Kirkoswald, South Ayrshire

The Main Street

Kirkoswald (Scots: Kirkossald)^[1] is a village and parish in the Carrick district of Ayrshire, Scotland, 1¾ miles from the coast and four miles southwest of Maybole. It takes its name from its kirk (church), dedicated to Oswald of Northumbria, who is said to have won a battle here in the 7th century. The old church, which was built in 1244 and houses the baptismal font of Robert the Bruce, is now a ruin in the grounds of the modern church, which was built in 1777 to a design by Robert Adam. Kirkoswald is also noted for its connection with Robert Burns, whose maternal ancestors, the Brouns, were from the village. Burns also attended school here, and would later base the characters Tam o' Shanter, Kirkton Jean and Souter Johnnie on village locals Douglas Graham, John Davidson and Jean Aird.

Kirkoswald village had a population of 194 in 1991. Kirkoswald parish is 23.3 square miles, and also contains the coastal village of Maidens. Landmarks include Turnberry Castle, the ancient seat of the Earls of Carrick, Culzean Castle, Thomaston Castle and Crossraguel Abbey.

Coordinates: 55°19′48″N 4°46′00″W / 55.33000°N 4.76667°W / 55.33000; -4.76667

Gallery

• 
  View of the village from the neighbouring moorland
• 
  The old church
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  The War memorial
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  The grave of 'Kirkton Jean'
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  Souter Johnnie's cottage, now owned by the National Trust
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  The remains of Turnberry Castle
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  View of Maidens village
• 
  View towards Mochrum Hill

References

• The Gazetteer for Scotland - Kirkoswald
• Kirkoswald Parish Profile
• The geographic coordinates are from the Ordnance Survey.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kirkoswald, South Ayrshire.

Carrick
Settlements	Former burghs Ballantrae Girvan Maybole Others Auchencrosh Balkissock Bargany Barr Colmonell Crosshill Dailly Drumshang Dunure Greenan Kirkmichael Kirkoswald Maidens Minishant Old Dailly Patna Pinmore Pinwherry Smyrton Straiton
Administration	National subdivisions Ayrshire and Arran lieutenancy area Carrick earldom Kyle and Carrick local government district Sheriffdom and County of Ayr South Ayrshire Council area Parliamentary seats (Scotland) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Parliamentary seats (UK) Ayrshire (1708–1868) South Ayrshire (1868–1983) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (1983–2005) Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (2005–)
Culture	Gaelic in Carrick and Galloway Sawney Bean
Geography	Islands Ailsa Craig Lochs Craigdow Loch Loch Bradan Loch Doon Loch Dornal Loch Finloch Loch Goosey Loch Spaig Loch Spallander Loch Spouts Rivers River Doon River Stinchar Water of App Water of Girvan Water of Tig
History	Heritage sites Blairquhan Castle Crossraguel Abbey Culzean Castle Dinvin Motte Dunduff Castle Dunure Castle Glenapp Castle Greenan Castle Kirkoswald Parish Church Knockdolian Maybole Collegiate Church Penkill Castle Turnberry Castle People Abbots of Crossraguel Clan Kennedy Earls or mormaers of Carrick Marquesses of Ailsa and their predecessors
Sport	Girvan F.C. Maybole F.C. Turnberry golf course
Transport	Railway lines Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Maybole and Girvan Railway Railway stations Barrhill railway station Girvan railway station Maybole railway station Roads A77 A714

South Ayrshire
Towns	Ayr Girvan Maybole Prestwick Troon
Villages	Annbank Ballantrae Barr Barrhill Colmonell Coylton Dailly Dundonald Dunure Kirkmichael Kirkoswald Loans Maidens Monkton Mossblown Old Dailly Straiton Symington Tarbolton
Other settlements and suburbs	Ayr: Alloway Belmont Doonfoot Forehill Fort Heathfield Kincaidston Seafield Troon: Barassie Coylton: Joppa
Scottish Parliament	Ayr Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
UK Parliament	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Central Ayrshire
See Also	Carrick Kyle Kyle and Carrick Strathclyde South Ayrshire Council election (2012)
Neighbouring council areas: East Ayrshire North Ayrshire Dumfries and Galloway