Irvine
The Irvine near Drybridge
Country	Scotland
Length	29.5 mi (47 km)
Source
- location	near Drumclog, Ayrshire, Scotland
- elevation	810 ft (247 m)
Mouth
- location	Firth of Clyde

For the Scottish town of the same name see Irvine, Ayrshire.

The Irvine is a river flowing through southwest Scotland, and has its watershed on the Lanarkshire border of Ayrshire at an altitude of 810 feet above sea-level, near Drumclog, and 7 miles SW by W of Strathaven. It flows 29½ miles westward, dividing the old district of Cunninghame from that of Kyle, until it reaches the sea in the form of the Firth of Clyde at the town of Irvine. It has many tributaries which also form parish and district boundaries. Drybridge is a village in North Ayshire, Scotland. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity(English) Wha daur meddle wi me? (Scots)[1] Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots[2] Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... A mile is a unit of length, usually used to measure distance, in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, United States customary units and Norwegian/Swedish mil. ... km redirects here. ... Ayrshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Àir in Scottish Gaelic) is a region of south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity(English) Wha daur meddle wi me? (Scots)[1] Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots[2] Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... Map of the Firth of Clyde and area The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Irvine is a coastal new town in Ayrshire, Scotland, administered by North Ayrshire council. ... Río Peralonso - El Zulia (Norte de Santander), Colombia River Gambia flowing through Niokolokoba National Park Nevėžis River in Lithuania A river is a natural waterway usually formed by water derived from either precipitation or glacial meltwater, and flows from higher ground to lower ground. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity(English) Wha daur meddle wi me? (Scots)[1] Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots[2] Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... Lanarkshire (Siorrachd Lannraig in Gaelic) is a traditional county of Scotland. ... Ayrshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Àir in Scottish Gaelic) is a region of south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. ... Common Green, the centre of Strathaven Strathaven (pronounced: Straven , meaning: valley of the Avon) is a small town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. ... Cunninghame (Coineagan in Scottish Gaelic) is one of three traditional districts of Ayrshire. ... Map of the Firth of Clyde and area The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Irvine is the name of more than one place: Irvine, California Irvine, Scotland Irvine is the name of a Scotish Clan. ... A tributary (or affluent or confluent) is a contributory stream, a river that does not reach the sea, but joins another major river (a parent river), to which it contributes its waters, swelling its discharge. ...

The course of the Irvine and its tributaries

The River Irvine^[1][2] rises in two head-waters, the one in a moss at Meadow-head, on the eastern boundary of the parish of Loudoun or of Ayrshire, and the other a mile eastward in the parish of Avondale in Lanarkshire, near the battle-field of Drumclog. Loudoun (Lughdan in Scottish Gaelic) is an area of East Ayrshire, Scotland, east of Kilmarnock. ...

About 2¾ miles from the point of its entering the county of Ayrshire, it is joined from the north by Glen water, which strictly speaking is the parent-stream, on account of its length and the volume of water it carries; for the Glen Water rises at Crosshill in Renfrewshire, a mile north of the East Ayrshire boundary, and runs 6 miles southward, joined by five rills in its progress, to the point of confluence with the Irvine. Swollen by this substantial tributary, the Irvine immediately passes the town of Darvel on the right, — 1¾ mile onward, the town of Newmilns, — at 2¼ miles farther on, the town of Galston, on the left. The Hagg burn joins before the town, having run passed the old ruined castle of Achruglen, near Loudoun castle.^[3] The Burnanne joins at Galston.

A mile and a quarter below Galston it receives from the north the Polbaith burn; ¾ of a mile lower down, it is joined from the south by the Cessnock water; and 3 miles later it passes Kilmarnock and Riccarton on opposite sides, and receives on its right bank the tributary of the Kilmarnock (or Marnock) Water. Nearly 22 miles onward, measured in a straight line, but 4 miles or upwards along its bed, it is joined on the same bank by Carmel Water; and 2½ miles farther on, it receives still on the same bank, the Annick Water's contribution. The river now runs 1½ mile in a north-west direction, passing through the town of Irvine; it then suddenly bends round until it follows a southerly direction; and opposite the town of Irvine, when running southward, it suddenly expands into a basin ¾ of a mile broad, which receives the Garnock river at its north-west extremity, and communicates by a narrow mouth or strait with the Firth (previously Frith)^[5] of Clyde. There are a number of settlements named Galston: Galston, East Ayrshire, is a town near Kilmarnock in Scotland Galston, New South Wales, is a town near Sydney in Australia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Irvine is the name of more than one place: Irvine, California Irvine, Scotland Irvine is the name of a Scotish Clan. ... Garnock is an area in North Ayrshire, Scotland between Kilbirnie, Beith and Dalry. ...

The Irvine is tidal as far as the nature reserve at Shewalton, half-a-mile or so upstream from the confluence with the Annick Water.

The main contributing rivers and rivulets in descending order of their confluences are therefore the Glen Water, Polbaith Burn, Cessnock Water, Kilmarnock Water, Carmel Water, Annick Water, and the Garnock. The Annick Water (previously called Annack, Annoch (1791) or Annock) runs in a south-western direction through North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. ... Garnock is an area in North Ayrshire, Scotland between Kilbirnie, Beith and Dalry. ...

2007 River Irvine gallery

The river Irvine and the view of the viaduct from near Laigh Milton Mill.	Looking up river from Laigh Milton viaduct.	Old Rome from Gatehead's bridge over the Irvine	Near the old Shewalton house and estate, Drybridge.
Near the old Shewalton house and estate, Drybridge.	Girtrig mill weir at Drybridge.	Near the site of Maid Morville's mound at Holmford, Dreghorn.	Near the site of Maid Morville's mound at Holmford, Dreghorn.

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 735 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A view of Old Rome from the bridge over the Irvine at Gatehead, East Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

Changing course

Many watercourses have changed direction over the years for various reasons. The Kilmarnock Water used to run slightly to the west as it passes through the Howard Park in Kilmarnock, previously 'Barbadoes Green'; the old 'fossilised' river bank is still discernible. It is said that this was done deliberately by a Lord Boyd, the local laird, so that he could claim more land. The river formed the boundary and by moving it permanently he gained more land. Map of Kilmarnock town centre in 1819 Kilmarnock (Cill Mheàrnaig in Scottish Gaelic, and Killie locally) is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 60,000. ...

St. Winnan of Kilwinning^[6] is said to have made the River Garnock change its course and follow another "adverse to nature." The river's mistake was to fail to deliver up any fish to one of the saint's angler fiends!

The Garnock, Annick and Irvine did not even have the same confluence within recorded history, for Timothy Pont's (1604 - 08) and Herman Moll's (1745) maps show the Garnock emptying into the sea, about two miles from the mouth of the Irvine.^[7] The Annick did not flow into the Garnock at this time and the Ardeer peninsular was an island. Subsequent to Pont's time, the sea came right up to the town, with vessels loading and unloading at the Seagate, which is now half-a-mile from the sea. Garnock is an area in North Ayrshire, Scotland between Kilbirnie, Beith and Dalry. ... Ardeer is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ...

Parish Boundaries

The parishes which come down on the river's south bank are Galston, Riccarton, and Dundonald; and those which it delineates on its north side are Loudoun, Kilmarnock, Kilmaurs, Dreghorn and Perceton, and Irvine.

Country Houses

Craig House from Laigh Milton viaduct

The presence of country estates effected the river and its tributaries, often through landscaping and engineering works such as weirs, embankments and minor alterations of its course. The feudal or Victorian estates of Loudoun castle (ruin), Cessnock house, Lanfine house, Holms house (ruin), Kilmarnock house (demolished), Peel house, Caprington, Fairlie house, Craig house (restored 2006), Newfield, Auchans (demolished), and Shewalton (demolished) were all connected with the River Irvine and on the banks of its tributaries are Craufurdland (Craufurdland Water) and Dean castle (Fenwick Water), the two joining to form the Kilmarnock Water; Rowallan, Tour house, Kilmaurs Place, Carmel Bank and Busbie castle (demolished) on the Carmel; Lainshaw (restored 2006), Chapelton (demolished), Annick Lodge, and Bourtreehill (demolished) on the Annick Water; Aiket, Bonshaw (demolished) and Kennox on the Glazert, and Lambroughton on the Garrier. In the area around Stewarton the valley of the Annick Water was known as 'Strathannick'. Dunlop house and Corsehill castle (ruin) are on the Clerkland Burn and Robertland House is on the Swinzie Burn, both of which flow into the Annick Water. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 769 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The restored Craig House, near Gatehead, North Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 769 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The restored Craig House, near Gatehead, North Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Victorian can refer to: people from or attributes of places called Victoria (disambiguation page), including Victoria, Australia, people who lived during the British Victorian era of the 19th century, and aspects of the Victorian era, for example: Victorian architecture Victorian fashion Victorian morality Victorian literature This is a disambiguation page... The Annick Water (previously called Annack, Annoch (1791) or Annock) runs in a south-western direction through North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. ... Corsehill, Robertland and Dunlop are all in the old District of Cunninghame, now East Ayrshire. ... Chapeltoun is an estate on the banks of the Annick Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Chapeltoun is an estate on the banks of the Annick Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Lambroughton is in the old Barony of Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Corsehill, Robertland and Dunlop are all in the old District of Cunninghame, now East Ayrshire. ...

