The Lands of Borland formed an estate lying between Aiket Castle and the town of Dunlop, in the Parish of Dunlop, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The laird's house at Borland was located near the Sandy Ford across the Glazert Water. Various names have been applied to the site of the laird's house, including Bordland,Fulton, page 157 Boreland,Robertson, page 341 Borland, Laigh Borland, Low Borland, and Nether Borland.
History
The mansion house, castle, farm and estate
In 1848, the Scottish Journal recorded that the foundations of a ruin of considerable extent had been removed some years earlier by the then proprietor.Arch Ayr Wigton, Pages 26 - 27 In 1853, Mr Dobie noted that the meiths (boundary lines) of a substantial building were still traceable at the summit of Borland Hill.Arch Ayr Wigton, Page 27 In 1856, Mr G. Howie of Dunlop stated that he remembered seeing a small portion of what was said to be one of the walls around 70 or 80 years prior. It appeared as a sort of bank, entirely crumbled and overgrown with grass. Since that time, the remains of a sizeable building were removed and the area cultivated.Name Book On the southern side of the hill, the remains of a wide ditch or fosse are visible, locally known as the "Cuckoo Slide".Hutchison, Pages 7 - 8. Paterson, in 1866, similarly reported that the foundations of a ruin had been removed by a former proprietor.Paterson
According to local tradition, the monks of Kilwinning Abbey maintained a hospice for their brethren at Borland, where medicinal herbs were cultivated in a formal garden. It is recorded that a two merk land at Dunlop was allocated to the church, with the remainder used by the monks.Arch Ayr Wigton, page 28 Borland may have functioned in a manner similar to Monkredding, near Kilwinning, which was also held by the Tironensian monks and known as the "Monk's Garden"—essentially a rest home for the brothers.Ness, Page 65
Borland A substantial and ornately carved table-style gravestone in Dunlop churchyard commemorates William Anderson, who died aged 70 on 3 December 179[?]6, and his wife, who died in 1784. The memorial was erected by their son, Robert Anderson of Borland. The stone now rests against the "Picture House" building.
The 1797–98 Farm Horse Tax records list John Dunlop’s horses at Laigh Borland.1797-98 Farm Horse Tax Records
Around 1823, Andrew and Mary Brown inherited "the original mansion, lately rebuilt, on the banks of the Glazert, in a remarkably pleasant situation." Mary Dunlop married Andrew Brown of Craighead, the eldest son of John Brown of Hill. As part of her inheritance, she received the portion of Borland containing the old mansion house, "romantically situated by the Glazert Water." One of their first acts as proprietors was to rebuild the mansion house.Dobie, page 98 Although sources disagree on the precise date of reconstruction, the early 19th century appears likely. The walled garden was probably built in the same period, possibly incorporating stones from the earlier castle.
Borland—later referred to as Nether or Laigh Borland—was described in the Ordnance Survey Name Book (1855–57) as comprising:
Walled gardens are uncommon at ordinary farms; their presence at Borland suggests the site once held a higher status. The garden is square in layout and likely dates to the 18th century. Its south, east and west walls were rebuilt around 1916, though at a reduced height and length. Constructed primarily of random rubble with flat sandstone copings, these walls are noticeably thinner than the unaltered north wall. Cylindrical gate piers with conical caps were also added in 1916, slightly set back from the wall line.British Listed Buildings - Over Borland A former doorway on the east side has been sealed. A culvert or cundy runs beneath the garden and continues as a stream on the north side, eventually draining into the Glazert Water. An old black-and-white photograph shows a sundial once stood in the centre of the garden.Ayrshire 012.04 (includes: Dunlop) Publication date: 1910. Revised: 1909
Laigh Borland was demolished in the mid-20th century. A 16th- or 17th-century datestone bearing the initials of the Brown family once stood above the entrance to an attached building, formerly used as a kitchen. Accessibility to the site had been improved via a hardcore road from Over Borland, as the original ford limited access. However, the local council deemed the building unsafe for children playing nearby and required its demolition. The proprietors, who had held the site since 1912, were forced to comply.
Cottages formerly occupied by workers, including one by Mrs Watt, were thatched until demolition. A small ruined building, likely a pigsty, still partially exists, built into the hillside. The Watt family grave notes that Martha Watt (née Stevenson) died in 1916 at Laigh Borland, aged 81. The cottages were demolished shortly thereafter, coinciding with alterations to the walled garden.
Over Borland Robert Wilson of Over Borland was married to Agnes Gemmill, who died in November 1636. Her will includes bequests to her grandsons, John Dunlop and William Gemmill.Histories of Scottish Families
John Dunlop of Over Borland married Elizabeth Walkinshaw. In 1650, his estate was valued at 100 Scots pounds.Paterson, page 234
A gravestone in Dunlop churchyard commemorates John Dunlop of Over Borland, his wife Jean Gilmour, and their children: John (died aged 4, 1778), Margaret (5 months, 1784), William (aged 3, 1792), another John (aged 12, 1792), and Jane (aged 27, 1804). Jean Gilmour died in 1827.
Over Borland is a Category C listed farmhouse located at the end of a lane. The building bears a 1770 datestone inscribed "RN JS 1770" and another stone by the doorway marked "JMN MRS 1912". The latter refers to the same family who continue to reside there.
