Kilsyth Table

Kilsyth

Edgar(1745) is the map in Nimmo’s Stirlingshire (1777) which was based on W. Edgar’s survey of 1745. RHP 24844 is 1814.

Name Value Date Grid Ref Map Sources Other forms, comments etc
Spittle     NS 721838 Edgar(1745)

OS (1859-61)

Drummond p 281 gives a 1667 reference.

OS 6″ 1st Series Stirlingshire Sheet XXII, 1859-61.

Crossmyloof     NS 7483 Edgar(1745)

Ainslie (1821)

RHP 24844

Part of Slafarquhar?
Bentend     NS 7383 Grassom(1817)

RHP 24844

Part of Slafarquhar?
Slafarquhar 40s (3m) ?   NS 7383 Pont(32)

RHP 24844

Part of barony of Dundaffmuir. I have no valuation but would expect it to be 40s like its 3 neighbours to the west.
Slachristock 40s (3m) 1658 c. NS 715834 Pont(32)

OS (1859-61)

OS 6″ 1st Series Stirlingshire Sheet XXII, 1859-61.

Part of barony of Dundaffmuir.

Clacharie 40s (3m) 1657 NS 705830 Pont(32)

OS (1859-61)

OS 6″ 1st Series Stirlingshire Sheet XXII, 1859-61.

Part of barony of Dundaffmuir.

Berblinchie 40s (3m) 1642 c. NS 6982 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Edgar(1745)

Roy(GM26)

Part of barony of Dundaffmuir. In GD220/1/L/3/5/10 1759 and GD220/1/L/3/5/11&12 1760 it is described as comprehending the Burnhouse and the Braes of Berblinchy. See below.
Burnhouse     NS 6882 Edgar(1745)  
(Sub-total) 9m or 12m        
Barony of Dundaffmuir £20 (30m) 1574     See below.
Glaskel/Glaswell         See under Campsie.
           
Kilsayth-Eister £10 (15m) 1652   Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Retours (Stirling) (198) 1652, (201) 1653.
Berryhill     NS 7280 RHP 6351  
Banton

Banton Mains

High Banton

    NS 7579

NS 7480/7580

NS 7479/7579

Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

 

Bantoin (Pont & Blaeu) = Ballantoun.

Banton estate was forfeited after 1715. See NRS E617.

See Drummond pp 259-60.

Tomfyne     NS 7679 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Drummond p 282
Tomrawyr   1548 NS 758796 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

RHP 1557

Tomrawyr (Pont & Blaeu). Linked to Wester Auchincloch.
Auchincloch   1525 NS 7678 Pont(32)

Roy(GM33)

W. Achinacloch, Er Achnacloch, Achnacloch (Roy). See below.

 

Orchard     NS 7679    
Ruchill   1553 NS 7578 Pont(32)

Roy(GM33)

Rochill (1553), Rouhhill (Pont)
Gateside     NS 7578 RHP 6351  
Auchinvalley     NS 7479 RHP 6351  
Auchinrivoch

 

    NS 7479 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Roy(GM26&33)

RHP 6351

 
Taigstoun   1553 NS 742791 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Roy(GM25)

Grassom(1817)

Wester Taggistoun, Eister Taggistoun (1553)

Taigstoun (Pont & Blaeu)

Colziumbea     NS 7377 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Edgar(1745)

Grassom(1817)

Collanbe (Pont & Blaeu)

 

Coliam Brae in Edgar.

Woodend     NS 7377 Grassom(1817)  
Cragstoun 33s 9d 1509-10     More likely to be 33s 4d (2½m) – or perhaps not all of it?
Craigstone Wood     NS 7378 Roy(GM25)  
Colzium Castle   1553 NS 7278 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Roy(GM25)

Colzem (1553)

Colyam Cast. (Pont & Blaeu)

Drumtrocher     NS 7178 Grassom(1817)  
Neilston   1553 NS 721783 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Roy(GM25)

OS(1859)

Neilstoun (1553)

Neelstoun (Pont & Blaeu)

Barrwood     NS 7277    
Barr   1553 NS 7277 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Bar (1553)

Bar (Pont & Blaeu)

(Sub-total East barony) 17½m +5d        
           
Ex Campsie         Part of Campsie before 1649
Casteltoun 40s (3m) 1620     Stirling Retours (103) 1620; yet half was 6s 8d (½m) in Stirling Retours (132) 1629. Close to Balmalloch?
Burnside 6s 8d 1629   Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Middle of Kilsyth (Pont & Blaeu). See below.
Balmalloch     NS 7178 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Edgar(1745)

Balmalloch (1553). See Drummond p 258.

