Kyle, Ayrshire

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Map of Scotland showing the district of Kyle

Kyle (or Coila, poetically) is a former comital district of Scotland which today forms part of East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire. It is said to be named after 'Old King Cole,' a king of the Britons, who was reputedly killed in battle in this area.

The area is bordered by the districts of Cunninghame and Clydesdale to the north and east respectively, by the county of Carrick to the south over the River Kyle and by the Firth of Clyde to the west.

The district was one of three districts in the sheriffdom of Ayr, which was naturally divided by its rivers into the three districts of Cunninghame in the north along the River Irvine, in the centre by the River Kyle and Kyle in the south along the River Doon by the Carrick. The three were eventually combined into the county of the Shire of Ayr along with Cunninghame and Carrick during reorganisation due to Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, this Act established a uniform system of county councils and town councils in Scotland and restructured many of Scotland’s counties.

Anciently, Kyle itself was sub-divided into two parts. To the north of the River Ayr was "Kyle Stewart," lands held by the Fitzalan's since the 11th century (the future Stewart Kings of Scotland). To the south was "Kyle Regis" or King's Kyle, lands historically retained by the monarch under royal authority from the royal castle at Ayr (On May 16, 1975 Ayr County Council officially disbanded these old districts and burghs).

Even today, HRH Prince Charles retains the title “Lord of Kyle” passed down to him through the Stewart Kings.

Kyle and Carrick was the former name (1975-96) of a local government district in the Strathclyde region of Scotland. In 1996 it was constituted as a Unitary Authority, but renamed South Ayrshire.

Near Cumnock, at the confluence of Guelt and Glenmuir Waters, are the ruins of the 15th century Kyle Castle.

According to local tradition in Kyle, the name derives from Old King Cole said to be buried in a cairn in Tarbolton, Ayrshire.