Difference between revisions of "Barkip"

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(Created page with "{{Infobox UK place | official_name = Barkip | gaelic_name= | scots_name= | local_name= The Den | country= Scotland | population = | population_ref = | population_densi...")
 
 
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{{Infobox UK place
+
{{Place
  | official_name = Barkip
+
  | name              = Barkip
  | gaelic_name=
+
  | gaelic            =  
| scots_name=
+
  | country           = Scotland
| local_name= The Den
+
  | county            = North Ayrshire
  | country= Scotland
+
{{#display_map: 55.64464220631475,-4.810981750488281|mappingservice=leaflet|zoom=11}}
  | population =
 
| population_ref =
 
| population_density=
 
| os_grid_reference= NS 32640 51244
 
| edinburgh_distance=
 
| london_distance=
 
| latitude = 55.725614
 
| longitude = -4.666426
 
| post_town=
 
| postcode_area=
 
| postcode_district=
 
| dial_code= 01505
 
| constituency_westminster= [[Central Ayrshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Central Ayrshire]]
 
| unitary_scotland= [[North Ayrshire]]
 
| lieutenancy_scotland= [[Ayrshire and Arran]]
 
| constituency_scottish_parliament= [[Cunninghame South (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Cunninghame South]]
 
| static_image= [[File:Barkip or The den.JPG|200px]]
 
| static_image_caption=A view of The Den
 
 
}}
 
}}
 +
{{DabPlace|Hamlet|North Ayrshire|}}
  
'''Barkip''',<ref name=DL/> also known as '''The Den''', is a hamlet in [[North Ayrshire]], Scotland about three miles south-west of [[Beith]] on the A737 road to [[Dalry, North Ayrshire|Dalry]]. The earliest recorded name is 'Blairkip'.<ref name="Roy's Map">[http://geo.nls.uk/search/roy/#zoom=14&lat=55.73107&lon=-4.65592&layers=0B000000TT Roy's Map] Retrieved : 18 February 2012</ref> In the Gaelic language, the name Barkip comes from ''bar'' ("top"), and ''kip'' ("a rank of soldiers").<ref name="MackayMaclean1892">{{cite book|last1=Mackay|first1=John|last2=Maclean |first2=Annie|last3=Mackay|first3=Sharp|title=The Celtic monthly: a magazine for Highlanders|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=h2E5AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA22|accessdate=19 February 2012|edition=Public domain|year=1892|publisher=Archibald Sinclair, Celtic Press|pages=22–}}</ref> It is not clear when or why the name 'The Den' started to be used although it appears in the local press as both in 1898,<ref name="DR"/> however in [[Scots language|Scots]] as in old English<ref>[[Dene (valley)]].</ref> one meaning is 'A hollow between hills,' which is certainly an accurate description of the geography of the area that Barkip lies in.<ref>[http://www.dsl.ac.uk/ Scots Dictionary] Retrieved : 2012-02-20</ref>
+
'''Barkip''' is a hamlet in [[North Ayrshire]], Scotland about three miles south-west of [[Beith]] on the A737 road to [[Dalry]]. The earliest recorded name is 'Blairkip'. In the Gaelic language, the name Barkip comes from ''bar'' ("top"), and ''kip'' ("a rank of soldiers"). It is not clear when or why the name 'The Den' started to be used although it appears in the local press as both in 1898, however in Scots as in old English one meaning is 'A hollow between hills,' which is certainly an accurate description of the geography of the area that Barkip lies in.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
Pont's survey of the early 1600s records a 'Bar-Kyipe' lying in the [[The Barony of Kersland|Barony of Kersland]] and Dobie records that Barkip formed part of the estate of [[The Lands of Roughwood|Roughwood]] in 1874, belonging to William Ralston-Patrick.<ref>Dobie, Page 85</ref> In the 19th century the population was 995.<ref>McGeorge, Page 166</ref>
+
Pont's survey of the early 1600s records a 'Bar-Kyipe' lying in the The Barony of Kersland and Dobie records that Barkip formed part of the estate of Roughwood in 1874, belonging to William Ralston-Patrick. In the 19th century the population was 995.
  