The River at Work

Many of the weirs, dams and fords on the rivers were built on or developed at natural stone dikes which already raised the water level at that point. Dyke (normal International spelling) or Dike (normal American spelling) can mean several things: A dyke / dike is a long wall built to keep out the sea or enclose land. ...

In Kilmarnock in 1880 the Glencairn Mill stood near Riccarton, just before the two bridges, with a long lade running up to join the river near the Glenfield Iron Works; Richardland Brewery sat on the river bank and no doubt used its waters. A slaughter house sat where the Kilmarnock Water joins the Irvine, with an engine works just upstream from it. A Foundry, a forge and an engine works sat beside the Kilmarnock Water at Townholm.^[8]

The weir at Laigh Milton Mill on the Irvine at Gatehead.

A large number of mills existed along the length of the Annick Water, with only Cunninghamhead Mill still standing today (2006). The Corsehill Mills (corn and wool) were at Stewarton,^[9] powered by water from the Corsehill Burn, which arose from the Clerkland Burn. Lambroch Mill was located near Laigh Castleton Farm. Scroaggy or Fairliecrevoch Mill was a waulk or cloth mill and existed until the 1960s, with its lade cutting across the large loop in the river near Ramstane. Downstream from Cunninghamhead was a sawmill and a corn mill existed in Perceton near the old church. Scroag or scrog is a crab apple or gnarled tree stumps in old Scots and this 'nickname' well describes the area where the mill stood. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 712 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Laigh Milton mill on the Irvine, North Ayrshire, 2007. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 712 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Laigh Milton mill on the Irvine, North Ayrshire, 2007. ... Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear in North-East England on the southern side of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne which covers the North Bank. ...

At Galston the Burnanne joins the Irvine. This tributary was famous^[5] for its rich jasper pebbles; semi-precious stones which were collected, cut and polished for use in jewelery. There are a number of settlements named Galston: Galston, East Ayrshire, is a town near Kilmarnock in Scotland Galston, New South Wales, is a town near Sydney in Australia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Polished jasper pebble, one inch (2. ...

The gravel bed of rivers was an important source of income for millers^[10] and others who owned the rights of extraction. The gravel was sold for various farm and horticultural purposes, such as infilling drainage ditches, the surfacing of field entrances and driveways, road surfaces, horticulture, etc.

In 1656 a report to Oliver Cromwell describes the port of Irvine at being "clogged up and almost choked with sand." In 1760 Irvine was the third most important port in Scotland, behind Port-Glasgow and Leith second^[11]. Oliver Cromwell (April 25, 1599–September 3, 1658) was an English military and political leader best known for making England a republic and leading the Commonwealth of England. ...

The River at play

The River Irvine and its tributaries have many leisure uses, such as sailing, swimming, fishing, riparian walks, etc. Irvine harbour is now officially closed as a commercial port and now houses a number of privately owned pleasure craft. It is also now home to part of the Scottish Maritime Museum with numerous vessels on display, including the 'Spartan', one of the last surviving Clyde puffers. The Scottish Maritime Museum is mainly based at Irvine in Scotland, with a harbourside Boatshop, ships and boats on display in the adjacent area and floating vessels moored at pontoons in the harbour, and the enormous Linthouse Engine Shop housing much of the Museums collection. ...

Fishing is a very popular pursuit and many angling clubs exist which maintain the river and its banks, monitor fish stocks, report on pollution and carry out conservation measures. Pont^[12] in 1604 - 08 writes that salmon are plentiful in the River Irvine. The river contains, amongst others, brown trout, sea trout, salmon, eels, minnows, and sticklebacks.

Rivers have always been used for swimming and one such favourite swimming pool, called the 'Toad Hole' is found near Ramstane on the Annick Water above Cunninghamhead. Many others exist, such as the 'Auld dam' and the 'Munt' on the Corsehill (Clerkland) burn at Stewarton, running into the Annick, which had 'Andra Sweelzies' and the Ladies 'Dookin' Hole.^[9] Cunninghamhead is a hamlet in North Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Stewarton Viaduct. ...

The Tributaries of the Irvine

A view of the old Glazert ford at Haysmuir, with the Bonshaw woodlands in the background. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2288x1712, 804 KB) The ford over the Glazert rivulet in East Ayrshire near Haysmuir. ...	The Glazert Rivulet and the Annick Water at Water Meetings with Rashillhouse Farm on the Horizon. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (916x448, 42 KB) My own photograph taken for this article I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...	A view of the Glazert at Gallowayford.	The Annick Water looking upstream from Chapeltoun Bridge.
The Annick Water from Bourtreehill	The Annick Water from Bourtreehill	The River Garnock downstream from Dalgarven Mill.	The Chapel Burn near its confluence with the Annick Water.
A view of the Brackenburn at Little Alton, with Hillhead Wood in the background.	The Lady's well at Kilmaurs on the Tour streamlet, running into the Carmel

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1040x608, 73 KB) A view of the Glazert at Gallowayford in Ayrshire, near Kennox House. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2288x1712, 826 KB) The Annick Water looking upriver from Chapeltoun Bridge in January 2007 I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The River Garnock flows for approximately 20 miles, through Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire in Scotland. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2288x1712, 779 KB) The Chapel Burn near its confluence with the Annick Water near Chapeltoun House in East Ayrshire. ... The Annick Water (previously called Annack, Annoch (1791) or Annock) runs in a south-western direction through North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. ... Image File history File links Brackenburn. ... Image File history File links LadyWellKilmaurs. ...

Holy waters and mineral springs

A view of the Monk's or Mack's Well in Kilmaurs.

A mineral spring is recorded as being near Stewarton, North Ayrshire, called the Bloak Well.^[13] Robinson^[14] gives the Scot's word 'blout' as meaning the 'eruption of fluid'. Image File history File links Mackswell. ... Image File history File links Mackswell. ... Stewarton Viaduct. ...

A view of Bloak Well, now called Salt Well in 2006

Bloak Well was first discovered in 1800^[15], around 1826,^[13] or 1810 ^[16] by the fact that pigeons from neighbouring parishes flocked here to drink. Mr. Cunningham of Lainshaw built a handsome house over the well in 1833 and appointed a keeper to take care of it as the mineral water was of some value. The mineral well waters empty into the Glazert, which joins the Annick Water at Watermeetings near Cunninghamhead. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (875x528, 54 KB) The Bloak Well near Auchentiber in Ayrshire. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (875x528, 54 KB) The Bloak Well near Auchentiber in Ayrshire. ... Chapeltoun is an estate on the banks of the Annick Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland. ... The Annick Water (previously called Annack, Annoch (1791) or Annock) runs in a south-western direction through North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. ... Cunninghamhead is a hamlet in North Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

The Chapel Burn rises near the Anderson Plantation in the fields below Lainshaw Mains and it is marked as a chalybeate or mineral spring on the 1911 6" OS map. Bore holes nearby suggest that the water was put to a more formal use at one time, supplying cattle troughs or possibly even for a stand pipe as mineral water was popular for its supposed curative properties. According to the opinion of the day, it could cure ‘the colic, the melancholy, and the vapours; it made the lean fat, the fat lean; it killed flat worms in the belly, loosened the clammy humours of the body, and dried the over-moist brain. The main spring here has been covered over and the water piped out to the burn, which runs down to join the Annick Water at Chapeltoun Bridge. The Calybeate Spring Tunbridge Wells Chalybeate water was early in the 17th century said to have health-giving properties and many people have promoted their qualities. ... The Annick Water (previously called Annack, Annoch (1791) or Annock) runs in a south-western direction through North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. ... Chapeltoun is an estate on the banks of the Annick Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

The Monk's or Mack's Well^[17] water runs into the Carmel beneath Kilmaurs Place. It is said that many years ago the local laird tried to prevent the local people from using the well. It dried up until the lord changed his mind, but has run continuously ever since.

Next to the Kilmaurs-Glencairn church in Kilmaurs is a patch of woodland which was once an orchard. The Tour streamlet joins the Carmel nearby and before the confluence can be found an old well, arched over, known as the Lady's Well, with never-failing, excellent and refeshingly cool water. A small wooden bridge used to run across to it from the church glebe side.^[4] The Ladys Well is beside the Tour rivulet in Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire Next to the Kilmaurs-Glencairn church in Kilmaurs is a patch of woodland which was once an orchard. ...

A view from Chapelhouse Bridge (Lady's Steps) of the Chapel Crags with St.Mary's House in the distance.

A monastic settlement and chapel of Saint Mary^[13] at the Thurgartstone near Dunlop is a Christian centre which was established to eradicate the pagan significance of the site. Monastic cells, a chapel and a graveyard are all now lost to view, originally constructed by the monks of Kilwinning Abbey; only the name 'St.Marys' given to the nearby 'modern' dwellings, built on the site of the chapel record past significance. The Holy Well still exists, the nearby houses pumping water up from its source. The water from the well used to run under the road and emerge in a trough surrounded by a metal fence and then on into the Black Water, which joins the Glazert nearby. Only a concrete manhole indicates this trough now (2006). In 1856 the water for baptism in Dunlop Kirk was still drawn from this Holy Well.^[18] Image File history File links Chapelcrags. ... Image File history File links Chapelcrags. ... Gabriel delivering the Annunciation to Mary. ... // The Thurgatstane or Ogrestane is a famous stone near Dunlop in East Ayrshire in Scotland. ... People whose family name is or was Dunlop include James Dunlop (1793-1848), Scottish-Australian astronomer John Boyd Dunlop, Scottish inventor and founder of the Dunlop rubber company John Thomas Dunlop, United States administrator Sir Edward Weary Dunlop, Australian war hero Douglas Morton Dunlop, Scottish-American professor of history and... Kilwinning is a historic town situated in North Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

St. Winnans Well^[6] runs into the Garnock at Kilwinning and tradition ascribes healing properties to its holy waters.