Balmoloch (Pont & Blaeu)

Bymuloch (Edgar)

Dumbreck     NS 7077 Edgar(1745)  
Arnbrae     NS 7077 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Edgar(1745)

Roy(GM25)

Arnbrue (Pont & Blaeu)
Balcastle Farm     NS 7078 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Edgar(1745)

Roy(GM26)

Balcastell (Pont)

Bycastle (Edgar)

See Drummond pp 257-8.

Gavell Farm     NS 6977 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Roy(GM25)

Gauell (Pont & Blaeu)
Nathir Caldwall         ‘in baronia de Kilsyth’ Stirling Retours (128) 1628.

=Nether Gavell?

Queenzieburn     NS 6977 Pont(32)

Edgar(1745)

Roy(GM25)

Goyny  (Pont)

Gungie (Edgar)

Guynie (Roy)

Old Place     NS 6978 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Roy(GM26)

See under Kilsyth below.
Cairnbog     NS 6878 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

Edgar(1745)

Roy(GM26)

 

 

 

Kairn Bog in Roy.

Shalloch     NS 6878 Roy(GM26)

Grassom(1817)

Just W of Kairn Bog in Roy.
Drumheldric     NS 6978   See Drummond p 267.
Inchwood     NS 6876 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

 
Netherinch Farm     NS 6876 Roy(GM25)  
Inchterf     NS 6775 Pont(32)

Blaeu(Stirling)

RHP 6351

 
(Sub-total West barony) 3m        
Total c. 30m        

 

 

Parish boundaries

OPS I p 44 translates a passage from the Register of  Glasgow (pp 88-9), dating it approximately to William the Lion’s reign (1165-1214), which sets out the parish boundaries for Campsie. These are partly relevant for Kilsyth:

following the Kelvyn water and its ancient course until ascending eastward you reach the rivulet which runs along (next to) the land of Kelvesyth [Kilsyth], and divides the parish of Monyabroc [later called Kilsyth] from the parish of Campsy; and thus ascending by that rivulet, viz., the Garcalt, to the boundaries of the land of Blarenebleschy, which belongs to the parish of Monyabroc (Monybroc), and so following the old boundaries between the lands of Blarneblenschy (Blarneblenchy) and the land of Glaskell, which is in Campsy, all the way to the water of Caroun [Carron], which there divides the parish of Campsy from the parish of St Ninian of Kyrctoun of the bishoprick of St Andrews

(I have put alternative readings or translations from the Register in round brackets and modern names or explanations in square brackets. Drummond, p 272, corrects Kelvesyth to Kelnasyth after studying the original manuscript).

 

I have discussed this passage fully in the Campsie table but as far as Kilsyth is concerned the old western boundary with Campsie ran from where the Garrel burn enters the Kelvin to the northern boundary of Blarneblenschy on the River Carron. The southern boundary was the Kelvin. The northern boundary was the River Carron. The eastern boundary comes south from near Carron Bridge and then bears south-east. The oldest eastern boundary probably reached its southernmost point at the watershed between the source of the River Kelvin (running west) and the source of the Bonny Water (running east). In the OSA of  1796 Reverend Rennie gives the boundaries as the R. Carron on the North, the R. Kelvin on the South, Inchwood Burn on the West, the Bush burn on the East. Grassom’s map of 1817 shows the boundary running close to Hollandbush and Bush. OS 6″ 1st Series Stirlingshire Sheet XXIX, 1859, shows the eastern boundary running SW from Hollinbush with Kelvinhead to the west and Bonnyhead to the east. However the western boundary doesn’t completely match the course of the Wood Burn. OS 6″ 1st Series Stirlingshire Sheet XXVIII, 1859, shows it looping westwards to include the farm of Inchterf in NS 6775.

 

Kilsyth

The earliest forms of Kilsyth suggest that, as with Killearn (and possibly Kilmannan), it does not derive from cille (a church). See under Glinn in Balfron parish for further discussion.

 

OPS I pp 43-4 states:

‘Maldoven Earl of Lennox, granted to Malcolm son of Duncan, with his sister Ela, the lands of Glaswel, and a plough and a half in Kilynsyth, with the patronage of the church of Monyabroch; confirmed by Alexander II in the second year of his reign; and the same king, on the 26th of August, twenty-fifth year of his reign, granted to the same Malcolm, the lands of Glentarvin, Monyabroch, Kilsyth, and Glasswell, which he had by the gift of the Earl of Lennox, together with the lands of Calynter, in free warren’.

