Hunterston Estate
Walled gardens came into fashion in the early 19th century. Not really for security purposes they were to protect from winds, frost and snow allowing either faster growth or the cultivation of more exotic species.
Against the far wall there is a bench and statue. The old statue is of a medieval knight in armour clutching a document and represents William Hunter the 10th Laird in 1374 and the charter from King Robert 2nd he received at that time.
These were rescued from the old Barony Church in West Kilbride which was the local graveyard from before 1670 until 1860.
To the right of the garden gate, was a charming spot beside what was called the resting tree: ( a snippet from 1866 history book) - "Near the castle, its hoary branches linked together with many an iron band and chain, stands an ancient ash, still known in the neighbourhood as the Resting Tree. .... it was at its foot, that in the olden time, wayfarers who chanced to cross the morass in their journeying's, as well as the villagers who came to cut peat in the vicinity, sought temporary rest". This charming tree also had another not so charming use when it was young, it was said to be a Dule Tree which is another name for a hanging tree. Where the Laird would make an example of the serious law-breakers to warn others. There is also a legend of a beautiful lady fairy associated with this tree.
The old Resting Tree at Hunterston
A land mark of the old stage coach days
THE AULD ASH TREE
TIS LANGER THAN I CAN MIND,
SINCE I WAS PLANTED HERE,
BUT MONY A STORMY BLAST I’VE FELT,
THIS TWA THREE HUNNER YEAR,
AND WI’ THE SOIL AND CLIMATE HERE
MY HEALTH SEEMED TO AGREE,
AS HERE I STAND STILL FIRM AND STRONG,
AN AULD ASH TREE
THO MAYBE BLESSED WI’ HEALTH AND STRENGTH,
THE BEST 0’ US WILL FAIL,
AND YEARS AGO THO HALE AT HEART,
MY LIMBS WERE GETTING FRAIL,
THEY PUT ME THROUGH A SEARCHING TEST,
AND SEEMED TO A’ AGREE
THEY’D NEED TO AMPUTATE TO SAVE
THE AULD ASH TREE
OF COURSE NAE SUNER SAID THAN DUNE,
THERE’S NAE NEED FOR DELAY,
THEY GOT THEIR TOOLS A’ READY,
AND COMMENCED THAT VERY DAY,
BUT NO SUCH THINGS AS STIMULANTS,
OR CHLOFORM FOR ME,
AN AXE AND SAW WILL QUICKLY CURE
THE AULD ASH TREE
THE OPERATION WASNA DRIECH,
ALTHO IT HURT ME SAIR,
THEY CUT AWAY MY FAILING LIMBS,
AND MAYBE TWA THREE MAIR
THO NECESSARY YOU’LL ADMIT,
IT WAS A BLOW TO ME,
THAT SUCH A THING COULD HAPPEN TO
AN AULD ASH TREE
I RECOVERED MAIST SURPRISING,
AND SOON GOT OWER IT A’,
ALTHO IT SPOILED MY HANDSOME FORM,
I DIDNA LOOK SAE BRAW,
THOUGH MAYBE VAIN TO SAY IT,
I THINK YOU’LL ALL AGREE,
I'M LOOKING NO SAE BAD TAE BE
AN AULD ASH TREE
I OFTEN YET REFLECT UPON,
THE CHANGES I HAE SEEN,
FOR WHERE THE SAUGH WANDS USED TO GROW,
THE FIELDS ARE BONNIE GREEN,
IN TRAINS AND STEAMBOATS RUSHING ON,
A GREAT ADVANCE I SEEN,
FROM COACH AND FOUR THAT USED TO PASS
THE AULD ASH TREE
THE STABLES AND THE COACH HOUSE WI’
THEIR BORDERS AYE SAE BRAW,
A BETTER KEEPIT PLOT O’ FLOOERS
I’M SHAIR YOU NEVER SAW,
THE SNOWDROPS AND THE LILIES
FOLK WERE AWFU PLEASED TO SEE,
WERE AULD RESPECTED NEEBOURS O’
THE AULD ASH TREE
NOO THEY’VE DISAPEARED COMPLETELY,
AND WHERE THEY USED TO STAUN,
THE AVENUE RINS THROUGH THE PLACE
BESIDE A WELL KEPT LAWN,
THO SAIR AGAINST THE CHANGE AT FIRST,
TIS PLEASING TO THE EE,
NOO THAT’S A GREAT ADMISSION FRAE
THE AULD ASH TREE
THE VISITORS THAT USED TO COME
THE GROUNDS A DAUNNER THROO,
THE CASTLE AND SURROUNDINGS.
AND THE GARDENS USED TAE VIEW,
BUT THEIR VISIT WASNA FEENISHED,
TILL THEY PAID RESPECTS TAE ME,
THEY A’ SEEMED INTERESTED IN
THE AULD ASH TREE
AND OFTEN IN THE GLOAMIN,
WHEN THE MIRK BEGAN TAE FA’,
THE LOVERS OOT A QUIET WALK,
WOULD AYE GIE ME A CA’,
THEY TELLT THE AULD, AULD STORY,
NAE SECRETS KEPT FRAE ME,
THEY KENT THEY AYE COULD TRUST THEM WI’,
THE AULD ASH TREE
AND MANY SCIONS O’ THE HOUSE,
HAVE WON UNDYING FAME,
THEY’VE FOUGHT AND BLED FOR BRITAIN’S CAUSE,
AND EARNED AN HONOURED NAME,
AND NOW SIR AYLMER IN THE VAN,
ON FLANDERS FRONT WE SEE,
THROUGHT THE STRIFE HE’LL OFTEN MIND,
THE AULD ASH TREE
NOW IN THIS CONFLICT RAGING NOO,
THE WORST WE’VE SEEN,
THERE IS A LOT O’ LADDIES, USED
TO PLAY AROUND THE GREEN,
IF I COULD SEE THEM A’ AINCE MAIR,
HOO HAPPY I WOULD BE,
THEIR BOYHOOD OFT RE-ECHOES TO
THE AULD ASH TREE
By ANDREW HISLOP
(A Ploughman employed by General Sir Aylmer Hunter Weston)
SEPTEMBER 1917
THE AULD TREE NOO HAS PASSED AWAY,
AS THO IT NE’ER HAD BEEN,
AND ON THE PLACE WHERE AINCE IT STOOD,
THE GRASS IS GROWIN’ GREEN,
A PLAQUE ENGRAVEN ON THE WA,
FOR EVERONE TO SEE,
STILL MARKS THE SPOT IN HONOUR OF,
THE AULD ASH TREE
I OFTEN DAUNER ROON TAE SEE
THE AULD RESPECTED SPOT,
THO TIME BRINGS MANY CHANGES,
IT WILL NEVER BE FORGOT,
AND WEEL I KEN I’M NO MY LAIN,
THERE’S MANY MORE LIKE ME,
WILL CHERISH PLEASANT MEMORIES OF
THE AULD ASH TREE
1945
General David Hunter and Broughty Ferry
On May 23rd
some of the Hunter armorial families
On Mar 21
1000 years of Hunter history
On Jan 25
politicians.. who needs them
On Feb 25