Death on the river

Over the centuries the River Irvine and its tributaries have been associated with many violent deaths and accidental drownings, some famous enough to have been recorded and remembered in the folklore of the county.

Drownings

Maid Morville's mound was located to the left of the bridge over the Irvine at Holmford near Dreghorn. It commemorated the tragic drowning of a female member of this family whilst crossing the irvine at the old ford. The De Morvilles were the overlords of the Baillie of Cunninghame in feudal times. The mound was destroyed by the earthworks of the new expressway. A 'Maid Morville' street still exists in Dreghorn to commemorate the event. Lambroughton is in the old Barony of Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Dreghorn is a small village near Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland, not to be confused with the town and army barracks just south of Edinburgh. ... Lambroughton is in the old Barony of Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

A tombstone in Dreghorn parish churchyard records the tragedy of the drowning in the Annick Water at Perceton of Aurthur Watson, aged two years and eight months on the twelth of July 1867. His mother was Agnes McAntosh. Dreghorn is a small village near Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland, not to be confused with the town and army barracks just south of Edinburgh. ...

Death through violence

A little below the watermeetings^[19] of the Irvine and the Kilmarnock Water took place a pivotal incident in 1297 ^[20]which led to the Scottish Nation regaining its independence following what was effectively its conquest by Edward I of England. One Sir William Wallace was fishing on the Irvine when a troop of English soldiers dismounted and demanded that he give up his catch. He offered to share, but this was refused and he was grossly insulted by the soldiers for his temerity. He had no weapons, however he used his fishing rod to disarm one soldier and then killed him with his own sword. He similarly dispatched two others and the remaining soldiers then fled. He went to his uncle's castle, the nearby Riccarton castle and in the following months an uprising slowly gained impetus through the example of one unarmed Scotsman killing three armed soldiers.^[19] A thorn tree called the "Bickering Bush" stood nearby and a public house by that name still exists in Kilmarnock. Edward I; illustration from Cassells History of England circa 1902. ... Sir William Wallace (c. ...

A poem by Blind Harry.^[19] Blind Harry (ca. ...

On the upper reaches of the Irvine at Loudoun Hill, Wallace^[21] intercepted a convoy and routed those accompanying the English supplies. An earthwork at Loudoun Hill is still known as "Wallace's Knowe." Loudoun Hill is a volcanic plug in East Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

In 10 May 1307 Aymer de Valence,^[22]King Edwards commander, fought Robert the Bruce at Loudoun Hill. protected om either side by peat mosses, impassable by cavarly. The English bowment opened the battle, but the Scots troops had dug trenches and were relatively unharmed. The English cavalry were panicked by the pikes of the Scots and a slaughter of the English soldiers developed ending in complete victory for the Scots. May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (131st in leap years). ... Events July - The Knights Hospitaller begin their conquest of Rhodes. ... Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (1270-1324) was an English nobleman. ... Edward I; illustration from Cassells History of England circa 1902. ...

At the Nether Ford near Kilmarnock, Robert the Bruce in 1307 sent Sir James Douglas^[23] to intercept the English soldiers commanded by Sir Philip de Mowbray. The English were ambushed as they crossed the ford on the Irvine and sixty lay dead before the panic-stricken survivors fled in panic. Events July - The Knights Hospitaller begin their conquest of Rhodes. ...

The Hagg burn joins the Irvine just before the town of Galston, having run passed the old ruined castle of Achruglen, near Loudoun Castle.^[3] Achruglen tower, now a ruin, was the site of the burning to death of two Campbells, the Countess of Loudoun and her son and heir, by the Kennedys of Bargany in the 16th century.

Timothy Pont^[12] circa 1606 states that "not far from Kilmarnock, in ye midell of ye river Iruin, was the Read Steuart slaine, after he had receaved a Responce from a vitch yat he should not perrish nather in Kyle or zet in Cuninghame, the said river being the merch betwixt the two, and being in nather of them." This Red Stewart was Sir John Stewart of Dundonald, a natural son of Robert II of Scotland, a monarch who had spent much time at Dundonald Castle. Another source spoils the story by giving Dumbarton as the place of the Red Stuart's death.^[24] WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ...

