214 Largs and its Surroundings. [Sess. 



descends at Flatt farm-steading, on the north side of the 

 Halkshill policies. Still nearer Largs, and situated between 

 the Halkshill and Flatt roads, is a little hill or mound 

 supposed to have been artificially constructed. It is sur- 

 mounted by three stone pillars, which were erected by the 

 late Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, F.E.S., for purposes 

 of astronomical observation. This mound, locally known as 

 " the Green Hill," is conjectured to have been a " moot-hill," 

 or place where justice was administered prior to the period 

 when the feudal system of government was introduced. 



At various places along the course of the Gogo, a con- 

 siderable amount of concrete work has from time to time 

 been required to repair the ravages wrought by the stream 

 when in high flood. In this respect the Gogo may be 

 described as an old and incorrigible offender. More than 

 250 years ago the turbulent rush of its waters, when in 

 full spate, occasioned serious inconvenience to the kirk- 

 session and parishioners of Largs, as well as some trouble 

 to the Presbytery of Irvine. During the brief ministry 

 of Mr William Smith (1644-1647), the ecclesiastical affairs 

 of the parish had attained a position of remarkable pros- 

 perity. The communicants exceeded 2000 in number, and 

 the old church was insufficient to accommodate half the people 

 who flocked thither. Accordingly, in the summer of 1647, 

 steps were instituted to have the parish divided. In an 

 application by the Presbytery to the Lords Commissioners 

 for the Plantation of Kirks, the reverend court set forth, 

 among other reasons, " the great hazard and danger that 

 many people are now in by coming to the present place 

 of meiting throw reason of a water callet Gogo, running 

 throw the midst of the paroch, whilk after raining any space 

 becometh impassable even to horses, and it runneth with 

 sick violence that ther is no possibilitie to get a bridge 

 upon it." As the outcome of the movement, about the 

 year 1650 the lands of Southannan, belonging to Lord 

 Sempill, and Corsbie, belonging to the Laird of Auchinames, 

 were detached from the parish of Largs and annexed to 

 that of Kilbride, because (among other reasons) " of their 

 neirness to that kirk and farrness from ther owne," and also 

 " because of ane impassable water betwene them and the 