[[Willem Blaeu]]'s map of circa 1604 records a 'Barkirsh' settlement, probably today's nearby 'Barcosh'.<ref>[http://maps.nls.uk/atlas/blaeu/view/?id=86 Blaeu's Map] Retrieved : 18 February 2012</ref> [[William Roy]]'s map of 1747 records the settlements of Mallside and a Blairkip.<ref name="Roy's Map"/> In the year 1726, William Park and John his son granted to John Hamilton an heritable bond, in common form, for 3000 [[Merk (coin)|merks]], over the lands of Barkip.<ref name="SessionMorison1801">{{cite book|author1=Scotland. Court of Session|author2=William Maxwell Morison|title=The decisions of the Court of Session: from its first institution to the present time : digested under proper heads, in the form of a dictionary|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Ya1KAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA326-IA14|accessdate=19 February 2012|year=1801|publisher=Bell|page=326}}</ref> Barkip was part of the Blair Estate.<ref>[http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/AYRSHIRE/2004-01/1075384240 Rootsweb] Retrieved : 2012-02-20</ref>
+
Willem Blaeu's map of circa 1604 records a 'Barkirsh' settlement, probably today's nearby 'Barcosh'. William Roy's map of 1747 records the settlements of Mallside and a Blairkip. In the year 1726, William Park and John his son granted to John Hamilton an heritable bond, in common form, for 3000 merks, over the lands of Barkip.
  
In March 1898, a local paper reported a complaint that a dance had taken place at the Kersland Barony school and Kirk that had lasted into the small hours. Members of the church congregation threatened to leave through their indignation at the building being used for such frivolous activities.<ref name="DR">Reid (2001), p. 119</ref> That same month, students at the Kersland Barony evening continuation classes presented their teachers, Mr Deans and Miss Lorraine, with gifts of appreciation. The Rev A Leslie chaired the event and Miss Lorraine was presented with an inscribed umbrella, whilst Mr Deans had a silver walking stick as his recognition. Songs, recitations, flute, and violin entertainments were part of the night's proceedings.<ref name="DR"/>
+
In March 1898, a local paper reported a complaint that a dance had taken place at the Kersland Barony school and Kirk that had lasted into the small hours. Members of the church congregation threatened to leave through their indignation at the building being used for such frivolous activities. That same month, students at the Kersland Barony evening continuation classes presented their teachers, Mr Deans and Miss Lorraine, with gifts of appreciation. The Rev A Leslie chaired the event and Miss Lorraine was presented with an inscribed umbrella, whilst Mr Deans had a silver walking stick as his recognition. Songs, recitations, flute, and violin entertainments were part of the night's proceedings.
  
An 1876 publication, ''Catalogue of the western Scottish fossils'', documented finds in Barkip's coal and ironstone pits and sandstone quarries, including that of  ''[[Rhizodus]]'', ''[[Gyracanthus]]'', and ''[[Cladodus]]''.<ref name="Catalogue of the western Scottish fossils">{{cite book|title=Catalogue of the western Scottish fossils|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=HXUtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA76|accessdate=19 February 2012|edition=Public domain|year=1876|publisher=Blackie|pages=76–}}</ref> The village had a certain reputation for problems linked to illicit drinking.<ref name=DL>Reid (2001), p.105</ref><ref name="DR"/> It was reported in 1898 that Sunday drinking resulted in men lying around drunk in the Maulside plantations and some were playing cards.<ref name="DR"/>
+
An 1876 publication, ''Catalogue of the western Scottish fossils'', documented finds in Barkip's coal and ironstone pits and sandstone quarries, including that of  ''Rhizodus'', ''Gyracanthus'', and ''Cladodus''. The village had a certain reputation for problems linked to illicit drinking. It was reported in 1898 that Sunday drinking resulted in men lying around drunk in the Maulside plantations and some were playing cards.
  