In April 1586, Hugh, 4th. Earl of Eglinton was travelling to Stirling to join the royal court having been commanded to attend by the King. He was accompanied only by a few domestic servants and being in no great hurry he stopped at Lainshaw Castle to dine with his close relative, a Montgomerie who was Lord of Lainshaw and who's Lady was a Margaret Cunninghame of Aiket Castle, with sisters married to John Cunninghame of Corsehill and David Cunninghame of Robertland^[26]. It seems that a plot to kill the Earl as an act of revenge had been organised and the Lady, or some say a servant girl who was also a Cunninghame (Robertson 1889), climbed to the battlements after the meal to hang out a white table napkin and thereby spring the plot. Thirty Cunninghames attacked the Earl at the Annick ford and cut his servants to pieces with swords and other weapons, the Earl himself being finally dispatched with a single shot from the pistol of John Cuninghame of Clonbeith Castle. His horse carried his dead body along the side of the river, still known in Stewarton as the 'Weeping', 'Mourning' or 'Widows' path. A wave of bloody revenge swept over Cunninghame and elsewhere, with Cunninghame friends, relatives and adherents killed without restraint.^[27] The title Earl of Eglinton is a peerage title in the Peerage of Scotland. ... Broad Street at the heart of Stirlings Old Town area (called Top of the Town by locals) Stirling Castle (Southwest aspect) The main courtyard inside Stirling Castle. ... Corsehill, Robertland and Dunlop are all in the old District of Cunninghame, now East Ayrshire. ... Corsehill, Robertland and Dunlop are all in the old District of Cunninghame, now East Ayrshire. ... Corsehill, Robertland and Dunlop are all in the old District of Cunninghame, now East Ayrshire. ... Stewarton Viaduct. ... Cunninghame (Coineagan in Scottish Gaelic) is one of three traditional districts of Ayrshire. ...

Crossing the river

Rivers form physical boundaries and are only crossed with either trouble or expense. At the port of Irvine itself ferry boats took passengers across to Ardeer, further upstream fords and /or stepping stones were present in many places. These were often treacherous and could turn from tranquil to lethal in a matter of minutes, often with no warning as the rainfall could well have fallen far upstream or at the moors which form the watershed. Bridges were built where they could be afforded or where they were most needed. Many of the older bridges were built by local lairds, such as Chapeltoun Bridge over the Annick Water which was built in the 1850s to replace a ford downstream at Bankend, opposite West Lambroughton. Ardeer is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Chapeltoun is an estate on the banks of the Annick Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland. ... The Annick Water (previously called Annack, Annoch (1791) or Annock) runs in a south-western direction through North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. ... Lambroughton is in the old Barony of Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

At one time people were carried across rivers, usually at fords, but not necessarily. A fee would normally be charged or it might be part of the 'job description' of a servant. One Ayrshire story tells of a rich farmer who employed a servant girl to carry him across the river on his way to church each Sunday. As time went by he became very fond of the servant and eventually they married. She willingly carried him across on the way to their wedding, but she refused on the way back and never carried him again.

Stepping stones are marked on the 1897 OS map as being located just downstream from the present Chapeltoun bridge over the Annick Water and further upstream near the old Lambroch Mill, the old dam was used as 'stepping stones', even though it was close to a ford.

Very few fords remain in Ayrshire. The Dean Ford still exists on the Kilmarnock Water for reasons to do with the legal transfer of the property to the council by Lord Howard de Walden and the legal definition of the boundaries of the lands gifted. Further up the Fenwick Water the Bringan Ford still survives. Many of the fords eventually developed wooden footbridges alongside, such as at the Bringan Ford and as at Knockentiber in 1860 on the old Kilmarnock Road ford. The fine 'suspension bridge' footbridge at the Dean Ford was famous for collapsing with the weight of sightseers on its opening day. It was replaced with a stronger structure. Ayrshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Àir in Scottish Gaelic) is a region of south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. ... Dean Castle is situated in the Dean Castle Country Park in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. ... The Barony of Howard de Walden was created by writ of summons in the Peerage of England, by Queen Elizabeth I for Admiral Lord Thomas Howard, a younger son of the 4th Duke of Norfolk, in 1597. ... Fenwick is a small village and civil parish in the metropolitan borough of Doncaster (part of South Yorkshire, England), on the border with North Yorkshire. ... The village of Knockentiber is in East Ayrshire, Parish of Kilmaurs, Scotland. ... A suspension bridge is a type of bridge that has been created since ancient times as early as 100 AD. Simple suspension bridges, for use by pedestrians and livestock, are still constructed, based upon the ancient Inca rope bridge. ...

A 'Romford', 'Rameford', 'Room' or 'Rome Ford' was situated where the modern road bridge crosses the Irvine at Gatehead. In Scots 'Rommle' is to rumble or stir violently,^[25] a more likely explanation than some memory of the Roman occupation of Scotland. Another suggestion is that 'Room' or 'Rome' meant a small farm.^[25] Adamson^[28] states that this bridge was built in around 1870, replacing an older bridge. Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear in North-East England on the southern side of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne which covers the North Bank. ...

