MAYBOLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Scottish Charity Number SC034056 Hon President : J. Murray Cook Newsletter 29 ! November, 2003

Crosshill ! Dunure ! Kirkmichael ! Kirkoswald ! Maidens ! Maybole ! Minishant ! Straiton ! Turnberry

NEXT MEETING children Claire, Sara, Kimberley and Connor. Young Connor came out to meet us and ushered us in to one of the many stable boxes where the rest CROMWELL’S of the family were preparing a magnificent Clydesdale horse for a turn out. What was even more AYRSHIRE wonderful was that this was only one of the many beautiful horses (mainly with Tom Barclay Clydesdales) which they keep at the Librarian & Historian farm and show regularly under their A fortnight before the three hundred and fiftieth Sans Peur Clydesdale banner. We anniversary of Oliver Cromwell assuming the had already noticed a cart sitting position of Lord Protector, Tom gives us a ready in the yard so the lumps in our fascinating insight into that period in time when throats were becoming bigger and he ruled the country and his army garrisoned Ayr, bigger. Murray Cook, our a subject on which Tom has done very extensive indomitable President, was even research and is the local authority. found to be searching for words to describe what was being unveiled MAYBOLE TOWN HALL before his very eyes. At last Sonnie (Sans Peur Monday 1st December 7.30 p.m. Sonnie to give him his proper title - ALL WELCOME VISITORS £0.50 justly deserved as a participant in the Queen's Jubilee celebrations and one CARTED INTO THE PAST of the few invited to Stella McCartney's wedding) was led out Having tried our best and carefully backed in to position to to encourage people be harnessed up to the cart. We were to let us know of any then privileged to witness a sight that Maybole heritage that cannot have been seen (or at least has might be lying about not been reported to have been seen) "undiscovered" it was around Maybole for many years. great to hear from According to Murray, he had not David Kiltie that seen anything like it for at least sixty someone had been in years, as Claire and Sara with Connor touch to let us know on the cart for support posed in the that they had an yard for photographs. Brian then Alexander Jack & took over on the cart and off they Co. Turnip Cart - and went around the farm stopping would we be briefly on one of the lanes to give us interested?!!! another photographic opportunity After a slight (this appeared to be too much for telephonic detour via Glen Luie near Braemar in Aberdeenshire (Sorry, but I Sonnie's stablemate Bobby who to am an Aberdeenshire loon! - Ed.) we made contact with the Sutherland family everyones consternation made his at Glenluie Farm only a few miles south of Maybole. At first I thought that the own, short lived bid for the freedom number in Aberdeenshire had connected at last as the Doric accent was so of the open road). familiar but I was assured that this was just outside Maybole and yes, they had Our grateful thanks to Brian, a Jack's "neep cairt". Immediately we told them that we were interested and Susan and family for helping to asked if it would be possible to take some photographs. The answer was more preserve a bit of our local heritage, than we could have hoped for as we were told that if we were able to come providing a wonderful setting and down on the Sunday morning they would actually harness a horse and let us home for their horses and making us see the cart being drawn. feel so welcome while at the same It was therefore with some excitement that our wee party set off at the time making us feel that it was really appointed time, but even we could not have foreseen the wonderful heritage only the horses and heritage they that was to be shown to us that morning. We arrived at Glenluie to find were really mattered. ourselves very welcome guests of Brian and Susan Sutherland and their 1 MAYBOLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Newsletter 29 ! November, 2003

