Lochend Loch in the lands of Sundrum
28 July
Lochend Loch, once nearly 3 acres in surface area, is now only a small freshwater loch, lying on the hill above Joppa, between Gallowhill and Lochend Farm.
Lochend Loch was a post-glacial 'Kettle Hole' fed by the Joppa Burn spring and rainfall, it's outflow running into the Water of Coyle as the Barwhey or Barquey Burn. A small islet is indicated on the early OS maps, no longer shown when the loch level was lowered in the late 1890s or early 1900s. Roy's map of 1747 shows the then sizeable loch with a roughly circular island near the centre of the loch; the outflow joined the Water of Coyle near Coyle bridge. Armstrong's map of 1775 shows the loch without an island. The OS maps suggest that the water flow could be controlled so as to set the level of the loch. OS maps also show that the size has been greatly reduced and in 2011 only a small area of open water survives, surrounded by wetland with no significant outflow remaining.
The loch was not an ornamental feature of the grounds in the immediate vicinity of Sundrum Castle, however it lies quite close by. Duncan Wallace, son of Sir Robert Wallace and related to Sir William Wallace, commissioned the building of the present castle in the 1360's. The castle passed to Sir Alan de Cathcart before 1384 as Sir Duncan died without an heir. The estate remained in the hands of the Cathcart family seat until 1753, when it was sold by the 9th Lord Cathcart to John Murray of Broughton. The Hamilton family purchased it within a year, and it remained with them until 1917, when it was sold to Mr. Earnest Coats, a director of the Paisley firm of thread manufacturers. In 1936, Sundrum was sold to a hotel syndicate and later the castle fell into disrepair before being restored again in recent times.
In the 19th century Lochend Loch was used for curling and probably ice skating. St. Quivox v Coylton is recorded for 20 Jan. 1820 and gagain on 9th January 1862, both times playing for the Coylton medal. The presence of a small island is indicative of its use for breeding and hunting wildfowl and it is likely to have been used for fishing as fish were present.
The loch lay on the lands of Gallowhill Farm, part of the Sundrum Castle estate. The term Gallowhill may refer to the site of the feudal barony gallows. The death sentence involved hanging for men and women were drowned, probably in the loch.
Lochend Loch was a post-glacial 'Kettle Hole' fed by the Joppa Burn spring and rainfall, it's outflow running into the Water of Coyle as the Barwhey or Barquey Burn. A small islet is indicated on the early OS maps, no longer shown when the loch level was lowered in the late 1890s or early 1900s. Roy's map of 1747 shows the then sizeable loch with a roughly circular island near the centre of the loch; the outflow joined the Water of Coyle near Coyle bridge. Armstrong's map of 1775 shows the loch without an island. The OS maps suggest that the water flow could be controlled so as to set the level of the loch. OS maps also show that the size has been greatly reduced and in 2011 only a small area of open water survives, surrounded by wetland with no significant outflow remaining.
The loch was not an ornamental feature of the grounds in the immediate vicinity of Sundrum Castle, however it lies quite close by. Duncan Wallace, son of Sir Robert Wallace and related to Sir William Wallace, commissioned the building of the present castle in the 1360's. The castle passed to Sir Alan de Cathcart before 1384 as Sir Duncan died without an heir. The estate remained in the hands of the Cathcart family seat until 1753, when it was sold by the 9th Lord Cathcart to John Murray of Broughton. The Hamilton family purchased it within a year, and it remained with them until 1917, when it was sold to Mr. Earnest Coats, a director of the Paisley firm of thread manufacturers. In 1936, Sundrum was sold to a hotel syndicate and later the castle fell into disrepair before being restored again in recent times.
In the 19th century Lochend Loch was used for curling and probably ice skating. St. Quivox v Coylton is recorded for 20 Jan. 1820 and gagain on 9th January 1862, both times playing for the Coylton medal. The presence of a small island is indicative of its use for breeding and hunting wildfowl and it is likely to have been used for fishing as fish were present.
The loch lay on the lands of Gallowhill Farm, part of the Sundrum Castle estate. The term Gallowhill may refer to the site of the feudal barony gallows. The death sentence involved hanging for men and women were drowned, probably in the loch.
Follow us on: