Stewarton
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Stewarton is a town located in East Ayrshire, Scotland. In comparison to other towns in the region it is comparatively large - bigger than the surrounding towns of Kilmaurs, Fenwick and Dunlop - with a population of around 10,000.
History
King Malcolm Canmore and Friskin
Historical records show that Stewarton has existed since at least the 12th century with various non-historical references to the town dating to the early 11th century. The most famous of these non-historical references concerns the legend (which may or may not be true) of Malcolm Canmore the son of Duncan I of Scotland who was king of Scotland in the 11th century and appears as a character in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. As the legend goes, Macbeth had slain Duncan to enable himself to become king of Scotland and immediately turned his attention towards Duncan's son Malcolm (the next in line to the throne). When Malcolm learned of his father's death and Macbeth's intentions to murder him, he fled for the relative safety of England. Unfortunately for Canmore, Macbeth and his associates had tracked him down and were gaining on him as he entered the estate of Corsehill (also Crosshill) on the edge of Stewarton. In panic Canmore pleaded for the assistance of a nearby farmer named either Friskine or Malcolm (accounts differ) who was forking hay on the estate. Friskine/Malcolm covered Canmore in hay, allowing him to escape Macbeth and his associates. He later found refuge with King Harthacanute, King of England and Norway and in 1057, after returning to Scotland and defeating Macbeth in battle to become King of Scotland, he rewarded Friskine's family with the Baillie of Cunninghame to show his gratitude to the farmer who had saved his life 17 years earlier. Whether this legend is true or not, the Cunninghame family logo now features a "Y" shaped fork with the words "over fork over" underneath - a logo which appears in various places in Stewarton, notably as the logo of the two primary schools in the area - Lainshaw primary school and Nether Robertland primary school. It is also said that Friskine/Malcolm became keeper of the king's horses and the motto was a typical play on words.
Another reference to Stewarton, this time a historical recorded version, is that one Wernbald was given the Cunninghame lands by his superior, Hugo de Morville, the builder of Kilwinning Abbey who lived at this time in Tour near Kirkland in Kilmaurs. The family were originally from Morville in Normandy (Wernebald was from Flanders) and had been established in Scotland for at least twenty years when one of the family was involved in the murder of Thomas a Beckett. John Baliol's mother was a daughter of the family and when Robert the Bruce won the crown the family of Baliol lost their lands in Cunninghame. The Red Comyn, who Bruce murdered, was a nephew of Baliol. William Cunninghame de Lamberton (see Lambroughton) was Archbishop of St.Andrews and was a great supporter of the 'Bruce'.
The Murder of the Earl Of Eglintoun
Another significant event from Stewarton's history involves the Cunninghame family. In the 16th century Ayrshire was divided into three regions or bailiaries - Kyle, Carrick and Cunninghame. The two powerful families residing in Cunninghame - the Cunninghame's and the Montgomeries - had been involved in a bitter dispute for several years over landholdings which came to a head in 1586 when Hugh 4th the Earl of Eglinton was attacked at the ford on the river Annick (which flows through Stewarton) by 30 or so members of the Cunninghame family and shot dead by John Cunninghame of Clonbeith. Hugh was on his way to attend the court of King James VI at Stirling when he decided to stop off at Langshaw house (now Lainshaw house which was for a long time a home for the elderly) to dine with his associates. Unbeknownst to the Earl, the lady of the house Lady Montgomery - who was the daughter of a Cunninghame of Aiket Castle, married into the Montgomery family - told several of her Cunninghame associates who lived in the area of the Earl's planned visit and they decided to lie in wait for the Earl at Annick ford or brig (accounts differ). As a response to the killing the Montgomery family declared they would kill every Cunninghame who had been at the river that day and a series of 'tit for tat' killings were carried out between the two families. John Cunninghame of Clonbeith was eventually slain in Hamilton, Scotland, but several of those responsible for the murder fled to Denmark and were eventually granted a pardon by King James upon his marriage to Anne of Denmark. John was found hiding in a chimney, dragged out and hacked to death.
