Earnock
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Earnock was an ancient estate in an area south of Hamilton in Lanarkshire, Scotland. It extended from the western side of Strathaven Road to the western extremity of the Parish of Hamilton.
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[edit] Etymology
Coming from the Celtic Earnogg, it has two attributed meanings: “the old son’s possessions” [1] and alternatively ‘Ireland’ [2].
[edit] History
Earnock was originally part of the grant of Cadzow to Walter fitz Gilbert (progenitor of the Hamiltons of Cadzow) in 1314. It was received by the progenitor of the Roberton family, Robert de Robertoun, by feudal charter from either Malcolm IV or William I between 1160-1200 [3]
The Robertouns were feudal Lairds of Earnock from prior to 1226 – 1296 and 1390 - c 1700. ( The family were dispossessed for signing the Ragman Roll [4] and regained Earnock through intermarriage with the Hamiltons [5]).It was sold by James Roberton, 12th Laird of Earnock, to a Mr Semple at the turn of the 19th century. He in turn sold the property to A. Millar, Esq., in 1810.
Upon Millar’s death his married sister Mrs Williams inherited it, and sold it to Sir John Watson, baronet. None of the Robertons’ house remains although it is said " the great hall was beautifully decorated with armorial bearings of the Robertons, and that the fireplace was remarkable for its carving." [6] Watson and his descendants built a mansion upon the site. [7]
Electric light was introduced to the house in 1881 although the town of Hamilton did not receive electricity until 1903. The house was sold in 1925 and demolished in 1926. [8]
[edit] Overseas
When John Roberton of Glasgow settled in New Zealand in the 19th century he named his Takapuna property "Earnock", after the family estate in Scotland.[9] The house, a white weather-board structure, still stands on Hustmere Road, Takapuna. It is used as a hair dressing salon.
[edit] References
- Statistical Accounts of Scotland 1791 - 99 Volume 2 p 210
- Stothers, nd. Lanarkshire Christmas and New Year Annals p 10
- Beverage, A., nd. Clydesdale: Descriptive, Historical and Romantic p 50; Nesbitt, A., nd. "System of heraldry Vol II p 153
- The 1296 Ragman Roll
- Beverage. op. cit. p 51
- Hamilton Advertiser 7th August 1943
- Ibid p. 51
- Stothers, op. cit., p 53
- Rae, D.A., 1992. Earnoch at Takapuna in Auckland Waikato Historical Journal, April 1992 No 60 p 30
[edit] External links
- John Watson's Earnock An image held by the Canmore, the online catalogue and search engine of the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
- Accounts of Scotland Account of 1791-99
