A photograph from within Rozelle House of a marble sculpture, by Giovanni Maria Benzoni (August 28, 1809 – April 28, 1873), titled Diana, the Huntress.

By the time you are reading this post, we’ll again be in another exotic destination where I’ll have no internet access (not even sure if I’ll have mobile phone access!). I’ll post again shortly after the beginning of October.

On Saturday 12th we were at the wedding, St. Columba’s Church, and reception, Brig O’ Doon House Hotel, of the daughter of long-standing friends.

The cake was something to behold.

However it was outshone by the bride.

At he North-East corner of Wellington Square we find the memorial to Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran {14 March 1832-14 January 1907}.

In January 1897 the Maybole West Parish Newsletter had this to say about him.

No memorials occupy the South or the South-East of the Square and so we move on to the East of the Square where we come to the memorial of James George Smith Neill {26 May 1810 – 25 September 1857}.

We move on to the South-West corner of Wellington Square where we find the memorial to John Loudon MacAdam {21st September 1756 -26th November 1836}, a.k.a ‘Tar’ MacAdam although he was not in fact responsible for the application of tar on roads. He it was who devised the basic structure of building roads from small pieces of stone, compacted and well drained and who financed all the experiments in proving the method out of his own pocket.

This memorial is to be found on the west side of Wellington Square and is to Archibald William Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton (Scottish Peerage) and 1st Earl of Wintoun (UK Peerage) {September 29, 1812 – October 4, 1861}. He was born at Palermo in Sicily, the son of Archibald Montgomerie, Lord Montgomerie {1773–1814}, the eldest son of the 12th Earl of Eglinton, and his mother was Mary {d. 1848}, a daughter of the 11th Earl of Eglinton.

Educated at Eton College, Eglinton lived at Eglinton Castle in Ayrshire [see my previous postings of a day or so ago] and was a leading patron of horse racing. He became famous as the organiser of the 1839 Eglinton Tournament, a medieval tournament and banquet which attracted 100,000 spectators, but was ruined by torrential rain.

Despite his reputation for high living, Eglinton played an active role in public life. He campaigned on a variety of issues in the House of Lords, served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1852 and 1858-1859, and served as Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire in 1853-1858.

After being defeated in the Glasgow University rectorial elections of 1843 and 1844, Eglinton served as Dean of Faculties from 1847 to 1849 before defeating the Duke of Argyll in the rectorial election of 1852. He was opposed in an election in 1853, when he tied with Alfred, Lord Tennyson and refused to give himself the casting vote. The Vice-Rector, Professor Harry Rainy, voted for him to serve for a second year. The Glasgow University Eglinton Fellowship is named after him.

Back in Ayr itself for a few photographs. I was killing some time and wandered round Wellington Square photographing the memorials erected therein. This one in the North-West corner caught my eye since it seemed that a man had a female first name – Primrose. The first mention of the name Primrose in the Kennedy’s of Drummellan(e) is the marriage between Captain David Kennedy and Primrose, daughter of Hew Kennedy of Bennane in 173?. They had a son who was baptised Primrose William Kennedy, the first male of that line to bear the name Primrose. Primrose was succeded by Quintin who married his first cousin Primrose Hamilton and they had a son baptised Primrose William Kennedy who, despite what it says on the memorial, is stated to have died on 20th November 1864 – without issue. No more male Primroses!, well not from that line anyway (unless someone knows better!)

I kept these three separate since I thought they fitted the animal category quite well!

I know this is plastic, but it does encourage the children (and adults) to dispose of their litter properly.

Part of the reason for being at Eglinton Country Park was to test out my repaired Panasonic Camera.

Watch the birdie!

I included this one although it is out of focus. We had a family of Buzzards circling overhead and I’m sure the youngster was still refining flying skills.

Still in Stirling and very close to the Castle is Argyll’s Lodging, based on a 16th Century Tower house but significantly extended in the 17th Century. This was the house occupied by the Earl of Argyll when in attendance on the King at the Palace in the Castle.

This is the crest of the Earl carved above the main entrance from the courtyard.

This is a picture of the High Dining room. It has recently been redecorated in the 17th Century decor ………

……. with the exception of the end wall and cupboards which are original and gave the design/colours for the rest of the room….

… and the fireplace at the opposite end.

I’ll also include a last, separate photograph of almost opposite the Lodging, but I have to confess I haven’t identified it.