South Palmerston Loch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Palmerston Loch |
|
|---|---|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Ochiltree, East Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Type | Previously a freshwater loch |
| Primary inflows | Unnamed burn, rainfall and runoff |
| Primary outflows | Palmerston Burn |
| Basin countries | Scotland |
| Settlements | Ochiltree |
South Palmerston Loch, also known as Flush, was once called the Loch of the Hill. It was a small lake located near Ochiltree in East Ayrshire, Scotland. This lake formed in a special dip in the ground left by glaciers, called a kettle hole. Its water flowed into the Lugar Water through the Burnock Water.
Contents
How Maps Show the Loch Changed
Maps from different times help us understand how South Palmerston Loch changed.
Early Maps of the Loch
A map from around 1654, based on an older map from 1600, shows the Loch of the Hill. It was located near a place called Jockston. The map also shows water flowing from the loch into the Lugar Water, passing through the land of the Auchinleck estate.
The Loch Over Time
In 1747, another map by Roy also showed the loch. It noted marshy areas nearby, called Bogbrae and Boghead. By 1857, the loch was still there, below Back o'hill Farm. The land around it was very wet and marshy.
The 1872 map showed the loch as open water. Later, in 1897, it was marked as a place for curling, which means it would flood with water in winter for ice skating. This continued until about 1910.
The Loch Disappears
By the 1920s, maps showed the loch had become a marshy area with no open water. It was fed by a small stream coming from near Ochiltree railway station. An aerial survey in 1950 suggested the loch had been drained, with only a small bit of water left. By the 1990s, maps only showed a small wetland where the loch used to be.
What the Loch Was Used For
The loch was a popular spot for winter sports.
Curling on the Ice
The Royal Caledonian Curling Club recorded that people played curling on the frozen loch. Curling matches took place there in February 1857 and again in 1860.
Interesting Facts About the Area
The area around the loch has some interesting old place names.
Old Roads and Names
Old roads used to run very close to the loch. This is shown by names like Glenconner Farm nearby. The word 'conaire' is an old Gaelic word that means "path."
There is also a farm called Rottenrow close to Glenconner. This name might come from 'Route de Roi,' which means "King's Highway" in French. This suggests important roads passed through this area long ago.
