Kirkoswald, South Ayrshire

Kirkoswald (Scots: Kirkossald)[1] is a village and parish in the Carrick district of Ayrshire, Scotland, 1 3⁄4 miles (2.8 km) from the coast and 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Maybole. It takes its name from its kirk (church), dedicated to Oswald of Northumbria, who is said to have won a battle here in the 7th century. The old church, which was built in 1244 and houses the baptismal font of Robert the Bruce, is now a ruin in the grounds of the modern church, which was built in 1777 to a design by Robert Adam. Kirkoswald is also noted for its connection with Robert Burns, whose maternal ancestors, the Brouns, were from the village. Burns also attended school here, and would later base the characters Tam o' Shanter, Kirkton Jean and Souter Johnnie on village locals Douglas Graham, John Davidson and Jean Aird.

Kirkoswald

The Main Street
Kirkoswald
Location within South Ayrshire
Population194 
OS grid referenceNS240075
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMAYBOLE
Postcode districtKA19
Dialling code01655
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Kirkoswald village had a population of 194 in 1991. Kirkoswald parish is 23.3 square miles (60 km2), and also contains the coastal village of Maidens. Landmarks include Turnberry Castle, the ancient seat of the Earls of Carrick, Culzean Castle, Thomaston Castle and Crossraguel Abbey.

Rev Robert Hunter Arbuckle was minister of the Free Church from 1860 and 1897.[2]

  • View of the village from the neighbouring moorland
  • The old church
  • The War memorial
  • The grave of 'Kirkton Jean'
  • Grave marker for former slave Scipio Kennedy
  • Souter Johnnie's cottage, now owned by the National Trust
  • The remains of Turnberry Castle
  • View of Maidens village
  • View towards Mochrum Hill

References
  1. The Online Scots Dictionary
  2. Ewing, William Annals of the Free Church


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