32 Transactions. 



auld kirkyard of Redgauntlet," where Steenie founrl himself 

 after his strange adventures, " lying just at the door of the 

 family aisle, and the scutcheon of the auld knight, Sir Robert, 

 hanging over his head," is the old churchyard of Dunscore, which 

 holds Lag's unlionoured grave. 



The tower of Sundaywell, now part of a modern farm house, 

 is the only one remaining of several conspicuous strongholds in 

 Glenesslin. It is a survival of the days when every landowner 

 dwelt in his own fortress. Then the great forest which gave its 

 name to the parish of Holy wood extended up the valley of the 

 Cairn and into Glenesslin. Like the Forest of Sherwood, it gave 

 shelter to many an outlaw. In the days of some early Stewart 

 king, a notorious robber named Culton infested the neighbour- 

 hood. A reward was offered for his head, and three brothers 

 named Kirkhoe or Kirk, on their way to the haymaking early one 

 summer morning, surprised him asleep under a tree and des- 

 patclied him with their pitchforks. The spot where Culton was 

 slain is still called Culton's Neuk. It is near Garrieston, in the 

 pai'ish of Glencairn, and close to the road leading from Glenesslin 

 along the western bank of the Cairn to Moniaive. As a reward, 

 the reigning monarch granted to the three brothers the lands of 

 Chapel, Bogrie, and Sundaywell. If the brother who received 

 the estate of Chapel ever built a residence, it may be that it is 

 marked by the heap of ruins on the farm of Kenmorehead, 

 evidently at one time a place of importance ; but its history and 

 even its name are forgotten. A discovery of lead piping, made 

 in 1860 wlien the adjoining field was being drained, shows that 

 pains were taken to supply it with water, and confirms the 

 traditional belief that some place of strength once existed there. 



For centuries the Kirkhoes or Kirks of Bogrie and Sunday- 

 well bore an honourable name in the district. They were 

 connected by marriage with the Griers or Griersons of Dalgoner 

 — a younger branch of the Griersons of Lag — with the Gordons 

 of Glaisters, the Welshes of Colliston, of Scarre, and of Cornilie^ 

 the Fergussons of Isle, and the Riddles of Glenriddel. In the 

 times of persecution they were favourable to the side of the 

 Covenant, and the fugitives from the dragoons of Claverhouse 

 and Lag often found shelter in their strongholds. 



The existing tower of Sundaywell was built by James Kirko, 

 who in 1647 succeeded his father, John Kirko, "in the seven 

 merk land of Sundaywall," as the old retour has it. He is the 



