he delay gave the Scots tim time e to con conce centr ntra ate their army, and as winter was dr dra awing near the weather was likely to break, and the Norwegians to run short of prov provisi isions. ons. A Attempts ttempts at pacif pacifiication were at length given up, and the Norwegian ffleet leet bore iin n through the Firth o off Clyde clo close se by the CumbraeIsles. sles. T The he Scots army, numbering about 1500 26

 

cavalry, togethe together with a large body o off infantry, infantry, had been gathered and llay ay encamped at a place called "Camphil called phill,l,"" o on n the highway fro from m Kilbirnie lbirnie to Largs; and ffrom rom the heights abov bove e Largs, closely watched the movements o off the enemy. IItt was now shortly af after ter the time of the equinox equinox,, and the autumn storms had already begun. On Monday, 1st O October, ctober, a dreadf dful ul ttem empest arose ffrom rom the west, accompanied with such to torrents rrents of hail and rain, that the Norwegians ascribed its v vio iolence lence to witchcraf witchcraftt which the Scott cottish ish ki king ng had inv invoked oked against them. Many of the ships were driven on the shor shore e and totally wrecked, and their cre crews ws fforce orced to land land.. On the m morning orning of Tuesd Tuesday ay, 2n 2nd dO Oct., ct., King Haco came ashore with a reinf reinforcem orcement, and soo soon n aft after er the Scotti cottish sh army appeared on tthe he high grounds abov ove e Largs: ""and and (says the histo historian rian T Tytl ytler) er) as it advanced, the sun's rays glancing ffrom rom the lines, made it evident evi dent to the No Norwe rwegians that a fo formidable rmidable body of troo troops ps was about to attack them." The Norwegians had succeeded in landi landing ng about ni nine ne hundred men, accordi ording ng to T Tytler, ytler, who were drawn up on the beach ; and two hundred others occupied occupi ed in advance a small hill hill which rises behind Largs. Haco was now pressed by his no nobles bles to return to tthe he fl flee eet, and after much persuasion he consented. It It was well for him that he did so, for the Scott ottis ish h army began to press on the advance guard of the Norsemen with such ffury, ury, that, afraid of being cut of offf, they hasti stily ly retreated. At thi this s juncture another storm came on which co completed mpleted the ruin of the Norwegian ffleet. leet. T The he Norwegians would have been entirely cut to to p pieces, ieces, had the ki king ng not succeeded in sending a reinf reinforceme orcement which somehow managed to land amid the tremendous gale. B By y thi this s assist assistance ance they ralli llied somewhat, and checked the impetuosit impetuosity y of the Scots, whom they repulsed from the high grounds overover-llook ooking ing the shore, until they succeeded in rere-em embarking. " But the ravens," as the Norse No rsemen were call called, ed, "were tamed." King Haco sought a truce to bury his dead, which, having been granted, lilie e gathered together the the remnan nantt of his shattered squadron, and and steere red d for the O Orkne rkneys. He was sick at hea heart, rt, and sad sadly ly disappointed. disappoi nted. A Anxi nxiety ety of mind and constant ffatigue atigue had brought on a painf inful ul di disea sease, ffrom rom which he was destined never to recover. The The brave ol old d Norseman struggled hard against hi his s fate, fate, but in v vain. ain. A Att length feeli feeling ng that the hand of  death was upon him, he gave orders concerning ning his llast ast will and testament, c comm ommanded hi his s attendants to read hi him m the legends of hi his s Norse foref orefathe athers, the old pirate kings  ;; and "towar "towards midni midnight, ght, on the ii5th 5th D Dece ecember, as the legend of  King Sverre was fi finis nished, hed, the sturdy old No Norsem rseman breathed his llast." ast." It is is but right to add that the Norwegian account of the battle, ttle, giv ives es it a somewhat dif diffferent complexi complexion on ffrom rom the Scotch writers, and the probabil probabiliity iis, s, that the account giv given en by the latter has been considerably exaggerated. G Georg eorge Buchanan, iin n the ""Hi Histori storia a rerum Scoti coticarum carum," says the Norwegians lost si sixteen xteen thousand men, and the Scots ffiv ive e thousand. thousan d. Carlyl lyle e (C nting ng on this, says, " Divi vide de these numbers by ten, and the (Carl arlyle yle's Earl arly y King Kings of No Norway), commenti excellently excellentl y brief and luci lucid d summary by Buchanan may be taken as the approxi approxima mately true and exact." There would doubtless doubtl ess be a tendency on the part of the Scotch to make too much of the battle, and of the Norwegians to make too lilittl ttle e of it it.. T The he truth seems to be expressed in the summing up by Tytler - "The battle of L Larg args appears to have been nothing nothi ng more than a succession o off fortunate skirmishes, iin n which a fo formidable rmidable armament was effectually destroyed by the fury fury of the elements, ju judici diciousl ously y seconded by the bravery of the Scots. cots."" The result, ho howe wever, so ffar ar as Scotl cotland and was concerned, was to ffree reethe country fo forr ever from from the incursio incursions ns of the Norsemen. REMAINS OF THE BATTLE

From all that can now be learned, iitt appears that the llanding anding of the No Norwe rwegians too took k pl place ace somewhere between the south end of Broo Broomfi mfields elds and Fairl Fairlie ie Burn, and that the battle ttle was fought on the slopi sloping ng plai plain n stretchi tching ng between the Fairlie Road and th the e sea. The S Sc cots army had a place of retr tre eat and obse observ rva ation on Castle stle Hill - a hill risin ising g conspicuously above the town, on the south-eas south-east, t, tto o a height of ne near arly ly 600 feet. O On n this hi hillll,, which, with its sol solitary itary white house (called ""the the h house ouse on the hill hill""), can can be easil sily y seen from the pier pier,, there ar are e still vi visibl sible e distinct remains of an encampment.  About three-qu  Abo -quarters of a mile fro from Largs, along the Fairlie Road, is the mansion house of HAYLEE. It It der deriv ives es its na nam me from H  He elle, a pit or or burial place; and here, in a ffiel ield d behind the house, tthere hereare the remains of a tumulus call called ed in Largs, "Haco's T Tomb." omb." It consi consists sts of a large flat sto stone ne supported on two others, and doubtless marks the spot where many of  the soldiers soldiers were interred. IItt was di discov scovere ered (as stated iin n  Ro the e year 1780, by the pro Robertson's Ayrshire)  in th prietor, Mr. Mr. Wil Wilson, son, and was till the then n known b by y the n nam ame of "Mar arga garet's Law." In it were found fi five ve stonecof cofffins, two of the them m conta containi ining ng fi five ve skull skulls s each, and other bones, w with ith several urns. T The he su suppositi pposition on is that the skulls skull s and other b bones ones e enclosed nclosed in the cof cofffins were those of chief chiefs, s, whil whilst st the bodi bodies es of the common sol soldiers diers had been thrown promiscuousl promiscuously y over them, and then stones in vast quantity heaped ov over er all all.. T There here were in all "about "about ffiive thousand cartl rtloads" oads" o off stones and rubbish, and an immense quantity of bone bones. s. In additi addition on to these remains of the battle, there may be seen at Curli Curling ng Hall (a mansio nsion n house sit situate uated near the shore), a rude stone pil pillar lar commemorati orating ng the fall of Haco of Steine, one of the Norwegian commanders. IItt has been buil builtt in 27

 

the garden wall all,, and may be seen on appli application cation at tthe he gardener's house. O On n a copper plate affixed to iit, t, tthere here is the fol ollowing lowing inscription, written by Dr. Jo John hn Cairnie, a form ormer er proprietor SUSTIT HIC GOTHI FUROR  CONDITUR HIC HACO STEINENSIS, ET UNDIQUE CIRCUM NORVEGIOS NORVEGI OS FIDOS TERRA TERRAE E TEGI TEGIT T SOCIOS HUC REGNUMVENERE VENERE PETENT PETENTES ES;; SCOTIA VICTOR  HOSTIBUS HIC TUMULOS, PRAEMIA JUSTA, DED1T. QUARTO ANTE NONAS, OCTOBRIS, A.D. 1263 LARGIS IPSIS CAEE CAEENDIS NDIS JUNII JUNII A.D. A.D. 1823 ME POSUIT POSUIT,, JUSSIT ITQUE QUE JOANNE JOANNES CARNIUS ILLAM ILLAM REM MEMORARE TIBI - TU MEMORES ALIUS ALIUS

