the north and this site has been successful in attracting a good number and diversity of waterfowl to the habitats created. Several hardwood trees within the policies have been added to the Woodland Trusts 'Ancient and Notable Trees' register. Micro-history In February 1903 the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald recorded that "Through the kindness of Mr and Mrs Grant of Monkcastle, the tenentry and servants were entertained to their annual supper and dance on Friday evening. Over 50 were present". In 1780 it was legally settled that the right of the superiority deriving from the Duke of Hamilton was stronger than that arising from the Earl of Eglinton. In the 'Memorables of Robin Cummell' the castle is said to have built by the "Wee Pechs, langsyne." Pechs are translatable as pygmies, picts, or essentially the 'wee folk'. The 'Monkcastle' element of the title 'Duke of Abercorn, Paisley and Monkcastle' has transmogrified into 'Mountcastle' and several streets in Edinburgh have acquired this version of the placename. J. Archibald Brownlie of Monkcastle married Jessie Clark daughter of Robert Clark. Captain Alexander Montgomerie lived at Monkcastle House in the 20th century. Kilwinning Monkcastle was the name of a local football club, formed as a senior team in 1883 and disbanded in 1900 due to mounting debts. James Allan, born at Monkcastle, played successively for Monkcastle, Kilwinning, Queen’s Park, and appeared occasionally for (Glasgow) Rangers. Mr Miller of Monkcastle was one of the official guests at the Eglinton Tournament of 1839. See also Bessie Dunlop of Lynn Towerlands, North Ayrshire References Notes Sources Aikman, James (1839). An Account of the Tournament at Eglinton. Edinburgh: Hugh Paton. Campbell, Thorbjørn (2003). Ayrshire. A Historical Guide. Edinburgh: Birlinn. Chalmers, Alexander (1885). Domestic Annals of Scotland. Edinburgh: W & R Chambers. Close, Robert (1992), Ayrshire and Arran: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Pub. Roy Inc Arch Scot. . Close, Robert and Riches, Anne (2012). The Buildings of Scotland. Ayrshire and Arran. Yale University Press. . Coventry, Martin (2010). Castles of the Clans. Musselburgh: Goblinshead. . Davis, Michael C. (1991). The Castles and Mansions of Ayrshire. Ardrishaig: Spindrift Press. Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Glasgow: John Tweed. Douglas, Robert (1764). The Peerage of Scotland. Edinburgh: R. