Newark Castle. 257 



the sculptor, and Stephens the Ayr landscape-painter, into 

 notice. He gave us a very interesting account of the progress 

 of what the French would call bienseance among the people 

 within the last forty years. Formerly the Ayr boys, on Sundays, 

 used to conceal themselves near a church road by the sea-shore, 

 and amuse themselves by throwing stones at persons returning 

 from church. To such an extent was this carried, that many 

 persons received severe injuries, and others were obliged to take 

 a more circuitous route to church in order to go along a more 

 public road. No such thing has occurred for a number of years 

 past. Mr. Auld's grounds are open to the public the greater 

 part of every day, and though some injury was done at first, yet 

 scarcely any thing of that sort now takes place. When it does, 

 it is chiefly by the higher classes, some of whom have been de- 

 tected gathering flowers and taking cuttings of fuchsias and 

 such like plants. Mr. Auld seems to be of the same opinion as 

 Lord Francis Egerton, viz. that there is- now much less danger 

 from the lowest class than from those who are a step or two 

 above them. (See Times, April 8. 1843.) 



In Mr. Auld's grounds are many wild plants, particularly 

 ferns, a dozen kinds having been found within as many square 

 yards by the venerable Mr. Smith of Monkwood. The river 

 abounds with salmon, and the woods with singing birds, more 

 especially the thrush and the blackbird. The day being fine as 

 well as the scenery, and other circumstances being favourable 

 for enjoyment, we left the wooded walks, the roar of the waters, 

 and the benevolent and liberal Mr. Auld with regret. 



Newark Castle is the property of the Marquess of Ailsa, but 

 is now occupied by Thomas M. Gemmel, Esq., the editor of 

 one of the Ayr newspapers. We had heard much of this castle, 

 as being of great antiquity, in good preservation, and as having 

 had Queen Mary for a guest. It appears to have been built, 

 or perhaps only repaired, in the early part of the seventeenth 

 century. The entrance is at the bottom of an outside circular 

 stair ; the rooms are low, the Avails thick, and the windows 

 small, but there is no jDretension to architectural finish or de- 

 coration. The roof is partially concealed by a parapet, and at 

 one angle there is a projecting turret, with openings between 

 the corbel stones, the arrangement serving in these days 

 as the family water-closet, the family dunghill or refuse heap 

 being probably directly below. The castle is high in proportion 

 to its length and breadth, and is placed on a rock, in a com- 

 manding position, with a view of a considerable portion of 

 country inwards, and of the sea coast, which is at a short dis- 

 tance. As a proof that it was a place of some consideration 

 about the latter end of the seventeenth century, it is approached 

 through an avenue of silver firs, a tree that was only introduced 



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