The Irvine Valley Regeneration Partnership
A Rich History - The Past
Loudoun Castle, Galston
Loudoun Castle is the ancestral home of the Campbells of Loudoun, whose origins can be traced back to the reign of King David 1 (1094-1153)
A fire in 1941 tragically destroyed most of the Castle, but the shell remaining today once formed the building created by Fiona Mure-Campbell, Countess of Loudoun and Marchioness of Hastings in the early 1800s In its heyday, the Castle was known as the ‘Windsor of Scotland’. It currently forms part of the Loudoun Castle Theme Park.
History has it that drafts of the Treaty of Union of 1707 were discussed under the Auld Yew Tree in the gardens. The Wallace Sword belonging to the Scottish Patriot, William Wallace, once hung on the Castle walls.
Barr Castle, Galston
Barr Castle was built to control a strategically important crossroads. William Wallace sought refuge in the Barr Castle, known at that time as Lockharts Tower, from the English troops and leapt to freedom from a nearby tree. He is also reputed to have kept his men fit by playing a special handball game against the walls of the Castle – still played in Galston until recent years.
It is now a well preserved museum.
Loudoun Kirk, Galston
Loudoun Kirk is the traditional burial place of the Campbells of Loudoun. It was founded in 1415 by Alicia in memory of her husband Sir John Campbell of Loudoun. Friends of Loudoun Kirk have been successfully repairing and restoring the Kirk with aid from funders such as Heritage Lottery Fund and the Kirk was recently reconstructed in April 2003. The Belgian SAS, who trained at Loudoun Castle during the 2nd World War and in recent years gifted a commemorative plaque to the Kirk.
The Covenanters
In
the 17th century many local people risked their lives to defend
their religion against the laws of King Charles II.
The Covenanters, who were particularly active in this part of Scotland,
suffered religious persecution during the 17th century. "Deceit,
treachery, arrogance, atrocities, courage, faith, devotion, loyalty and
derring-do were all there." Many Covenanters died for their beliefs
and there are many sites and monuments throughout Ayrshire. Of particuliar
interest is the grave at Loudoun Old Parish Kirk near Galston.
Newmilns Keep
A Scheduled Ancient Monument, the Newmilns Keep in Castle Street was built in the 1530s for the Campbells of Loudoun as a fortified Tower House. During the “Killing Times” of the Covenanting era, troops of dragoons were stationed in the Keep for the purpose of hunting and imprisoning Covenanters. A local man, John Law, was shot in 1685 for attempting to rescue Covenanter prisoners and a plaque on the wall of the Tower commemorates his death.
Strathclyde Buildings Preservation Trust completed the restoration of this ancient monument in 1997.
Robert Burns
St Margaret’s Manse, home of the Reverend Lawrie, often gave hospitality to the Bard, Robert Burns and is credited with preventing Burns from emigrating to the Carribean. During a visit to the Manse, Burns inscribed on the window “Lovely Mrs Lawrie she is all charms”. The window is currently retained in the Dick Institute, Kilmarnock.
A Textile Centre of World Importance - Textiles and Lace
In the 15th Century Flemish Weavers founded the handloom weaving industry.
With 19th Century mechanisation, the Valley became a textile centre of world importance.
Picture taken from the James Mair Collection
The work of the foremost designers of the period - William Morris, C.F Voysey etc - was produced, along woth high quality cotton lace.
Picture courtesy of Haddow Aird & Crerar
Sadly...
A Centre for Free Thought
In the 16th century local farmer Murdoch Nisbet risked his life in making the first translation of the Bible into the Scots language.
Anti Slavery
In the 19th century the Valley's wealth depended on American cotton, but many local people supported the anti-slavery cause. In recognition, Abraham Lincoln sent them a Union flag in the hands of a black American. The whereabouts of that flag are unknown now, but in 1949 and 1990 new flags were presented.
Loudoun Hill, Darvel
Geologically, an extinct volcanic plug, Loudoun Hill is a dominant feature of the eastern landscape of the Irvine Valley and its site has been linked historically with the quest for Scottish Freedom. In 1297, William Wallace and 50 Scots ambushed and vanquished 180 of King Edward’s troops at Loudoun Hill. Again in 1307, 1,200 Scots, under Robert the Bruce, defeated English forces at Loudoun Hill – a definitive battle for Bruce in his struggle for the crown.
Sir Alexander Fleming
Born at Lochfield Farm outside Darvel in 1881, Alexander Fleming spent the first 14 years of his life attending Darvel School and Kilmarnock Academy before leaving for London. At St Mary’s Hospital in London, he made one of the most important medical discoveries of all time in 1929 – penicillin. Today, it is used to treat all kinds of bacterial infections. Sir Alexander Fleming died in 1955 and was buried in St Paul’s Cathedral.
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