During 1855–1857, Over Borland was recorded as the property of Andrew Brown Esq., occupied by Mrs Watt. Along with 'Hill' (also known as Over Hill), it is one of the oldest surviving two-storey farmhouses in the Parish of Dunlop.
The removal of the old castle masonry is estimated to have occurred around 1781 ± 5 years, aligning with the 1770 date on the Over Borland datestone. It has been suggested that Over Borland was enlarged as a replacement residence for Laigh Borland, which was subsequently let to tenants.
A family gravestone in Dunlop churchyard records John Watt, farmer at Boreland, and his wife Ann Craig. Their children Catherine and Matthew died young, while their son David lived to age 79, dying in 1881. David's wife, Martha Stevenson, died at Laigh Borland in 1916.
North Borland Jane Dunlop married Thomas Reid of Balgray, near Irvine. Their son, John Dunlop Reid, inherited the North Borland portion of the Borland lands. Thomas and Jane Reid constructed a new house at North Borland.
Other Borland properties The Hill, or Over-Hill, of Dunlop was once part of the Lands of Borland and passed to the Brown family through marriage. A burial stone in Dunlop churchyard commemorates John Dunlop of Overhill and his wife, Barbara Gilmour, dated 1732. Their grandson, Andrew Brown, is also mentioned, with a date of 1794.
John Dunlop and Barbara Gilmour had one daughter, Mary, who married Allan Brown of Gabroch-hill. After several generations and intermarriages, Andrew Brown of Craighead married Mary Dunlop of Borland, and the couple eventually inherited Hill or Overhill.Dobie, page 99
Borlandhills and several other properties were historically part of the Lands of Borland.
The lairds Although displaced from Borland Hill , the native chiefs do not appear to have been exiled. Instead, they established themselves as the Dunlops of that Ilk at what is now Dunlop House, situated on the Clerkland Burn.Dobie, Page 98
According to tradition, the De Ross family first held Borland, or Dunlop Hill (NS 4019 4940), as their seat.Paterson, Page 226 A well-fortified, stone-built structure is said to have existed at the site, which was later abandoned in favour of Corsehill near Stewarton. The etymology of the placename suggests that a Celtic hillfort may once have stood there.Arch Ayr Wigton, Page 26 Corsehill Castle became the family's principal residence after Godfrey de Ross was granted the Lands of Stewarton.
The De Ross family were vassalsMillar, Page 71 to the De Morvilles, the overlords of Cunninghame. The De Morvilles supported John Balliol's claim to the Scottish throne, and consequently forfeited their lands, which passed to the Boyd family. By 1570, the lands were held by the Cassilis family. Timothy Pont recorded that Over and Nether Borland were held by the Kennedys, Earls of Cassilis, in the early 17th century. The lands had passed to them from Godfrey de Ross who, according to Pont, "hauing his refidence heir enioyed ample possefions abrode in ye countrey and ves for ye tyme Shriffe of Aire." Alexander Cunninghame of Aiket later married the sister of the Earl of Cassilis, which may explain how Borland passed into the hands of the Cunninghames of Aiket.
The popular belief that the name 'Borland' derives from the hunting of boar in the area has been challenged. An alternative interpretation suggests that "Bordlands signifie the desmenes which lords keep in their hands for the maintenance of their board or table." The De Ross family were also vassals of Richard de Morville.Dobie, page 97
Prior to 1597, the 6 merk land of the nearby estate of Hapland was part of the Lands of Dunlop. David Dunlop, fourth of Hapland, exchanged or excambied Hapland for the Lands of Borland,Bayne, page143 with the year 1600 given by Robertson as the date of the transfer. Although a merk land was a measure of rental value, it is estimated that 6 merks would equate to between 6 and 12 acres.Dictionary of the Scots Language Another source suggests 1660 as the date when Patrick Cuninghame exchanged the lands of Borland for those of Hapland.
John Dunlop, fourth of Borland, married a Montgomerie of High Cross near Stewarton. They had three children, one of whom died young. The eldest son, John, inherited the estate, while another son was known as James of Loanhead.Paterson, page 235 John Dunlop, fifth of Borland, married Mary Clark of Shitterflat , daughter of William Clerk, portioner of that property, and his wife Margaret Simpson. The couple had four sons and two daughters, with the eldest son, John, inheriting the estate.
The Dunlops of Borland continued to hold the estate until the male line ended sometime around 1823. John Dunlop, sixth of Borland, and his wife Jean, daughter of John Gilmour of Tailend (in the eastern part of Dunlop parish), had a large family, though only two daughters, Mary and Jane, survived into adulthood.
Mary Dunlop married Andrew Brown of Craighead, eldest son of John Brown of Hill. She inherited the portion of Borland containing the old mansion house, described as being "romantically situated by the Glazert Water". One of their first actions was to rebuild the mansion. The couple had two sons and six daughters. Their eldest son, John Brown, inherited Borland and was known as "John Brown of Hill, Craighead and Borland". He married Marion Duncan of Brockwellmuir, with whom he had three sons and two daughters. Their eldest son was also named John Brown.
Jane Dunlop, as noted, married Thomas Reid of Balgray near Irvine and inherited the North Borland portion of the Lands of Borland. Their son, John Dunlop Reid, subsequently inherited North Borland.
Thomas and Jane Reid constructed a new house at North Borland, while Andrew and Mary Brown inherited "the original mansion, lately rebuilt, on the banks of the Glazert, in a remarkably pleasant situation."