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Doonholm

Alloway - NS 338174 - Stev 250

A cube dial from Pope's Villa, Twickenham.

The cube is on a tall pillar with a seat around the base that rests on animal figures. Ball finial supported on 4 Atlas figures. The lions are eroded but the dial block, figures and ball finial are all quite good.

Somerville reports it to be found in a field below the house.

Visited 04 September 1985 - A. R. Somerville

Pope's Villa, Twickenham

 

Doonholm House and surrounding grounds are private and not open to the public.

The lands of Doonholm in the barony of Alloway south of Ayr belonged to the town of Ayr until 1754. They were known at that time as Old Berriesden and Warlockholm. James Neill of Ayr acquired the lands in 1755, sold them to David Mitchell of Ayr, who in turn, sold them later that year to William Ferguson of London (a relative of the Ferguson's of Castlehill/ Ayrshire).

William Ferguson had amassed a considerable fortune as a medical practitioner working in London. His high standing in the community led to the post Provost of Ayr for a number of years. It was at that time William Ferguson had the older portion of the present house built and named the land Doonholm.

On his death in 1776, William Ferguson left Doonholm to his eldest daughter Elizabeth who married Malcolm Fleming of Barochan in 1780. The estate was bought by John Ferguson (a merchant in Calcutta) in 1783 who was a nephew of William Ferguson. The death of John Ferguson in 1790 saw the lands of Doonholm return to the Fleming's of Barochan. The Fleming's sold Doonholm to John Hunter in 1796.

An addition in 1818 to Doonholm House gives the present day look. By the middle of the 1800s, Doonholm had been purchased by Lord Blackburn (one of Her Majesty's judges). The death of Lord Blackburn in 1896 saw Doonholm sold again, probably to the Kennedy's, the present day owners.

www.ayrshirescotland.com

 

 

Alexander Pope’s garden by the Thames at Twickenham covered five acres. He tried to make his straight paths more informal and sinuous, but yet didn't mind artificial creations like an grotto, statuary or an obelisk, as long as they stemmed from the ‘genius of the place’ and were not an imposition.