Kyle, Ayrshire

Kyle (or Coila, poetically) is a former comital district of Scotland which stretched across parts of modern day East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire. It is said to be named after Coel Hen, a king of the Britons, who was reputedly killed in battle in this area and is said to be buried in a cairn near Mauchline. Kyle is also a popular name with its origins meaning straight or narrow.

Geographical Extent

The area was bordered by the historical districts of Cunninghame to the north, Clydesdale to the east and by Carrick to the south. The Firth of Clyde lies to the west.

Kyle was the central of the three districts in the sheriffdom of Ayr, which was divided naturally by its three primary rivers all running in a generally westward direction to flow into the firth of Clyde. The River Irvine formed the northern boundary of Kyle with Cunninghame; the River Doon established its southern boundary with Carrick. Additionally, Kyle itself was sub-divided into two parts. To the north of the River Ayr was "Kyle Stewart"(sometimes called "Stewart Kyle" or "Walter's Kyle" ), lands held by the Fitzalan's since the 11th century (the future Stewart Kings of Scotland). To the south was "Kyle Regis" or "King's Kyle", lands historically retained by the monarch under royal authority from the royal castle at Ayr (On May 16, 1975 Ayr County Council officially disbanded these old districts and burghs).

Ayrshire

Ayrshire (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [ʃirˠəxk iɲiˈɾʲaːɾʲ]) is a historic county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. It is also, under the name the County of Ayr, a registration county. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. Like the other counties of Scotland, it currently has no administrative function, instead being sub-divided into the council areas of North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and East Ayrshire. It has a population of approximately 366,800.

The electoral and valuation area named Ayrshire covers the three council areas of South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire, therefore including the Isle of Arran, Great Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae. The three islands were part of the County of Bute until 1975 and are not always included when the term Ayrshire is applied to the region. The same area is known as Ayrshire and Arran in other contexts.

Geography

Ayrshire is one of the most agriculturally fertile regions of Scotland. Potatoes are grown in fields near the coast, using seaweed-based fertiliser, and in addition the region produces pork products, other root vegetables, and cattle (see below); and summer berries such as strawberries are grown abundantly.

Ayrshire (Parliament of Scotland constituency)

Before the Acts of Union 1707, the barons of the sheriffdom or shire of Ayr elected commissioners to represent them in the Parliament of Scotland and in the Convention of the Estates. After the Union, Ayrshire returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of Great Britain and later to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

List of shire commissioners

Sources

References

See also

Ayrshire (disambiguation)

Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom.

Ayrshire may also refer to:

Places