 

The first document that OPS refers to is found in Fraser, Lennox, II, No 202, p 401, Charter by Maldoune, Earl of Lennox to Malcolm, the son of Duncan and Eva the Earl’s sister 10/8/1217:

Glaskell, Brengoene, et carucatam et dimidiam de Kelnasydhe

Glaskell, Brengoene, and a carucate (ploughland) and a half of Kelnasydhe

(See also GD1/88/2).

Brengoene is taken to be Barnego in Stirlingshire but is possibly for Brengrochan/Balgrochan in Campsie? I have not located Glentarvin.

 

Then in GD86/2 or RRS IV Pt 1 No 7 pp 60-61, 1251, Alexander III confirms to Malcolm son of Duncan and Eva sister of Maldouen earl of Lennox the gift that the earl made them of the lands of Glaskhel and Barnego and 1½ ploughgates in Kilsyth and advowson of the church of Moniabrock.

Glaskhel Brengoen et de una carucata terre et dimidia de Kelnasydhe cum donacione ecclesie de Moniabrocd

 

RMS I (108) 1362 David II gives William of Levyngistona and Cristiana of Kalentar, his wife,

totam … terram de Keyllynsiche cum pertinenciis, infra vicecomitatum de Dunbretane

the whole land of Kilsyth with pertinents, in the sheriffdom of Dumbarton.

 

(For evidence for Kilsyth from the time of David II see also Robertson’s Index p 42 No 5 and p 69).

 

The lands of Kilsyth were later referred to in terms of an east barony (east of the Garrell Burn) and a west barony (west of the Garrell Burn).

 

RMS III (2095) 1539-40 James V confirmed to William Levingstoun of Kilsyth, the lands of Wester Kilsyth lying on the western side of the hill called Garwaldhill (Garrel Hill) and the burn called Garwaldburne (Garrell Burn) plus half the lands of Glaswellis, then called Fannoch-hauch and Myddilthrid, extending in total to £24 OE. The document goes on to state:

et quas rex … in liberam baroniam de Wester-Kilsyth incorporavit, ordinando veterem locum de Wester K. in villa de Ovir Gawell fore principale messuagium ejusdem.

and which [lands] the king … incorporated into the free barony of Wester Kilsyth, appointing the old place of Wester K(ilsyth), in the township of Over Gavell, to be its principal messuage [i.e. dwelling-place].

 

Now there is actually a settlement called ‘Old Place’ at NS 692779 to the north of Over Gavell which was itself north of Gavell Farm. (Over Gavell is not marked on Explorer 348 but it appears on OS 6″ 1st Series Stirlingshire Sheet XXVIII 1859 at NS 693777). This will be the ‘veterem locum’ referred to in 1539-40 and the Latin may itself be a translation of an even older name like Shenvall (or similar – from Gaelic seann (old) + baile (township)). Further evidence that this was once an estate centre is found in the place-name Gallow Hill – just west of Gavell Farm.

 

The other point to note about this document is that more than a hundred years before this part of Campsie parish was hived off to join Moniabrocd it is described as Wester Kilsyth rather than Campsie. I think this is further evidence that the oldest territorial name for this area was Kilsyth.

 

RMS IV (851) 1553 Queen Mary confirmed to William Lord Levingstoun £12 annual return from the lands of Casteltoun & Balmalloch, Neilstoun, Colzem, Wester Taggistoun, Eister Taggistoun, Over Calzemba & Rochill, Nether Calzemba, Bar, Drumtrochir and the newly-cultivated moorland called ‘the New-revin-out-mure’ (which was occupied by the tenants of Neilstoun, Drumtrocher & Colzem), and Dundaf-Mure. (For identifications see table above and the following entry).

 

Retours (Stirling) (124) 1627 lists:

the lands and barony of Eister Kilsyith containing the lands of Ballantoun,             [Banton]

Auchinrivoche Eister & Wester                                                                                  [Auchinrivoch]

Colzeambeais Ovir & Nather                                                                                      [Colziumbea]

Taigstounis Eister & Wester                                                                                       [Taigstoun]

Colzeame                                                                                                                    [Colzium]

Neilstoun                                                                                                                     [Neilston]

Bar                                                                                                                              [Barr]

Drumcocher (or Drumcrocher) & Monyabroch                                                          [Drumtrocher]

Midlethird & Southrid with the mill of the said barony,

Casteltoun & Balmaloche within the parishes of Monyabroch, Campsie & Fintry respectively. A(ncient) E(xtent) £10;

+

the lands and barony of Wester Kilsyith comprehending the lands of Wester Kilsyith;

half Gleswallis with pertinents called Fynnochauch & Midlethrid. A(ncient) E(xtent) £16. (RMS VIII (82) 1620 is essentially the same).

