Barkip
Barkip
|
|
|---|---|
 A view of The Den |
|
 Barkip
|
|
| Barkip shown within North Ayrshire | |
| OS grid reference | NS 32640 51244 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Dialling code | 01505 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Barkip, also known as The Den, is a hamlet in North Ayrshire, Scotland about three miles south-west of Beith on the A737 road to Dalry. The earliest recorded name is 'Blairkip'. In the Gaelic language, the name Barkip comes from bar ("top"), and kip ("a rank of soldiers"). It is not clear when or why the name 'The Den' started to be used although it appears in the local press as both in 1898, however in Scots as in old English one meaning is 'A hollow between hills,' which is certainly an accurate description of the geography of the area that Barkip lies in.
Pont's survey of the early 1600s records a 'Bar-Kyipe' lying in the Barony of Kersland and Dobie records that Barkip formed part of the estate of Roughwood in 1874, belonging to William Ralston-Patrick. In the 19th century the population was 995.
Willem Blaeu's map of circa 1604 records a 'Barkirsh' settlement, probably today's nearby 'Barcosh'.William Roy's map of 1747 records the settlements of Mallside and a Blairkip. In the year 1726, William Park and John his son granted to John Hamilton an heritable bond, in common form, for 3000 merks, over the lands of Barkip. Barkip was part of the Blair Estate.
In March 1898, a local paper reported a complaint that a dance had taken place at the Kersland Barony school and Kirk that had lasted into the small hours. Members of the church congregation threatened to leave through their indignation at the building being used for such frivolous activities. That same month, students at the Kersland Barony evening continuation classes presented their teachers, Mr Deans and Miss Lorraine, with gifts of appreciation. The Rev A Leslie chaired the event and Miss Lorraine was presented with an inscribed umbrella, whilst Mr Deans had a silver walking stick as his recognition. Songs, recitations, flute, and violin entertainments were part of the night's proceedings.
An 1876 publication, Catalogue of the western Scottish fossils, documented finds in Barkip's coal and ironstone pits and sandstone quarries, including that of Rhizodus, Gyracanthus, and Cladodus. The village had a certain reputation for problems linked to illicit drinking. It was reported in 1898 that Sunday drinking resulted in men lying around drunk in the Maulside plantations and some were playing cards.
...
Wikipedia