Other su suppose pposed d memorials of the battle are the large barrow rrow,, close by the west wall of the old bury buryinging-gr ground, in tthe he centre of the town, and the mound at the entrance to the avenue of H Haw awkhil khilll H House, ouse, call called ed Greenhil nhill.l. The former, described des cribed in the Church-yards of Ayrs A yrshir hire eas of "elliptical elliptical fform," orm," ab about out twenty-f nty-fiv ive ey yar ards ds in length bynine yards broad, an and d between fo four ur and fi five ve ffee eet hi high, gh, was excavated by D Dr. r. JJohn ohn S. Phene, in 1873, who seems to have been conv onvinced inced that it was the mound in wh which ich the No Norw rwegians were buried. T The he result of this excavation was the discov discover ery y of burnt clay and charcoal o off oak, iinterspe nterspersed with bri bright ght fl flake akes of green, thought to be " bronz bronze e or copper plates or ffastenings, astenings, probably remnants of armour." and some " hard white hite and sof softt brownish grey substance','' ','' supposed to be bones; "some quit quite e calcined, others on'. on'.y y p-r. p-r.lly burnt." Human teeth were also ffound. ound. In alet:er to the Tunes, Dr.  Dr. Phene states further that " when the centre of the mound was reached, it was one mass of ffat at unctuous earth, dot dotted ted all o over ver with red and black, fformed ormed by pieces of the burnt clay and charcoal. coal."" Others, however, are dispo disposed sed to doubt tthese hese concl conclusio usions, ns, and fo forr very good reasons, hol holding ding that the mound was raised raised bef before the battle, and and was an artif tifici icially ally fform ormed ed "court hi hillll"" similar to those ffound ound in many parishes of  Cunningham, G Gall alloway oway, and ot other her parts of Scotl cotland. and. Lo Long ng before the battl ttle, e, we know that Largs fformed ormed a separate district distr ict ffrom rom Cunningham, and must therefore hnve had its own "moat hil hill,l,"" on which would be erected the "gallllows" ows" or gibbet for for executi executing ng criminals; and there appears good ood ground fo forr believi ieving ng that this was none other than the mound excavated by D Dr. r. Phené. Near the spot a street runs, sti stillll known by the name of "Gall allowga owgate." May not the bones discovered discovered by Dr. Ph Phené ené have been the remains o off criminals executed on the mound and buried withi within n it ? IItt is true, indee indeed, as stated by D Dr. r. P Phené hené, th that at the Norwegians are said tto o have buried their dead near a church. But iitt requires to be proved proved that the church in Larg Largs was the church ref referre erred to. We know that at that time time there were many churches in tthe he district district,, for for shortl shortly y after the settl ttlem ement of St. Col Columba umba in Iona, iinnume nnumerable churches were erected throughout Scotland. There was a chapel at H Hay aylee, cl close ose beside the sit site e of  the battle. There was another on the isl island and of Littl Little e Cumbrae, where Haco had previo previously usly gone to o offfer mass; and several on on the Larger Cumbrae, both iislands slands being in possession of Haco. We must remember, to too, o, the dif diffficul iculty ty the Norwegians woul would d have had in cro crossing ssing the Gogo, Gogo, described in ancient records as ""ane ane impassable water," and especial cially ly as iitt must have been greatly fflo looded oded at that time time by the immense quantiti quantities es of rain that had fall fallen. en. IItt may be said that the Norwegia Norwegians ns had boats which could ferry them across; but is it not more likely ttha hatt iiff they had recour recourse se to boats, they would have saililed ed to either of the Cumbraes ? On the north en end d of the small Cumbrae, not v ver ery y far far from the chapel of St. Vey (which might be the church referred to) are a number of large cairns, which were parti rtiall ally y opened in 1813, and in whi which ch were fo found und steel helmets and other remains, bones, etc. Here, too, too, there is good anchorage and shelter from south-west winds. Also o on n the island of Large Cumbrae, a att a placecall called ed "T "The he Lady," nearly opposite the site site of the battl ttle e of L Larg args, there were disco discovered vered "a large accumulation ccumulation of p pieces ieces of arms and armour, and the green and oxydised rem remains of what had once be been en similar works of ar art." t." It would be beyond the scope of this publi publication cation to enter iinto nto further deta detailils s on this questio stion, n, but the ffoll ollowing owing points may be s sug ugge gested w which hich throw doubts o on n the theory that the the Largs mound is the gra rave ve of the Norwegian soldi soldie ers - i. (Q (Quoted uoted from Po  Pont's Cunninghame) "Coul  "Could d the remnant of the Norwegians have made thi this s large mound in the llimi imited ted perio riod d of three October days, or, at the very furthest, four - being all the ti time me they had for so doi doing ng ?" - ii. We must not fo forge rget that in the thirteenth century, when the battle was fought, fought, Chri Christi stianity anity had been iintroduced ntroduced both among Scots and No Norwe rwegians, and is tthere here any reason to belilieve be eve that "cremation tion would be resorted to iin n Christian b burial urial at a chur church ch ?" - iiiii.i. We again quote from Po  Pont's Cunnin inghame, "  "Had Had crematio ation n been resorted to, and thoroughly perf performe ormed, tthere here would have been no remains but ashes." The probabili probability ty seems to be, that the mounds referr referred to by Dr. Phené had no connecti connection on with the Battle of  Largs, but that bo both th of them (the one at the graveyard, and G Gree reenhil nhilll mound) were connected with the di dispens spensatio ation n of   ju  justice in Scoto-Saxon times; th the one, G Grreenhill, b be eing where trials took p pllace, and the other, n ne ear the Gallowgate, where the criminals were executed. T There here has been a tendency on the part of of some to expl explain ain every relilic c ffound ound iin n thi this s district dist rict b by y a reference to tthe he battle ttle of 1263. Some fancif fanciful ul etymolo etymologists gists have even attempted to deriv derive e the names of  28

 

many of the places in the distri district ct ffrom rom this No Norwe rwegian defeat, as, ffor or example, G Gogo ogo and Rout Routenburn enburn. T The he latter is a small burn on the n north orth side of the vil village lage, and is supposed to be derived ffrom rom Routout-D Dane-burn. Thi This s is evidently fan ancif ciful. ul. The name is most likely descriptiv riptive e of the roa roaring ring n noi oise se made by the burn. Wilson, iin n his Ar  Arc chaeology, justly remarks: a "reference to the ol old d and new statis statisti tical cal accounts of the various parishes along both the Ayrshire and  Arg  Ar gyleshire coasts, will suff ffiice to show that the battle of Kin King Haco has proved as infallible a source of explanation fo forr the discovery discovery of cists, tumu tumuli li,, cairns, and sep sepulchr ulchral al relics lics of 'eve 'every ry kind, as if it were a well authe thentica nticated ted fact that no one had had died, ffrom rom the days of Noah to o our ur own. but at the battle of Largs." LARGS TO FAIRLIE

Fairlie is about thre Fairlie three e miles distant ffrom rom Lar Largs gs,, and and may be reache ached d either by roa road d or steamer er.. The road after going inland inland fo forr about two miles runs along the coas coast, t, an and d iis s one of the favo favourite urite walks about about L Lar args gs.. Starting from the pier, and passing ssing up Main Street, wi with th iits ts ir irreg regularly bui built lt and straggliling ng houses, the vi visit sitor or comes to a substantiall substantially y buil builtt stone bridgecrossing theGogo Burn. From the bridge, looki looking ng inland, a fi fine ne view is obtained of Hawkhil khilll House, with its white-pa white-painted inted stone, the re residen sidence ce of Mrs. Scott, relict o off Mr. Char Charles les Scott, shipbui shipbuilder, lder, G Gre reen enock. ock. It is securely rely screened fro from m the east winds (the scourge of Largs), and beauti utiffull ully y sheltered by numerous trees. Havi Having ng crossed the bridge, the ffiirst road on the right right leads to BLACKDALES, the residence of Mr. JJohn ohn Fergus, photo photogra graphic artist. No one should o omit mit a vi visit sit to the studio rece recently ntly ffitted itted up here, probably the fi fines nest in in the United K Kingdom ingdom, where may be seen some of the most ffiinished works of art which hich the highest styl tyle e of photo photogra graphy can produce. Mr. Fergus is known as one of the most successf successful ul arti artists, sts, and hi his s photo photogra graphs areadmired bv co connoi nnoisseurs sseurs over the whol hole e country. Coming back to the Fairl irlie ie road, a succession o off gardens is pa passe ssed d on bot both h sides, ffrom rom which ffruits ruits of all sorts may be "purchased in their season." About half a mile ile further on (l (left eft si side), de), overloo overlooking king the rroad, oad, an and d buried among trees, iis s Haylee House, behind which may be seen the tumulus call called ed "Margaret' t's s Law," already referred to. A Att Haylee, the road goes up a steep incli incline, ne, and at the summit we reach Haylee T Tol olll B Bar, ar, where the road leading to D Dairy airy div diverg erges, and a fewminutes w walk alk along this road lea leads ds to ""Larg Largs Cemetery," wh which ich the vi visitor sitor shoul should d not o omit mit to see, as it iis s one of the most beauti utiffully ully si situated tuated in the west of Scotl cotland. and. T The he grounds are laid out wi with th great taste, every plot tended with care, and the view alone is worth all the toi toill of the jo journey. urney. When it was propo proposed sed to place a cemetery here, a diff difference of  opinion opini on was expresse sed d by the townsp townspeople eople as to iits ts suitabili suitability. ty. T This his ga gave ve rise to considerable ililll-ffeeliling ng, nea nearly rly all the inhabitants inhabi tants espousi spousing ng one side or other. A An n expensiv xpensive e and tedio tedious us law-suit was the result - those who were opposed to it being d defea efeated; ted; but now, hap happil pily, y, all illill-ffeeling ling,, if if not all re rem membranceof the fi figh ghtt has passedaway. The The hill behind behind the cemetery is called ""A Auchenbranchan," and rises to a height of 550 feet abov bove e the sea level level.. Returnin Returning g to the Fairl Fairlie ie Road, and continui continuing ng our journey, a glimp limpse se is now obtained of the p pol olici icies es of Kelburn Castle. T The he h high igh wall on the lef leftt encloses the grounds. is beauti utiffully ully embosomed among trees and rich ffol oliage iage, and ffin inely ely sheltered by the high wooded hills hills risi rising ng abruptly behind hind it. The scenery around Kelburn is the finest to be seen anywhere in this distri district. ct. The surface of tthe he extensiv xtensive e pleasure grounds iis s very varied, and slope down gradually ffrom rom the hills hills towards the sea, affordi affording, ng, through opening glades, commanding prospects of the Firth of Cl Clyde yde, with the isl islands ands of Cumbrae, and Bute, and the mountains of Arran towering in the distance. KELBURN CASTLE

 Pont's Cunmnghame, the castle is described a In Po as s ""a a goodly buil building, ding, well planted, ha havi ving ng very beautif utiful ul orcha orchards a and nd gardens," and in the Ba architecture ecture of   Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland, the author remarks regarding the archit Kelburn, that in in it ""is is the onl only y ancient metall tallic ic terminatio termination n to the turret which the writ riter er has met with, and thi this s distinctl dist inctly y shows the fini inishing shing personali rsonality ty and natio nationali nality ty of Scotch archit chitecture ecture - the crest of the Laird surmounted by the thistl thistle. T Then hen there is the ingeniousl ingeniously y ornamented sunsun-dial dial,, where every inch o off surf surface ace is made to tell tthe he story of  time time, under every possi possible ble extorti extortion on of form and posit positio ion, n, and where its pinnacle by a series of grooves, iimitates mitates the crocketing of Gothic architecture re." ."

