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Auchinleck House, East Ayrshire One Place Study

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Location: East Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdommap
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Auchinleck House, East Ayrshire One Place Study

This profile is part of the Auchinleck House, East Ayrshire One Place Study.
{{One Place Study|place=Auchinleck House, East Ayrshire|category=Auchinleck House, East Ayrshire One Place Study}}

Name

Auchinleck House


Geography

Continent: Europe
Sovereign State: United Kingdom
Country: Scotland
County: Ayrshire
GPS Coordinates: 55.4781, -4.3634
Elevation: 135.0 m or 442.9 feet

Auchinleck House is situated West of Auchinleck, North of Cumnock, East of Stair, and South of Mauchline and surrounded by farm land.


Overview

[1][2][3][4][5][6]

The Auchinleck family were the first settlers to the area with Sir Alexander Auchinleck (c.1360-XXXX) as the head of the clan. He likely built the first castle as the family home which is near the present House.

In 1504, Thomas Boswell (1483-1513) applied for and was granted the former Auchinleck estate of 24,000 acres. Thomas thereafter assumed a new title of 1st Laird of Auchinleck.

In 1760, Alexander Boswell 8th Laird of Auchinleck (1707-1782) built the present Auchinleck House. His son James Boswell 9th Laird of Auchinleck (1740-1795) lived in Auchinleck House as well.

During World War II the house was used to lodge troops. After the war, the house presumably was occupied again by the Boswells of Garallan who abused the property and that began a long period of decline.

During the 1970s and 1980s the building deteriorated and in 1986, the house was acquired with 35 acres of land by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) from a distant relation named James Boswell (birth and death dates unknown). In 1999 the SHBT turned to the Landmark Trust as keepers of the estate who then appointed Simpson & Brown of Edinburgh as architects to restore the property.


Note: With the many Auchinleck and Boswell family members that came and went in history, most were never associated with the current Auchinleck House. The house is a true gem on the Scottish countryside that deserves to be seen, but the family's also need to be recognised in this profile to provide the overall experience of their role as well.


The Auchinleck and Boswell Families

With the exception of the Boswell 8th - 11th Lairds, most members of the Boswell family had no involvement in the present day Auchinleck House, but the main known members of these family's are included in this profile as a genealogical reference only, as well as the Auchinleck's.


The Auchinleck Family:

[7][8][9][10][11]


The name Auchinleck is also found as Affleck, Auchinlec, Haghenlek, Aghleke, Achenleck, and Aathelek and originates from the barony of Auchinleck in Ayrshire in the 1300's.

The following is a summary of known ancestral Auchinleck family members:

Sir Alexander Auchinleck (1360-XXXX)

Sir John Auchinleck (1385-XXXX)

Sir James Auchinleck (1410-1449)

John "of Glenbervie" Auchinleck (1420-1499)

Marion Auchinleck (1466-1502)


The Boswell Family:

[12][13][14][15]


The name Boswell derived in Scotland from a branch of the English Bosviles, who settled in North Britain in the reign of David I of Scotland (1084-1153).

The following is a summary of the original ancestral Boswell family:

Sieur Robert "Martin" Bosville aka de Bossville (1030-1092)

Sir William Bosville aka de Boseville (1070-1135), son of Sieur Robert "Martin" Bosville aka de Bossville (1030-1092)

Sir Elias "of Harthill" Bosville aka de Bosville (1120-XXXX), son of Sir William Bosville aka de Boseville (1070-1135)

Robert Bosville of Oxmuir aka de Bosvil (1165-1220), son of Sir Elias "of Harthill" Bosville aka de Bosville (1120-XXXX)

Adam Bosville of Oxmuir aka de Bosvil (1205-1249), son of Robert Bosville of Oxmuir aka de Bosvil (1165-1220)

William Bosville of Roxburg aka de Bosvil (1242-1292), son of Adam Bosville of Oxmuir aka de Bosvil (1205-1249)

William Bosville aka de Bosvil (abt.1275-aft. 1338), son of William Bosville of Roxburg aka de Bosvil (1242-1292)

Roger "1st of Balgregie" Bosville aka de Bosvil, Bosevil (abt. 1320-aft. 1369), son of William Bosville aka de Bosvil (abt.1275-aft. 1338)

Thomas Bosville aka de Bosvil, Boswell (abt. 1350-XXXX), son of Roger "1st of Balgregie" Bosville aka de Bosvil, Bosevil (abt. 1320-aft. 1369)

Sir John Boswell (1372-1429), son of Thomas Bosville aka de Bosvil, Boswell (abt. 1350-XXXX)

David Boswell Ist of Balmuto formerly Boswell (1411-1490), son of Sir John Boswell (1372-1429)

David Boswell 2nd of Balmuto (1431-1493), son of David Boswell Ist of Balmuto formerly Boswell (1411-1490)

Thomas Boswell 1st Laird of Auchinleck (aft. 1483-1513), son of David Boswell (1431-1493)

David Boswell 2nd Laird of Auchinleck (1512-1563), son of Thomas Boswell (aft. 1483-1513)

John Boswell 3rd Laird of Auchinleck (1532-1609), son of David Boswell (1512-1563)

James Boswell 4th Laird of Auchinleck (1560-1618), son of John Boswell (1532-1609)

David Boswell 5th Laird of Auchinleck (1591-1661), son of James Boswell 4th Laird of Auchinleck (1560-1618) Note: had no male issue.

David Boswell 6th Laird of Auchinleck (1640-1712), nephew of James Boswell (1593-1661), (the brother of David Boswell 5th Laird (1591-1661).

James Boswell 7th Laird of Auchinleck (1672-1749), son of David Boswell 6th Laird of Auchinleck (1640-1712)

Alexander Boswell 8th Laird of Auchinleck (1707-1782), son of James Boswell 7th Laird of Auchinleck (1672-1848)

James Boswell 9th Laird of Auchinleck (1740-1795), son of Alexander Boswell 8th Laird of Auchinleck (1707-1782)

Sir Alexander Boswell 1st Baronet, 10th Laird of Auchinleck (1775–1822), son of James Boswell 9th Laird of Auchinleck (1740-1795)

Sir James Boswell 2nd Baronet, 11th Laird of Auchinleck (1806-1857), son of Alexander Boswell 10th Laird of Auchinleck (1775-1822) Note: had no male issue.

Note: Upon the death of Sir James Boswell 2nd Baronet, 11th Laird of Auchinleck (1806-1857) and having no male issue, the title of 'Laird of Auchinleck' became extinct. The 11th Laird did have three daughters, one was Emily Boswell (1841-1898) who married Richard Wogan Talbot JP DL (1846-1921). See notable people heading below for Emily Harriet Boswell.


Historical Highlights

[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

Note: Some related events that occurred away from Auchinleck House are noted herein as reference only to the Boswell family.


13th Century

1241 - A castle was built near the current house site probably by one of the Auchinleck family.


16th Century

1504 - Thomas Boswell (aft. 1483-1513) was granted full possession and title of the former Auchinleck estate by King James IV. He then assumed the title of laird from that date and became the 1st Laird of Auchinleck.

1511 - Thomas Boswell married Annabella Campbell (1491-1575)

1512 - The son of Thomas Boswell, David Boswell (later) 2nd Laird of Auchinleck (1512-1563) is born.

1513 - Thomas Boswell (1483-1513) is killed at the Battle of Flodden Field.

1513 - David Boswell (1512-1563) becomes 2nd Laird of Auchinleck at age 1.

1591 - John Boswell (1532-1609) was in trouble for practicing witchcraft, sorcery and enchantments, and being noted as the 'Devil of Auchinleck he fled Scotland and went to England.


17th Century

1612 - A new castle is built by David Boswell 5th Laird of Auchinleck (1591-1661).


18th Century

1759 - James Boswell, the 9th Laird was initiated into Freemasonry in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning at age 19.

1760-1762 - Alexander Boswell 8th Laird of Auchinleck (1707-1782) built Auchinleck House.

