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| Ravenscroft in top right corner , near Rankinston village, at the extreme west of Ochiltree Parish. |
The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love
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Ravenscroft
New Steading erected in 1860s to replace three former farms - Auchingee, Fauldhead and Greenside. 750 acres in 1871.
1871-1875 Bonnyton Estate - Thomas Hunter
1878-1879 Bonnyton Estate - William Wilson (1841-1879)
1881-1885 Bonnyton Estate - William McClure
1899 Bonnyton Estate - John Howie & Robert Wallace Howie
1905-1914 Bonnyton Estate - John W Campbell
1923-1949 John Purdie (1876-1949)
2010-2015 James Purdie
See also the post for Greenside, Ochiltree.
The first census records are for 1871, and this farm may have been created just prior to this date, to serve the lands of Greenside, Auchingee, and Fauld Heads.
Thomas Hunter 41 and wife Mary Ann 35 are farming 750 acres 300 of which arable and employing 4 men and 3 boys.
the Hunter children are Mary Ann E 10, Jane 5, Elizabeth 3.
Servants are Andrew Ferguson 21, shepherd, Allan Cuthbertson 17, Agnes Chapmen 17, and two lodgers, stonemasons William McKinlay 31 and James McKinlay 24.
There must be another dwelling on the farm of Ravenscroft as there is another household. Charles Currie 40, Dairyman, his mother Mary Currie 65 and niece Elizabeth Currie 15 dairymaids. Living with them are also Anne Gibson 27, dairymaid, and Thomas Law 15, attendant.
The Irvine Herald of May 1879 has a sad story about William Wilson, farmer of Ravenscroft, who occupied the farm from Martinmas (November 11) the previous year. His death was reported as suicide. These announcements are from later that year and presumably the sale of his assets. He was unmarried and 38 years old.
1881 census shows William McClure 51 and wife Margaret 54 farming 800 acres 400 arable. they have two sons John 23, and Robert 19 and a general servant Jane McCaig 16
Valuation Roll
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| Displenishing sale Nov 1879 , Ayr Advertiser. |
1881 census shows William McClure 51 and wife Margaret 54 farming 800 acres 400 arable. they have two sons John 23, and Robert 19 and a general servant Jane McCaig 16
Valuation Roll
1875 prop. William Allison, tenant Thomas Hunter. 1885 tenant William MacClune. 1895 prop. Capt. J M Maxwell. 1905 tenant John Campbell. 1925 prop. and occupier John Purdie
Still farmed by the Purdie family.