 
==Geography==
 
==Geography==
Barkip is located in southwest Scotland in [[North Ayrshire]] and lies about three miles south-west of [[Beith]]. Geologically, Barkip consists of mainly sandstone.<ref name="(Glasgow)1868">{{cite book|author=[[Geological Society of Glasgow]]|title=Transactions of the Geological Society of Glasgow|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=2B8-AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA289|accessdate=19 February 2012|year=1868|publisher=Soc.|page=289}}</ref> Two areas of the rare habitat type known as '[[Bog|raised bogs]]' are located at Barkip and Little Barkip. These were surveyed for the Ayrshire Biodiversity Action Plan (ABAP) by the NAC Ranger Service in 2010. Raised bogs develop over centuries from open lake, to marsh, and eventually bog that continues to form peat, and over time a shallow dome of bog peat develops: a raised bog. The dome is typically a few metres high in the centre, and is often surrounded by strips of [[fen]]. The Barkip sites have the typical bog plants, such as [[sundew]], [[Eriophorum|cotton grass]], deer grass, and [[sphagnum]] mosses. [[Highfield, North Ayrshire|Highfield]] is the next village along on the A737 towards Dalry.
+
Barkip is located in southwest Scotland in [[North Ayrshire]] and lies about three miles south-west of [[Beith]]. Geologically, Barkip consists of mainly sandstone. Two areas of the rare habitat type known as 'raised bogs' are located at Barkip and Little Barkip. These were surveyed for the Ayrshire Biodiversity Action Plan (ABAP) by the NAC Ranger Service in 2010. Raised bogs develop over centuries from open lake, to marsh, and eventually bog that continues to form peat, and over time a shallow dome of bog peat develops: a raised bog. The dome is typically a few metres high in the centre, and is often surrounded by strips of fen. The Barkip sites have the typical bog plants, such as sundew, cotton grass, deer grass, and sphagnum mosses. [[Highfield]] is the next village along on the A737 towards Dalry.
  
 
==Notable landmarks==
 
==Notable landmarks==
The old Kersland Barony school had a church-like belfry over the front gale and was used as church on Sundays.<ref name=DL/><ref>Dalry History Group, Page 108</ref><ref>Love, p.84</ref> The Rev. Robert Stevenson D.D., minister of Dalry 1844-1890, caused to be erected the Kersland Barony Chapel and school. He bequeathed £2,500 for Kersland Barony chapel.<ref>[http://www.happyhaggis.co.uk/ayrshire-dalrytrinity.htm Dalry Trinity Church] Retrieved : 2012-05-27</ref> In 1901 the Herald recorded that ''"The scholars of Kersland Barony School, Dalry, under the direction of Mr Deans, headmaster, and Mr Gibson, drill instructor, gave a most enjoyable entertainment on two evenings last week".''<ref>[http://www.threetowners.com/hf1906/1906-01.htm Three Towners] Retrieved : 2012-05-27</ref>
+
The old Kersland Barony school had a church-like belfry over the front gale and was used as church on Sundays. The Rev. Robert Stevenson D.D., minister of Dalry 1844-1890, caused to be erected the Kersland Barony Chapel and school. He bequeathed £2,500 for Kersland Barony chapel. In 1901 the Herald recorded that ''"The scholars of Kersland Barony School, Dalry, under the direction of Mr Deans, headmaster, and Mr Gibson, drill instructor, gave a most enjoyable entertainment on two evenings last week".''
The village at one time had a police station, two public houses, a cinema, and a bowling green.<ref>Reid (2001), p. 86</ref>  [[Brackenhills railway station]] was located midway between Beith and Barkip on the [[Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway]]'s branch to {{Stnlnk|Kilbirnie South}}. [[Barrmill|Defence Munitions Beith]] (DM Beith) is located nearby.
 
The hamlet contains several cottages including Auchengree Cottage, Rosehill Cottage and Muirhouse Cottage. A smithy was located at the Crossroads near where Graze Restaurant now stands (2012). A second smithy was situated on the crossroads near West Muirhouse Farm and Highden House. This smithy, now demolished, was unusual in that it had stables associated with it; these survive as a private dwelling. An [[Gunpowder magazine|explosives magazine]] was located at the site of the old Low Well<ref>[http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html Old Maps] Retrieved : 2012-02-26]</ref> opposite West Muirhouse Farm. Davidshill House was once an isolation hospital, locally known as the 'Sick House'.
 
