Walled Garden at Hunterston

before and after		10th Laird
bench and statue	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. "New broom sweeps clean", when the present Clan Chief came to power the gardens were an early priority, having been overlooked a bit (as you'll see above) and before you could say, "10 years bloomin' hard graft" it now looks beautiful once more. In olden times the main coast road used to pass beside the castle and although not that far from main towns the Hunterston smithy and saddler would have been called on to help passing stagecoaches and travelers in need. 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 a Dule Tree. Dule trees are another name for hanging trees, 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. 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. In the garden there are also some old yew trees which were used to make the bows. One tree is reputed to be between 600 and 700 years old. We also use the walled garden to plant trees of remembrance. For those who un-selfishly gave of their time to the benefit of the Clan. It is a little token of thanks and a way of keeping their memory with us. old yew trees
old resting tree new resting tree the hanging tree	(The old Resting Tree at Hunterston Castle) A land mark of the old stage coach days By ANDREW HISLOP (A Ploughman employed by General Sir Aylmer Hunter Weston) 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	some of the memorial trees
some other older trees	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 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