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===Coal mining===
===Coal mining===
Coal mining provided employment on a large scale in North Ayrshire from early in the 19th Century. Coal pits were opened at this time in Shewalton Fairlie, Peatland, Templeton, and Fortacres.<ref>[http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SCOTLAND-GENWEB/1998-03/0890359147 Rootsweb] Retrieved : 2012-12-03</ref> A colliery was located near the west lodge with a mineral line crossing the river in 1925.<ref>[http://maps.nls.uk/os/one-inch-popular-nat-grid/view/?jp2=91527401#jp2=91527401&zoom=6&lat=6631&lon=3398&layers=BT OS Map, 1925] retrieved : 2012-12-03</ref>
Coal mining provided employment on a large scale in North Ayrshire from early in the 19th Century. Coal pits were opened at this time in Shewalton Fairlie, Peatland, Templeton, and Fortacres.<ref>[http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SCOTLAND-GENWEB/1998-03/0890359147 Rootsweb] Retrieved : 2012-12-03</ref> A colliery was located near the west lodge with a mineral line crossing the river in 1925.<ref>[http://maps.nls.uk/os/one-inch-popular-nat-grid/view/?jp2=91527401#jp2=91527401&zoom=6&lat=6631&lon=3398&layers=BT OS Map, 1925] retrieved : 2012-12-03</ref> A. Kenneth and Sons Shewalton collieries 3 and 4 were at Drybridge. They opened in 1924 to produce house coal, employed around 180 miners and closed in 1955. The two shafts were 132m deep and coal was taken to Montgomeryfield screening plant and washer.<ref>[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/130768/details/shewalton+3+and+4+colliery/ Canmore] Retrieved : 2012-12-05</ref>

Shewalton Collieries 5 and 6 opened in 1933 and closed in 1950. The workforce was around 150, mining house coal which was also taken to the Montgomeryfield screening plant and washer.<ref>[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/130770/details/shewalton+5+6+8+and+9+colliery/ Canmore] Retrieved : 2012-12-05</ref>


===Micro-history===
===Micro-history===

Revision as of 19:08, 5 December 2012

Shewalton House and estate
OS grid referenceNS3528636925
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The River Irvine near the site of the old Shewalton House.

Shewalton House and estate were composed of the 'Lands of Shewalton' and the laird's dwelling, originally a tower castle and later a mansion house[1] on the River Irvine in the Shewalton area, two miles from Irvine and west of Drybridge village, East Ayrshire, Dundonald Parish, Scotland.[2]

History

The lands of Shewalton had been held by the Fullartons of that Ilk and by 1545 they were home to the Wallace family. The Earl of Glasgow later purchased the estate.[3] The tower castle became ruinous and unihabitable, but stood until the new house was built in 1806. Sewalton was the spelling in 1473.[1]

Shewalton House

Colonel John Boyle in 1806 had the mansion house built to a Georgian design, backing onto the River Irvine. The building had a partly subterranean groud floor with two floor above and a rather unusual attic space.[2] Two hipped roofed bays stood on either side of a slightly recessed central bay area, fronted by a solidly simple porch. Another wing was later added to the western aspect of the mansion.[3]

In 1896 the OS map shows a large walled garden, Shewalton Mains, lodges at the end of the East, West and Mid drives. The mansion house had fountains in gardens on the river facing side and a small summer house near the riverbank.[4] OS maps show that the mansion house had been demolished by 1958 and the main remaining estate feature is the walled garden.

The Lairds of Shewalton

Fullartons and Wallaces

Lambert Wallace in 1473 held the lands under John de Fullarton of that Ilk[1] and were still in possession until 1715.[5] John Wallace of Sewalton (sic) is recorded in 1583, Edward Wallace in 1586, William Wallace in 1595, David Wallace in 1615.[1] Edward Wallace sold Shewalton, Marress, and Waxford to William Boyle in 1715. This William was the brother of David, first Earl of Glasgow.[6]

Boyles

Patrick Boyle born in 1690, raised to the bench as Lord Shewalton in 1746, was son of David, the first Earl of Glasgow. He died in 1761.[7] The Hon. Patrick Boyle, second son of the second Earl of Glasgow, born on July 22, 1771, inherited the estate and died in 1798. In 1837, Colonel of the Ayrshire Militia, John Boyle, died and David Boyle, his only surviving brother, inherited. David was born in 1772, was twice married and was M.P. for Ayrshire in 1793, Lord Justice-General of Scotland and Lord President of the Court Session in 1841.[7] He died on the 4th February 1853 and was buried at Shewalton.[7] In 1865 a statue of Boyle was erected in Irvine and it now stands in Castle Street after being moved from the east end of the High Street.[3][8] He had adopted the designation 'of Shewalton', having formerly held the designation 'of Marress'.[7] David was the presiding judge and sentenced the murderers Burke and Hare.