MAYBOLE OLD KIRK FONT 2004 MEETINGS Maybole Historical Society BURNS NIGHT – All communications to the society nd Monday 2 February 2004 may be addressed to the society Maybole Town Hall c/o Maybole Resource Centre 7.30 p.m. – 11.30 p.m. (app.) 48/50 High Street The evening will commence with a complimentary glass of wine or soft MAYBOLE drink followed by a two course meal KA19 7BZ (traditional haggis, neeps and tatties Committee 2003-4 with Scottish oarcakes and cheeses to Hon. President – J. Murray Cook follow). The evening will be chaired The history of the strong Christian SCOTTISH(Tel. HISTORY01655 884235) WEEK by David Kiltie, Jack Boyd will tradition in the Parish of Maybole is well Chair - Helen McAdam provide us with the Selkirk Grace and documented and we are able to see the (Tel. 01655 884255) propose the Toast to the Lassies. The physical evidence in the remnants of old Vice Chair- Dave Killicoat haggis will be piped in by Fergus Cook ecclesiastical buildings which survive at e-mail [email protected] and addressed by Dave Killicoat both Crossraguel Abbey (founded 1186), the (Tel. 07776 445033) of who will make further poetic Old College (built 1371) and the remains Secretary - Mary Henry contributions later, Murray Cook will of the church in Kirkbride Kirkyard Treasurer - Jack Boyd th give the Immortal Memory and near Dunure (ca. 12 century). 9 Kincraig Court, Maybole, KA19 8AQ musical entertainment will be provided Until the present church was built in Tel. 01655 882109 by Miss Alison M. Dixon on piano Cassillis Street in 1808 the Parish Members - with Mrs Lesley Rodger, Mrs Jessie Church and the centre of Parish life had Willy Connelly Thomson, Mrs Margaret Hutchison always been situated within the site we Alex Davidson and Mr Alex Davidson. now call the Old Kirkyard at the foot of David Kiltie Tickets (price will be advised at the the brae in St Cuthberts Road, which, Arnold Lake December meeting) will be available at until the middle of the 19th century, the December meeting or through any would actually have been situated at the Scottish History Week foot of the Kirk Venal or Kirkwynd (one member of the committee. A separate Over the last two years the Society has of the few original street names mail shot with ticket order forms etc participated in the British Local History remaining). will be sent out to all members during Month. This year it is proposed that we The walled kirkyard we see now does not the first week in December. participate in Scottish Local history week represent the scene that a passer-by st which runs from 18th – 24th April with the Monday 1 March – Alastair would have seen in the 18th Century. theme of “Scottish Graveyards” and Dinsmor, Curator, Glasgow Police Instead he would have found a hive of culminates in the Scottish Association of Museum – Maybole Town Hall activity with the main market being held th Family History Society’s conference in Monday 5 April – Tony Kerrigan – in front of the small church (built in the Stirling entitled “In Loving Memory – a A Photographic Record of Crime – 16th century to replace an earlier Celebration of Graveyards”. Maybole Town Hall building probably dating from the 12th th A range of local events and displays will Monday 10 May (PLEASE NOTE Century) which had the parish school be arranged during the week. THIS IS THE SECOND MONDAY attached to the back of it, no wall The Society will continue to assist in IN MAYTO AVOID THE MAY DAY surrounding it, and many of the burials opening Maybole Castle to visitors and HOLIDAY) – AGM followed by taking place inside the church itself. this will be done over the summer months Preserving Artefacts and Looking A glance at the level of the road outside with a full day opening during Doors After Our History – Rozelle House, the present kirkyard walls compared Open Day in September Ayr (transport from Maybole with the level of the ground within gives provided) some idea of the number of people who SUMMER OUTING (Date to be have been laid to rest there. This has MEMBERSHIP – confirmed) – Hamilton Museum also covered the remaining foundations ALL MEMBERS WHO LAST PAID (including Mining exhibition and the of the original church although their PRIOR TO 1st FEBRUARY 2002 PLEASE Cameronians Regimental Museum), exact position was recorded during some NOTE THAT THEIR SUBSCRIPTIONS lunch then to Cadzow Castle and remedial work in 1924. The sole ARE NOW DUE FOR RENEWAL. archaeological dig, and Chatelherault. remaining artefact from the original pre- Membership, once paid, is valid Monday 6th September – Lead reformation kirk is this font which until st very recently lay unmarked and until 1 September 2004. Mining at Wanlockhead Membership is only £10.00 and Monday 4th October – Sources for unprotected beside the Old Kirk marker stone in the kirkyard. Alerted by covers individuals or couples History in Dumfries and Galloway th Maybole Historical Society about its staying in the same household. Monday 8 November – perilous condition, the Museums Service Individuals who are registered Dalgarven Mill Museum of of South Ayrshire Council has taken it disabled and anyone in full time Ayrshire Country Life into their care. The future of the font is th education can join the society free Monday 6 December – The still under discussion but it is hoped that of charge. Please send all return of our very popular St. it will find a permanent home on display membership applications and in the new church. In the interim we are Andrews Night looking for a suitable place to keep it renewals (with the appropriate (September, October and where it would remain safe and fee) to The Honorary Treasurer November meetings are protected until its final resting place is at the address above. provisional) ready. 2