Torranyard is a small village or hamlet in North Ayrshire, Parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. It lies between the settlements of Auchentiber and Irvine on the A736 Lochlibo Road.
Torranyard is a hamlet at what is now a crossroads on the Irvine to Glasgow A736 'Lochlibo Road', previous to the main road's construction, circa 1820, it sat on the toll road that ran from Kilwinning and Irvine via Benslie to Glasgow, passing Loch Libo at Uplawmoor en route.
Roy's map of 1747 records the settlement of 'Turringyard' near Auchenharvie Castle .[1] The 1897 25 inch to the mile OS map records a 'Tour Inn' opposite the old Torranyard Toll, now the Torranyard Tabdoori. . It was recorded as 'Turnyard' in 1775, 'Tirranyard' on Thomson's 1820 map and in 1832. The Montgreenan estate is nearby and the site of the old Girgenti house and surviving tower are nearby on the Cunninghamhead road.
The meaning of 'Tour' in Scots[2] is 'Tower', as in the prominent Auchenharvie castle tower nearby. A Yard in Scots[2] is a garden. 'Torranyard' could therefore be a corruption of 'Tour Inn yard.' Local people still pronounce the name 'Torranyard' as 'TOURanyard'.
Jamieson records that the inn at Burnhouse was nicknamed the 'Trap 'Em Inn', the one at Lugton was called the 'Lug 'Em Inn', that at Auchentiber the 'Cleek 'Em Inn', and finally the one at Torranyard was called the 'Turn 'Em Out.'[3]
The Resurrectionists
Auchenharvie Castle in 1820
A local legend is that in the days of the 'body snatchers' or 'resurrectionists'; before the Anatomy Act of 1832, bodies obtained locally were hidden in the ruins of the nearby Auchenharvie Castle before being taken up to Glasgow at night to sell to the surgeons and medical students at the old university.[4] Another version of the story states that the bodies were collected together from neighbouring parishes at Darnshaw, a remote house near Bloak Moss on the old Auchenharvie to Megswell toll road route.[5][6] The old toll road did run past the site and a toll gate and house stood fairly close by which must cast some doubt on the castle being involved.[4] Jamieson records the story that tramps were lured to their deaths at the inns along this road by 'body snatchers' and as evidence it is recorded that when the Cleikum Inn at Auchentiber was demolished a large collection of walking sticks were found.[3]
Micro-history
A William Forgisal (Fergushill) of Torranyard was miner at the Doura Pit in the 18th-century. He lost his leg in a mining accident, as had his father. William's wife was a tough sort, her comment being on seeing him so encumbered, was that the Forgisal's would need a small plantation of their own to keep them in crutches.[7]
A Torranyard Farm is located to the north-west of the village.
Viewfield Manor Holiday Village is located behind the Torranyard Tandoori that faces the A736. the site was partly used as a refuse tip at one time as shown on OS maps.
Opencast workings and 'works' are shown on old OS maps nearby, close to the Greenacres Equestrian Centre (2012).
