Lands of Doura
| Lands of Doura | |
|---|---|
| Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland UK grid reference NS3578151453 |
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 Lands of Doura
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| Coordinates | 55°38′58″N 4°37′54″W / 55.6495°N 4.6317°WCoordinates: 55°38′58″N 4°37′54″W / 55.6495°N 4.6317°W |
| Grid reference | NS 34497 42702 |
| Type | Manor House |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private |
| Controlled by | Clan Cunninghame |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Demolished |
| Site history | |
| Built | 17th century |
| Built by | Cuninghame family |
| Materials | Stone |
The Lands of Doura,Dawra,Dawray,DowreyDowray,Dourey or Douray formed a small estate, at one time part of the Barony of Corsehill and Doura, situated near the Eglinton Estate in the Parish of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
Pont notes that 'Dowra' or variants on this spelling is a name found in several places in Ayrshire.
In 1361 the lands of Doura were held by Sir Hugh de Eglinton of Eglinton. Upon Sir Hugh's death they passed to Montgomerie of Eagleshame following his marriage to the only heir of Sir Hugh.
In 1482 Doura was linked with Armsheugh and Patterton as a possession of Lord Boyd, being part of the lands once held by his mother, Princess Mary, sister of King James III.
Doura Hall was a 17th-century building located on the road up to Doura Mains farm. It had been the intention of the Lairds of Corsehill to build a new house at the 'Dowrie' in the Barony of Dowra, however nothing was done, but plans of the proposed buildings have survived. James Boswell described Doura as a poor building having visited the hall to see his niece Annie Cuningham. It was demolished in the 19th century and appeared on the 1910 25-inch (640 mm) to the mile OS map. A Dovecote hill and orchard brae are further reminders of this estate, owned by the Cuninghames of Corsehill. A smithy was located at the Doura hamlet in the late 18th century.
In 1691 the Hearth Tax records show that the hall had six hearths and was occupied by Lady Corsehill. The barony had sixteen other dwellings.
Roy's map of 1747-55 shows an orchard, two main buildings and enclosures within a rectangular site.
In 1775 Andrew Armstrong's, A new map of Ayrshire... shows the 'Dowrey' mansion house and wooded policies of Doura. John Ainslie's 1821 Map of the Southern Part of Scotland uses the name 'Dourey'.
In 1856 'The Hall' is shown as a ruin with several buildings associated with it. South Millburn Farm is shown as East Doura on Aitken's map of 1823.
The name 'Doura' its variants may be a contraction of 'Dollywraa', the 'enclosure of the Doleland'. This Dole land refers to land that is jointly owned where each owner or user has an assigned portion that is designated by the presence of distinct landmarks
In April 1669 Alexander Cuninghame of Corsehill held the Corsehill Baron-Court at the 'Place of Dawray' with David Dickie as his baillie. One of the cases tried was that of a coal miner, Thomas Miller, and a smith at Balgray Mill, Hew Dyat. Hew had thrown a stone into Thomas's face and the outcome was that Hew apologised to all concerned and not only paid a fine but also paid for the treatment of Hew's wounds. The tenants were also warned to pay their rents on time. The surnames of the jurymen were Adame, Ker, Miller, Frow, Broune, Hogstoun, Walker, Patoun and Garvane.
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