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Dreghorn
DREGHORN,(1) a parish in the southern part of
the district
of Cunningham, Ayrshire. It is an irregular stripe, about
8 miles long, and from ¾ of a mile to 2 miles broad,
stretching from south-west to north-east. On three sides
its boundary is marked by streams; on the east by Garrier
or Gawrier burn, which divides it from Kilmaurs; on the
south by Irvine water, which divides it from Dundonald;
and in the west and north-west by Annock water, which
divides it from Irvine and Stewarton; and on the
north-east the parish is bounded by Fenwick. At the
south-west end — which is distant only a mile from the
coast — the surface is a dead flat very slightly above
sea-level; but it thence rises, in gentle undulations,
toward the east and north-east, and both in the interior,
and especially along the banks of the Annock, wears a
pleasing appearance. In the flat grounds, the soil is
sandy and gravelly; but in the other districts, it is a
fine deep loam, remarkably fertile. The whole parish,
except a few acres of meadow-land, is under cultivation,
well-enclosed, and judiciously interspersed with
plantation. Coal and limestone are worked; and freestone
is found. The parish is intersected eastward by the road
from Irvine to Kilmamock, and north-eastward by the road
from Irvine, through Stewarton to Glasgow; and is provided
with numerous cross or subordinate roads. The village of
Dreghorn is situated in the southwest district of the
parish, on the first gentle acclivity above the flat
grounds, and commands a fine view of the frith of Clyde,
and the coast of Ayrshire. The houses stand in irregular
lines, and, being interspersed with trees, and
whitewashed, make a fine rural grouping to the eye. The
village is 2 miles from Irvine, on the highway between
that town and Kilmarnock; and has about 300 inhabitants.
Population of the parish, in 1801, 797; in 1831, 888.
Houses 149.
Assessed property, in 1815, £11,895. - Dreghorn
is in the presbytery of Irvine, and synod of Glasgow and
Ayr. Patron, the Earl of Eglinton. Stipend £176 13s. 10d.;
glebe £3. Unappropriated teinds £826 14s. 10d. The church
was built in 1780, and is situated in the village.
Sittings 427. From a fourth to a third of the parishioners
are Dissenters, most of whom are connected with
congregations in Irvine - Schoolmaster's salary £29 18s.
10d., with £60 other emoluments. There are 2
schools nonparochial. - Dreghorn, in its present
form, comprehends the ancient parishes of Dreghorn and
Pierce-town, which were united in 1668. The churches of
both parishes anciently belonged to the monks of
Kilwinning, and were served by vicars. In 1603, the
patronage of the church of Pierce-town, with the tithes
and church-lands, were granted to Hugh, the Earl of
Eglinton.
{1 In early charters, the name was written Dregern; and it
probably derived from the British Tre-quern, which
signifies the town or habitation by the swamp, or by the
alder-trees.}
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