torranyard, small, village, hamlet, north, ayrshire, parish, kilwinning, scotland, lies, between, settlements, auchentiber, irvine, a736, lochlibo, road, innlocation, within, north, ayrshireos, grid, referencens, 35740, 44019council, areanorth, ayrshirelieuten. Torranyard is a small village or hamlet in North Ayrshire Parish of Kilwinning Scotland It lies between the settlements of Auchentiber and Irvine on the A736 Lochlibo Road TorranyardThe Torranyard InnTorranyardLocation within North AyrshireOS grid referenceNS 35740 44019Council areaNorth AyrshireLieutenancy areaAyrshire and ArranCountryScotlandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPoliceScotlandFireScottishAmbulanceScottishUK ParliamentCentral AyrshireScottish ParliamentCunninghame SouthList of places UK Scotland 55 39 43 N 4 36 47 W 55 662 N 4 613 W 55 662 4 613 Coordinates 55 39 43 N 4 36 47 W 55 662 N 4 613 W 55 662 4 613 Contents 1 History 1 1 The Resurrectionists 2 Micro history 3 External links 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Sources and bibliographyHistory EditTorranyard is a hamlet at what is now a crossroads on the Irvine to Glasgow A736 Lochlibo Road previous to the main road s construction circa 1820 it sat on the toll road that ran from Kilwinning and Irvine via Benslie to Glasgow passing Loch Libo at Uplawmoor en route Roy s map of 1747 records the settlement of Turringyard near Auchenharvie Castle 1 The 1897 25 inch to the mile OS map records a Tour Inn opposite the old Torranyard Toll now the Torranyard Tabdoori It was recorded as Turnyard in 1775 Tirranyard on Thomson s 1820 map and in 1832 The Montgreenan estate is nearby and the site of the old Girgenti house and surviving tower are nearby on the Cunninghamhead road The meaning of Tour in Scots 2 is Tower as in the prominent Auchenharvie castle tower nearby A Yard in Scots 2 is a garden Torranyard could therefore be a corruption of Tour Inn yard Local people still pronounce the name Torranyard as TOURanyard Jamieson records that the inn at Burnhouse was nicknamed the Trap Em Inn the one at Lugton was called the Lug Em Inn that at Auchentiber the Cleek Em Inn and finally the one at Torranyard was called the Turn Em Out 3 The Resurrectionists Edit Auchenharvie Castle in 1820 A local legend is that in the days of the body snatchers or resurrectionists before the Anatomy Act of 1832 bodies obtained locally were hidden in the ruins of the nearby Auchenharvie Castle before being taken up to Glasgow at night to sell to the surgeons and medical students at the old university 4 Another version of the story states that the bodies were collected together from neighbouring parishes at Darnshaw a remote house near Bloak Moss on the old Auchenharvie to Megswell toll road route 5 6 The old toll road did run past the site and a toll gate and house stood fairly close by which must cast some doubt on the castle being involved 4 Jamieson records the story that tramps were lured to their deaths at the inns along this road by body snatchers and as evidence it is recorded that when the Cleikum Inn at Auchentiber was demolished a large collection of walking sticks were found 3 Micro history EditA William Forgisal Fergushill of Torranyard was miner at the Doura Pit in the 18th century He lost his leg in a mining accident as had his father William s wife was a tough sort her comment being on seeing him so encumbered was that the Forgisal s would need a small plantation of their own to keep them in crutches 7 A Torranyard Farm is located to the north west of the village Viewfield Manor Holiday Village is located behind the Torranyard Tandoori that faces the A736 the site was partly used as a refuse tip at one time as shown on OS maps Opencast workings and works are shown on old OS maps nearby close to the Greenacres Equestrian Centre 2012 External links EditViewfield ManorReferences EditNotes Edit Roy s Map Retrieved 2012 05 06 a b A Researcher s Guide to Local History Terminology a b Jamieson Page 18 a b Holder Page 54 Strawhorn Page 113 Love Page 148 Service Page 140 Sources and bibliography Edit Dobie James 1876 Pont s Cunninghame topographized 1604 1608 with continuations and illustrative notices Pub John Tweed Holder Geoff 2010 Scottish Bodysnatchers Port Stroud The History Press ISBN 978 0 7524 5603 4 Jamieson Sheila 1997 Our Village Greenhills Women s Institute Love Dane 1989 Scottish Kirkyards London Robert Hale ISBN 0 7090 3667 1 Love Dane 2003 Ayrshire Discovering a County Ayr Fort Publishing ISBN 0 9544461 1 9 Reid Donald L and Monahan Isobel F 1999 Yesterdays Beith a pictorial guide Beith DoE Award Scheme ISBN 0 9522720 5 9 Service John Editor 1887 The Life amp Recollections of Doctor Duguid of Kilwinning Pub Young J Pentland Strawhorn John 1985 The History of Irvine Pub John Donald ISBN 0 85976 140 1 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Torranyard Scotland portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Torranyard amp oldid 1040181839, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
