I did a project in primary 4-5 on a crannog that was found in Kilbirnie Loch or Barr Loch. The teacher shared the local knowledge of the crannog and we had to write a story about the people on the crannog. I wrote an epic battle between the locals and our enemy the “Dalryites”. Daley being the next town over, it made sense to my 9 year old mind. Thanks again for a wonderful video that dragged up long forgotten childhood memories. ~Stew
In Glenbuck Loch - which was the water shed bog of the River Ayr and the Clyde (via the Douglas River at this point) was turned into a Loch from the bog by the dam 1790ish on the western end of the Loch In the western 1/3 of the loch and on the southern side there is a low islet with trees that I visited a few times which could be a Crannog site - its the right size and feels man made….at the time of my visits I assumed it was a folly built by The Laird of Glenbuck who built Glenbuck House ( red sandstone and no roof after a post ww2 fire literally dissolved ) as a model farm and is responsible for the amenity woodland around the Loch The Loch is shallow perhaps 10-12 feet but very very silty and before the dam was built the old roads prehistoric and later were high up on either side for 1000’s of years as the valley was so boggy and Glenbuch farm produced the ‘ finest example of a bronze axe head in Europe ‘ and a standing stone nearer Muirkirk The Lightshaw Stone shows the area was populated since neolithic onwards. Love your vids
I remember fishing in Martnaham Loch when we were kids (40+ years ago) and scrambling along the overgrown causeway to what we guessed had been a castle and wondering if there had been a crannog there first.
An interesting topic. I imagine those were very defensible for small groups of people. I could imagine a larger group simply dispensing with the causeway, making linked groups of Crannog, a man made island of wood, so to speak, and use boats to get access to land and back again.
Wow that was one of my favs so far Roger . Lots of info and interesting history . Thankyou for the time you have put into it . Did you ever see the pic of the old plane the landed up at Ashgrove house prob 20s
No disrespect to your wonderful videos and superb local knowledge, Roger, but Ashgrove/Stevenston Loch is in Stevenston. On can't always look to parish boundaries.
I see that the loch forms the parish boundary and that the crannogs are in Kilwinning Parish thanks to fastidious cartographers and loch drainage :-) :-)
@Roger Griffith Aha! I knew you'd be right in some sense, but I'll hang my parochial victory on the shoogly peg of grammar - 'Ashgrove Loch, Kilwinning' (not Crannog, Ashgrove....'). I also notice you mention the Kilwinning monks having hidden records in the loch. Has this ever been researched fully, and indeed has the loch ever been scanned or had divers in it? I'm aware how difficult this could be given the floating weed beds, and also that it has been drained to an extent. I believe important records, which would provide much place name information, is missing from the abbey.
Great video I appreciate the addition of grid references
Glad it was helpful! Was it your suggestion? If so, thanks.
I did a project in primary 4-5 on a crannog that was found in Kilbirnie Loch or Barr Loch.
The teacher shared the local knowledge of the crannog and we had to write a story about the people on the crannog.
I wrote an epic battle between the locals and our enemy the “Dalryites”. Daley being the next town over, it made sense to my 9 year old mind.
Thanks again for a wonderful video that dragged up long forgotten childhood memories.
~Stew
That's a great story - thanks. The Garnock Valley towns are still having epic battles, usually over football :-)
In Glenbuck Loch - which was the water shed bog of the River Ayr and the Clyde (via the Douglas River at this point) was turned into a Loch from the bog by the dam 1790ish on the western end of the Loch
In the western 1/3 of the loch and on the southern side there is a low islet with trees that I visited a few times which could be a Crannog site - its the right size and feels man made….at the time of my visits I assumed it was a folly built by The Laird of Glenbuck who built Glenbuck House ( red sandstone and no roof after a post ww2 fire literally dissolved ) as a model farm and is responsible for the amenity woodland around the Loch
The Loch is shallow perhaps 10-12 feet but very very silty and before the dam was built the old roads prehistoric and later were high up on either side for 1000’s of years as the valley was so boggy and Glenbuch farm produced the ‘ finest example of a bronze axe head in Europe ‘ and a standing stone nearer Muirkirk The Lightshaw Stone shows the area was populated since neolithic onwards.
Love your vids
Thank-you for these details
I remember fishing in Martnaham Loch when we were kids (40+ years ago) and scrambling along the overgrown causeway to what we guessed had been a castle and wondering if there had been a crannog there first.
It's a delightful spot. The fact that a railway once ran past it was also a surprise!
I’d no idea there were crannogs in Ayrshire- I always associated them with further north. Thanks for this.
Quite a few in Dumfries & Galloway as well
I also had no idea that crannogs existed in Ayrshire!
An interesting topic. I imagine those were very defensible for small groups of people. I could imagine a larger group simply dispensing with the causeway, making linked groups of Crannog, a man made island of wood, so to speak, and use boats to get access to land and back again.
ThankU for sharing and posting.
Thanks
Wow that was one of my favs so far Roger . Lots of info and interesting history . Thankyou for the time you have put into it . Did you ever see the pic of the old plane the landed up at Ashgrove house prob 20s
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes - a short video I came across somewhere. Those were the days!
excellent vid Roger
Thanks
Very interesting thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Roger, you seem to spend a lot of time in Ayrshire, where I was born and grew up. What brought you there?
Work. Great place to explore!
No disrespect to your wonderful videos and superb local knowledge, Roger, but Ashgrove/Stevenston Loch is in Stevenston. On can't always look to parish boundaries.
Yes. It's also known as Stevenston Loch.
I see that the loch forms the parish boundary and that the crannogs are in Kilwinning Parish thanks to fastidious cartographers and loch drainage :-) :-)
@Roger Griffith Aha! I knew you'd be right in some sense, but I'll hang my parochial victory on the shoogly peg of grammar - 'Ashgrove Loch, Kilwinning' (not Crannog, Ashgrove....').
I also notice you mention the Kilwinning monks having hidden records in the loch. Has this ever been researched fully, and indeed has the loch ever been scanned or had divers in it? I'm aware how difficult this could be given the floating weed beds, and also that it has been drained to an extent. I believe important records, which would provide much place name information, is missing from the abbey.