The house and grounds have belonged fro from m time time immemorial tto o the Boyles, E Earls arls of Glasgow, and fform orm one of the numerous residences belonging to that no nobl ble e family. family. Near the mansion house, iin n a romanti ntic c spot on the banks of the burn, is a monument to John, John, thi third rd Earl, who was wounded at the battl ttles es of Font Fontena enay and Lafeld, Laf eld, and who died in 1775. T The he monument consists o off a handsome female ffigure igure in white marble, placed in a niche, and represe sents nts ""V Virtue lamenting the loss of one of he herr ffavourite avourite sons." Be Belo low, w, is an a appropria ppropriate te inscription, and above, a shie shield ld con conta taining ining the ffa amily arms. The eff effe ect of this mon monum ument in so pecu culiar liar a situ situa ation is ve very ry striking.

29

 

FAIRLI FAI RLIE E - Village, Castle and Glen

The pleasant llittl ittle e vi villllag age of Fairli Fairlie e was ori origina ginalllly y a small fishi ishing ng hamlet, but early in the present century, the Ear Earll of  Glasgow, (t (to o whom tli tlie e ground belongs), granted feus to tthree hree Glasgow gentlemen, o on n which were built handsome  vi  villas. T Th he place gradually iin ncreased, a an nd iin n 1874 the population was b be etween three and fou four hundred. It It lliias two churches, ((Est Establi ablished shed and Free,) o one ne school school,, two inns, a ffam amous ol old d castle, stle, and a sti stillll more famous shipbui shipbuildi lding ng yard. The latter has obtai obtained ned great celebrit celebrity y withi within n the past ffew ew years, and the name of Fyf Fyfe e is kno known wn to all yachtsmen as one of the most ski skilf lful ul buil builde ders rs of fast sa saililing ing plea pleasure sure boats. With no special adva advantag ntages, Mr. Fyf Fyfe e and his ffathe ather be beffore him have been able to compete with buil builders ders in any part of G Grea reat Britain. The origin origin of Fyf Fyfe's e's int intere erest in boatbuilding buil ding is iin n iitself tself a curio ious us circumstan stance ce.. Wi Willll Fyf Fyfe, e, the ffath ather er of the present builder, was the s son on of a milillwright, lwright, an and d he himself fol ollo lowe wed hi his s si sire re's 's occupation. Whi While le a young man residing in Fairli Fairlie, e, he had a de desire sire to board som some e merchantmen lying iin n the Fairl Fairlie ie Ro Roads, ads, and being unable to ffind ind a boat, he determined to bui build ld o one. ne. Hi His s first first attempt was so successful tli tliat at it was purchase sed d as soon as ffini inished shed. A se second cond wa was s started, and, to the disap disappointmen pointment of the old millwright, mil lwright, he ffound ound hi his s son deserting rting his trade for a new doubtf doubtful ul one. But boatboat-bui buildi lding ng was paying the son better than cartrt-ma makin king g : and, without ffurther urther delay, Wil Willl F Fyf yfe e commenced as boatbuil boatbuildcr. dcr. A About bout 1812, aft after er many successful attempts at small aller er craft, aft, he began the giganti ntic c undertaking of buil building ding a fifty-ton ty-ton cutter, and fro from m that day til tilll the present, tthe he Fairl irliie buildi building ng yard has increased in celebrity year by year. Lately there have been buil builtt here the Fiona. Neva. Neptune, and Bloodhound, all clipper clippers of the fi first rst class. The visitor visitor to Fuiru Fuirue e shou should ld not omit to visi visitt the old cas castle tle an and d gle glen. n. IItt would be d dif iffficult to find an anyw ywhe here re, in in such small compass, such a variety of woodl woodland and beauty as thi this s lilittl ttle e glen presents, parti particularly cularly iin n the months of September and October, October, when the autumn tint tints s appear. T The he wood abounds in splendid ferns, and nature seems to have crowded into it spe specime cimens of her riches richestt wild flowe lowers. The castl stle e is rather more than half way up the glen, and is si situated tuated on a rounded knoll knoll,, cl close ose by the brink o of  f  a deep ravi vine, ne, where the burn dashes ov over er a rough rock some tenor twelve ffee eet high, fforming orming abeauti utifful llit ittl tle e waterfall all.. In ancient ti time mes, we learn that there were orchards and gardens around the castle. These are no lo longe nger to be seen, but the sylvan beauty remains iin n all its its grandeur. T The he castle stle is v very ery ancient, and belonged to a famil family y the name of Fai Fairl rlie, ie, said to be as ol old d as the Stuart dynasty. T The he name of one Wil Williliam am Fairl Fairley ey has been ffound ound iin n a document dared 1535, purporting purporti ng to be a pardon granted to him and others by Edward II IIII. T The he last of the famil family y sold the possession to the first E Ear arll o off Glasgow, to whose d des escen cendan dants ts it stil stilll belongs. O Off late, the d doorwa oorway has be been en b buil uiltt up to prevent vi visitors sitors from entering and venturing to cl climb imb the ol old d dil dilapidated apidated stair— stair—a a feat attended wit ith h consi considera derable danger, and one must be content now to survey the massive structure ffrom rom the outside. BALLAD OF HARDYKNUTE

We woul ould d scarcely be doing justi justice ce to the ol old d ruin, wi without thout ref referr erring to the conj conjecture ecture which has associated it wit with h the name of H Hardyknute ardyknute, and assigned it as his residence prio iorr to the battl ttle e of L Larg args. It is right to mentio ention n that there are several co conj njecture ectures regarding the famous ball ballad, ad, both as to the personal iidentity dentity of the chief hero (Hardyknute), and as to the place of his residence esidence. In Fi  Finlay's Scottish Ballads the first first of the series is Hardykn Hardyknute ute;; and in the iintroduction, ntroduction, Fairli Fa irlie e Cas Castle tle is as assign signed as the re reside sidence nce of the w war arrior: an and d it is there stated ted that "the slight notices of local scene nery ry in the ball ballad ad are extremely accurate, and show that tthe he author must have been well acquainted inted wit ith h it it." ." The story iis s as follows ollows - " Hard Hardyknute yknute, an old warrior, was a att peace with his ffoes, oes, a and nd enjoyi njoying ng the s society ociety of his ffam amilily y at his ca castle, stle, contemplating the close close of his d day ays witho without ut being again iinvo nvolv lved ed in war, when a pagearrives in haste calllling ing on hi him m to come dow down n an and d reli lieve eve his sovereign from the da dang nger that threat aten ene ed him by the invasion of the K King ing of Norway. Hardyknute's heroism is at once once aroused and answers to the call. ll. Hi His s peerless dame, his o only nly daughter 'Fairl 'Fairlie ie ffair,' air,' and his stately stately towers, are lef leftt iin n charge of his you younge ngest son, and with ith his ffour our eldest and 3000 men, he sets of offf to suppo support rt his king. king. A Affter they had ridden over hil hills ls and glens, they came upon a wounded kni knight ght who iis s lyi lying ng on the ground app ppa arently ntly at the the poin pointt of death : Ha Hard rdy ykn knut ute e urg urges him to ris rise e, and offe offers to have him co cond nduc ucte ted back to his castle and put under the charge of his lladie's adie's kyndli kyndlie e care, and that of his daughter, 'Fairl 'Fairlie ie ffair.' air.' T The he kni knight ght mourns over his inab inabilility ity to acce accept pt of this gracious o offfer, but must remain where h he e is, unti untill cauld cauld death shall end his care. T The he warrio rriorr and his so sons ns proceed, and travel ffar ar out ov over er Lord Chattan's land sae wyde. O On n reaching a rising ground they see the No Norse rse army encamped on the dale belo below w them. T The he batt ttle le rages, but v viicto ctory ry crowns the Scot cotti tish sh arms; and Hardyknute returns on a wet mirk ni night ght to his s: s:atcly atcly towers with ith his heroi heroic c sons. T To o thei theirr grief and surprise there is nothing nothi ng but darkness in the hall halls s which were wont tto o shi shine ne with ith torches when their master was abroad; and iitt is lleft eft tto o be inferre inferred that the wounded knight had been a trait itor or iin n disgui disguise, se, and had brought di distress stress and woe on the amiable ffam amilily, y, o off whose hospital hospitaliity he had been urged to partake." T The he poem, it is needless to say, is is extremely popular, popul ar, and has been so ffor or more than a century." It has drawn fo forth rth the praises of the best jjudge udges in tthat hat department o off lilitera terature, and exci xcited ted the admiratio dmiration n of Lord Lord Byron." On being read to hi him m by Sir Walt Walter er Scott cott,, he was 30

