Belston Loch
Belston Loch (NS 34894 16186), also recorded as Dromsmodda Loch[1] is a small freshwater loch in the East Ayrshire Council Area, near Sinclairston, 2 miles south-east of Drongan, lying in a glacial Kettle Hole.[2] Parish of Ochiltree, Scotland.
Belston Loch | |
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![]() A view from the centre of Belston Loch | |
Location | Ochiltree, East Ayrshire, Scotland |
Coordinates | Coordinates: 55°25′10″N 4°24′37″W / 55.41944°N 4.41028°W |
Type | Freshwater loch |
Primary inflows | Polquharn Burn, rainfall and runoff |
Primary outflows | Taiglum Burn. |
Basin countries | Scotland |
Settlements | Ochiltree |
The loch
Belston Loch in the 1880 is recorded as being 400m x 300m, the largest of four small lochs, two of them artificial, within the Parish of Ochiltree.[3] Otherwise surrounded by farmland, the south-west area has a few hectares of woodland adjoining the lochshore.
Etymology
Recorded as Drumsmodda Loch in circa 1654, a Drumsmodden Farm is still extant. The Celtic name may survive in the name Polquhairn or Quhairn Pool.[4]
Cartographic evidence
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Robert Gordon's map of circa 1636-52 marks the loch and Auchencloigh Castle nearby.,[5] located on the Taiglum Burn. Blaeu map of circa 1654 taken from Timothy Pont's map of circa 1600 shows a Drumsmodda Loch (sic) and nearby Auchencloigh Castle (sic) with significant grounds and woodland. A location recorded as Belstain is nearby.[6] Molls map of 1745 shows a single loch that may be Belston.[7] Roy's map of 1747 records the loch position.[8] Armstrong's map of 1775 shows a substantial loch with a Belstoun and a Drumsmiden nearby.[9] In 1821 the loch is clearly shown.[10] In 1832 Thomson's map shows 'Belton Loch' with an inflow burn from Polquhairn.[11]
Uses
The loch is part of Mauchline & Ballochmyle Angling Club; it holds some large rainbow, brown trout, and has some pike.[12]
Curling matches are recorded as having taken place at the loch and a Belston Curling Club existed in the early 20th century. Wattie Young of Polquhairn held the club's minutes book.[1]
Auchencloigh Castle
Auchencloigh Castle or Auchincloigh Castle (NGR NS 4945 1666) is a ruined fortification in the vicinity of Belston Loch near the Burnton Burn, lying within the feudal lands of the Craufurd Clan, situated in the Parish of Ochiltree, East Ayrshire, Scotland.
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Micro-history
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The area has seen extensive coal mining activity with an open cast mine and collieries at Drumsmodden, Polquhairn, Old Polquhairn, Auchlin, etc.[2]
George Douglas Brown's father lived at Drumsmodden Farm. George was the author of The House with the Green Shutters'.[2]
Early highways ran close to the loch, as indicated by names such as Glenconner, conaire being a Gaelic word for "path", and there is a farm called Rottenrow near to Glenconner, possibly derived from 'Route de Roi', or King's Highway.[13]
See also
References
- Notes
- 1 2 Curling Pond Sites retrieved : 2011-11-11
- 1 2 3 Love, Page 197
- ↑ Vision of Britain Retrieved : 2011-11-11
- ↑ Ayrshire Roots Retrieved : 2011-11-11
- ↑ Gordon's Map Retrieved : 2011-11-11
- ↑ Blaeu's Map Retrieved : 2011-11-11
- ↑ Moll's Map Retrieved : 2011-11-11
- ↑ Roy's Map retrieved : 2011-11-11
- ↑ Armstrong's Map Retrieved : 2011-11-11
- ↑ Ainslie Retrieved : 2011-11-11
- ↑ Thomson's Map Retrieved : 2011-11-11
- ↑ Fly Fishing Forum Archived March 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved : 2011-11-11
- ↑ Old Roads of Scotland Retrieved : 2011-11-11
- Sources
- Love, Dane (2003). Ayrshire : Discovering a County. Ayr : Fort Publishing. ISBN 0-9544461-1-9.
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