Lainshaw House

Lainshaw, or, as it was formerly called, Langschaw, was at one time a portion of the Lordship of Stewartoun, and therefore the original seat of the family which afterwards bore sway in Scotland as the race of Stewart. The baronial castle of Stewartoun was described by Pont, in 1698, as a "stronge old dounijon, the ancient inheritance of ye predecessors of our Scots Kings:" and it is likely that the Lordship was considered of much value, since the Royal family retained their power over it tenaciously, and bestowed it only as a special mark of favour. Stewartoun became the inheritance of James the High Steward in 1283; and the right of his successors to dispose of it arbitrarily was exercised nearly three hundred years afterwards. Robert III granted it to Archibald, Earl of Douglas, and afterwards resumed it, so that he might bestow it as a dowry on the Earl's daughter, Elizabeth, when she married John Stewart, Earl of Buchan (obit 1424). The bestowal of the Lordship seems to have been always given under strict reversionary limitations, as it came into the gift of the Crown several times. There is special interest connected with the fact that "the landis and lordship of Stewartoun, with the feu mails" were presented as a bridal gift by Queen Mary to "her hienes' familiar sevitrice", Mary Livingston, on the occasion of her marriage to John Semphill, son of "the great Lord Semphill", whom she described as "her daylie and familiar servitor". Mary Livingston was the first of the famous "Four Maries" to enter the state of wedlock, and she only felt herself at liberty to break the vow of celibacy which these damsels had made when the Queen disclosed her own intention of wedding Lord Darnley. The marriage took place at Holyrood on 5th March, 1565 not 1567 as sometimes stated, but the Lordship passed into the hands of the Montgomeries of Lainshaw shortly afterwards, and became there manor-place.

Lainshaw existed as a separate estate for a long period before this amalgamation took place. In the exercise of his inherited right to the lands of Stewartoun, James II granted that portion, then called Langschaw, to Sir Alexander Home of Hoime in 1450. His son, afterwards the first Lord Home, came into possession of the estate at his decease, and bestowed it upon his eldest son of his second marriage, who was called Thomas Home of Langschaw. The mother of the latter Lord home's second wife was the daughter of the Master of Montgomerie; and as Thomas died without issue the lands of Langschaw came into the hands of the Eglinton family. The first Earl of Eglinton bestowed them upon his second son, Nigel (circa 1530), who became the first of the Montgomeries of Lainshaw.
The latter family held the estate by direct succession from father to son until 1564, when John Montgomerie died without issue, and was succeeded by his uncle, David Montgomeire of Cockilbie. As the Laird of Langschaw was concerned in the affair of Bothwell Brig, extreme measures were taken against him; but he managed to bequeath the estate to his son James, who became Lord Lyie of session. On the death of Lord Justice-Clerk Lyie in 1726, the succession fell upon his nephew David Laing, who assumed the name of Montgomerie, married a sister of Lord Auchinleck, and became the father of the wife of James Boswell the biographer. With his eldest son and daughter the family of Montgomerie of Lainshaw terminated; and the lands were sold by Sir Walter Montgomerie, Bart, in 1779, to William Cunninghame, third son of Alexander Cunninghame of Bridgehouse.
The first Cunninghame of Lainshaw, who was a collateral descendant of the Caprington Cunninghames, made his fortune in America, and established a lucrative trade with that country in Glasgow, which enabled him to retire to his new estate with security. He was thrice married, but devised Lainshaw to William, the only son of his second marriage, who entered into possession on his father's death in 1799, William Cunninghame was well known throughout Scotland for his voluminous writings upon the prophecies of Scripture, as well as his latitudinarian views upon the Atonement. He died unmarried in 1849, and was succeeded by his half brother John, the son of the first Lairds third marriage. John Cunninghame of Lainshaw (1794-1864) was succeeded by his eldest son, John William Herbert Cunninghame, Esq., a former Captain of the 2nd Life Guards.
One large square tower only of the original building of Stewartoun now remains; and in the course of so many changes in the proprietorship it is not easy to tell the dates of the various parts which form the imposing mansion of Lainshaw. The greater portion, probably, was erected about a century ago by the first William Cunninghame of Lainshaw.
This basis of this article was framed, and hung, in the hallway of Lainshaw House. The date of its compilation is unknown. The Mansion House was purchased by Ayr County Council in 1954 and converted into a residential home for the elderly. Sadly the "Big Hoose" was vacated as an Old Folks Home in 1993. Its destiny has yet to be discovered Click here for more info.