 

so much affecte affected, tthat hat some one who was in the roo room m asked Scott what he could po possibl ssibly y have been saying to Byron, seeing he was so much agitated. agitated. PARISH OF KILBRIDE

The parish parish of Kil ilbride bride adjoi djoins ns tha thatt o off Lar Larg gs. T The he vill villag age situa situate ted d iinlan nland, d, about eight miles ffrom rom La Larg rgs, and fi five ve ffrom rom Fairlie, Fairli e, and lying in a fi fine nely ly sheltered posi positio tion n about a m milile e from from the s sea ea, ha has s nothing of interest to attract the visi visitor. tor. But there are many obj objects ects of antiquarian int intere erest in in the parish, and the remains of several ffiine old castles and towers are are well worthy of inspec inspectio tion. n. T The he castles of Kilbride ilbride may b be e conven conveniently iently vi visited sited in o one ne day's excur excursion. sion. HUNTERSTONE CASTLE

The famil family y of Hunter is o one ne of the oldest iin n the country which has to the present time retained uninterrupted possession of its original es esta tate te.. They a appe ppear to have have possessed a portion of the estate a as s ffa ar back as the time of   Ale  Al exander II. II. In 1116, the name of W Wiilliam Hunter occurs in an ancient document, as a witness on an inquisition by David, Pri Prince nce of Cumbria, regarding lands pertaini rtaining ng to the church of Glasgow. T They hey seem to have been hereditary Keepers for tthe he Crown of the isl island and of L Liittle ttle Cumbrae. The ol old d castle stle is onl only y a short di distance stance from the present manor house, and seems to have been bui built lt on the edge of a bog or morass, iinto nto which the moat extended, and to thi this s in great measure it o owe wed iits ts strength of positi position. on. HUNTERSTONE RUNIC BROOCH

This very interesting reli relic c was di discov scovere ered here in 1826, on a spot supp supposed osed to have been the sit site e of a ski kirmish rmish between the forces forces previ evious ous to the the Battle ttle of Largs, and is supposed to have been lo lost st by some of the Danes at this pl place ace. T The he brooch is is of sil silver, ver, beautif utifull ully y ornamented ented with gold ffililigre igree of the most deli delica cate te w workma orkmanship, and the inscripti inscription on on iitt iin n largeRuni Runic c characters has given iven rise to much discussi discussion on among anti tiquarians. quarians. Prof. G Prof. Geo. eo. Stephens, S.F. S.F.A A., Copenhagen, who seems to be the greatest authori uthority ty on Scandinavi andinavian an Runes, ref refers ers to iitt at great length in his folio work on The and says it is the finest heOl Old d Northern Runic Runic Monuments of Scandinavia andinavia and England, fibula ever found in Scotl Scotland, and, and the onl only y one known to exist iin n that country bearing runes. T The he brooch iis s kept at Hunterstone House, House, and is in an admirable state of preservati rvation. on. Fo Forr those who may obtain permissi ission on to see it, we subjoin subjoi n Prof Profess essor Stephens' trans translatio lation n of the inscr inscripti iptions. ons. A According ccording to hi him m, it it belonged at dif diffferen entt ti time mes to two pers rsons ons,, and his readin ding gs are as ffollow ollows s - "Mallbr llbrith itha a ow owns ns th this is brooc brooch, h, Pr Prie iest st in La Lar" r" and nd,, Dr. John St Stua uart also describes des cribes the brooch and gives a drawing of it in his Sculp lpture red Stones of Scotland.  So does Prof of.. Wilson in h his is Ar  Arc cJiaology, but nearly all the authoriti uthorities es give ive dif diffferent ent renderings of the inscriptio inscription. n.  A magnifi fic cent facsimile representation of it is given in the recently-pu -published volume by the Ayrshire and Wigtonshire  Arc  Ar chaeological Society. PORTINCROSS CASTLE

This iis s the me the most a ancient ncient of all castles in K Kililbride, bride, as well as themost interesting. IItt iis s situate situated da att a point of land of the same name, on a ledge of rock jjutti utting ng out into the sea. T The he wall alls s are still still entire and on applicati ication on at the adjoining adjoi ning cott cottag age where the key is kept, admissio ssion n may be obtained to the roof from which a most extensi extensive ve vi view ew can be ha had. d. The ancient nam name of the pr proper operty ty was Ardneil - usually lly spelt Ardne Ardnele le - from the Celtic, signif signifying ying a hil hill,l, but afterwards af terwards was better kno known wn by its present name, receiv received ed fr from om the promont promontory ory or bay where the rui ruins ns stand. Portincro Port incross ss is supposed to be derived rived from Portus Crucis, the port of the cross. The castl stle e is rendered memorable by the fre freque quent nt v visi isits ts which wer were e paid to it by the early Stuart ki king ngs, who, in passing ffrom rom Dundonald to Rothesay, were in the habit of crossi crossing ng the channel at this po point int,, and of often ten resting sting withi within n its wall walls. s. Seven charters have been disco discovered vered here, gr gran anted ted by Robert II II. during the first nine ye year ars of his reign, (f (from rom 13 1371 71 to 1380), date dated d ""A Apud A Ardne rdnele." When the Spanish A Arma rmada of 1588 was dispersed, o one ne of the vessels havi having ng found iits ts way to the Firth of Cl Clyde yde, was stranded and wrecked clo close se to the ol old d castle, and a piece of cannon rescued ffrom rom the vessel h has as been preserved, and may be seen llying ying on the beach. O On n it it may stil stilll be ffaintl aintly y traced near the breech the Spanish crown and arms. IItt has als lso o been stated that some some of the Spaniards niards who manned the boat were saved ffrom rom the wreck, and settl settled ed among the peopl people e here, and that their d desce escendants may stil stilll be seen. The reader may be interested in the fol olllowing extract ffrom rom Def Defoe's oe's Tour through Great Britain ritain - "In the month of   August, 1740, an attempt was made by diving to come at one of the largest ships of tth  Aug he Spanish Ar Arm mada, stranded in 1588 on these coasts. A Another nother was div dived ed fo forr some years ago; but the sand being loo loose, se, it turned to lilittl ttle e or no account. 31

 

The other, which was lost near Porti Portincross, ncross, was begun to be searched aft after er by Sir A Archibald rchibald G Grant rant and Captain Ro Roe, e, in  Aug  Au gust, 1740, and the fo folllowing was the account that was transmitted to us; which we the rather insert, as it gives some notion noti on of the operation by the div divinging-eng engine. The country peopl ople e had preserved by traditi tradition on the spot pretty near here she sunk, and gave them all the inf information ormation they were able. IImm mmediately the divers went to work, and swept for her her,, which they do thus : They have a long li line ne, which they sink with lea leads ds ; o one ne end of the rrope ope is ffixed ixed to o one ne boat, and the other to anot another; her; they row, and whatever iinterrupts nterrupts them, the di diver ver goes down to make a discov discovery ery. They They soon happened on the pl place ace where the ship llay ay, which iis s scarce a quarter of a milile e ffrom rom the shore, iin n ten fatho fathom m and a foot water. Captain Roe immediately went down, and found the vessel to be very int intire, ire, to have a great number of  guns, but to be ful fulll of sand. sand. The ffirst irst thing he fi fixed xed upon was a c can annon, non, which lay upon the sand a att the head of the ship. To thi this s he fi fixed xed his tongs, which are made of strong bars of iron. iron. T They hey are open when they are let down, and have teeth, which jjoi oin n into one another. As soo soon n as they are fi fixed xed upon any any thi thing ng,, he gives the si sign gnal, al, wh when en they are m made ade to shut; an and d the heavier the subject, the closer they hold. T The he cannon annon was drawn up with a good deal of dif diffficulty. It measures ful fulll nine feet, is of  brass, greenish col coloured, oured, but no nothi thing ng the worse. T Ten en of these brass cannons, and ten iron iron ones have been si since nce carried into Dubli Dublin; n; a and nd they h hope ope to rrec ecover over sixty out of this ship." Close to the old castle is the small but neat cottage belonging to Mr. E. H Close H.. J. Crawfo Crawford, rd, the propri proprietor etor of tthe he  Ard  Ar dneil estate, a an nd e ex x-M.P. fo forr tth he A Ay yr B Bu urghs. Between H Hu unterstone and P Po ortincross tth here rriises a celebrated precipice or na natura tural wallll,, extending ab about out a mil mile ea alo long ng the coast, an and d risi rising ng in some places about 400 fft. t. It runs almost parallel with tthe he beach, and between it and the sea there is a narrow strip o off land. T The he precipi cipice ce is called A Ardneil rdneil Bank, and in ol old dw writi riting ngs, s, ""G Gol oldbe dberrie rrie Head." IIn n the statistical acc account ount of West Kililbride, bride, a very exa exact ct a and nd viv vivid id descripti ription on is given of this this clif clifff, in the fol follo lowing wing words - At its base"the precipi cipice ce is richly fri fring nged ed with natura turall coppice, in which the oak, ash, hazel, hazel, and hawthorn are thickl thickly y int interw erwov oven; en; upwards the glo lossy ssy iv ivy y is wi widely dely spread, whi hilst lst grey lichens, intermixed ixed with large patche tches s of a brigh brightt golden col colour our succeed, lilining ning the bold ffront ront to its utm utmost ost ver verge ge. The gen ener eral al mass of these stupendous rocks consi consists sts of dark red sandstone, lyi lying ng hori horizo zontall ntally; y; but for for a consi onsidera derable space where highest, the sandstone about midway up is surmounted by a beauti utifful bro brown wn porphyry. Thi This s portio portion n divi dividing ding itself into into three disti stinct nct and deeply separated cli clifffs of equal height and unif uniform orm appearance has immemori oriall ally y obtained the poetical poeti cal cognomen of the Three Sisters (o (otherw therwise three Queans, perhaps nuns), and truly it were not di diffficul icultt in thei theirr stately and sol solem emn austerity to co conceive nceive a fancif anciful ul resemblance to the veil veiled ed sisterhood sisterhood of superstiti superstitious ous observance." The same wr writer iter says, that to ap approac proach h the ter terrif rific ic summit of this cl clif ifff, the the vivi vivid d descriptio ription n by S Sha hakes kespea peare of the c clilifff  of Dover Dover is vivi vividly dly reali lized zed "Come on, Sir ; here's the place : stand st still ill - How fearful A And nd dizzy 'tis to cas castt one one's 's yes so low ! The c crow rows an and d choughs, that wing wing the midway air, Shew scarceso gross as beetles : hal halff way down Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadf dful ul trade ' Methi thinks nks he seems no bi bigg gger than his head : T The he fis fisherm hermen that walk upon the beach A Appea ppear llik ike e mice; and yon tall anchoring bark D Dimini iminished shed to her cock; her cock, a buoy A Almost lmost to too o small for sight: tl tliie murmuring surge That on the unnu unnumb mber ered idle pebb pebbles les chafes, Cann Cannot ot be he hea ard so high - I'l'lll llook ook no more, Lest my brain turn, and the deficient defi cient sight T Topple opple down headlong. CROSBY CASTLE TLE

