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Kirkoswald, South Ayrshire facts for kids

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Kirkoswald
Peggy's Tearoom and Main Street, Kirkoswald - geograph.org.uk - 1437677.jpg
The Main Street
Kirkoswald is located in South Ayrshire
Kirkoswald
Kirkoswald
Population 194 
OS grid reference NS240075
Council area
Lieutenancy area
  • Ayrshire and Arran
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MAYBOLE
Postcode district KA19
Dialling code 01655
Police Strathclyde
Fire Strathclyde
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
  • Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Scottish Parliament
  • Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
List of places
UK
Scotland
55°19′48″N 4°46′00″W / 55.33000°N 4.76667°W / 55.33000; -4.76667

Kirkoswald (Scots: Kirkossald) is a village and parish in the Carrick district of Ayrshire, Scotland, 1+3⁄4 miles (3 kilometres) from the coast and four miles (six kilometres) southwest of Maybole. It takes its name from its kirk (church), dedicated to Oswald of Northumbria, who is said to have won a battle here in the 7th century. The old church, which was built in 1244 and houses the baptismal font of Robert the Bruce, is now a ruin in the grounds of the modern church, which was built in 1777 to a design by Robert Adam. Kirkoswald is also noted for its connection with Robert Burns, whose maternal ancestors, the Brouns, were from the village. Burns also attended school here, and would later base the characters Tam o' Shanter, Kirkton Jean and souter Johnnie on village locals Douglas Graham, Jean Aird and John Davidson, the shoemaker.

Kirkoswald village had a population of 194 in 1991. Kirkoswald parish is 23.3 square miles (60 square kilometres) in area, and also contains the coastal village of Maidens. Landmarks include Turnberry Castle, the ancient seat of the Earls of Carrick, Culzean Castle, Thomaston Castle and Crossraguel Abbey.

Rev Robert Hunter Arbuckle was minister of the Free Church from 1860 and 1897.

Gallery

  • Towards Kirkoswald - geograph.org.uk - 1705972

    View of the village from the neighbouring moorland

  • Kirkoswald Old Church - geograph.org.uk - 826979

    The old church

  • Kirkoswald war memorial - geograph.org.uk - 827151

    The War memorial

  • The gravestone of 'Kirkton Jean' - geograph.org.uk - 827145

    The grave of 'Kirkton Jean'

  • ScipioKennedyGrave

    Grave marker for former slave Scipio Kennedy

  • Souter Johnnies Cottage, Kirkoswald - geograph.org.uk - 435444

    Souter Johnnie's cottage, now owned by the National Trust

  • Turnberry Castle

    The remains of Turnberry Castle

  • Maidens Harbour View - geograph.org.uk - 1705898

    View of Maidens village

  • View towards Mochrum Hill - geograph.org.uk - 231335

    View towards Mochrum Hill

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