1773 - Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) visits Auchinleck House.

1773-1774 - Four wings (Pavilions) that flank the house were added.

1791 - The 'Life of Samuel Johnson' was published by James Boswell 9th Laird of Auchinleck.


19th Century

1857 - Sir James Boswell 2nd Baronet, 11th Laird of Auchinleck (1806-1857) died in Auchinleck House.

1873 - Emily Harriet Boswell married Lord Richard Talbot (1846-1921).


20th Century

1920 - Lord Richard Talbot (1846-1921), husband of Emily Harriet Boswell (1841-1898) sold Auchinleck House to the Boswells of Garallan.

1942 - Some unknown desendant of the Boswell's gave permission for Officers from the armies of Poland, Canada and France to live in Auchinleck House during World War II.

1986 - The House was sold to the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) by James Boswell, a later descendant of the Boswell family.

1990 - The Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) did some minor fixes to the roof and exterior structure.

1999 - Auchinleck House was sold to the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) who had the Landmark Trust be the keepers, and they hired Simpson and Brown Architects of Edinburgh to do major renovations on the building interior for 1.7 million pounds of cost.


Architecture

[24][25][26][27][28][29]


Auchinleck House is a classic example of the Palladian style mansion which is perfectly symmetrical when viewed from the front and reflects typical architecture of the mid-18th century.

Built of ashlar (cut stone) to plans of the 8th Laird by master wright John Johnson of Edinburgh.

The house is two stories high.

In the pediment (extreme top of the house at the roof line as viewed at the front), there is a carved Latin epigram by Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65BC-8BC) which translate to "What you seek is here in this remote place if you can only keep a balanced disposition".

Between 1758 and 1760 a window tax was paid on the house for each of the thirty-one windows.


Interior Highlights

[30][31]


Inside, the floor plan remains essentially unchanged since the time the house was built in 1760. The first floor consists of bedrooms featuring period furniture, and a large library which contains bookshelves, a fireplace , and writing desk.

The dining room has a table which can seat up to 14, a unique rounded alcove built into the wall, and of course a fireplace as well.

Of course there are many pictures of the lairds throughout the house.

A 1999 restoration focused on reinstating interior finishes. Restoration included large areas of new lime plasterwork, cornicing and plaster enrichments, and the painstaking repair and refitting of existing joinery and fireplaces by Simpson and Brown Architects of Edinburgh.


Points of Interest - Estate

[32]


The single Gothic arch bridge across the Dippol Burn, on whose picturesque banks are the estate ice-house and grotto.

On the banks of the Lugar Water, West of the house, lie the ruins of the former family seat, (the second) Auchinleck Castle or the Old Place, built in 1612 by the 5th Laird to replace the original Old Castle of the 13th century, which has almost disappeared.

The coach house and two story dovecoat (doocut) are nearby the main house.


Notable People

[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]


Thomas Boswell, 1st Laird of Auchinleck (aft. 1483-1513)

Born: Unknown

Died: Flodden Field, Northumberland, England

Resting Place: Unknown

Bio Summary: The first to assume the title of Laird of Auchinleck.

As a military man he died at the battle of Flodden Field in England along side his half brother Alexander Boswell 3rd of Balmuto (1467-1513), as well as King James IV of Scotland (1488-1513).

Parents: David Boswell 2nd of Balmuto (1431-1493) and Margaret Sinclair (1455-XXXX)

Siblings: David Boswell [half] (1465-1493), Alexander Boswell 3rd of Balmuto [half] (1467-1513), Euphemia Bosewell [half] (1469-XXXX), Geylys Bosewell [half] (1470-XXXX), Alison Bosewell [half] (1472-XXXX), William Boswell (1481-1500), George Boswell (1485-XXXX), James Boswell (1487-XXXX), Patrick Boswell (1489-XXXX), Robert Boswell (1491-XXXX), John Boswell (1493-XXXX)

Spouse: Annabella Campbell (1491-1575) Married 1511; (she was the granddaughter of the last known male of the Auchinleck family, that being John Auchinleck (1411-1490).

