Straiton
1846
STRAITON, a parish, in the district of Carrick, county of Ayr, 7 miles (S.
E. by E.) from Maybole; containing, with the village of Patna, 1363
inhabitants. This place derives its name, signifying in the Celtic language
"the town of the strath," from its situation at the head of an extensive and
fertile vale: little is known of its ancient state, and very few, if any,
incidents of historical importance connected with it are on record.
The parish, which is one
of the largest in the county, is about twenty miles in length, and of very
irregular breadth, scarcely averaging more than four miles, though in some
parts extending to eight miles. It is bounded on the north by the parishes
of Kirkmichael and Dalrymple; on the east by the parish of Dalmellington; on
the south by the parishes of Carsphairn, Kells, Minigaff, and Barr; and on
the west by the parishes of Dailly and Kirkmichael. The surface, with the
exception of the valleys of the Girvan and the Doon, is generally uneven,
abounding with hills, of which some few are of considerable height. Of
these, the Graigengower, behind the manse, has an elevation of 1300 feet;
and Binnan Hill, about half a mile from the village, rises to the height of
1150 feet above the level of the sea; both commanding fine views over the
county of Ayr, the Frith of Clyde, the Isle of Arran, and the coast of
Ireland. The other hills, though numerous, are not of any great altitude.
There are also many lakes on the borders, and within the limits, of the
parish. The principal is Loch Doon, which is properly within the parish:
this lake is about six miles in length and one mile broad, and is much
frequented by fishing parties, for whose accommodation boats are kept in
constant readiness during the season. The scenery of the lake is bleak, and
destitute of beauty, from the want of trees; and the most romantic feature,
the outlet of its waters into the river Doon, in one wide volume over a
rocky barrier, has been divested of its interest by the erection of sluices
to regulate the supply. Of the other lakes the chief are, Loch Braden, Loch
Dercleugh, and Loch Finlas, on all of which boats are likewise kept for
angling; the remaining lakes, nearly twenty in number, are inconsiderable,
and undistinguished by any peculiarity of features. The river Doon, issuing
from the lake of that name, forces its way for almost a mile through the
deep and rocky glen of Berbeth, in which it is apparently lost. The interior
of this dark and narrow dell abounds with the most sublime and romantic
features. Along the margin of the river, a narrow footpath has been formed
at an elevation above the highest point to which its waters ever rise in
forcing their way; and the narrow channel of the stream is inclosed on both
sides by lofty precipitous cliffs, rising almost perpendicularly to the
height of nearly 300 feet, in some parts clothed with the rich foliage of
trees whose boughs impend over the water, and in others forming vast and
rugged masses of barren rock. From this pass, the river winds through the
pleasure-grounds of Berbeth House, and it afterwards expands into a wide
lake, whence it pursues a gentle and noiseless course through meadow lands:
after forming for about ten miles the boundary of this parish, it flows
through the parishes of Dalrymple and Maybole into the sea, near Ayr. The
river Girvan, which rises about twelve miles from Straiton, passes along a
rich and fertile vale to the village, and, after a course of nearly three
miles through the well-wooded demesne of Blairquhan, enters Kirkmichael: the
river Stinchar, which has its source in the parish of Barr, constitutes the
southern boundary of this parish for two miles. A beautiful waterfall occurs
near Berbeth, where a lake called Dalkairney Linn, which is created by a
small burn, projects itself from a height of forty feet in a perpendicular
descent; Tarelaw Linn is formed by the Girvan, and, after a succession of
falls, together more than sixty feet in height, expands into a fine sheet of
water in a deeply-wooded dell. The streams abound with trout, and salmon
also are found in the Doon and Girvan; the lakes contain pike, trout, and
other fish; and the moors afford plenty of grouse.