Archibald Adamson^[29] on his Rambles Round Kilmarnock in 1875 records that the Irvine is the Parish boundary between Kilmarnock and Riccarton and that the ancient bridge running into Riccarton bears the date 1726. Aiton^[30] states that the stones used to build this bridge were conveyed in the first wheeled carts used in Ayrshire, sledges having been employed on the poor quality roads that existed prior to this time. The new brisge was built here about 1845.^[29] Events George Friderich Handel becomes a British subject. ...

Both Beattie ^[31]and the Kilmarnock Glenfield Ramblers refer to the iron bridge over the Carmel Water near Kilmaurs-Glencairn church as being the oldest iron bridge in Scotland. It was erected following a 1d subscription from each of the house-houlds of Kilmaurs. The council demolished it in around the year 2000 and replaced it with a wooden bridge.

Railways appeared very early in this part of Scotland and one of the first built was the stone viaduct over the Irvine at Laigh Milton, part of the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway. It has four arches, and although not used since 1846, it was restored in 1996. The railway carried steam locomotives 9 years before the Stockton and Darlington Railway and is believed to be the first passenger steam railway in the world. The viaduct itself, built in 1811, is the oldest surviving railway viaduct in Scotland.^[32] and one of the oldest in the world:^[33] Laigh Milton viaduct lies near Laigh Milton mill at Gatehead in North Ayrshire, Scotland // The stone viaduct was part of the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway, it has four arches with ashlar facings rounded cutwaters which were extended later to form semi-circular buttresses. ... The Kilmarnock and Troon Railway was the first railway line in Scotland and ran services between Kilmarnock and Troon. ... Opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway by John Dobbin, circa 1825. ... 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity(English) Wha daur meddle wi me? (Scots)[1] Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots[2] Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I...

Many of the railways that crossed the river were mineral lines which often had an intensive but short life, such as the 1923 OS mineral lines that tran to collieries near Earlston, Nether Craig and Cockhill farm (Fairlie (Pit No.3)). The 1860 OS names the 'Fairlie Branch' and indicates its operation by the Glasgow and South Western Railway company. The bridges built for these lines are still clearly visible. Glasgow and South Western Railway formed part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. ...

Taming the river

Flood prevention schemes have canalised the Kilmarnock (previously the Marnock) Water where it runs down through Kilmarnock towards the Irvine, with significantly raised banks and automatically closing gates. The Irvine has likewise been tamed with a large flood prevention scheme at east Holmes Wetlands near Galston. Here the river is directed into its old floodplains when the water rises above a certain height, thereby protecting Kilamarnock. A scheme on the River Cessnock is underway (2007). Many sections of the other rivers have been canalised and / or have bunds on either bank to prevent the watercourses flooding into their flood plains. There are a number of settlements named Galston: Galston, East Ayrshire, is a town near Kilmarnock in Scotland Galston, New South Wales, is a town near Sydney in Australia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The River system and its wildlife

A map of part of the course of the Annick Water in 1897, showing Cunninghamhead Mill and bridge.

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1184x1440, 251 KB) A map of the Overtoun area in North Ayrshire, circa 1897. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1184x1440, 251 KB) A map of the Overtoun area in North Ayrshire, circa 1897. ...

Meadow plants

Many of the water meadows are rich in pignut (Conopodium majus), a relative of parsley, which formed a breaktime snack for children in former times. If the plant is dug up a small potato-like structure is found which when eaten raw has a slightly nutty taste. It is available commercially for salads, etc. Hemlock water dropwort grows well in the wetter areas and is best left alone as the name hemlock suggests. The large leaves of the butterbur (Petasites hybridus) are found in several areas; its name harkens back to the days before clingfilm or cheap paper when the leaves were used to wrap butter destined for the market. Water ragwort (or Saracen's ragwort) (a species of Senecio) is an introduced plant which grows along the Garnock in tall stands. Although it is common on the Garnock and at present quite rare elsewhere. Himalayan balsam or policemen's helmets is another introduction, but a common one. Giant hogweed is beginning to make its presence felt. It is another plant which should never be handled as the sap can cause severe blistering and scarring of the skin.

The Stewarton Flower or pink purslane (Claytonia sibirica) is common in wetter areas. It has white or pink flowers at this site, but closer to Stewarton it is almost always white. It seems that it was first introduced as a white variety in the Stewarton area in Victorian times and the common pink variety, introduced later, spread to other areas. Dalgarven, it seems, is on the edge of the white flower zone of dominance. Stewarton Viaduct. ... Stewarton Viaduct. ...

Coppicing of the riverside alder trees is still carried out, often unintentionally by the anglers. Alders grow well in wet soils and are specially adapted for the low nutrient conditions through having large root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria which enrich the soil in the same way as clover plants and other legumes.

