Loch Brand
Encyclopedia
Loch Brand or Loch of Boghall was situated in a depression between the Grange Estate, Crummock, Hill of Beith Castle
site and Boghall in the Parish of Beith, East Ayrshire
, Scotland. The loch was fed by the Grange Burn and surface runoff
, such as from the old rig and furrow
s indicated by Roy's Maps of the mid 17th century. The loch was drained by the Boghall Burn that runs passed the 'Court Hill' and into Powgree Burn at Gateside
.
Crannog
In the bottom of the loch piles or stakes of oak or elm have been found at various times and are thought that these may be the remains of crannog
s or connected with fishing on the loch. Dobie, writing in 1876 states that the loch was drained about 60 years ago, thus about 1826. The 'cut' through the natural dam that once held back the loch waters below Boghall is clearly visible. The Boghall Burn runs from a drainage ditch through this 'cut'.
Land improvements
Land improvements and reclamation was taking place in many areas, for example in 1814 Barr Loch and the Aird Meadow was bunded and drained. Although the loch's drainage may have begun in the 15th century, Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton
, was pursuing a number of agricultural improvements on his extensive estates in the 18th century and other landowners followed his example. Intensive drainage work may have taken place in the 1740s as part of the improvements undertaken to provide employment for Irish estate workers during the Irish potato famines of the 1740's and the mid 19th centuries. Many drainage schemes also date to the end of WWI when many soldiers returned en masse to civilian life.
The nearby placenames of Bogholm, Bogside and Boghall are self-evident as an indicators of the nature of the area.
, it is recorded that the Abbot and Convent of Kilwinning took legal action against Robert Montgomerie and his brother John of Giffin Castle
, William Montgomerie, Alexander Montgomerie and James Ker who were accused of dangerous destruction and down-casting of the fosses and dikes of the loch called Loch Brand. It is not recorded what the judgement was or the effect these actions had upon the size and depth of the loch.
and to the Montgomeries of Broadstone who held the Lands of Boghall. In 1691 Hew Montgomerie held the lands and his son Mathew inherited them. The loch formed part of the Barony of Beith, which had been given to the monks in the twelfth century. The monks' Grange lay nearby in the vicinity of the present day Grangehill Estate. Yester Hill of Beith or Hill of Beith Castle
was a successor to the lands owned by the monks, however the Cuninghames had sold the castle and lands of Hill of Beith by the end of the 17th century. In around 1798 Hugh Brown of Broadstone
purchased the lands of Hill of Beith Castle and part of the loch lands.
Hill of Beith Castle
The old Barony and castle, fortalice, or tower house of Hill of Beith lay in the feudal Regality of Kilwinning, within the Baillerie of Cunninghame, and the Sherrifdom of Ayr, now the Parish of Beith, North Ayrshire, Scotland.-The Abbots of Kilwinning Abbey:...
site and Boghall in the Parish of Beith, East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
, Scotland. The loch was fed by the Grange Burn and surface runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
, such as from the old rig and furrow
Rig and furrow
Rig and furrow was a type of cultivation practised in upland areas of the British Isles which differs from the more common ridge and furrow in that it appears to have been created through excavation by spade rather than plough....
s indicated by Roy's Maps of the mid 17th century. The loch was drained by the Boghall Burn that runs passed the 'Court Hill' and into Powgree Burn at Gateside
Gateside, North Ayrshire
Gateside is a small village in North Ayrshire, Scotland about half a mile east of Beith on the B777.-The village:Gateside Primary School, headteacher Ms Fiona Dunlop, was opened in 1903, and nowadays it has 74 pupils...
.
History
Loch Bran or Brand was the name by which the Loch of Boghall was formerly known. The loch, drained in 1780, is one of the sources of the Powgree Burn and lay on the lands of Boghall and Hill of Beith.Crannog
In the bottom of the loch piles or stakes of oak or elm have been found at various times and are thought that these may be the remains of crannog
Crannog
A crannog is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes, rivers and estuarine waters of Scotland and Ireland. Crannogs were used as dwellings over five millennia from the European Neolithic Period, to as late as the 17th/early 18th century although in Scotland,...
s or connected with fishing on the loch. Dobie, writing in 1876 states that the loch was drained about 60 years ago, thus about 1826. The 'cut' through the natural dam that once held back the loch waters below Boghall is clearly visible. The Boghall Burn runs from a drainage ditch through this 'cut'.
