Extract from the Auchinleck Churchyard post from 1866:
You would imagine that there were not many fatal accidents associated with the gentle and ancient art of ploughing but here is one.....
"There is a very old stone, which is now built into the wall of the churchyard; perhaps it is the oldest of any of the stones we have mentioned, but unfortunately the date cannot be made out. Tradition, however, carries down the following ;- On the stone there is the representation of four oxen yoked to a plough, with a driver or gadsman at the head of them, and the ploughman holding the plough. The plough in those days has been of very simple construction. It is said that they were ploughing near to where the Ballochmyle viaduct is now built, and the whole of them, men and oxen, went over one of the precipices into the Water of Ayr, and were killed. The name of the party is said to be Lowdon, but as there is no inscription on the stone, we have only given the traditional description of it."
At the time there were probably not many people that would be able to read, but the image would be quite enough.
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| Ploughing match 1940s Bill McCallum for Stevensons Calendar |
1883 ploughing match at Wallaceton.
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| ploughing match results, March 1883. Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald |
1891 ploughing match at Cumnock Irvine Herald - Friday 06 February 1891
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1891
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