  
Maulside House, previously Maulhead,<ref>Dobie, Page 326</ref> was built on the site of an earlier mansion held by the Russells. The present house was built for Andrew Mitchell, Writer to the signet, in the 1830s. he improved his estate lands, draining the mosses, turning them into productive fields.<ref name=L2/> Maulside Mains is a 'B' Listed, early 19th century, rectangular-plan stable block with a 'U' shaped courtyard beyond.<ref>[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-1248-maulside-mains-dalry British Listed Buildings] Retrieved : 2012-02-26</ref>
+
The village at one time had a police station, two public houses, a cinema, and a bowling green. {{stnlnk|Brackenhills}} was located midway between Beith and Barkip on the [[Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway]]'s branch to {{Stnlnk|Kilbirnie South}}. [[Defence Munitions Beith]] (DM Beith) is located nearby.
 +
 
 +
The hamlet contains several cottages including Auchengree Cottage, Rosehill Cottage and Muirhouse Cottage. A smithy was located at the Crossroads near where Graze Restaurant now stands (2012). A second smithy was situated on the crossroads near West Muirhouse Farm and Highden House. This smithy, now demolished, was unusual in that it had stables associated with it; these survive as a private dwelling. An explosives magazine was located at the site of the old Low Well opposite West Muirhouse Farm. Davidshill House was once an isolation hospital, locally known as the 'Sick House'.
 +
 
 +
Maulside House, previously Maulhead, was built on the site of an earlier mansion held by the Russells. The present house was built for Andrew Mitchell, Writer to the signet, in the 1830s. he improved his estate lands, draining the mosses, turning them into productive fields. Maulside Mains is a 'B' Listed, early 19th century, rectangular-plan stable block with a 'U' shaped courtyard beyond.
  
 
[[File:Barkip Anaerobic-Digester Biomass powerplant.JPG|thumb|200px|The Barkip Biogas Plant.]]
 
[[File:Barkip Anaerobic-Digester Biomass powerplant.JPG|thumb|200px|The Barkip Biogas Plant.]]
Located a short distance from the settlement is the Barkip Biogas power plant, the largest anaerobic digestion power plant in Scotland when completed in June 2011. It uses [[anaerobic digestion]] to produce electricity from leftover food and other organic materials. The only by-product is a high nutrient fertiliser that can be returned to the land to help produce more food. The Barkip Biogas facility was built for the utility provider Scottish & Southern Energy Generation Ltd.  It is operated by [http://www.zebecenergy.co.uk Zebec Energy], a West of Scotland company. The facility has the capacity to process up to 75,000 tonnes-a-year of residual waste and has been designed to produce up to 2.5 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity.<ref>[http://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/compost/sse-to-open-scotland2019s-largest-ad-facility letsrecycle.com] Retrieved : 2012-02-21</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.williamtraceygroup.com/who_we_are/latest_news/ad_plant_update |title=Barkip AD Plant Progress Update, 18/2/11|publisher=William Tracey Ltd|date=18 February 2011|accessdate=20 February 2012}}</ref> The plant was officially opened by the [[Duke of Rothesay]] (Prince Charles) in May 2012.
+
Located a short distance from the settlement is the Barkip Biogas power plant, the largest anaerobic digestion power plant in Scotland when completed in June 2011. It uses [[anaerobic digestion]] to produce electricity from leftover food and other organic materials. The only by-product is a high nutrient fertiliser that can be returned to the land to help produce more food. The Barkip Biogas facility was built for the utility provider Scottish & Southern Energy Generation Ltd.  It is operated by Zebec Energy, a West of Scotland company. The facility has the capacity to process up to 75,000 tonnes-a-year of residual waste and has been designed to produce up to 2.5 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity. The plant was officially opened by the [[Duke of Rothesay]] (Prince Charles) in May 2012.
  
 
==Notable people==
 
==Notable people==
* Jean Gilbert, born at Barkip Farm in 1942 near The Den. North Ayrshire Council's 'Citizen of the Year' for 2012.<ref>Reid, Chapter 3</ref>
+
* Jean Gilbert, born at Barkip Farm in 1942 near The Den. North Ayrshire Council's 'Citizen of the Year' for 2012.
* [[David Mackie]], superintending engineer for the Barkip Coal & Ironstone Works<ref name="Blackmar1912">{{cite book|last=Blackmar|first=Frank Wilson|title=Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Fog6AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA482|accessdate=19 February 2012|edition=Public domain|year=1912|publisher=Standard publishing company|pages=482–}}</ref>
+
* David Mackie, superintending engineer for the Barkip Coal & Ironstone Works
* Thomas Macqueen, poet, author of " The Exile".<ref name="M'Kie1867">{{cite book|last=M'Kie|first=James|title=Title pages, and imprints, of the books in the private library of James M'Kie, Kilmarnock.|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=NIsIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA55|accessdate=19 February 2012|year=1867|page=55}}</ref>
+
* Thomas Macqueen, poet, author of " The Exile".
* Andrew Mitchell, Esq. of Maulside was recorded as one of the principal landowners within the Parish of Dalry.<ref>[https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Dalry,_Ayr,_Scotland Family Search] Retrieved : 2012-02-26</ref> He was a Glasgow Writer to the Signet.<ref name=L2>Love (2003), Page 84</ref>
+
* Andrew Mitchell, Esq. of Maulside was recorded as one of the principal landowners within the Parish of Dalry.
  