Issue: David Boswell, 2nd Laird of Auchinleck (1512-1563, Alexander Boswell (1513-1586)

For additional information see WikiTree profile Boswell-379


Alexander Boswell, 8th Laird of Auchinleck (1707-1782) Lawyer, Judge

Born: Auchinleck, East Ayrshire, Scotland

Died: Edinburgh, Scotland

Resting Place: Auchinleck Old Churchyard, Boswell Mausoleum, Auchinleck, East Ayrshire, Scotland

Bio Summary: His accomplishments included being the Sheriff of Wigtown (Galloway) 1748-1750, member of the Court of Sessions 1754, and also a member of the High Court of Justiciary 1755.

He had built the present Auchinleck House which he designed and completed it in 1760 as well as the green space and gardens around it where he planted many varieties of trees.

As an entrepreneur he established the first coalworks on barony land at Birkieknaw. As a collector, the Laird Auchinleck also amassed the most distinguished book collection in Scotland, particularly of Greek and Latin texts in early editions.

His son James the 9th Laird went on to be a great writer and diarist.- (see next notable people entry for James Boswell the 9th Laird).

Parents: James Boswell, 7th Laird of Auchinleck (1672-1749) and Elizabeth Bruce (1673-1734)

Siblings: Veronica Boswell (1704-1742), David Boswell (1706-1709), James Boswell (1710-1757), John Boswell (1710-1780)

Spouse Number 1: Euphemia Erskine (1718-1766) Married 1738-1766

Issue: James Boswell, (Later) 9th Laird of Auchinleck (1740-1795), Thomas Boswell (c.1750-1854), John Boswell (XXXX-XXXX), David Boswell (XXXX-XXXX)

Spouse Number 2: Elizabeth Boswell (1740-1799) Married 1769 (First Cousin)

Issue: None

For additional information see WikiTree profile Boswell-585


James Boswell 9th Laird of Auchinleck (1740-1795), Scottish biographer, diarist, lawyer, judge (Nicknamed 'Bozzy').

Born: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Died: London, England

Resting Place: Auchinleck Old Churchyard, Boswell Mausoleum, Auchinleck, East Ayrshire, Scotland

Bio Summary: Educated at University of Edinburgh (age 13), University of Glasgow (age 19), Utrecht University.

From 1764-1766 he traveled extensively through Europe for educational purposes and wrote two books thereafter: 'Boswell in Holland' and 'Boswell on the Grand Tour'.

He wrote and published the biography (1791) of his English friend and older contemporary Samuel Johnson in 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' whom he met in 1763 in a London bookshop.

He was author of nine major literary works and twelve published journals.

Parents: Alexander Boswell, 8th Laird of Auchinleck (1707-1782) and Euphemia Erskine (1718-1766)

Siblings: Thomas Boswell (c.1750-1854), John Boswell (XXXX-XXXX), David Boswell (XXXX-XXXX)

Spouse: Margaret "Peggy" Montgomerie (1738-1789) (Cousin) Married 1769

Issue: Veronica Boswell (1773–1795), Euphemia Boswell (1774–c.1834), Alexander Boswell MP (1775–1822), David Boswell (1776-XXXX), James Boswell MA BA (1778–1822), Elizabeth Boswell (1780–1814), Two other son's died in infancy. And Boswell also had at least two extramarital children, Charles (1762–1764) and Sally (1767–c.1768).

For additional information see WikiTree profile Boswell-586


Emily Harriet Boswell (1841-1898)

Born: Auchinleck, East Ayrshire, Scotland

Died: Malahide, County Dublin, Ireland

Resting Place: Saint Andrew Cemetery, Malahide, County Dublin, Ireland

Bio Summary: The last known original member of the Boswell family and daughter of the 11th Laird.

"When she married, she and her husband sold off all the contents of Auchinleck House and moved to Malahide, Ireland. They took all of the family records and documents associated with the Boswell family which documented the lives, activities, and interests of more than ten generations of Boswell family members. These papers where later discovered in Malahide, Ireland and were bought by a private party, and now reside in the Boswell Collection at Yale University."

