Lindston Loch (NS 37272 16195) was a small freshwater loch situated within a glacial 'kettle hole.' The loch lies in the

South Ayrshire South Ayrshire ( sco, Sooth Ayrshire; gd, Siorrachd Àir a Deas, ) is one of thirty-two council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire. On 30 June 2 ...

Council Area, Parish of Dalrymple, Scotland.

The loch

In the 1870s the OS map shows that the loch was circa 200 yards (180 metres) long by 100 yards (90 metres) wide, roughly oval in shape, and of an extent of 1.125ha or 2.78 acres however a section to the south-west had been infilled, possibly with quarrying waste from the nearby abandoned quarries. The loch was fed by burns running down from near Boghall and Balsarroch.

Drainage

The loch's drainage may have begun in the 18th century when

Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton (10 February 172325 October 1769), was a Scottish peer. Eglinton was the son of The 9th Earl of Eglinton. His mother, who was the third wife of the 9th Earl, was Susanna, Countess of Eglinton, the ...

, was pursuing a number of agricultural improvements on his extensive estates and other landowners followed his example. Some drainage work may have taken place in the 1740s because of the improvements undertaken to provide employment for Irish estate workers during the Irish potato famines of the 1740s and the mid 19th centuries. Many drainage schemes also date to the end of World War I when many soldiers returned en masse to civilian life.

Uses

An outflow once ran down towards Dustyhall and joined the Purclewan Burn that powered the mill at Burnton. It is recorded that drainage works were carried out in 1790. Curling matches are recorded at the loch on 15 January 1850 and on 19 December 1844. A curling pond was still recorded in the late 1890s.

Archaeology

In 1790 Smith records that a bronze tripod

ewer In American English, a pitcher is a container with a spout used for storing and pouring liquids. In English-speaking countries outside North America, a jug is any container with a handle and a mouth and spout for liquid – American "pitchers" wil ...

was found in Lindston Loch, measuring inches high, by inches across the mouth, spreading out to inches. It has a spout and handle and is regarded being of late medieval origin; for many years it was kept at the Dalrymple Manse. A bronze tripod ewer, with spout and handle, almost identical to the Lindston Loch specimen, was found at nearby Skeldon. The old Roman road from the Solway Firth and the Clyde ran near here, passing from Causeway Farm onto Perclewan and Lindston. The above mentioned ewer was found near this road; a glazed pitcher of earthenware was found at Perclewan near the old road in 1833, bearing the figure of a man's face and hands on the front.Paterson, Page 395 Lindston Loch Ewer, Dalrymple

Lindston Camp sat above the loch, on the nearly level summit of a broad ridge 400 feet above the sea. A circular wet ditch, 21 feet wide and 2 or 3 deep to the surface of the weedy water, encloses a space 130 feet in diameter, scarcely rising above the surface of the surrounding field, and has no trace of a rampart.Smith, Page 173 The earthwork remains may possibly been a

henge There are three related types of Neolithic earthwork that are all sometimes loosely called henges. The essential characteristic of all three is that they feature a ring-shaped bank and ditch, with the ditch inside the bank. Because the internal ...

commanding magnificent views in all directions. The entrance has been in the east where a causeway (7 m broad) crosses the ditch.

Etymology

The meaning of Lindston may derive from Lind, the Scots for a lime (''

Tilia ''Tilia'' is a genus of about 30 species of trees or bushes, native throughout most of the temperateness, temperate Northern Hemisphere. The tree is known as linden for the European species, and basswood for North American species. In Britain a ...

'' species) or linden tree. It was also used in the general sense of woodland. The overall sense being that of a 'rocky outcrop within woodland'.

Natural history

The loch in 1846 was well stocked with pike, perch, and eels, and was frequented by wild-duck, teal, widgeon, and other aquatic fowl. An extensive woodland extends towards Lindston Farm and large areas of reeds (''

Phragmites ''Phragmites'' () is a genus of four species of large perennial reed grasses found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. Taxonomy The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, maintained by Kew Garden in London ...

'' species) are present. The loch site recorded as a wildlife site within South Ayrshire. The OS maps of the 1870s show a plantation beneath Lindston Farm and extensive areas of willow scrub have developed.

Nelly Kilpatrick

When

Robert Burns Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who hav ...

was 15 he met his first young love, Nelly Bone, better known as

Nelly Kilpatrick Nelly or Nellie Kilpatrick, Helen Kilpatrick or later Nelly Bone (1759–1820). Nelly (usually short for "Helen") was possibly Robert Burns's first love and muse as stated by Isabella Burns. Early life Nelly is usually used as a nickname for "He ...

in this part of Ayrshire. Nelly was the daughter of the Purclewan hamlet miller and they met when William Burns hired some extra help to bring in the harvest while they were at nearby Mount Oliphant Farm. It was with Nelly in mind that he wrote his first song "Handsome Nell" – Some years later Burns wrote of this song, saying – "I never had the least thought or inclination of turning poet till I got once heartily in love, and then rhyme and song were, in a manner, the spontaneous language of my heart. I remember I composed it in a wild enthusiasm of passion, and to this hour I never recollect it but my heart melts, and my blood sallies at the remembrance."The World Burns Club.
Retrieved : 29 January 2012

References

Notes

Sources

# Archaeological & Historical Collections relating to the counties of Ayrshire & Wigtown. V. IV. Edinburgh : Ayr Wig Arch Soc. 1884. # MacIntosh, Donald (2006). ''Travels in Galloway''. Glasgow : Neil Wilson. . # Paterson, James (1863–66). ''History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton. II. – Kyle. Edinburgh: J. Stillie. # Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. London : Elliot Stock.

External links

*{{Commons category-inline, Lindston Loch, South Ayrshire Lochs of South Ayrshire History of South Ayrshire Former lochs Robert Burns Freshwater lochs of Scotland Lakes of South Ayrshire