Ducathall

[Eve R]

I am trying to find out where Ducathall was in Newlands Parish.  It is mentioned a number of times on birth certificates in the 1770s but I have no idea where it is. Thanks

[KGarrad]

This is from a website called Canmore:

http://canmore.org.uk/site/41060/ardeer-ducat-hall

Where it says:
The site of the old house of Ducat Hall is near the present Ardeer House (NS 270 419).

Millar 1885

Dowe-Catt-Hall, the residence of George Campbell, is called "a pretty dwelling" by Pont. Dobie adds that the Campbells residence was at Dowcathall, which stood on the rising ground or bank, near the present Ardeer House. No trace of it remains.

J Dobie 1876

No trace was seen of Dowcathall during field investigation. The present Ardeer House now serves as a Recreation Centre.

Visited by OS (JLD) 11 September 1956

No further siting information was obtained. Armstrong's map (1775) does not show this name, or similar. (The later Ardeer House was entirely demolished about 1967

[Eve R]

Thanks - I had a look at that but the one I am looking for is definitely in the Parish of Newlands.

[KGarrad]

Another reference?

From the "History of the counties of Ayr & Wigton".

Sir George Campbell of Loudoun. He had a charter of the
Sheriffship of Ayr from James II., dated 16th May, 1450.
It is supposed the Campbells of Stevenston-Campbell, or
Ducathall, were derived from Hew, a younger son of this Sir

* Robertson. The Campbells of Loudoun Hill were probably an
older branch.

Means nothing to me, but does it mean anything to you?

[Eve R]

Thanks again but, unfortunately, it doesn't make sense    I have lived in the Newlands area most of my life but have never heard of Ducathall but it is very clear on birth certificates for the Bruce family that they were born there.  There is a farm in the area called Dovecot Farm, known "The Docot", and I wondered if there was a link there.  Puzzled.

[mrs a]

there is a farm called Dovecot Farm at Romanno Bridge

[Eve R]

It may be Dovecot Avril but I just wondered if there was any evidence that it was once called Ducathall.  Evelyn

[IMBER]

This all reminds me of the Oliver Duckett folly at Richmond, Yorkshire, thought to have possible origins as a Doocot. In one of my previous places of employment the caretakers referred to their rest room as their Dookit which, in my experience, tends to be a common way of pronouncing Doocot.

Imber

[Skoosh]

Pigeonholes in a desk are also called doocots in Scotland. No connection with ducats (coins).

Skoosh.