 

This list is repeated in Retours (Stirling) (147) 1634 with one addition and one change. The lands of Wester Kilsyth are said to lie on the west side of Galvalhill (Garrel Hill) and the extent of Wester Kilsyth is given as £17.

 

The report on Campsie for the Old Statistical Account was written in 1793 by Rev. James Lapslie who was a native of the parish. On p 315 he says there had originally been 150 ploughgates in Campsie but that in 1648 21 had been taken off to add to Baldernock while another 30 had gone to Kilsyth.

 

This was elaborated by OPS I p 45 which states that:

In 1649 that part of Campsie which lay between Inchwood Burn and Garrel Glen on the east was annexed to Kilsyth (30 ploughgates of land).

Also that part of SW Campsie which lay between Balgrochan and the Brawzyet burn was annexed to Baldirnoch (21 ploughgates).

 

However, as we have seen above, although the land west of the Garrell Burn theoretically belonged to Campsie parish it seems to have been treated as ‘Wester Kilsyth’ from at least 1539-40 and possibly centuries earlier. Because it is difficult to be sure of the values of ‘Glaswellis’ (Glaskell – see under Campsie Summary Text), Finnichhaugh, and Middle Third I can only estimate the value of Wester Kilsyth as between £16 and £24 old extent. Easter Kilsyth seems to have been £10 old extent. Another way of looking at it is that Wester Kilsyth’s 30 ploughgates may have been the equivalent of 2½ carucates or arachors – although I say this very tentatively. (See under Campsie Summary Text for a discussion of the fact that a thirteenth-century carucate cannot be the same as a seventeenth-century ploughgate). A neat solution would be to say that Kilsyth was originally a territory of 3 carucates which was divided, by the Garrell Burn, into two halves of 1½ carucates each. Unfortunately I cannot prove this.

 

Barony of Dundaffmuir

GD220/6/126 1237, as transcribed by the NRS, refers to ‘the ?waste of Dundaff and of Strathcarnyn formerly a royal forest’. Dundaff Hill is NE of Glaskell on the other side of the Carron. The barony of Dundaffmuir later included the lands of the north and south sides of the Hill of Dundaff, Kernoch, Craigannet, Craigengelt, Slafarquhar, Slachristock, Clachary and Blairblinchy. The first four locations are all north of the River Carron, the last four are all to the south. If Strathcarnyn of 1237 is Strathcarron then these settlements may be on the previously uncultivated grounds of a royal forest.

GD220/1/A/4/1/3 1574 ‘The Barony of Dundaffmuir extending to 100 merks in time of war and £20 in time of peace’ (i.e. £20 or 30m Old Extent). £20 OE in GD220/1/K/8/2/2 1735.

 

Berblinchie

Blairblinshy (Pont & Blaeu), Berblinchie (Roy). ‘Blarenebleschy’ stated to belong to the parish of ‘Monybroc’ in Register of Glasgow p 88. (c. 1200 OPS I p 44). Another reason for the difficulty in pinning down this settlement site is given by GD220/6/722/5 1725 which is an account for work at Binn ‘turning the burn of Blairblinshie’. By 1642 Berblinchie was divided into two halves of 20s each. In GD220/1/L/3/1/10 1722 one of these halves is called Braes of Blairblinchy. RMS IX (1529) 1644 (No’s 2 & 4) name a witness from Barblauchie or Blairbluichie in 1632.

 

Auchincloch

GD220/1/A/4/5/1 1525 shows Auchincloich to be divided into two halves – east and west. GD220/1/A/4/5/5 1548 shows that Wester Auchincloich was linked to Tomrawar. Apparently one-sixth of Wester Auchincloich paid 4 marks yearly. Over a century later GD1/185/3 1683 refers to 9s 1d lands which were one-sixth of Wester Auchencloigh (6 x 9s 1d = 4m 1s 2d).

 

Burnside

Retours (Stirling) (132) 1629 gives half Casteltoun as 6s 8d old extent and then the lands of ‘Burnsyd & Quhirlbogie’, in the barony of Touch-Frazer, as another 6s 8d old extent. A footnote on p 245 of the Old Statistical Account for this parish gives an account of the origin of Burnside.

 

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