Situate ituated inl inland, and, and not ffar ar from the vill villag age of Kilbride, ilbride, iis s reached by a parish road branching of offf the the main turnpike.  Alo  Al ong with the adjacent grounds it belongs to Mr. E. E. H H.. J. J. Crawfo forrd, and is well worth visit itiing. Perfect freedom is allowed allowed to wander about the grounds and expl xplore ore the fine ol old d woods, and, in consequence, it is a fav favouri ourite te resort ffor or pleasure parties. The old castl castle, e, which has been restored in excell excellent ent taste by Mr. Crawford, may be seen at any time. Crosby is is peculiarl peculiarly y int intere eresting sting as the place where the brave Wil Williliam am Wall Wallace ace found ref refuge uge during his out outllawry by the English Engl ish authori authoriti ties. es. Many antiquarian obj objects ects of iintere nterest are poi pointed nted out by the forrester's wif ife, e, who shows vi visit sitors ors through the castle. LAW CASTL TLE E

is finel finely y situated on a steep eminence overlo overlooki oking ng the vill villag age, and on threesides at least, commands the finest prospects to be obtained in this this distri district. ct. IItt is is supposed to have b bee een buil builtt about 146 1468 8 ffor or the accommodatio tion n of the Princess Mary, sist sister er of James IIIII., o on n her marriage with T Thoma homas, master of Bo Boyd, yd, afterwards Earl of Arran. (Robertson's Cunnin inghame.) Law Castle iis s evidently of more mod moder ern date date tha than n Portincr Portincross. oss. Be Being ing ffurn urnishe ished d with gun ports, it must have bee been buil builtt aft after er theintroductio introduction n of cannon. cannon.

32

 

ROTHESAY 

We must refer the reader to ot other her guid uides, es, of which there are many, ffor or a full descri ripti ption on of this ffavouri avourite te wateringplace. We merely di direct rect him to the chief poi points nts o off intere interest. In summer, steamers run between Wemyss Bay Pier and Rothesa Rot hesay in connecti connection on wit with h nearly all the Wemyss Bay trains and most o off the Rothesay steamers call at Innel Innellan, lan, which is onl only y ten minut inutes es sail from Wemyss Bay. INNELLAN is one one of

those wateringtering-places places that have sprung up on the Firth o off Clyde withi within n recent years. It co consists nsists chie chiefl fly y of a ro row w of beaut utiful iful villas villas,, along the coast st,, on each side of th the e pier, and is muc uch h fre frequ que ent nte ed by G Gla lasg sgow famililies ies in the summer months. Across the Firth Firth there is a fine vi view ew of the Cl Cloch och Li Lighthouse ghthouse and the whole liline ne of  coast down by Skelmorl lmorlie ie and Largs. Lea Leaving ving Innel Innellan, lan, tthe he steamer proceeds to Toward Pier, near which tthe he Toward Lighthouse Li ghthouse standing so prominentl prominently y on the southsouth-we west extremity of Cowal, and seen by all vessels coming up theClyde. stands amidst pl plea easure grounds v very ery richl richly y wooded, on that part of the Cowal Coast which iis s opposit oppo site e to Ro Rothesa thesay. IIn n early ti time mes it was the seat of t»lie head of the Laments, who, befo before re the Campbell pbells s attained to pre-eminence, were the Lords Lords of Cowal. IIn n days of o old, ld, thi this s famil family y had the honour of giv giving ing a queen to Olave, K King ing of Man. Here Mary, Q Quee ueen of Scots, iin n the course of her wanderings, once dined. The present mansi nsion on was erected in 1821 by Mr. K Kirkman irkman Fi Finlay, nlay, who al also so greatly tly inc increa reased and improved the arable llands. ands. TOWARD CASTLE

 After touching at Craigmore Pier, recently built for  Aft for the accommodation of tth hose residing at the east end of R Ro othesay and Ascog, Ascog, the steamer reaches Rothesay. T The he situati situation on iis s particul particularly arly ffine ine and well s sheltered, heltered, and the cli clima mate is so mil mild d that it has been denominated the "Montpeli Montpelier er of Scotl cotland." and." D During uring summer it iis s vi visit sited ed dail daily y by hundreds of  excursionist excursio nists s ffrom rom Gl Glasg asgow and els lsew ewhere. There can be no doubt that it o owe wes its o origin rigin to the exi xistence stence of it its s ancient castle, stle, under the protecti protection on of which it graduall dually y arose. T The he ruins of thi this s ol old d castle in the centre of the town, about two or three minutes walk ffrom rom the pier, form one of the chie chieff obj objec ects ts of interest ffor or the vi visito sitor. r. T This his castle w was as a rroya oyall re residenc sidence ea as s early as the end of the iith century, (noo.) (noo.) Rather more than half a century aft after er this iitt was taken by Haco, but when this o olld Norwegian was defeated at the battl battle e of Largs, R Rothesay othesay Castle stle had to be abandoned. Robert Robert IIII was in tthe he habit o off residing here, and he was the ffirst irst tto o give his eldest son the ti title tle of Duke of R Rothesa othesay, a titl title e which has since been been invariab invariably ly given to tthe he Prince Pri nce of Wal Wales. es. IIn n the time of Robert IIIII., R Rothesay othesay was erected into a royal burgh, and this ki king ng was in the habit of holdin holding g his cou ourrt at the the cast stle le.. In 1685 it was taken and burn rntt by th the e Marquis of Argyll, and eve verr since it has been in rui ruins. ns. T The he present Marquis of Bute has done much to beautif beautify y the grounds about the old bui buildi lding, ng, and to keep it ffrom rom goi oing ng to decay. The most ancient porti portion on of the castle consists of a circul circular ar court, 138 feet in diameter, surrounded surroun ded by a wall eigh eightt ffee eet tthick, hick, and sevente venteen en ffee eet hi high gh,, with battlements ents.. The w wall all was flanke flanked d by ffour our round towe to wers at nearly equal di distance stances, and the whole was surrounded by a moat of consi considera derable breadth, and fi fiffteen feet deep. It was enlarged by King Robert II II.,., who buil builtt an obl oblong ong keep, three stori stories es in height, iin n front of the ancient gateway, and proj projecting ecting int into o tthe he moat. The A The the n next ext object of inter interes est. T Til illl late lately ly the only institution of the k kind ind in Sc Scotland, otland, it iis s alike a an n  AQU QUA ARIUM IUM is the ornament to tthe he burgh, and an honour tto o the the isl island. and. A Alll the arrangements are most complete, and the tanks, ((some some of  them thirty fee feet iin n length), present a beauti utifful combinatio combination n of art and nature, in in whi hich ch the fi finny nny occupants can be seen to the greatest advantage. Among Amongst the most recent additi additions ons are a gigantic edibl edible e turtle, weighing nearly o one ne cwt, from  Ja  Jamaica; h ho orse shoe crabs ffrrom North A Am merica; s se eals ffrrom Newfo fou undland; a allligators and s so oft fts shell tu turtle, from St. Louis, U.S.A. .A. The coll collec ection tion of sea an ane emone ones s iis sv ver ery fine, fine, and the seal house w with ith its luxurian luxuriantt tree-f e-fe erns rns,, its dripp dripping ing rocks, and rustic stairway, has been got up with great taste. For a ffull ull descriptio cription n of this iinter nteresting instituti institution, on, we refer the visitor visitor to the of offfici icial al guide book, (price 6 6d.), d.), by Mr. Barker, the cu cura rator. tor. Some very fine driv drives es may be had on the isl island and of Bute, which is about seventeen mililes es long, and ffour our in breadth. One favouri avourite te drive is to Mount Stuart House, the residence of the Marquis of B Bute. ute. Thi This s fi fine ne ol old d mansion was recently much mu ch iinjured njured by ffire, ire, but iitt iis s now unde underg rgoi oing ng restoration. On Lo Loch ch Fad, a ffre resh sh water lake about a mil mile ea and nd a qua quarte rterr above the town of Rothesay, iis sE Edm dmund und K Ke ean's cottage, wh wher ere e the fam famous ous actor lilived ved ffor or some timeafter retiring ffrom rom the stage. The cottage was afterwards occupi occupied ed by Sheridan K Knowles, nowles, another ffam amous actor, who here spent the closi closing ng  ye  years of his life. MILLPORT