The soil on the banks of the Girvan is light and gravelly, and on those of
the Doon a retentive clay. The whole number of acres in the parish is
estimated at 51,800; about 4200 of these are arable, 600 in woods and
plantations; and the remainder, of which not more than 500 or 600 could be
reclaimed and rendered capable of cultivation, are pasture and moorland in a
state of nature. The crops are, oats, wheat, barley, beans, potatoes, and
turnips. The system of agriculture is improved; the lands have been drained
to a considerable extent, and the greater number of the farm-houses, having
been rebuilt in a better style, are now substantial and commodious, and
roofed with slate. On most of the farms threshing-mills have been erected;
the introduction of bone-manure has been attended with success, and all the
more recent improvements in implements of husbandry have been adopted. Great
attention is paid to the rearing of live-stock, and to the improvement of
the breeds. Galloway cows, formerly prevalent here, have given place to cows
of the Ayrshire breed; about 800 milch-cows of this description are
pastured, and 1400 head of cattle of the Galloway kind are annually bred. Of
sheep, about 20,000 of the black-faced kind are annually fed on the several
pastures, and a few of the Cheviot breed have been recently introduced; 250
horses are also annually reared, chiefly for agricultural purposes. The
woods are well managed, and display some good specimens of full-grown
timber; near the village are some remarkably fine old sycamoretrees, and
near Blairquhan are some lime-trees of great beauty, forming a noble avenue
to the mansion. The plantations are, larch, and spruce, silver, and Scotch
firs, interspersed with oak, ash, elm, and beech; they are well attended to,
and make a profitable return to the proprietors. The substrata are chiefly
granite, of which the hills about Loch Doon are formed, greywacke, and
greywacke-slate; on the banks of the Girvan is found trap interspersed with
mountain limestone, and in the lower lands red sandstone. Limestone is
quarried in several places, and coal has been found in different parts of
the parish; the limestone in some spots abounds with marine shells. The coal
is worked at Patna and Keir, but not to any great extent; it occurs in seams
varying from three to eight feet in thickness, and of various quality. The
rateable annual value of the parish is £9107. Blairquhan Castle, the seat of
Sir David Hunter Blair, Bart., is a castellated mansion, completed in 1824,
in the later style of English architecture, and beautifully situated on the
banks of the Girvan, about a mile from the village of Straiton. The approach
is by a handsome bridge, and through a lodge in strict keeping with the
style of the castle; it conducts the visiter through a succession of
interesting scenery, and leads to a fine view of the house, with the hills
of Craigengower and Binnan in the back ground. The castle contains many
stately apartments, to which access is afforded by a spacious and splendid
saloon sixty feet in height; the grounds are laid out with great beauty, and
adorned with full-grown timber and thriving plantations. Berbeth, the
residence of the Honourable Colonel Cathcart, is situated on the banks of
the Doon, at one extremity of the parish; it is a substantial mansion, in a
highly embellished demesne comprising much interesting scenery. On the river
Stinchar, at about eight miles' distance from the village of Straiton, is a
shooting lodge belonging to the Marquess of Ailsa.
The village is pleasantly situated on the Girvan, and consists of neat and
well-built houses. The inhabitants are partly engaged in weaving for the
Glasgow and Paisley manufacturers, the principal articles being tartans and
plaids; a great part of the female population, also, are employed in working
muslins in flowers and various patterns for the markets of Paisley and
Glasgow. A penny-post office, a branch of the post-office of Maybole, has
been established here, and also a parochial library, in which is a
collection of about 500 volumes. The nearest market-town is Ayr, with which
communication is afforded by good roads, that from Ayr to Newton-Stewart
passing through the village; and over the rivers are bridges kept in
excellent repair. The ecclesiastical affairs are under the superintendence
of the presbytery of Ayr and synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and the patronage is
in the Crown. The stipend of the incumbent is £235; the manse is a small but
comfortable residence, beautifully situated, and the glebe comprises about
eight acres of profitable land, valued at £16 per annum.
The church is a plain
edifice, having undergone repeated alterations and repairs; the most ancient
portion of it, which formed part probably of the original structure, is an
aisle, having a fine Gothic window, and now belonging to Sir Hunter Blair.
It is nearly in the centre of the parish, and is adapted for a congregation
of 444 persons. A chapel of ease has been erected by subscription in the
village of Patna, on a site given for that purpose, in 1836, by Mr. Leslie
Cumming; it is adapted for a congregation of about 600 persons, and is well
arranged. In this village also, is a place of worship for members of the
United Secession.
There are two parochial
schools; one in the village of Straiton, of which the master has a salary of
£31. 10., with a house and garden, and fees averaging £32 per annum; and the
other in the village of Patna, of which the master has a salary of £11, with
a house and garden given by the proprietor, and the fees, amounting to £25.
The former is attended by about eighty, and the latter by about sixty
scholars. There is also a school partly supported by the fees; and at both
villages are parochial libraries, besides small collections of religious
works.
Coal is distributed
annually among the poor by Lady Hunter Blair; and two friendly societies,
long established, have contributed greatly to diminish the applications for
parochial relief. On an island near the head of Loch Doon are the remains of
the ancient castle of Doon, of irregular form, consisting of eleven
different facia, and of a lofty square tower in the Norman and early English
styles of architecture. This was once a royal castle, of which the Earl of
Cassilis was governor; it was one of the five strongholds held by the
royalists during the minority of the son of Bruce, and was defended against
the English by John Thompson, who led back the Scottish army from Ireland
after the death of Edward Bruce. In the loch, near the ruins, were found, in
1823, and also in 1831, some canoes formed of one trunk of oak: one is
preserved in the museum of the university of Glasgow, and others in some
water near Berbeth. There are also slight remains of the ancient castle of
Blairquhan, incorporated in the modern mansion of that name. This castle
early belonged to the family of Mc Whirter, from whom it passed to the
Kennedys, a branch of the Cassilis family; in the reign of Charles II. it
came into the possession of the family of Whiteford, and eventually it was
purchased by the Blairs, the present owners of the estate of Blairquhan.
From: A Topographical
Dictionary of Scotland (1846)
and .co.uk