Buiston Loch
Encyclopedia
Buiston Loch (locally pronounced 'Biston'), also known as Buston, Biston, and Mid Buiston was situated in the mid-Ayrshire clayland at an altitude of 90 m OD. It is visible as an often flooded surface depression in pastureland situated in a low lying area close to the A735 road between the farms and dwellings of Lochside, Buistonend and Mid-Buiston in the Parishes of Kilmaurs
and Stewarton
, East Ayrshire
, Scotland. The loch was natural, sitting in a hollow created by glaciation. The loch waters drained via the Garrier Burn that joins the Bracken and Lochridge Burns before joining the River Irvine
. It is well documented through the presence of a crannog
first excavated 1880-1 and then documented by Mr. D. McNaught, Dr R. Munro and others.
's work of the late 16th century, shows a substantial triangular-shaped loch recorded as 'Buston L', however by the mid-eighteenth century the loch appears to have been drained. The Garrier Burn is marked on Thomson's map of 1828, however it has been canalised and field drains added by the time of the first Ordnance Survey of the mid 19th century, presumably as part of an improved drainage system. Around 1830 the loch was described by a Mr Hay as being a mossy bog in the summer and a sheet of water throughout the winter and by 1880 a richly cultivated meadow. The site had been further drained around the year 1875.
Buiston was a post-glacial loch, on the lands of the farm known as Mid-Buiston, for many years the property of the Earls of Eglinton
, and was at first believed to be a structure built by the Earls of Eglinton to house a shelter for shooting waterfowl. Evidence of the original shoreline persists on the northern side of the loch basin.
The early Ordnance Survey maps and written descriptions show the site as fully drained and under cultivation, however drainage is now inadequate (2011) and the area is becoming re-established as a seasonal loch.
, was pursuing a number of agricultural improvements on his extensive estates. Further drainage work may have taken place in the 1740s as part of the improvements undertaken to provide employment for Montgomerie Irish estate workers during the Irish potato famines of the 1740's and the mid 19th centuries. Many drainage schemes also date to the end of WWI when many soldiers returned en masse to civilian life.
crannog site. The site was first excavated in 1880 and more thoroughly in April 1881. In 1989-90 the site was re-excavated as part of an investigation into the condition of crannogs in south-west Scotland commissioned by Historic Scotland
to establish the extent of loss and decay on crannog sites. Finds included a rare fourth century hanging bowl, a dugout canoe, and two ovens.
The crannog had four periods of occupation, dating from AD1 to AD 525, that is from before the Roman conquest of this area, through the period of the Damnonian tribe
's rule, and into the time of the brythonic
Kingdom of Strathclyde
. Three log boats or canoes seem to have been found, the one in 1989-90 was left on site, another was lost in a fire at the Dick Institute in 1909 and the third may survive in the Hunterian Museum in the form of an unprovenanced specimen from the 1881 dig.
Much timber (thirteen cartloads) had been taken away prior to the crannog's identification and a local farmer is recorded as having remarked There maun hae been dwallers here at ae time. It was constructed from successive layers of turves, stones, intermingled within branches and tree trunks. No gangway was found leading to the crannog, which may have had a single large circular dwelling located on it.
Kilmaurs
Kilmaurs is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It lies on the Carmel, 21.1 miles south by west of Glasgow. Population recorded in 2001 Census, 2601- History :...
and Stewarton
Stewarton
Stewarton is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. In comparison to the neighbouring towns of Kilmaurs, Fenwick, Dunlop and Lugton, it is a relatively large town, with a population of over 6,500. It is 300 feet above sea level.Groome, Francis H. . Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland. Pub. Caxton. London....
, East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
, Scotland. The loch was natural, sitting in a hollow created by glaciation. The loch waters drained via the Garrier Burn that joins the Bracken and Lochridge Burns before joining the River Irvine
River Irvine
The River Irvine is a river flowing through southwest Scotland, with its watershed on the Lanarkshire border of Ayrshire at an altitude of above sea-level, near Drumclog, and SW by W of Strathaven...
. It is well documented through the presence of a crannog
Crannog
A crannog is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes, rivers and estuarine waters of Scotland and Ireland. Crannogs were used as dwellings over five millennia from the European Neolithic Period, to as late as the 17th/early 18th century although in Scotland,...
first excavated 1880-1 and then documented by Mr. D. McNaught, Dr R. Munro and others.