From Largs the steamer crosses to Mil Millpo lport rt iin n half half--anan-hour: hour: al alll tthe he Wemyss Bay steamers call alling ing at Largs, go on to Milillport. lport. 33

 

The vil village lage is very pleasantl ntly y sit situated uated in a bay on the south end of the Isl Island and of L Larg arger Cumbrae. T This his bay is sheltered at its entrance by a number of islets, islets, and on the sout outh, h, by the Isl Island and of L Liittl ttle e Cumbrae. The vi villllag age stretches about a mile mil e and a half along the bay, and has a very fi fine ne southern exposure. Li Like ke Largs it iis s a favouri avourite te resort during summer of visitors visitors ffrom rom Gl Glasg asgow and othe otherr places, and many any of the inhabitants m make akea liv living ing by letting the their ir houses during the season. T The he whole lleng ength of the island is ab about out eight miles, ffrom rom north-eas north-eastt to southsouth-we west, and about two broa broad: d: consequently the walks are not numerous, but two o off them are very bea  beautif utiful, ul, vi viz., z., the walk (or driv drive) e) by the road rround ound the islan isl and, d, recently fform ormed ed by the Earl of Glasgow, and that across the isl islan and d to the Ba Balllloch och Pi Pier er opposite Largs. The Isl Island and of Great Cumbrae is a mass of granite, nite, except just at the sout outh, h, where, as in the small aller er island, are metamorphi orphic c rocks o off the sil silurian urian age. O On n the eastern shore, opposi opposite te Fairli Fairlie, e, may be seen a coupl couple e of int intere eresting whinstone dykes. The whol hole e island fforms orms one parish (call (called ed the Parish of Cumbrae), and is the joi joint nt property of the Earl o off Glasg lasgow ow an and d the Marquis arquis of Bute. A An n amusing story is to told ld o off a former incumbent who, with hi high gh ideas of tthe he parish over which he ruled, was wont to pray in in hi his s regular S Sabb abbath servi service ces s "f "for the IIsland sland of Cumbrae, together with the adjace djacent nt IIslands slands of Great Brit Britain ain an and d Irela Ireland." nd." Near the centre of the vil village lage may be seen "T "The he Garrison," a favouri favourite te residence of the Earl of Glasgow. O On n the hil hilll above the vill villag age is the Parish Church, and a handsome new Unit United ed Presbyterian Church; the Free Church is lower lower down, about the centre of the vil village lage, and furt further her north, outsi outside de thevi villllag age, on arisi rising ng piece of ground, is the Epi Episcopal scopal Cathe Ca thedra dral and College, erected and end ndow owe ed by the Earl of Glas lasg gow ow,, and said to have cos costt £ 2  20 0,000. Visitors are admit itted ted at certain ho hours, urs, which are noti notiffied on a board at the entrance. On the IIsla sland nd of Larg Larger Cumbr bra ae there is a farm called Port Portry ry.. The name iis s derive rived d from Po  Port Righ, signif signifying ying the landing landi ng place of the king, and is said tto o mark the place where King Haco llande anded at the battl ttle e of Largs. NAMES OF PLACES PLACES AND ROMAN REM REMAINS NAMES OF PLACES

To any one refl reflecting ecting on the names which hich are appli pplied ed to di diffferent places in the locali locality, ty, such as hil hills, ls, streams, promontories, promontori es, &c., the question naturally lly occurs, by whom and at what ti time me were they given ? Who, e.g., gave such names as Largs, Skelmorli kelmorlie, e, Wemyss, K Knock, nock, and so fforth orth ? Are they merely arbitrary designatio signations, ns, besto bestowe wed at random random,, or given, as th the e poet Burns received his name - "I think we'l'lll ca' him Robin." That some of them were so giv given, en, seems lilikely kely enough; but that the great majori ajority ty of them (and those the most ancient) were besto bestowe wed on a principleand mean somethi something ng approp ppropri riate ate to tthe he places they desi designate, gnate, there cannot be the sli slightest ghtest doubt. And the strange thing about them is, tthat hat they were nearly all given by the most ancient inhabitants of our country, and through all the vi vicissitudes cissitudes of wars and rebellions, ellions, an and d invasions invasions by dif diffferent races, have be bee en retained up to the present ti time me. These These ancient iinhabitants nhabitants were Celt lts, s, and consequently the great majori ority ty of names of pl place aces are Gaelic.  All e  All ex xperience tells u us s tth hat tth hough the population of a country may change, th the names of g grreat n na atural ffe eatures mountains, lochs, lochs, riv rivers, ers, islands, promonto promontories ries - generally lly remain unaffected, and retain the stamp of it its s earli arliest est race, by whom these these names were imposed. The names of farms, homesteads, and houses, may change and bear the impress of each succeeding popul populatio ation, n, but those of of the grand unchangeable ffea eatures of nature remain tthe he same. Suppose one were to do doubt, ubt, whether at any time the Lowlands of Scotl cotland and had been inhabi inhabited ted by Celt lts, s, and suppose it were asserted that ffrom rom the earliest rliest ti time mes the pl place aces had been po possess ssessed (as now) by T Teutons, eutons, and onl only y the mountain distric di stricts ts in the Hi Highlands, ghlands, had been Celti Celtic, c, the names of hundreds of places, withi within n a few mil miles es of where we are, would disprove dispro ve the asserti rtion, on, e.g., Largs, IInverkip, nverkip, K Knock, nock, Cumb Cumbra rae, e, K Kelburn elburn,, &c. We repeat then ((1) 1) that G Gae aelic names are the most ancient iin n the country; (2) they designate the great natural, unchangeable ffea eatures of nature: o or, r, conv converse ersely, that the names which are ffound ound attached to the great natural unchangeabl ble e features of nature are, generally speaking, G Gae aelic and (3) the names of farms, houses, homesteads, being more modern are, generally speaking, Anglonglo-Sa Saxon, as e.g., Middleton, Thi Thirdpa rdpart, D Dyke ykes, s, Ma Mains, ins, Burnsyde, &c.  And now we naturally ask - How does it happen that the Gaelic has succeeded in maintaining its sway over natural  And objects, obj ects, and designati ting ng them by its own peculiar uliar tongue ? And the answer is - Because of its natural superio riority  rity and purpose. ose. Not o only nly had these old fforefather orefathers of ours an ardent passio ion n ffor or iim mposing na name mes on all pecul uliir fi fitnes for such a purp 34

 

prominent objects, objects, but their llang anguage is peculiarly uliarly ffit itted ted fo forr such a purpose. None of the languages of which the Englilish sh tongue is composed can at all compar are e with iitt in in thi this s resp respec ect. t. The qualilities ties which rende derr it so are its copiio  its discrimination and its f ousness, it  frrequencyofmetaphor.. The names which iitt has given to su such ch objec objects ts of natur ture e as moun ounta tains, ins, and rive rivers rs or lak lake es, disp display lay the fi firs rstt of these qualities. qualiti es. When compared with ith the other to tongue ngues of which our llang anguage is composed, the barrenness of the latter appears conspicuous. For example, the G Gae aelic lic has n no o few fewer than 50 dif diffferent terms for for hil hills ls o off various ki kinds, nds, from Be  Ben (as Ben Nevis, Ben Cruachan) fo forr the highest mountain, down to Kn forr the sm smallest: allest:  Knock, and Tom(as Tom-na- hurich) fo while the Anglo-S Anglo-Saxon has scarcely half half--a-doz a-dozen en fo forr the sameobjects. In the same way ffor or ri rivers, vers, llake akes, o orr waters. Whi Whille the Gaelic has about seventeen dif diffferent names, and fo forr smaller streams more than seven, the A Anglonglo-S Saxon seems to hav have e only one ffor or the fforme ormer, and one for tthe he latter (vi (viz. z.,, byrn, burn). So So much for the copio copiousne usness of the Celt ltic. ic.  As an instance of iitts discriminatingpower, ttake ake some of the disti distincti nctions ons made regarding riv ivers, as Ede Eden n and Ithan - a gliding glidi ng stream; Alan - a bright stre strea am; Uisge du - a black or dark colo coloure ured d stream; High or Il Ila a - a flo loody ody stre stream am; Ar - (River Ayr Ayr)) clear; D Dhu hu or Dhun - (Doon) dark rk.. In In the c ca ase of the las lastt two, w with ith wh which ich w we ea are re more partic rticula ularly rly acquainted, inted, we can test the discri discriminating minating power of the Celti Celtic c tongue. T The he river D Doon, oon, iin n consequence of running through a soft soft deep bog near its its head, receives a black mossy tinge, which it it retains throug through its its whol whole e course, whereas tli tlie e Riv River er Ayr (cl (clea ear) ffrom rom fl flowing owing above a grave avelllly y bed, continues clear and limpid throughout.  As to its metaphoric whole e llang anguage is replete with examples. Such then being the respective merit its s of the ical character, the whol Celtic Celti c and other languages, we arenot surprised to find tthat hat as a general rul rule, e, wherever other tribes occupi occupied ed countries in Europe, Europe, previ previousl ously y occupied by the Celts, the the intruders not onl only y adopted the names of the rivers, mountains, and other place places, that the more lilively vely genius o off the Celts had iimpose mposed, but bo borrowe rrowed ffrom rom them many other terms as well. In Scotl Scotland, and, tthey hey adopted even a greater number; and thus iitt happens, that alt although hough we are so many centuries removed oved from these ancient fforef orefathe athers of ours, and notwithst notwithstanding anding the numerous iinvasio nvasions ns by other natio nations, ns, the Celtic Celtic lang language has held iits ts sway over the domini ominion on o off natural obj objects ects and retained them as its own peculiar heritage. It should be added that in disti disting nguishing uishing Celtic names, the fol follo lowing wing rrule ule will be fo found und useful : In names d der eriv ived ed from the Celtic Celtic lang languages, the root word is generall rally y placed at the beginni ginning ng of the name (prov (provided ided the word contai contain n more than one syll syllable able), ), thus e.g., A uchen (the Celtic ffor or f  fiield) is found found as the prefi prefix x iin n many words, e.g., Au  Auc chengarth - a rough roug h or coarse field; A Auche uchendarroch - an oak field; A Auche uchencloi ncloich ch - a stony field, the root word being being p pre reffix ixed ed,, and the adjectivecoming after. On On the o other ther hand, in na name mes derived ffrom rom the T Teu eutonic tonic or Scandinavian llang angua uage ges, the root word comes last, as wililll be ffound ound with regard to to ton, n, dale, berg, statt, yard, as in Middlton, Blac Black  k dale dale. follo ollowing wing prefi efixes xes and postf postfiixes of names of places bear a variety of meanings, but the nature of the placemust determine THE TH E