Parents: James Boswell (1806-1857), 11th Laird of Auchinleck and Jessie Jane Montgomery-Cunninghame (1810-1884)

Siblings: Julia Grace Jessie Jane Boswell (1836-1905), Louisa Boswell (1837-XXXX)

Spouse: Richard Wogan Talbot JP DL (1846-1921) Lord Malahide of Malahide Castle, Co. Dublin, Ireland . Married 1873.

Issue: James Boswell Talbot JP (1874-1948)

For additional information see WikiTree profile Boswell-1019


Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1984) Author, Poet, Playwright, Essayist, Moralist, Critic, Biographer, Editor and Lexicographer.

Born: Lichfield, Staffordshire, England

Died: London, England

Resting Place: Westminster Abbey, England

Bio Summary: He published A Dictionary of the English Language in 1755 which was considered the pre-eminent English dictionary for more than a century.

Friend and travel companion of James Boswell, 9th Laird.

Parents: Michael Johnson (1656-1731) and Sarah Ford (1669-1759)

Siblings: Nathaniel Johnson (1712-1737)

Partner: Hill Boothby (1708-1756)

Issue (Step children): Joseph Porter (XXXX-1783), Jervis Henry Porter (1718-XXXX), Lucy Porter (1715-XXXX)

Spouse: Elizabeth Jervis (1689-1752) Married 1735–1752

Issue: None

For additional information see WikiTree profile Johnson-16962


Visitation

[42]


Auchinleck House is open to the public Spring to Fall with the entire ground floor (including the bedrooms and kitchen), on Wednesday afternoons by appointment only.

Boswell's coach house is available for weddings. This venue is run by a distant decendant of the Boswell family, Rory James Douglas Boswell. It sits just Southeast of the main house.

Being a Landmark Trust property, the public can walk the grounds of Auchinleck House at any time during the day.


Sources

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  2. Wikipedia; https://www.wikipedia.org/
  3. Goggle; https://www.google.com
  4. WikiTree; https://www.wikitree.com
  5. James Boswell; https://jamesboswell.scot
  6. Scotclans; https://www.scotclans.com
  7. Wikipedia; https://www.wikipedia.org/
  8. Goggle; https://www.google.com
  9. WikiTree; https://www.wikitree.com
  10. Scot Clans;https://www.scotclans.com
  11. Clan Central; https://clancentral.co.uk
  12. Electric Scotland; https://electricscotland.com
  13. Wikipedia; https://www.wikipedia.org/
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  15. WikiTree; https://www.wikitree.com
  16. Tartan Shop; https://tartanshop.com
  17. WikiTree; https://www.wikitree.com
  18. Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org
  19. Love, Dane, Ayrshire - Discovering A County, Fort Publishing, 2003
  20. Goggle; https://www.google.com
  21. James Boswell; https://jamesboswell.scot
  22. Flickr; https://www.flickr.com
  23. Dicamillo; https://www.thedicamillo.com
  24. Love, Dane, Ayrshire - Discovering A County, Fort Publishing, 2003
  25. Scottish Historic Building Trust; https://www.shbt.org.uk
  26. James Boswell; https://www.jamesboswell.info
  27. Canmore; https://canmore.org.uk
  28. Auchinleck House; http://rs41.org
  29. Simpson and Brown; https://www.simpsonandbrown.co.uk
  30. Scottish Historic Building Trust; https://www.shbt.org.uk
  31. Simpson and Brown; https://www.simpsonandbrown.co.uk
  32. Auchinleck House; http://rs41.org
  33. Wikitree; https://www.wikitree.com
  34. Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org
  35. Love, Dane, Ayrshire - Discovering A County, Fort Publishing, 2003
  36. Goggle; https://www.google.com
  37. James Boswell; https://jamesboswell.scot
  38. WikiTree; https://www.wikitree.com
  39. Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org
  40. Britannica; https://www.britannica.com
  41. Yale University; https://archives.yale.edu
  42. Auchinleck House; http://rs41.org




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