 
==Views of Barkip in 2011==
 
==Views of Barkip in 2011==
Line 112: Line 97:
 
::Auld Ooorie, an' Bummer, now all gone to their Maker,
 
::Auld Ooorie, an' Bummer, now all gone to their Maker,
 
::An' as I stand at the corner, as I do now an' then,
 
::An' as I stand at the corner, as I do now an' then,
::It makes me very proud to say, I was born in the DEN.<ref>Kinniburgh, Page 103</ref>
+
::It makes me very proud to say, I was born in the DEN.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
|}</div>
 
|}</div>
 
== References ==
 
 
===Notes===
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{Reflist|3}}
 
{{refend}}
 
 
===Sources===
 
{{refbegin|2}}
 
* Dalry History Group (1985). ''Dalry Remembered''. ISBN 0-9510674-0-0.
 
* Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). ''Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices''. Glasgow: John Tweed.
 
* Kinniburgh, Moira and Burke, Fiona (1995). ''Kilbirnie and Glengarnock. Shared Memories.'' Kilbirnie Library. ISBN 1-897998-01-5.
 
* Love, Dane (2003). ''Ayrshire : Discovering a County''. Ayr : Fort Publishing. ISBN 0-9544461-1-9.
 
* McMichael, George. ''Notes on the Way.'' Ayr : Hugh Henry.
 
* Reid, Donald L. (2001). ''In the Valley of Garnock''. Beith :  D. Reid & the Jolly Beggars Burns Club. ISBN 0-9522720-6-7.
 
* Reid, Donald L. (2011). ''Beith, Barrmill and Gateside''. Beith : D. Reid & the Jolly Beggars Burns Club. ISBN 978-0-9566343-1-3.
 
* Reid, Donald & Monahan, Isobel F. (1999). ''Yesterday's Beith''. Beith : DoE. ISBN 0-9522720-5-9.
 
{{refend}}
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
Line 141: Line 107:
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WS6WDW5koQ Video and commentary on the area surrounding Barkip / 'The Den'.]
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WS6WDW5koQ Video and commentary on the area surrounding Barkip / 'The Den'.]
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHaD4swODdY The Little Barkip Biogas Powerstation.]
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHaD4swODdY The Little Barkip Biogas Powerstation.]
{{commons category|The Den, North Ayrshire}}
 
  
 
{{North Ayrshire}}
 
{{North Ayrshire}}
{{Portal|Scotland}}
 
  
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barkip}}
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[[Category:North Ayrshire]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in North Ayrshire]]
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[[Category:Hamlets]]
[[Category:History of North Ayrshire]]
 
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Scotland]]
 
[[Category:Villages in North Ayrshire]]
 

Latest revision as of 23:44, 31 October 2015


Barkip
{{{image}}}
Country

Scotland

County

North Ayrshire

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This article is about a Hamlet in North Ayrshire

Barkip is a hamlet in North Ayrshire, Scotland about three miles south-west of Beith on the A737 road to Dalry. The earliest recorded name is 'Blairkip'. In the Gaelic language, the name Barkip comes from bar ("top"), and kip ("a rank of soldiers"). It is not clear when or why the name 'The Den' started to be used although it appears in the local press as both in 1898, however in Scots as in old English one meaning is 'A hollow between hills,' which is certainly an accurate description of the geography of the area that Barkip lies in.

History[edit]

Pont's survey of the early 1600s records a 'Bar-Kyipe' lying in the The Barony of Kersland and Dobie records that Barkip formed part of the estate of Roughwood in 1874, belonging to William Ralston-Patrick. In the 19th century the population was 995.

