Places:
Ayrshire, Scotland
Includes: Dreghorn, Maypole
Dreghorn is situated between Irvine and Kilmarnock.
Maybole is south of Ayr
Dreghorn is a small village near Irvine.
It is the birthplace of John Boyd Dunlop, inventor of the pneumatic tire.
Dreghorn is believed to be Britain's oldest continuously inhabited village after
the remains of an ancient settlement were uncovered by builders. Including
the reminents of a 5,500-year-old well (one of only five to be found in Scotland)
dating back to around 3500BC. Although other neolithic villages have been
abandoned in Scotland, Dreghorn is thought to be the only village in Britain
with a continual unbroken residence. The name Dreghorn may derive from hunting
terminology and speaks a little bit about the character of the typical Dreghorn
hunter. After a good long hunting session would follow a good long drinking
session, where they would fill their hunting horns with ale and drink even the
dregs! Another theory is that it's an old Scots name meaning 'farm at the bog'
or as 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. Springside is the next village along on the old
Kilmarnock toll Road. The village boasts a rather unusual parish church, now called Dreghorn and Springside Parish Church (Formerly Dreghorn and Perceton). It is built in the shape of an octagon. |
Gavin Ralston (03RAG0) of Auchengrammont lived at Dreghorn for a time and like many other Ralstons, Robert (04RAR0) was born there. (10 Jun 1756). Gavin Ralston (1764 - 1833) 04RAG0 was born and baptised in Dreghorn.