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Archiver > AYRSHIRE > 2000-06 > 0959915967


From: Dick Dreghorn <>
Subject: Re: AYRSHIRE-D Digest V00 #251
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2000 23:19:27 -0400


At 18:50 PM 5/31/00 - Jill McKenzie wrote:
>>Subject: Re: Ayrshire Castles
>
>In article <>, Lloyd
>Mitchell <> writes
>>Hi All,
>>
>>Speaking of Ayrshire castles, leads me to ask, does anyone know of a
>>Dreghorn Castle? There's a pub on my corner here in London by that
>>name. Or is there another Dreghorn to which it refers?
>>
>>My interest is that my MITCHELL ancestors were living in Dreghorn from
>>about 1830, until 1854 when they emigrated to Australia. There were quite
>>a few other branches of the family left behind, but they seem to have
>>vanished from the 1851 census, so who knows where. They all seem to have
>>come from Ireland originally.
>>
>>Anyone any help with any of this?
>>
>
>There is a Dreghorn in Edinburgh and my 1883 gazetteer does actually
>list a 'Dreghorn Castle'.
>
>" a 17th century mansion, twice enlarged within the last 80 years, in
>Colinton parish.. "
>
>I've got family from Dreghorn too but no Mitchells.
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>Jill McKenzie
>Glasgow, Scotland
>
I have a curious interest in Dreghorn Castle, as you can imagine. My
understanding is that Dreghorn Castle was built by the architect Alexander
Trotter in about 1800. It was located southwest of Edinburgh near the
village of Colinton. I visited the area 2 years ago and found a Dreghorn
Interchange on the circumferal highway (the A720 , I believe) that goes
around Edinburgh. There was no sign of a castle, however there is an
British Army installation called Dreghorn Barracks adjacent to the
interchange. Many of the local streets around Dreghorn Barracks go by such
names as: Dreghorn Avenue, Drive, Gardens, Mains Road, and Grove. It would
appear that all of this land was once part of the original Dreghorn Castle
estate. I'm led to believe that there is still a Lord Dreghorn, who may
reside within the Barracks boundaries. I have no idea what the sir name of
the current Lord Dreghorn is, but I am almost certain it is not Dreghorn.
Back in 1781 there was a John MacLaren of Dreghorn, who held the title Lord
Dreghorn. I presume the "of Dreghorn" referred to here was the castle,
not the village. I've been unable to find any correlation between Dreghorn
Castle near Edinburgh and the town of Dreghorn in Ayrshire. I have also
been unable to establish any historical basis for naming the village in
Ayrshire. I have been able to trace my own ancestors back to 1775 in
Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, where they were weavers, certainly not living in a
castle. I would obviously appreciate any additional information that
fellow listers might have on the origin of Dreghorn Castle or the family
name in general.

Richard T. Dreghorn
Connecticut, USA

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