Robertland House
By A Chalmers

There are several large mansion houses around Stewarton, a few of which are :Lainshaw; Lochridge; Kennox; Wardhead; Chapelton and Robertland. The latter has been on the market since last year (2000) and along with Guild Member Andra dark, I was privileged to view the interior of the house. Not so many years ago the thought of two working class men strolling around the house, and surrounding buildings, would just not have been considered. Such was the class system in those days, thankfully these barriers are being broken down.

During 1589 a marriage was arranged between King James of Scotland and Ann, the second daughter of Frederick II of Denmark. The marriage was transacted by Proxy on 20th August with the bride expected to arrive in September. (And you thought that it was permissible to keep the groom waiting for five or ten minutes!!!) Due to

adverse weather conditions she was unable to make the journey to Scotland. James, therefore, set sail for Norway to join his new wife. Cunninghame of Robertland had arrived in Norway prior to this and remained at Court till the King arrived. He had fled Scotland after the murder of Hugh, 4th Earl of Eglinton, which had taken place on the banks of the River Annick, near Bridgend, where the path leading to the river, was afterwards known locally as the "Mourning Path". When the King finally arrived in Denmark, Ann secured his pardon for Cunninghame of Robertland who then returned home to his native country.
/ Another stone set into the garden wall is marked "D.C." for Sir David Cunninghame of Robertland who was the owner in 1607. Sir David Cunninghame was succeeded in 1628 by his son David who in turn was succeeded by Sir Alex Cunninghame, the 2nd Baronet of Corsehill, in 1685. He married Dame Margaret Boyle, sister of the Earl of Glasgow. Next in line came Sir David Cunninghame of Corsehill, 3rd Baronet. The estate and castle were passed down through the years within the Cunninghame family until around 1800 when it was sold to Sir James Hunter Blair, Baronet, and afterwards to a Mr Alexander Kerr, a native of Stewarton. It was he who had the present house built in 1820.
 

Around 1800 the walled garden had been built using stone from the old castle which was situated on the other side of the Swinsey Burn. Some of the foundation stones of the old castle still exist but not enough to indicate shape or size of the building. Mr Kerr was succeeded by his son, Mr John James Kerr in 1847. Others to occupy the house after him were: Mr John Mcintyre, Iron Merchant of Glasgow; Mr Thomas Mcintyre MP of Sorn Castle; Mr Wallace Fairweather JP, DL of Mearns Castle and Mr Service of Glasgow. They were tenants of the house until Mr George Muir, JP of Howard Street, Kilmarnock purchased the estate from the Trustees of Mr J.J. Kerr after the mansion had been burned down in 1914.

This fire was no accident and indeed reached the national newspapers of the time. Some Suffragettes (those seeking Votes for Women), were passing Robertland estate on the way to Glasgow when they decided to damage the property to highlight their cause. They duly set it on fire on Friday 12th March 1914, causing extensive damage. It was totally renovated, and modernised, resulting in the house as it is today. One of the better known occupants of the house was Dr John Cunningham who enjoyed the annual visits of the townspeople to the estate. It was Dr Cunningham's descendants who gifted the Cunningham-Watt Park to Stewarton.

Hopefully the new owners of the house will allow the public to walk through the estate and enjoy the peace and quiet of a country stroll.

The wealth which saw the rise in the number of such estates and mansion houses is no longer in the hand of the few but the cost of maintaining such old properties is prohibitive causing many to be abandoned to become ruins.