COYLTON, a parish, in the county of Ayr, 5 miles
(S. E.) from Ayr; containing, with the villages of Craighall,
Gadgirth-holm and Bankfoot, Jo])pa, and Knockshaggle-
holm, 1484 inhabitants. This place, the name
of which is of uncertain derivation, was augmented about
the beginning of the eighteenth century by the quoad
sacra annexation of a portion of land, lying on the north
and east sides of the river Coyl, and then included in the
parish of Ochiltree. It measures twelve miles in extreme
length, and nearly two in average breadth, and comprises
11,515 acres, of which more than 8000 are cultivated,
nearly 800 in wood, consisting chiefly of forest-trees, and
the remainder in pasture. The river Ayr flows for nearly
four miles along its north-west boundary, separating it
from Tarbolton and St. Quivox; and from this stream
the surface rises south-eastward, in a series of undulations,
to the heights called the Craigs of Coyl, attaining
an elevation of "50 feet above the level of the sea. After
this, the land advances to a loftier ridge, forming the
boundary line in this direction, and commanding, from
au elevation of 1100 feet, an extensive and richly diversified
prospect on all sides. The scenery is much improved
by the lochs of Martnaham, Fergus, and Snipe,
which are partly in the parish. Of these, the firstmentioned,
partly in the parish of Dalrymple, is a mile
and a half long and about a furlong broad, abounding in
pike, perch, and eels, and much frequented Isy wild-ducks,
geese, widgeon, teal, and other water-fowl. Loch Fergus,
a fine piece of water extending over about twenty-five
acres, contains a well-wooded island, said to have been
in ancient times the seat of a monastery; and is supposed
by some to have taken its name from King Fergus, who
defeated Coilus, king of the Britons, in the adjacent fields.
There is also a lake called Loch End, covering about
three acres; and in most of the lakes fish of the usual
kinds are found, as well as in the rivers, which are also
well stocked with yellow trout. The river Coyl, which
rises in the parish, displays a beautiful cascade in the
vicinity of Sundrum Castle, where the river is about
twenty-five feet wide; the fall is about thirteen feet in
depth, and on the swelling of the stream is greatly increased
in its picturesque effect.
The SOIL in general is a retentive clay, producing
chiefly oats, but wheat and barley are also grown, and
beans, potatoes, turnips, and the various grasses. The
husbandry of the parish is not so much advanced as that
of many other parts, but improvements are in progress,
especially furrow-draining, and subsoil ploughing is
practised to a limited extent. The dairy is much regarded;
and what is called Dunlop cheese is made in
large quantities, frequently of excellent quality, and, with
the butter, milk, and other dairy produce, is relied on
for the payment of nearly half the rent. The cattle are
mostly of the pure Ayrshire breed, but a few of the West
Highland or Galloway are kept on the higher grounds;
the sheep were formerly the black- faced, but these, for
several years, have been crossed with the Cheviots, and
the latter stock now generally prevails. The annual
value of real property in Coylton is £8144. The working
of the subterraneous contents of the parish occupies a
considerable portion of the manual labour of the district.
Coal, limestone, ironstone, plumbago, clay-slate, basalt,
several varieties of freestone, and fire-clay are all found
here; and several of them are wrought to some extent.
Three coal-mines, a limestone-quarry, and three quarries
of sandstone are in operation; and black-lead obtained
from this part supplied an article of traffic for many
years, but its quality not allowing a competition with the
Cumberland and foreign lead, the mine has been abandoned.
Clay-slate, celebrated for sharpening iron instruments,
was also once extensively quarried; but the
material being found iu abundance, and of superior
quality, in the adjoining parish of Stair, the works have
been discontinued. The value of the mineral produce is
averaged at £6000 annually. The plantations are chiefly
in the lower part of the parish, and, being in a thriving
condition, especially in the vicinitj' of the rivers, add
greatly to the agreeable character of the scenery; they
are mostly of larch and Scotch fir, but oak, beech, ash,
elm, birch, and several other kinds are plentiful.
The mansion of Sundrum, pleasantly situated on the
bank of the Coyl, and commanding extensive views, is
partly ancient and partly modern; the old walls are
in some portions twelve feet thick, and have castellated
summits. Gadgirth House, another seat, is a plain
oblong modern structure, on the bank of the Ayr river;
it occupies the site of Gadgirth Castle, once a place of
note, and the residence of the family of Chalmers, who,
being friendly to the Reformation, warmly patronized the
celebrated John Knox, and allowed him to preach in the
castle. The great road from Ayr to Dumfries, through
Nithsdale, traverses the centre of the parish. Coylton
is ecclesiastically in the presbytery of Ayr, synod of
Glasgow and Ayr, and in the patronage of the Crown;
the minister's stipend is £2.54. 8. 4., with a manse, and
a glebe valued at £1'2 per annum. The old church, the
ruin of which is still partly standing, belonged in ancient
times to the bishopric of Glasgow; the present edifice,
wh'ich is small but handsome, was built in 1836, and
is a cruciform structure, with a square tower sixty feet
high, containing a good bell. The parochial school
affords instruction in the ordinary branches, the classics,
and mathematics; the master has a salary of £30, with
a house, and £20 fees. A few years since, several silver
coins of the reigns of Elizabeth, James VI., and Charles
I., were dug up. The Rev. John Black, LL.D., author of
the Life of Tasso, and who died in the year 1825, was
minister of Coylton for fifteen years; he was a native of
the parish of Douglas, in the county of Lanark.