The Barony of Kersland

Kersland Manor House
Dalry, North Ayrshire, Scotland UK grid reference NS30655083
Kersland Castle and barmkin.
Kersland Manor House
Coordinates	55°43′16″N 4°41′49″W / 55.720987°N 4.696817°W / 55.720987; -4.696817
Type	Tower
Site information
Owner	Private
Controlled by	Clan Kerr
Open to the public	No
Condition	Ruined
Site history
Built	15th century
In use	Until 18th century
Materials	Stone

The remains of the old manor house or castle of Kersland lie about 1.5 miles to the north-east of the town of Dalry in North Ayrshire, Scotland, in the old Barony of Kersland. The River Garnock lies nearby.

The Barony of Kersland was once extensive, however after the days of the Kerrs the land was parcelled out and the mid-superiority purchased by John Smith of Swineridgemuir (sic) after having been held by the Kerr family for upwards of 500 years. In the 15th century the parish had four other baronies: Kelburne, Blair, Lynn and Pitcon. The Kerslands proper sat on a bank shelving towards the River Garnock, comprising the properties of Kersehead, the Coalheugh-glen, the Tod-hills, the Brown-hills, the Davids-hills, and Auchengree, amounting to about 700 acres of arable land.

The ancient mansion or castle of Kersland stood on Easter (now 'East') Kersland Farm. The remains of the 'L-Plan' tower has been built into the farmhouse. The barmkin wall survives and has a surviving strong defensive corner tower. Paterson records that the house was almost entirely pulled down by the feuar, Robert Ker. The remaining two barrel vaulted chambers, later used as a dairy and stable, with walls 8 ft thick, until recently formed part of the offices attached to East Kersland.

Over the main entrance door of the dwelling house is a carved stone removed from the old manor house bearing the arms of the Ker family, with an inscription "Daniel Ker Kersland - 1604". This date stone has been touched-up with paint. Karrisland (sic) is recorded on Timothy Pont's map c. 1604, as are the placenames Karshead, Todsle, Dysil, and Achingry. In 1685 'Carsland' is shown. The property had been surrounded by trees and had a orchard of considerable extent. Kersland Mains was on the entrance lane from Dalry and became Wester Kersland Farm when the manor house/castle was demolished.

Most baronies had a water mill which was under the control of the laird or lord and to which the tenants were thirled or obliged to go to have their grain ground into flour. A proportion of the grain was taken as payment. Thirlage ended in the late 18th century and resulted in a number of mills being abandoned once market forces took a hold. Kersland Mill on the Powgree Burn lies just downstream of the Tianna Falls in the Kersland Glen and is recorded on Timothy Pont's map c. 1604.Robert Spier, writer and bank agent in Beith was descended from the Spier's of Kersland Mill which he purchased from his elder brother. In 1852 Captain John Russell of Maulside acquired Kersland Mill and the mill lands.