OS1/3/39/1
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIRKOSWALD [parish] | Kirkoswald Kirkoswald Kirkoswald Kirkoswald |
Pattersons Hist [History] of Ayrshire Statistical Account (1842) Voters List Johnston's County Map |
043 ; 040 ; 045 ; 049 ; 050 ; 051 | This parish takes it's name from Oswald, a Northumbrian King of the Heptarchy who built a church on the site of the burying grounds be- side the village - in gratitude, it is said, for a victory he had there obtained. The surface of the parish is hilly, but with one or two exceptions not mountainous, and abounding in rich green pasture. There is little or no natural wood in the Parish; but the want of this is happily supplied by the plantations made by the Earl of Cassillis & Sir Charles Ferguson of Kilkerran. Upon a small promontory on the barony of Turnberry, now the property of the Earl of Cassillis, are the ruins of the famous castle of Turnberry - birthplace of King Robert Bruce. The next remarkable old building in the parish, is the Abbey of Crossraguel, founded by Duncan King of Scotland in 1260. It is more entire than any Abbey in the west of Scotland. The next old building in the Ph [Parish] is the house or Castle of Thomaston. Tradition tells us that it was built by a nephew of Robert Bruce in 1335. Of the more modern buildings the most remarkable is Culzean Castle founded by David, late Earl of Cassillis in the year 1777 * It occupies the site of one of the most admired residences on the coast. The style of the building is singularly elegant. Baltersan is the name of another old building in the Ph. [Parish] Mentioned by Abercrummie. The Ph. [Parish] can boast of one of those Somewhat rare remains of former times - a vitrified fort. It is situated on the shore. Mention is made in the Old Stat [Statistical] Account of two large hillocks that had existed from time immemorial, and were accidentally discovered to consist of a substance which resembled coal-ashes, and which was found to be good manure for some purposes. It has been supposed that they are the effects of Barbarous Superstition in times of idolatry in this country. In the interior of the parish there are distinct traces of a druidical circle. Pattersons Hist [History] of Ayrshire Statistical Account of Ayrshire (1842) |
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Chr1smac -Moderator, Jeni
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