Bal-  or, BealCar-

ClachanKel-, Kit-, or Kyle-

Ock

a mouth or pass - e.g., Balloch Balla, a place or vil village lage - e.g., Balmoral Kirk - e.g., Carluk luke e Castel - e.g., Carstairs Rock - e.g., Carrick  Winding Wi nding stream - e.g., Carron Steppi tepping ng stones ov over er stream, Stone circle - Druidical - hen hence ce Church Caol - narrows - e.g., Kyleakin Ceann - a head—e.g., Kildrummie Cill - a cell - e.g., Kilmuir Coil, (old King ing)) - Kyle (in Ayrs rshire hire.) Coill - a wood - e.g., Kelvin Coll - hazel Cul - back back of of— —e.g., Kiltoy Aig - a bay - e.g., Gre  Green enock  ock  Og (diminutive.) Oigh - a maiden - e.g., Kem  Kempock  Uchd Uch d - brow of a hill - e.g., Garvock  35

 

Uig - a corne cornerr Teine - ffiire - e.g., Tintu Tig Ti gh - a house - e.g., T  Tinnycru innycruss ss

Tin, or Tinny CARDINAL POINTS

Deas Er Iar Tuath

Right side, or South - e.g., Deska  Deskart Front, or East - e.g.. E  Ear arn n Hinder part, or West - e.g., Iorsa Left side, or Korth - e.g., Tievietooey

LIST OF LOCAL NAMES

 Ardgowan  Ard  Ard  Ar drishaig  Ard  Ar drossan  Arrran  Ar  Asc  As cog  Auc  Au chengarth  Ayr

Ard-gobha, Smith's height Ar Ard d-dr -driseag, height of ihe bramble (Di Dim m. of Ard-ro -ros) - Height of the little promontory Ar Ar-r -riin, land of sharp points Ai Ais s-c -ciiiach, cuckoo's retreat Au Auc chen garbh - rough fie field Ar - Clear water

Barr Benmore Bute Bu te

A hill top Great hill Baile mhot ota a - to tow wn of tth he moat - Ro Roth the esay was the anci cie ent name of th the e Island of Bute

Cly lyd de Colint Co lintra raive Corrie Cowal Crinan Cum Cu mbrae

Clu luttha, according ing to Chalmers - warm, shelt lte ered Caol-a ol-an-a n-a-sn -sna aim imh h - sw swim imm mingnarrow ows s Coire - a hollow Gobhal - forked Grianan - s su unny spot Cu Cum mhr hra a - fra frag grant (fromits abu bund nda ance nce of sweet smelling herbs) bs)

Daff Doon Dunoon Dun Du nrod Gareloch Garroch Glcncroe Glen Gle ndarual Gle Glenfr fru uin Gog Go go Gourock Gre Gr eenock

stream - Damh - an ox Dhu - d da ark water Grey fort Du Dun n roid - fo forrt of the sweet-g -ga ale Short loch Garbh - rough Croe - a hut Va Valle lley of the the two Ru Rua als - stre treams Bron (Bhroin) in) - weeping ing Ac Acc cording to Pent, a branching river Gabhar - a goat Gr Gre eanach - gravelly lly bay

Inverkip Irvi rvine ne – riv river er

Mouth of the Ki Kip p Odhar (i (ier er)) - grey water

Kames Kam Cam - cu currved or bending - Camus - a bay Kelly Coill - a wood Kell Ke lly ymore the great wood Kelburn the woody burn Kelvin the woody river The appropr ppropriatene iateness of the designatio tion n may be inf infer erred from the fol follo lowing wing q quotation uotation ffrom rom an ol old d wr writer iter "There were few tre tree es in in the district of Skelm kelmorli orlie e Cast Castle le and no ffoli oliag age ne nea arer than K Knock nock on the one  side and Kelly Kelly on tthe he othe other" r" Kilc Kil chattan Cell of St. Chattan Kilb ilbrride St. B Brrideor St. Bridg Bridget - a vir virg gin of g grreat ce cele leb brit rity y iin n th the e Scotc cotch h Cale lend nda ar Knock Cnoc - a hill Knocb nocbra rack - spotted knoll 36

 

Knockreay - grey hill hill Knock nockroe roe - re red d hill Kyles (of Bute Bute)) Caolas - narrows, stra strait it Largs

Learg - a hill ill slop lope, a an nd, a ac ccording ing to others, a sloping sloping plain with a pass, ii.e. .e. a mountain pa pass ss to the high country Loch Awe Ath - a ford Loch Eck Ai Airre - n na arrow lake Loch Fyne Fin - c cllear Loch Long Luinge - a ship Loch Lomond Leamh mhan ann n - lake of the elm riv river er (Leven) Oban Oba Otter (Ferr (Ferry) y)

Dim Diminutive of 'ob' - a little bay Oiter - a bank in the sea

Portin tinc cro ross ss

Port-na-cr -crois ois - la land ndin ing g-pla -plac ce of the the cross oss

Rothe Rot hesay

(Scand nda anavia vian n) - Isla Islan nd of Ro Roth the er - the the ancie ncien nt name of Bu Bute te

Skelmorlie Sta take ke,, Hil Hilll of Strone

Stac tac - a high hill Sron - a promontory

Tarbert Tighnabruich Tow To ward

Tairbeart - an isthmus The house on the bank  Rugha an To Ton nnard - high waveo

Wemyss Bay

Uamh - a cave

ROMAN REMAINS

For those those who may wish to examine the "R "Roman oman Bri Bridge dge" at Inv Inverkip, erkip, and other supposed Roman remains iin n the district, wegiv ive e a br brief ief ske sketch tch of the Roman occupation. tion.  Very little is known regarding the state of Scotland, or of any part of tth he British Is Islles, befo forre their occupation by the Romans. At At the ti time mewhen theseforeigners landed on our shores, we find the nativ native e Celt lts s scattered over North Brit Britain, ain, but with that peculiar peculiar aversio version n to uni union on which always characterised them, di divi vided ded int into o numberless tri tribes bes or clans each tri tribe be independent of the rest, and only uni uniti ting ng wit ith h the others when common danger threatened. The di distri strict ct iin n which we live live was occupi occupied ed by the tribe calllled ed the Da  Damnii, the most po powe werf rful, ul, and perhaps the least barbarous of any. For many generatio rations ns they conti continued nued to hunt ttheir heir game and ffee eed their fflo locks cks on the hills hills o off Skelmorl kelmorlie ie and Largs befo before re the Ro Roma man inv invasion. asion. T That hat great event, so ffar ar as England was concerned, to took  ok  pl place ace in the year 55 B.C., but the Caledonians of offfered a braver resistance sistance than their southern neighbours, and in consequence, the Romans had great dif diffficul iculty ty iin n extending their dominio dominions ns northwards. T The he country was strongly fortif ortified ied by nature, and art, even amongthose rud rude e natives tives had done som something ething to ffortif ortify y it still still more; so that 135 years elapsed elap sed from the date of their landing in E Eng ngland til tilll the time of their ffirst irst attempt on the country of o our ur ancestors. T The he space at o our ur di disposal sposal does not admit more than the brief briefest est account o off the general characterist ristics ics o off the Roman occupation. occupatio n. Suff Suffiice it to say, that they continued to occupy England fo forr 500 years, and a consi considera derabl ble e portio portion n of  Scotl cotland and fo forr 350 years. O One ne of the most st striki riking ng monuments of their power was their hi highw ghways, which, by traversing their provinc provinces, es, supported their authori uthority ty and promoted their intercourse. They buil builtt two giganti tic c wall alls s (as every reader of histo history ry knows) one running between the Clyde and the Forth, call called ed the wall of Antoni ntonine, ne, and the other between the Sohv ohvay ay Firth and the T Tyne, yne, called the wall of Hadrian. T The he territory which llay ay between these walls was everywhere interse intersected by Roman roads. They never penetrated into into what is di disti stincti nctively vely call called ed the Highlands, nor (so ffar ar as the writer is aware) is there any evid evidence enceto sho show w that they vis visit ited ed Bute, Arran, or the Cumbraes, although it is po possi ssible ble (or probable) proba ble) tha thatt Agricoi Agricoia, a, or those who fo follllowe owed in his ffootsteps, ootsteps, landed on som some e of them from theAyrs yrshire hire c coast, oast, bu butt there is evidence evidenceto to show th that at they occup occupied ied the region of the Damnii. We do not know how this brave tribe ffoug ought ht against the Ro Roma mans, but we know that the Romans were compelllled ed to erect iin n their territo territories ries a strong camp which they calllled ed Vanduaria, and of which many traces remained so late as the 17th century. IItt had indeed been fo forr a long time time supposed that the Romans never were in A Ayrshire yrshire nor II--lcnf lcnfrcwshire rcwshire at all all;; but ffrom rom discov discoveries eries whi hich ch have been made, iitt may now be regarded as def defin init itely ely settl settled ed that they were. Remains o off the Ro Roma man road have been fo found, und, and the road it itself self traced ffor or consi considera derable dist distance ances. No Nott far far from A Ayr yr there is a farm calllled ed the "Causeway," which, 37

