Greenhills, North Ayrshire
Greenhills | |
---|---|
The village mainstreet looking towards the main road | |
Location within North Ayrshire | |
OS grid reference | NS 37386 50820 |
Council area | |
Lieutenancy area | |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Dialling code | 01560 |
Police | Scotland |
Fire | Scottish |
Ambulance | Scottish |
UK Parliament | |
Scottish Parliament | |
Greenhills is a small village or hamlet in
History
This small settlement is shown on General Roy's survey of 1747 - 55, under the name of 'Greenhill' in the singular, and has two buildings indicating where the old school was situated.
The school
The school, built from Ballochmyle red sandstone, opened in the 1890s with Mr. Mudie as headteacher,[1] at the time that Hessilhead School closed. A temporary building in the playground was used as a dining hall. It was built on the site of the cartwheel workshop and was midway between Burnhouse and Barrmill. Greenhills closed in 1959, it was sold in 1964[1] and demolished in the mid-1980s; having been used for some years as a glue factory by Strathbond Ltd who still trade from the Willowyard Estate, Beith. Mr McGregor was the last headteacher and the sports field had been the field lying across the Barrmill to Burnhouse Road.[2] The Greenhills WRI originally met here, however after the school was demolished they moved to the Barrmill Community Centre.[1]
Industry
A smithy stood at the crossroads on the Borestone farm side of the hamlet. John Marshall and Francis Douglas at this site made ploughs that sold all over the country, known as the Douglas Grubber. A joiner's shop stood next to the smithy, its machinery being driven by steam. The wheel wright's factory site was later used for the school and more recently a private dwelling.[3] A limekiln was situated behind the school, made in the shape of a horseshoe with the opening facing the prevailing southwest wind. It was encased within a bank with a gap at the opening.[4] A limestone quarry existed close to the school site.
The Moot or Justice Hill
This artificial mound or
Cartographic evidence
Roy's map of 1747 records the settlement of Greenhill on the Beith to Burnhouse road.[6] Armstrong's map of 1775 shows the ruins of Giffin castle only.[7] The 1828 John Thomson's map gives the name 'Greenhills' and marks Haghead, Borestone, Bank, and Thirdpart in the vicinity.[8]
See also
- Broadstone Castle and Barony, Ayrshire
- Barony and Castle of Giffen
- Speir's school
- Giffen railway station
- Lands of Bogston
- Nettlehirst
- Burnhouse
References
Notes
Sources and bibliography
- Dobie, James (1876). Pont's Cunninghame topographized 1604–1608 with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed.
- Jamieson, Sheila (1997). Our Village. 'Greenhills Women's Institute.
- Love, Dane (2003). Ayrshire : Discovering a County. Ayr : Fort Publishing. ISBN 0-9544461-1-9.
- Reid, Donald L. and Monahan, Isobel F. (1999). Yesterdays Beith, a pictorial guide. Beith : DoE Award Scheme. ISBN 0-9522720-5-9
External links
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