Revenues Kilwinning Abbey

the court hill of abbots of kilwinning near beith

in addition churches within kilwinning, abbey had revenues thirteen other parish churches in cunninghame, giving sixteen in all. abbey held lands @ monkcastle , monkredding. monkcastle served country residence of abbots. in reign of robert iii, sir william cunninghame of kilmaurs gave lands of grange in kilmarnock monks. john de menteth, lord of annan , knapdale gave monks right of patronage churches of saint mary , saint bridget on arran in 1357.

the monks held granges, such 1 @ beith, given abbey sir william de cunninghame , of craignaught. ownership involved monks in extensive agricultural activities. details of rents farms show considerable annual production of cheese in particular, 268 in 1 year alone. monks may have been involved in mining of coal, production of sea salt saltpans @ places such saltcoats.

kilwinning abbey ruins in 19th century

the barony of beith had been given kilwinning monks richard de morville s wife towards end of 12th century. monks court hill ecclesiastical barons, still in existence , abbey s farm or grange @ grangehill. local legend has kerelaw castle palace of abbots of kilwinning.

such wealthy establishment great attraction aristocracy , recorded earls of glencairn , angus joined forces 1512, entered abbey precincts, , tried physically force abbot william bunche (bunsh) resign in favour of preceptor of glasgow, john forman.

the revenues of abbey calculated in 1860s being equivalent £20,000, or on 2 million in modern terms (2008), being derived variety of sources, including parishes , churches of irvine, kilmarnock, loudoun kirk, dalry, ardrossan, kilbirnie, west kilbride, dunlop, stevenston, beith, dreghorn, dumbarton, south , north knapdale, kilmory , kilbride. in 1540s abbey had seventeen monks. in case of loudoun kirk, james, son of lambinus, established church before 1189. james, member of flemish family, @ or after foundation, gave revenues of loudoun kirk, support monks of newly founded kilwinning abbey, , in return priest (curate) provided attend spiritual needs of parishioners.

the practice @ 1 time of assigning revenues of parishes middlemen, paid fixed sum abbot, cause of disagreement , dissatisfaction. these middle or tacksmen free obtain monies own benefit.

the abbots held town house in irvine known lople on high street , adjacent property.

in 1566 last roman catholic vicar of dunlop, john houston, permission of gavin hamilton, commendator of kilwinning abbey, granted church lands of dunlop william cunninghame of aiket. kept acre of land @ manse use , use of successors.