Patrick Boyle inherited Shewalton from his father in 1853 and when he died in 1874 his son Captain David Boyle, R.N. inherited, becoming a Lieutenant of Ayrshire and later Convenor of the County of Ayr.[5] The family crest was an eagle, displayed, with two heads and the family motto was 'Dominus providebit', 'The Lord Will Provide'.[9]

The Shewalton area

Archaeology

A number of prehistoric artifacts have been found on Shewalton Moor, including an urn, ornamented hand-made pottery, flint scrapers, drills, and arrowheads of several different designs.[10] So many polishers were found at one site that a workshop and prehistoric village location have been suggested.[11] A saddle-quern and a spindle-whorl have also been found, together with beads and hammer stones.[12]

Coal mining

Coal mining provided employment on a large scale in North Ayrshire from early in the 19th Century. Coal pits were opened at this time in Shewalton Fairlie, Peatland, Templeton, and Fortacres.[13] A colliery was located near the west lodge with a mineral line crossing the river in 1925.[14] A. Kenneth and Sons Shewalton collieries 3 and 4 were at Drybridge. They opened in 1924 to produce house coal, employed around 180 miners and closed in 1955. The two shafts were 132m deep and coal was taken to Montgomeryfield screening plant and washer.[15]

Shewalton Collieries 5 and 6 opened in 1933 and closed in 1950. The workforce was around 150, mining house coal which was also taken to the Montgomeryfield screening plant and washer.[16]

Micro-history

Shewalton Wood.

The Caledonian Pulp Mill is located on the western margin of Shewalton Moss. It was opened in 1989 by the Duke of Edinburgh. The factory produces glossy paper for magazines, and other publications using china clay brought in by train from Cornwall.[17] After Shewalton House was demolished a bearing factory was built nearby and an industrial estate occupies part of the old deer park.[17]

A Shewalton Mill on the River Irvine is recorded in the 17th century.[18]

Drybridge railway station lay close by on the line from Kilmarnock to Ayr.

Shewalton Woods, Shewalton Sand Pits, Oldhall Ponds and the nearby Trocol Pond are Scottish Wildlife Trust nature reserves.[19]

Extensive sand and gravel extraction has taken place within the Shewalton area leaving flooded quarries and areas used by North Ayrshire Council for disposing of certain categories of household waste.

Flooded sand and gravel quarry at Shewalton.

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d Paterson, Page 491
  2. ^ a b Love (2005), Page 54
  3. ^ a b c Love (2005), Page 55
  4. ^ OS Map Retrieved :2012-12-03
  5. ^ a b Millar, Page 132
  6. ^ Paterson, Page 494
  7. ^ a b c d McMichael, Page 56
  8. ^ Strawhorn, page 100
  9. ^ Paterson, Page 496
  10. ^ Smith, Page 111
  11. ^ Smith, Page 114
  12. ^ Smith, Page 116-117
  13. ^ Rootsweb Retrieved : 2012-12-03
  14. ^ OS Map, 1925 retrieved : 2012-12-03
  15. ^ Canmore Retrieved : 2012-12-05
  16. ^ Canmore Retrieved : 2012-12-05
  17. ^ a b Love (2003), Page 71
  18. ^ Strawhorn, Page 17
  19. ^ SWT Reserves in Ayrshire Retrieved : 2012-12-03
Sources
  1. Love, Dane (2003). Ayrshire : Discovering a County. Ayr : Fort Publishing. ISBN 0-9544461-1-9.
  2. Love, Dane (2005). Lost Ayrshire : Ayrshire's Lost Architectural Heritage. Edinburgh : Birlinn Ltd. ISBN 1-84158-3561-1.
  3. McMichael, George. Notes on the Way Through Ayrshire. Ayr : Hugh Henry.
  4. Millar, A. H. (1885). The Castles and Mansions of Ayrshire. Glasgow : Grimsay Press. ISBN 1-84530-019-X
  5. Paterson, James (1863–66). History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton. Kyle. Edinburgh: J. Stillie.
  6. Smith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. London : Elliot Stock.
  7. Strawhorn, John (1985). The History of Irvine. Royal Burgh and Town. Edinburgh : John Donald. ISBN 0-85976-140-1.
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