Land improvements
Land improvements and reclamation was taking place in many areas, for example in 1814 Barr Loch and the Aird Meadow was bunded and drained. Although the loch's drainage may have begun in the 15th century, Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton
Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton
Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton , was a Scottish peer.Eglinton was the son of the 9th Earl of Eglinton. His mother and third wife of the 9th Earl was Susanna Montgomery, Countess of Eglinton the renowned society beauty...
, was pursuing a number of agricultural improvements on his extensive estates in the 18th century and other landowners followed his example. Intensive drainage work may have taken place in the 1740s as part of the improvements undertaken to provide employment for Irish estate workers during the Irish potato famines of the 1740's and the mid 19th centuries. Many drainage schemes also date to the end of WWI when many soldiers returned en masse to civilian life.
The nearby placenames of Bogholm, Bogside and Boghall are self-evident as an indicators of the nature of the area.
A dispute
In 1482, when Loch Brand was the property of the monks of Kilwinning AbbeyKilwinning Abbey
Kilwinning Abbey is a ruined abbey located in the centre of the town of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.-The establishment of the Abbey:The ancient name of the town is 'Segdoune' or 'Saigtown', probably derived from 'Sanctoun', meaning the 'town of the saint'. Saint Winnings festival was on 21 January...
, it is recorded that the Abbot and Convent of Kilwinning took legal action against Robert Montgomerie and his brother John of Giffin Castle
Barony and Castle of Giffen
The Barony of Giffen and its associated 15th-century castle were in the parish of Beith in the former District of Cunninghame, now North Ayrshire. The site may be spelled Giffen or Giffin and lay within the Lordship of Giffin, which included the Baronies of Giffen, Trearne, Hessilhead, Broadstone,...
, William Montgomerie, Alexander Montgomerie and James Ker who were accused of dangerous destruction and down-casting of the fosses and dikes of the loch called Loch Brand. It is not recorded what the judgement was or the effect these actions had upon the size and depth of the loch.
Ownership
As stated, the loch and bordering lands once belonged to the monks of Kilwinning AbbeyKilwinning Abbey
Kilwinning Abbey is a ruined abbey located in the centre of the town of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.-The establishment of the Abbey:The ancient name of the town is 'Segdoune' or 'Saigtown', probably derived from 'Sanctoun', meaning the 'town of the saint'. Saint Winnings festival was on 21 January...
and to the Montgomeries of Broadstone who held the Lands of Boghall. In 1691 Hew Montgomerie held the lands and his son Mathew inherited them. The loch formed part of the Barony of Beith, which had been given to the monks in the twelfth century. The monks' Grange lay nearby in the vicinity of the present day Grangehill Estate. Yester Hill of Beith or Hill of Beith Castle
Hill of Beith Castle
The old Barony and castle, fortalice, or tower house of Hill of Beith lay in the feudal Regality of Kilwinning, within the Baillerie of Cunninghame, and the Sherrifdom of Ayr, now the Parish of Beith, North Ayrshire, Scotland.-The Abbots of Kilwinning Abbey:...
was a successor to the lands owned by the monks, however the Cuninghames had sold the castle and lands of Hill of Beith by the end of the 17th century. In around 1798 Hugh Brown of Broadstone
Broadstone, North Ayrshire
Broadstone lies close to the small village of Gateside in North Ayrshire, Scotland about half a mile east of Beith in the old Barony of Giffen.-The castle:The ruins of Braidstone or Broadstone Castle remained until about 1850...
purchased the lands of Hill of Beith Castle and part of the loch lands.
Habitats
The site is now represented by a low, marsh and reed covered area (less than 2 ha in extent) centred at NS 358 543 on the OS map. The Ordnance Survey maps of the mid 19th century indicate that the area was farming land devoid of marsh, bog, or wetland, however the area in 2010 is as stated above.Sources
- Archaeological & Historical Collections relating to the counties of Ayrshire & Wigtown. Edinburgh : Ayr Wig Arch Soc. 1880.
- Archaeological & Historical Collections relating to the counties of Ayrshire & Wigtown. Edinburgh : Ayr Wig Arch Soc. 1882.
- Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Glasgow: John Tweed.
- MacIntosh, Donald (2006). Travels in Galloway. Glasgow : Neil Wilson. ISBN 1-897784-92-9.
- Smith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. London : Elliot Stock.
External links
- http://www.s1beith.com/memories/loch-bran.html Article on S1 beith