History
Blaeu's map of 1654, based on Timothy PontTimothy Pont
Timothy Pont was a Scottish topographer, the first to produce a detailed map of Scotland. Pont's maps are among the earliest surviving to show a European country in minute detail, from an actual survey.-Life:...
's work of the late 16th century, shows a substantial triangular-shaped loch recorded as 'Buston L', however by the mid-eighteenth century the loch appears to have been drained. The Garrier Burn is marked on Thomson's map of 1828, however it has been canalised and field drains added by the time of the first Ordnance Survey of the mid 19th century, presumably as part of an improved drainage system. Around 1830 the loch was described by a Mr Hay as being a mossy bog in the summer and a sheet of water throughout the winter and by 1880 a richly cultivated meadow. The site had been further drained around the year 1875.
Buiston was a post-glacial loch, on the lands of the farm known as Mid-Buiston, for many years the property of the Earls of Eglinton
Earl of Eglinton
Earl of Eglinton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland.Some authorities spell the title: Earl of Eglintoun In 1859 the thirteenth Earl of Eglinton, Archibald Montgomerie, was also created Earl of Winton in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which gave him an automatic seat in the House of Lords,...
, and was at first believed to be a structure built by the Earls of Eglinton to house a shelter for shooting waterfowl. Evidence of the original shoreline persists on the northern side of the loch basin.
The early Ordnance Survey maps and written descriptions show the site as fully drained and under cultivation, however drainage is now inadequate (2011) and the area is becoming re-established as a seasonal loch.
Drainage
The loch's drainage may have begun in the early 18th century when Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of EglintonAlexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton
Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton , was a Scottish peer.Eglinton was the son of the 9th Earl of Eglinton. His mother and third wife of the 9th Earl was Susanna Montgomery, Countess of Eglinton the renowned society beauty...
, was pursuing a number of agricultural improvements on his extensive estates. Further drainage work may have taken place in the 1740s as part of the improvements undertaken to provide employment for Montgomerie Irish estate workers during the Irish potato famines of the 1740's and the mid 19th centuries. Many drainage schemes also date to the end of WWI when many soldiers returned en masse to civilian life.
The Crannog
The roughly circular crannog, known as the 'Swan Knowe', lay around 70 m from the northern shore and was identified in December 1880 from 'worked' timbers located within the drainage 'gote' or ditch on the site by a teacher from Kilmaurs, Duncan McNaught, who was familiar with the LochleaLochlea, South Ayrshire
Lochlea was situated in a a low lying area between the farms and dwellings of Lochlea and Lochside in the Parish of Tarbolton, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The loch was natural, sitting in a hollow created by glaciation. The loch waters ultimately drained via Fail Loch, the Mill Burn, and the Water of...
crannog site. The site was first excavated in 1880 and more thoroughly in April 1881. In 1989-90 the site was re-excavated as part of an investigation into the condition of crannogs in south-west Scotland commissioned by Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
to establish the extent of loss and decay on crannog sites. Finds included a rare fourth century hanging bowl, a dugout canoe, and two ovens.
The crannog had four periods of occupation, dating from AD1 to AD 525, that is from before the Roman conquest of this area, through the period of the Damnonian tribe
Damnonii
The Damnonii were a people of the late 2nd century who lived in what is now southern Scotland. They are mentioned briefly in Ptolemy's Geography, where he uses both of the terms "Damnonii" and "Damnii" to describe them, and there is no other historical record of them. Their cultural and...
's rule, and into the time of the brythonic
Brythonic languages
The Brythonic or Brittonic languages form one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic language family, the other being Goidelic. The name Brythonic was derived by Welsh Celticist John Rhys from the Welsh word Brython, meaning an indigenous Briton as opposed to an Anglo-Saxon or Gael...
Kingdom of Strathclyde
Kingdom of Strathclyde
Strathclyde , originally Brythonic Ystrad Clud, was one of the early medieval kingdoms of the celtic people called the Britons in the Hen Ogledd, the Brythonic-speaking parts of what is now southern Scotland and northern England. The kingdom developed during the post-Roman period...
. Three log boats or canoes seem to have been found, the one in 1989-90 was left on site, another was lost in a fire at the Dick Institute in 1909 and the third may survive in the Hunterian Museum in the form of an unprovenanced specimen from the 1881 dig.
Much timber (thirteen cartloads) had been taken away prior to the crannog's identification and a local farmer is recorded as having remarked There maun hae been dwallers here at ae time. It was constructed from successive layers of turves, stones, intermingled within branches and tree trunks. No gangway was found leading to the crannog, which may have had a single large circular dwelling located on it.