Seagate castle, Irvine
Maryborough salt pan houses
weavers' cottages in Crosshill

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Culzean coach house
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Copyright notice:  Links to this site are welcomed.  However none of the material on the site may be duplicated in any form.  The copyright of the articles is the property of the authors.  Copyright of the web pages is the property of David McClure.

Birnieknowe

From Hugh Docherty, 12 Feb 05: My father's family, Dochertys & McHargs, were born and raised in the village of Birnieknowe in Auchinleck parish. They were iron and coal miners. I am interested in photos of this villiage, and any info on the people who lived and worked there.

From David McClure: Rev. James Chrystal (NSA, 1837) listed two collieries in the parish of Auchinleck - Birnieknowe and Common. You will find a description of Common Row in Ayrshire Miners' Rows, 1913 on this site. See also the reference to Birnieknowe in the account of Busbie Rows.

From David Gibson, 30 Mar 05: This village also known as Commondyke, is situated between Auchinleck& Lugar. In Auchinleck we produce a small monthly newsletter and have at least one photograph available showing the 3 rows taken from the pit bing. A copy is available. A lady of 86 who lived there is a very helpful source of information, so I`ll make enquiries about Docherty & McHarg. Is there any possibility that we could have your permission to include some of your material in our newsletter e.g.the descriptions of miners rows in our disrict, as there still some of our elderly readers remember staying in them, as some of the rows were not demolished until the late 30s.

From anon 16 August 06: I would be most interested in a copy of the photo. Please advise the cost and an address, and I will respond.
If you are located in Auchinleck, I would be interested in stopping by, when I visit there in 2007.

From David Colville, 5 June 2006: Trying to do some family history, and your site came up when I put Birnieknowe into Google. My great-grandfather was a miner in Birnieknowe (from 1870) and I would love to see any pictures or any other info on it. Is it possible to pass on a request to David Gibson to see a copy of the photos he has?

From Patricia Sherrington, 18 April 2006: I am researching the Birnieknowe community. As an old pupil of the convent school in the 50's and early 60's I am particularly interested in the life of the school. I remember a little about a mine/pit disaster which affected several pupils. I am keen to know the story behind the monument to a nun by the pond. It was a marvellous place to go to school. So wild and beautiful.

From Bert Stevenson, 16 March 2006:I am looking for any photographs on the old miners rows in the Auchinleck area. Of particular interest would be the Common Long Row, where my father was born in 1913 and where he grew up, and Birnieknowe, where he lived, with my mother and my two brothers, from 1941 to 1948. Your help would be much appreciated.

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Return to Home page Go to About page Go to list of Articles Go to Bibliography Go to Links page Go to illustrated catalogue of Ayrshire milestones Go to Research Postings Search this site