Kyle, Ayrshire
Encyclopedia
Kyle is a former comital district of Scotland
which stretched across parts of modern day East Ayrshire
and South Ayrshire
. It is said to be named after Coel Hen, a king of the Britons, who was reputedly killed in battle in this area and is said to be buried in a cairn
near Mauchline
.
to the north, Clydesdale
to the east and by Carrick
to the south. The Firth of Clyde
lies to the west.
Kyle was the central of the three districts in the sheriffdom
of Ayr
, which was divided naturally by its three primary rivers all running in a generally westward direction to flow into the firth of Clyde. The River Irvine
formed the northern boundary of Kyle with Cunninghame; the River Doon
established its southern boundary with Carrick. Additionally, Kyle itself was sub-divided into two parts. To the north of the River Ayr
was "Kyle Stewart"(sometimes called "Stewart Kyle" or "Walter's Kyle" ), lands held by the Fitzalan's since the 11th century (the future Stewart Kings of Scotland). To the south was "Kyle Regis" or "King's Kyle", lands historically retained by the monarch under royal authority from the royal castle at Ayr (On May 16, 1975 Ayr County Council officially disbanded these old districts and burghs).
Kyle was eventually combined with Cunninghame and Carrick into the county
of the Shire of Ayr
during reorganisation due to Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
, this Act established a uniform system of county council
s and town councils in Scotland and restructured many of Scotland’s areas.
was the name of a local government district in Strathclyde
region, although the larger part of historic Kyle formed Cumnock and Doon Valley
district. In 1996 Kyle and Carrick was constituted as a Unitary Authority, but renamed South Ayrshire
.
, at the confluence of Guelt and Glenmuir Waters, lie the ruins of the 15th century Kyle Castle.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
which stretched across parts of modern day 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...
and South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
. It is said to be named after Coel Hen, a king of the Britons, who was reputedly killed in battle in this area and is said to be buried in a cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
near Mauchline
Mauchline
Mauchline is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a recorded population of 4105. It lies by the Glasgow and South Western Railway line, 8 miles east-southeast of Kilmarnock and 11 miles northeast of Ayr. It is situated on a gentle slope about 1 mile from the River Ayr,...
.
Geographical Extent
The area was bordered by the historical districts of CunninghameCunninghame
Cunninghame is a former comital district of Scotland and also a district of the Strathclyde Region from 1975–1996.-Historic Cunninghame:The historic district of Cunninghame was bordered by the districts of Renfrew and Clydesdale to the north and east respectively, by the district of Kyle to the...
to the north, Clydesdale
Clydesdale
Clydesdale was formerly one of nineteen local government districts in the Strathclyde region of Scotland.The district was formed by the Local Government Act 1973 from part of the former county of Lanarkshire: namely the burghs of Biggar and Lanark and the First, Second and Third Districts...
to the east and by Carrick
Carrick, Scotland
Carrick is a former comital district of Scotland which today forms part of South Ayrshire.-History:The word Carrick comes from the Gaelic word Carraig, meaning rock or rocky place. Maybole was the historic capital of Carrick. The county was eventually combined into Ayrshire which was divided...
to the south. The Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
lies to the west.
Kyle was the central of the three districts in the sheriffdom
Sheriffdom
A sheriffdom is a judicial district in Scotland.Since 1 January 1975 there have been six sheriffdoms. Previously sheriffdoms were composed of groupings of counties...
of Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, which was divided naturally by its three primary rivers all running in a generally westward direction to flow into the firth of Clyde. 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...
formed the northern boundary of Kyle with Cunninghame; the River Doon
River Doon
The River Doon is a river in South Ayrshire, Scotland. The river flows 23 miles from Loch Doon, joining the Firth of Clyde just south of Ayr. Its course is generally north-westerly, passing near to the town of Dalmellington, and through the villages of Patna, Dalrymple, and Alloway, birthplace...
established its southern boundary with Carrick. Additionally, Kyle itself was sub-divided into two parts. To the north of the River Ayr
River Ayr
The River Ayr , longest river in what was the old county of Ayrshire of Scotland, is approximately 65 kilometres in length. It originates at Glenbuck Loch in East Ayrshire on the border of Lanarkshire and winds its way through East and South Ayrshire to the town of Ayr, where it empties into the...
was "Kyle Stewart"(sometimes called "Stewart Kyle" or "Walter's Kyle" ), lands held by the Fitzalan's since the 11th century (the future Stewart Kings of Scotland). To the south was "Kyle Regis" or "King's Kyle", lands historically retained by the monarch under royal authority from the royal castle at Ayr (On May 16, 1975 Ayr County Council officially disbanded these old districts and burghs).
Kyle was eventually combined with Cunninghame and Carrick into the county
Counties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
of the Shire of Ayr
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
during reorganisation due to Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
The Local Government Act 1889 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which was passed on 26 August 1889. The main effect of the Act was to establish elected county councils in Scotland...
, this Act established a uniform system of county council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
s and town councils in Scotland and restructured many of Scotland’s areas.
Kyle and Carrick District
From 1975 to 1996 Kyle and CarrickKyle and Carrick
Kyle and Carrick was one of nineteen local government districts in the Strathclyde region of Scotland from 1975 to 1996....
was the name of a local government district in Strathclyde
Strathclyde
right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994...
region, although the larger part of historic Kyle formed Cumnock and Doon Valley
Cumnock and Doon Valley
Cumnock and Doon Valley was one of nineteen local government districts in the Strathclyde region of Scotland from 1973 to 1996....
district. In 1996 Kyle and Carrick was constituted as a Unitary Authority, but renamed South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
.
Kyle Castle
Near CumnockCumnock
Cumnock is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. The town sits at the confluence of the Glaisnock Water and the Lugar Water...
, at the confluence of Guelt and Glenmuir Waters, lie the ruins of the 15th century Kyle Castle.