St Peters-Section 12 Appendices - Historic Scotland

18th Century
1721 ‘…the estate of Kilmahew proper, ie. the two Auchensails, Kirkton, Kilmahew Mill,
and Mill Lands of Kilmahew, Drumsaddoch, the Barrs, Auchenfroe, and the Spittal of
Auchenfroe-was adjudged from George Napier by Sir James Smollett for two debts of
£12,896, is.4d. Scots and £1,295, 12s. Scots.’ Old Cardross p. 47
1732 Date inscribed on a few stones ‘a little above the garden … near the site of the former
house of Triangle’, alongside initials of Robert Bontine of Mildovan and of Margaret
Bontine his wife. This area belonged to a branch of the Bontine family at this time. At this
time the Kilmahew lands lay between Auchenfroe Burn and Geilston Burn. Old Cardross
p. 19
1735 ‘To redeem a portion of the ancestral domain, George Napier … sold to James Smollett,
Sir James’ son, the Auchensails, Barrs, and Drumsaddoch, with Wallacetown and Walton
at the price of £33,152 Scots or £2,762 Stg., being 261/2 or 28 years purchase of the then
rental of about £1,200 Scots, or £100 Stg.’ Old Cardross p. 47
1744 Jean Smith (Napier)
‘For the successor to George Napier, it is now necessary to return to John Maxwell,
the second son of Margaret, the heiress of Kilmahew. He appears to have had an
only daughter, Elizabeth, who married Robert Smith, portioner of Inveresk, and had
one child’– History of Dumbartonshire, 1860
On the death of George Napier ‘The estate passed into a collateral branch of the
family, which never recovered the prosperity of influence of the earlier family.’ St
Peter’s College Magazine, p. 7
1745 Herman Moll’s map: Shows a similar arrangement to the Blaeu Atlas but in less
detail.
1750 General Roy’s map : Wallacetown and Kilmahew burns appear to merge creating
a triangular shaped plot between the burns. A rectangle lies in the middle of the
triangle labelled “Kilmahoe”. The detail suggests a formal garden with a building
in the centre enclosed by park palings and trees. The northern area has been
further compartmentalised by a line of trees. On the north eastern flank of the area
lies a cluster of buildings also surrounded by trees but not ‘emparked’, labelled
“Mildovan”. There is an additional spur to the west of the Kilmahew Burn. Further
south, on the east side of the burn lie “Wallacetown”, “Spittle”, “Walltown” and
“Cardross Kirk”. On the west bank lie “Geilstone” and “Achinfroa”.
1777 Charles Ross’s map: The burns appear as two separate burns once again. The
name “Killmachew” appears between two burns and north of “Spitle” but does
not appear to be attached to any particular settlement, although it could refer to
the Keep, which lies to the north west of the triangle. Between the two a large
unlabelled house is indicated, similar in stature to the one indicated for “Gilstowne”,
with a smaller unlabelled settlement further the south. Cardross Kirk shown further
east. The area is relatively well wooded with a triangular open area in the location
of the Triangle of Mildovan..
12. APPENDICES
19th Century
1809 William Brydie Napier (son of Jean Smith)
CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT - VOLUME 1: ST PETER’S SEMINARY FEBRUARY 2008 286 Final Issue
Alexander Brydie Napier (brother of William) settled in Virginia about 1800
William Napier of Kilmahew, (son of Alexander)
‘… a citizen of American, made up titles to Kilmahew and Wallaceton, as heir of his
uncle, and in 1820 conveyed these lands to Alexander Sharp, brother of the husband
of his sister Elizabeth. During the possession of Kilmahew by Alexander Sharp, an
attempt was made to enlarge and restore the ancient residence of the Napiers; but it
was not carried out; and the tower, now in ruins, is no in appropriate memorial to the
fate of the family who erected it and kept high festival within its walls.’ The History of
Dumbartonshire, 1860 p.465
1820 John Thompson’s map: Kilmahew and Wallacetown burns appear as separate
entities, uniting beneath a triangular area. The label “Kilmahu Cas. ruins” appears
over the triangle, and probably refers to a blurred symbol which may indicate the
Keep to the west of Kilmahew Burn. Cardross Kirk appears in the location of
Kilmahew Kirk shown on earlier maps and the Carman Road is shown for the first
time connecting Cardross with Renton via a settlement labelled Carman on Carman
Hill, and running parallel to the east of Wallacetown Burn. A settlement labelled
“Milldovan” appears to the north of the castle ruins. “Geilstoun burn appears to the
west. This map appears more accurate than preceding county maps, and suggests
that the layout of burns in Roy’s map is quite accurate.
1820 Alexander Sharp
‘In 1820 the estate was sold by William Napier (heir of his uncle) whose sister
Elizabeth had married a Mr Sharp. This man’s brother, Alexander Sharp, bought the
estate.’ Cardross, The Village in Days Gone by, p.82
‘The lands of Kilmahew proper were sold by the last of the Napiers to his cousin
Alexander Sharpe, from whom they passed to John Barr, esq., railway contractor;’
The History of Dumbartonshire, 1860 p.465
1820-8 Sharp’s children are recorded as having been born at Kilmahew between these
dates. ‘Sharp had the castle altered somewhat to make it habitable –eg., some new
windows were built together with a new south-west entrance with niches for columns.
The number of storeys reduced to three. However, the family resided latterly
at Seabank, a house on the shore a few hundred yards west of Murrays Farm.’
Cardross, The Village in Days Gone by, p.82
1821 John Ainslie’s map: Not a particularly helpful map and more confusing than the
preceding one. Wallacetown Burn and Kilmahew Burn simplified as a single burn,
and Geilston Burn is also shown. Settlements vaguely indicated to the west of
Wallacetown Burn at “Middleton”, “Curlyhill”, “Milldeven”, “Tryangle”, “Wallacetown”,
“Leadside”. “Killhahew” is indicated to the east of the burn, possibly in the location
of the Keep? “Auchenfro” lies on the west bank further south. Perhaps of most
interest is a large house labelled “Bloom” in the location of Bloomhill and the fact