Lady Montgomery, who was alleged to have signaled the murderers by placing a white 'napkin' on a window sill, is said to have escaped and lived with her retainer Robert Kerr at Pearce Bank (now High Peacockbank) for several years until the 'hue and cry' died down at which point she returned to the castle and was not mollested on the understanding that she did not 'show her face' outside of the grounds. A path known as the 'Weeping or Mourning Path' runs upstream from the Annick (previously Annack or Annock Water) ford and this is where the Earl's widow is said to have wept as she later followed the trail of blood left behind as his panicked horse took him away from the scene. The Earl's body was placed in Lainshaw Castle until arrangements were made to remove it to Eglintoun Castle.
Corsehill and Ravenscraig Castles
A great deal of confusion exists about the site and names of these castles. Ravenscraig is derived from 'Ruined Crag', ie. ruined castle, so it isn't so much a name as a description. We know quite a bit from historical records about Godred de Ross and his family of Corsehill castle, they were Lords of Liddesdale in the borders and later on the Cunnighames became the owners. Corsehill (also Crosshill) castle is said to have been on the other side of the Corsehill Burn and only a few remains were said to exist to show its site, however the 1860 OS indicates no ruins of any description. The OS map does record the site of Templehouse which had a small castle or fortalice associated with it and its site was at Darlington, the village which lay just beyond Stewarton on the Kingsford road. This area continued to be called Templehouses for many years after the remains were removed by locals for building purposes. Corsehill castle is shown in one old print of 1691 by Gross as Corsehill House and substantial remains existed until the railway was constructed and most of the ruins were used to build the embankment. It is recorded that an avenue of trees ran down from the Corsehill into Stewarton. If a line is drawn along the Avenue street in Stewarton and continued it takes you back up to the existing ruins and not to the area of the Templehouse and fortalice. The single tower that remains today (2006) of Corsehill was repaired to stabilise it and this gives it its unexpected appearance.
It seems that Ravenscraig and Corsehill Castles are one and the same, and that a vague memory of Templehouse and its fortalice at Darlington on the lands of Corsehill farm, has caused the original confusion which has become continued by various books, maps and other publications. Many references can be found to Corsehill in the old records, but none for Ravenscraig, apart from early map makers who compounded the confusion.
Archibald Adamason in his 'Rambles Round Kilmarnock' of 1875 only records three castles, these being Robertland, Auchenharvie and Corsehill. He makes no mention of the name Ravenscraig, calling the site he visited Corsehill. The first OS maps show only the existing castle site. The new survey therefore did not perpetuate the error.
Local Events
Stewarton, like many other Scottish towns, holds a gala festival annually at the beginning of summer. Dating back to the days when Stewarton had a prosperous trade in bonnet-making, the 'Bonnet Guild' organises activities for the local residents and proclaims a 'Corsehill Queen', the most academically successful girl in 2nd year at Stewarton Academy.
One of the most exciting growing events in Stewarton is the 'Live Traid' music event. Run by the 'Stewarton Fair Trade Group', it gathers the best in unsigned (and now signed) musical acts from the West of Scotland together bi-annually to raise money and attention for fair trade charities.
Over the years, Live Traid events in Stewarton have raised over £5000 and have proved to be a popular event with locals and fans of music from all over. The event has a growing and growing reputation as a seriously good night and the latest Live Traid, 30th June 2006, is shaping up to be the best ever, getting itself on the map. Previous acts to play Live Traid include:
Drive-by Argument, Chris Gorman Band, All My Logic, Mummy Short Arms, Gregor James (formerly of Rolla), After Christmas, My Final Wish, Daedalian, What the Dead Know, Airstrip Won, One Life Lived, Voodoo Blue, Regis, Dave McArthur Band, Kinky Wizards, G to the power 1D, Punkture, DJ FAD, Chester Says and The Fools.
Location
Stewarton is located on the river Annick in a rural part of North Ayrshire (though it is technically a part of the county of East Ayrshire) 6 miles to the North of Kilmarnock and to the East of Irvine. In the past Stewarton served as a waypoint between the traditional routes from Kilmarnock, Irvine and Ayr to the city of Glasgow, though in recent times a new motorway has bypassed the town. The old road is known as the "auld glasgae road" and still used by Stewarton residents, however it's appeal to residents of the larger surrounding towns has been significantly lessened due to the creation of the new road.
References
- Adamson, Archibald R. (1875). Rambles Round Kilmarnock. Pub. Kilmarnock. p.156.
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