 

according to Chalme Chalmers, iis s supposed to have derived ived its name fro from m the circumstance of the road running beside it, and from that pla place ce ffor or the dist dista anc nce e of more than a mile iitt is said to have been dist distinct inctly ly traced. Another road is also indicate indi cated striki striking ng of offf thi this s one, and ending at Loudon Loudon Hi Hillll,, which may have been conti ontinued nued to IIrvi rvine ne and thence to Largs. Chalmers, in the third volume of his ponder ponderous ous w work ork ""Caled Caledonia," onia," says - "Roman trinkets h have ave been been found in  va  various parts of tth his shire (Ayrshire). They (the Romans) had erected their villas along the fi fin ne shore of the Clyde fi firrth from K Kell elly y Burn to IIrvi rvine, ne, and on thi this s coast the remains of their baths have been disco discovered, vered, where so many bathi thing ng establ blishments ishments have recentl ntly y been form formed." But now, now, iitt may be asked, what traces of the Romans have been fo found und in o our ur own neighbourhoo ighbourhood d ? IIn n Paterson's "History History of Ayrshire" iitt is stated that a Roman bath was disco iscovered vered at Largs in the garden of Mrs. Hall, po postst-mistress, mistress, in the y ye ear 1 182 820. 0. Mr Mr.. J. J. Eaton Reid, au author thor of a "Hi "History story of the Cou County nty of Bute," tell tells s us in a note to his v volume olume ttha hatt the father father of Mr. Wi Willlliam iam Jamieson, some time time ago church off officer at Largs, happened on one occasio occasion n to be digging in the same garden, and ""that that about 18 iinches nches ffrom rom the surf surface ace he came upon a pavement, &c., forme ormed of square shaped til tiles of red fi fireclay." reclay." A great many of these til tiles were preserved by dif diffferent people, and they used to be lyi lying ng about iin n many quarters of the town. T The he late D Dr. r. Campbell of Largs has stated that he remembers the ti tiles les being ffound, ound, that he himself was possessed of several of them, and that they were of often ten to be seen in the houses of the town's people, ""who who used them as hobs ffor or their ffireplaces." ireplaces." This statement has been corroborated by several others, others, who all co concur ncur in the belief beli ef that the ti tiles les had been pronounced at the time to be Roman, by competent authori authoriti ties. es. The author of the "Histo History ry of Bute" states further that Mrs. John H Hall, all, da daug ughter hter-inin-law law of the Mrs. Hall already ady mentioned, produced to him" one of the identical ttililes es,, wh which ich upon being submitted to a gentleman skill skilled ed in Roman antiquiti ntiquities es (Mr. Buchan Buchanan an of Glasgow) was pronounced to have every appearance of being Ro Roma man." "The tile," he says, ""is is square, 11½ inches across (about a Roman foot foot), ), and 2 inches deep, of a very ponderous, red, grit itty ty ffirecl ireclay, ay, quite unli unlike ke anything of recent formation." The present writ iter er has himself seen coi coins ns about Largs with ith undoubted Roman inscript inscriptio ions, ns, which were said to hav have e been dug out of the earth in di diffferent parts of the vi villllag age. Several o off these coi coins ns were sent at that ti time me to the Earl of  Eglinton. In addit additio ion n to these remains it must be remembered that tthe he appearances of a tripl triply y entrenched encampment o on nK Knock  nock  Hi Hillll,, which are sti stillll quit quite e di disti stinct, nct, are said to be Roman, and at least two competent observers have, "wit "without hout being in communicati unication on on the subject, subject,"" pronounced themto be so. In the parish o off Invcrki nvcrkip, p, not far from the farm of Uunrod, tthere here is an old bri bridge dge which has ffor or many years been known by the name of the ""Roman Roman bridge." It is is certainly inly of very great age, and is in appearance just what the Roman bridges were lilike. ke. Cl Close ose by the present graveyard in Inverki nverkip p there are the remains of a very ancient road, whi which, ch, by the oldest oldest people iin n the place, is known by the name of the ""Cause Causeway." It is is very narrow, as the Roman roads were known to be, and altho although ugh nearly ov overg ergrown with grass and covered wit ith h rubbish, bears evi evident dent traces of it its s causeway formati tion, on, but whether it iis s really lly entitl titled ed to be called lled Roman may be doubted. Many may be disposed to wonder at there being so ffew ew Roman remains ffound ound iin n the distri district ct compared wit ith h Celti Celtic; c; but a lilittl ttle e consi considera derati tion on of the characteristi cteristics cs of tthe he Roman occupation tion wil willl expl explain ain the reason. IItt must always be borne in mind that the occupation occupation of Bri Britain tain by the Romans was purely mililit itary ary and lasted onl only y fo forr a short ti time me. T The he country was never thoroughly R Roma omaniz nized ed lilike ke Fran France ce or Spain. The inf influence luence which the Roma Romans ns had on the native llan angu guag age, for example, was very small. In Welsh there are ffew ew and iin n the G Gae aelilic c scar scarce cely ly an any y Latin word words, s, an and d almost no trace of  them whatever iin n names bestowed on natural obj objects, ects, such as mountai ountains, ns, ri rivers, vers, promonto promontories, ries, &c. The Scandinavi candinavians ans have even given given a greater number of names to places than the Romans. Professor Profes sor Blackie, in hi his s introduction to the "E "Etym tymological ological G Geog eogra raphy" phy" say says s that "camps, battlefi battlefields, elds, and mili military tary settlements wi willll naturalllly y llea eave stro strong ng traces iin n the topo topog graphy of anv country where human beings dwell and accordingly we find that the Chester  (as (as Manche nchest ste er, &c.) and caster  (Lancaster) (Lancaster) added as a generi neric c term to so many Engli nglish sh towns are si simply mply the sites of ancient Roman castra or camps." To these add coin in (colo  (colonia) nia) which is found in Li Lincoln; ncoln; and the word stre street, et, ffrom rom stratum or strata,  and you have nearly all that can be adduced as topographical traces of a Roman occupatio occupation. n. In judging of the pa paucity ucity o off Roman remains iin n the di district, strict, it must also be rememb mber ered ed that the progress ress of agriculture in a thriv thriviing county lilike ke A Ayrshire yrshire has effaced many of them. But tho those se which have been disco discovered vered both here and elsewhere (being principally roads roads,, bridges, baths, trinkets, coi coins, ns, &c.) prove that Roman civ civililiz ization ation iin n Britain was very far advanced and much more complete than iis s commonly suppo supposed. sed.

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CLIMATE

The temperature of the distri district ct iis s exceedi dingly ngly mild, and strangers ffrom rom other parts of the K Kiingdom are often often surprised at the shr shrubs ubs and plants ffound ound growing her here, e, which will ill not grow in plac places es considered much warmer. We subjoin a short list list of shrubs which grow and blo bloom om only iin n the milder ilder parts of tthe he K Kingdom, ingdom, healt lthy hy specimens of whi which ch may be found in this locali locality ty - Myrtles yrtles**, Fuschia Fuschias, s, varieties of *, Escallo Escallonias, nias, Euonymus, Hydrangea*, Ceanothus, Laurestinus, Disf isfontania ontania Spinosa, Sweet Bay*, Wisteria Sinensis, Lavatera Arborea (Mallllow ow Tree) an and d Eucalyptus Globolus* lobolus* - or Blue Gum, or Fever Treeas it is is called lled in IItaly, taly, ha has s lived lived h her ere e th throug roughout hout the winter. Those marked * are common and well known plants, chi chiefl efly y fo found und in greenhouses. The ffact act of their growing and flo flowe wering iin n thi this s locality locality with the g grea reatest luxuriance indicates pretty clearly the mildness of the cli clim mate. G Ger eran aniums iums have been gathered fresh out of doo doors rs on New-Year's day.

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