1903-1904-] West Kilbride and North Ayrshire Coast. 113 



palustris), whorled carraway {Carmn verticillatuvi), corn 

 marigold {Clirysanthcnutm segetwm), cowberry { Vaccinium 

 Vitis-Idcea), cranberry ( V. Oxycoccos), pale butterwort {Pinguic- 

 ula lusitanica), smooth - stalked sedge {Gar ex, laevigata), and 

 filmy-fern {Hymenopliyllum unilate7'ale). The moss-flora is 

 very rich, and includes Tetradontiicvi Broivniatmim, Oligotrichum 

 incurvum, Dicranella rufescens, Fissidens incurvus, Grimmia 

 Doniana, Weissia verticillata (c. fr.), Splachnuvi ampullaceum, 

 Orthodoniium gracile, Mnitmi suhglobosum, Climacncm dendroides 

 (c. fr.), Hyocomium fiagcllare (c. fr.), Eui-hynchium pumilum 

 (c. fr.), U. Teesdalii (c. fr.), Hypnum stramineum (c. fr.), H. 

 cordifolium (c. fr.), &c. 



On the east side of the town of West Kilbride, and a few 

 hundred yards beyond the railway station, the square roofless 

 tower known as Law Castle stands on a prominent knoll at 

 the foot of the Law Hill. By a charter granted by King 

 Eobert I. early in the fourteenth century, the Barony of Kil- 

 bride became the property of Sir Eobert Boyd, ancestor of the 

 Lords Boyd and Earls of Kilmarnock, and also of the Boyds 

 of Portincross. In 1468, Thomas, Master of Boyd, was 

 married to the Princess Mary, daughter of King James II. 

 He was created Earl of Arran, and received charters bestow- 

 ing many lands upon him and his royal bride. It is supposed 

 that the Law Castle was built in 1468 for the reception of 

 the princess, but very probably it was never honoured by her 

 presence, for the downfall and exile of the Boyds, father and 

 son, and temporary forfeiture of their possessions, took place 

 in the following year. The castle seems to have become 

 unroofed about the time of the Eestoration of Charles II., and 

 has never since been repaired. 



Near the centre of the town, an old-fashioned mansion may 

 be seen standing with its back to the street. One of the 

 stones built into the wall bears the date 1660, with the 

 initials RS. M.W., being those of Eobert Simson, notary in 

 Kilbride, and of his wife. It is believed that the oldest part 

 of the house was erected by Simson, but it has since been 

 several times added to by subsequent proprietors. The lands 

 of Kirktonhall, of which this house is the mansion, became 

 the property of the notary's second son, John Simson, mer- 

 chant in Glasgow, who married Agnes, daughter of Mr Patrick 



VOL. V. H 