The trees in the vicinity of the rivers were not planted by farmers for 'visual effect', they were crops and the wood was used for building and fencing; The millers needed beech or hornbeam wood for mill machinery, in particular the cogs on the drive wheels from the waterwheel.

It is not generally appreciated how much the Ayrshire landscape has changed its character over the last few hundred years, for even in the 1760 - 70 Statistical Account it is stated that "there was no such thing to be seen as trees or hedges in the parish; all was naked and open."

Birds, Fish and other animals

The river and its banks, support, amongst others, Kingfishers, tawny and barn owls, herons, moorhean, coot, mallard, ravens, rooks, treecreepers, buzzards, peewits or lapwings, roe deer, mink, moles, shrews, grey squirrels, hares, hedgehogs, foxes, badgers, pipistrelle bats and otters. Migrating Canada and Graylag Geese frequent the nearby fields on their way up from the Solway Firth / Caerlaverock area or coming down from Spitzbergen in the winter. Map of Solway Firth. ... Caerlaverock is an area to the south of Dumfries and to the west of Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. ...

The river's water quality is generally quite good nowadays, proven by the presence of freshwater limpets and shrimps, together with leeches, caddis fly larvae and water snail species. Pont^[12] in 1604 - 08 writes that salmon are plentiful in the River Irvine. The river system contains, amongst others, brown trout, sea trout, salmon, eels, minnows, lampreys, and sticklebacks. The brown colour of the Irvine at places like Darvel and Newmilns is not a result of pollution, but simply organic material washed out of the peat banks at the watershed. Freshwater mussels, a species persecuted for its pearls, are found in places on the Glazert and the Garnock. Location Nicknamed The Lang Toun due to its quaint appearance on Ordnance Survey maps, the East Ayrshire town of Darvel (population 3,613) is situated 9 miles east from Kilmarnock in the Irvine Valley, and lies near to Loudoun Hill. ... Loudoun Church, Newmilns Newmilns and Greenholm is a small burgh of 3,400 people located 7 miles to the east of Kilmarnock on the A71 in East Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

Miscellaneous

Pont^[12] in 1604 - 08 records that so thickly was the district about Stewarton and along the banks of the Irvine populated for a space of three or four miles "that well travelled men in divers parts of Europe (affirm) that they have seen walled cities not so well or near planted with houses so near each other as they are here, wherethrough it is so populous that, at the ringing of a bell in the night for a few hours, there have seen convene 3000 able men, well-horsed and armed."^[34] Stewarton Viaduct. ...

Shewalton Sand Pits is a Scottish Wildlife Trust nature reserve on the River Irvine near Irvine. The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a Scottish conservation charity. ...

Immense labour has been expended over the years in retaining building walls on either side of many of the the rivers and burns. At Chapeltoun on the Annick Water even the Chapel Burn bed is 'cobbled'. This drystone walling was important in reducing the erosion of the river banks. Chapeltoun is an estate on the banks of the Annick Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland. ... The Annick Water (previously called Annack, Annoch (1791) or Annock) runs in a south-western direction through North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. ...

The Brackenburn near Kilmaurs has been misnamed as the Garrier by the Ordnance Survey since the 1860s. When burns or rivers join it is usually the largest that decides the name of the river downstream, unless the name changes completely, such as the Kilmarnock Water forming from the Fenwick and Craufurdland Waters. Occasionally a water course is reduced in volume due to changes upstream, a case in point being the Garrier which used to drain the loch at Buiston near Kilmaurs. This was drained as part of agricultural improvements and now the Garrier is only seasonal, even though it keeps the name Garrier, even when joined by the Brackenburn and the Lochrig burns which flow all year.

It was not easy being a miller, for instance some people held the belief that it was wrong to use water artificially; that to turn water from its course was to act against God's plan. ^[35] Ancient mills, it was believed, had been piously placed by their forefathers where they could be worked according to God's order, without artificially embanking the water or turning it from its natural course, which would be sinful.^[36]

New field drainage work on farms in the 18th and 19th centuries had dramatic effects on water courses, most often recorded through complaints by millers that they could no longer get enough water to turn their mills waterwheels.

The weir at Dalgarven on the River Garnock is made of boulders which are carefully placed and locked together to create a natural millpond to supply a good head of water to the wheel through the lade. The weir is built on a natural dyke which runs across the Garnock at this point, its existence being carefully exploited by the monks of Kilwinning Abbey who chose the site for Dalgarven Mill. Dalgarven Mill is near Kilwinning, North Ayrshire The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

References

For the Lebanese political coalition, see March 14 Alliance. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... For the Lebanese political coalition, see March 14 Alliance. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

External Links

• Maps at the National Library of Scotland
• 1860 OS Maps