Willem Blaeu's map of circa 1604 records a 'Barkirsh' settlement, probably today's nearby 'Barcosh'. William Roy's map of 1747 records the settlements of Mallside and a Blairkip. In the year 1726, William Park and John his son granted to John Hamilton an heritable bond, in common form, for 3000 merks, over the lands of Barkip.

In March 1898, a local paper reported a complaint that a dance had taken place at the Kersland Barony school and Kirk that had lasted into the small hours. Members of the church congregation threatened to leave through their indignation at the building being used for such frivolous activities. That same month, students at the Kersland Barony evening continuation classes presented their teachers, Mr Deans and Miss Lorraine, with gifts of appreciation. The Rev A Leslie chaired the event and Miss Lorraine was presented with an inscribed umbrella, whilst Mr Deans had a silver walking stick as his recognition. Songs, recitations, flute, and violin entertainments were part of the night's proceedings.

An 1876 publication, Catalogue of the western Scottish fossils, documented finds in Barkip's coal and ironstone pits and sandstone quarries, including that of Rhizodus, Gyracanthus, and Cladodus. The village had a certain reputation for problems linked to illicit drinking. It was reported in 1898 that Sunday drinking resulted in men lying around drunk in the Maulside plantations and some were playing cards.

Geography[edit]

Barkip is located in southwest Scotland in North Ayrshire and lies about three miles south-west of Beith. Geologically, Barkip consists of mainly sandstone. Two areas of the rare habitat type known as 'raised bogs' are located at Barkip and Little Barkip. These were surveyed for the Ayrshire Biodiversity Action Plan (ABAP) by the NAC Ranger Service in 2010. Raised bogs develop over centuries from open lake, to marsh, and eventually bog that continues to form peat, and over time a shallow dome of bog peat develops: a raised bog. The dome is typically a few metres high in the centre, and is often surrounded by strips of fen. The Barkip sites have the typical bog plants, such as sundew, cotton grass, deer grass, and sphagnum mosses. Highfield is the next village along on the A737 towards Dalry.

Notable landmarks[edit]

The old Kersland Barony school had a church-like belfry over the front gale and was used as church on Sundays. The Rev. Robert Stevenson D.D., minister of Dalry 1844-1890, caused to be erected the Kersland Barony Chapel and school. He bequeathed £2,500 for Kersland Barony chapel. In 1901 the Herald recorded that "The scholars of Kersland Barony School, Dalry, under the direction of Mr Deans, headmaster, and Mr Gibson, drill instructor, gave a most enjoyable entertainment on two evenings last week".

The village at one time had a police station, two public houses, a cinema, and a bowling green. Brackenhills was located midway between Beith and Barkip on the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway's branch to Kilbirnie South. Defence Munitions Beith (DM Beith) is located nearby.

The hamlet contains several cottages including Auchengree Cottage, Rosehill Cottage and Muirhouse Cottage. A smithy was located at the Crossroads near where Graze Restaurant now stands (2012). A second smithy was situated on the crossroads near West Muirhouse Farm and Highden House. This smithy, now demolished, was unusual in that it had stables associated with it; these survive as a private dwelling. An explosives magazine was located at the site of the old Low Well opposite West Muirhouse Farm. Davidshill House was once an isolation hospital, locally known as the 'Sick House'.

Maulside House, previously Maulhead, was built on the site of an earlier mansion held by the Russells. The present house was built for Andrew Mitchell, Writer to the signet, in the 1830s. he improved his estate lands, draining the mosses, turning them into productive fields. Maulside Mains is a 'B' Listed, early 19th century, rectangular-plan stable block with a 'U' shaped courtyard beyond.

The Barkip Biogas Plant.

Located a short distance from the settlement is the Barkip Biogas power plant, the largest anaerobic digestion power plant in Scotland when completed in June 2011. It uses anaerobic digestion to produce electricity from leftover food and other organic materials. The only by-product is a high nutrient fertiliser that can be returned to the land to help produce more food. The Barkip Biogas facility was built for the utility provider Scottish & Southern Energy Generation Ltd. It is operated by Zebec Energy, a West of Scotland company. The facility has the capacity to process up to 75,000 tonnes-a-year of residual waste and has been designed to produce up to 2.5 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity. The plant was officially opened by the Duke of Rothesay (Prince Charles) in May 2012.

Notable people[edit]

  • Jean Gilbert, born at Barkip Farm in 1942 near The Den. North Ayrshire Council's 'Citizen of the Year' for 2012.
  • David Mackie, superintending engineer for the Barkip Coal & Ironstone Works
  • Thomas Macqueen, poet, author of " The Exile".
  • Andrew Mitchell, Esq. of Maulside was recorded as one of the principal landowners within the Parish of Dalry.

Views of Barkip in 2011[edit]

The Den[edit]

Yin afternin I took a walk, frae Beith doon tae the Den,
Tw'as there I spent some happy days, but its many years since then,
The place its maist deserted noo, there's just a hoose or twa,
The office and the store are doon, and they hinna left a raw.
I daunert up the road a wee, and stood and lucket roon,
I couldna see a soul about, nor could I hear a soon,
An o'the Den is gey sair chinged, frae the Den that I hae seen,
When the pits were gaun an' the wee Flit Baun an' a senior fitba
The House that Jack built's stinnin yet, but noo it is the Co.,
The wee shop that Allan kept is doon long long ago.
The big Lawn's gone an' the Cobblers Shop, and Granny Walkers work
An' the wee Schill Raw its doon an a', that stood fornent the kirk.
The Auld Hoose is stinnin yet, we kent it best by Pugs,
But there's no a buddy rinnin noo, wi bottles or wi jugs.
For noo its lost its license, an' there's no a drap ava,
Though miny a bottle has been selt, through the wee hole in the wa'.
Up on the know at last I sclimed, an' stood an' lucked roon,
On the Meidow Heid, the Maulside an' the dear auld Boolin Green.
Then I turned roon the ither way, an' see the same auld schill,
But there's no a wain gaun tae it noo, an' aw the place is still.
When we were callans at the schill, an' got our holidays,
We ran about the heather moss, or up on Rabbie's Braes.
An' in Bumbo we had a dook, or up some bing would sclim,
Then hungry we would hurry hame, an' doon the Cullhill rin.
The happy days have lang since gone, we're no sae young ye ken,
When past our sixtieth milestone we're nearing journeys end,
An' noo am feeling kinda stiff, bit a wis soople then,
When I played fitba in the MA Alley, wae the callants o' the Den.
Of the old folk I remember, like the hooses now all gone,
With their weird and wonderous nicknames, still their memory lingers.
There was Stulty Bell, an' Fish Kate, Laddelty an' Lum,
The Cobbler, The Butcher, The Sailor an' Pug Young.
There was Tam the warmer CooCoo, Pluffy Deans an' Tam the Baker,
Auld Ooorie, an' Bummer, now all gone to their Maker,
An' as I stand at the corner, as I do now an' then,
It makes me very proud to say, I was born in the DEN.

External links[edit]

North Ayrshire

Towns

Ardrossan
Beith
Dalry
Irvine
Kilbirnie
Kilwinning
Largs
Saltcoats
Stevenston
West Kilbride

Villages

Ardeer
Auchentiber
Barrmill
Benslie
Dreghorn
Drybridge
Fairlie
Gateside
Girdle Toll
Glengarnock
Longbar
Skelmorlie
Springside
Stanecastle

Hamlets

Barkip
Broomlands
Bourtreehill
Burnhouse
Castlepark
Crosbie
Chapeltoun
Cunninghamhead
Dalgarven
Drakemyre
Eglinton
Fergushill
Fullarton
Giffordland
Greenhills
Hessilhead
Highfield
Hunterston
Kelburn
Lawthorn
Lylestone
Meigle
Meikle Auchengree
Montgreenan
Nettlehirst
Perceton
Portencross
Routenburn
Seamill
Sevenacres
Shewalton
Torranyard

Island settlements

Brodick
Lamlash
Lochranza
Whiting Bay
Birchburn
Blackwaterfoot
Catacol
Cladach
Corrie
Dippen
Kildonan
Kilmory
Lagg
Machrie
Pirnmill
Sannox
Shiskine
Sliddery
Whitefarland
Millport

Neighbouring council areas

Argyll and Bute
East Ayrshire
Inverclyde
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire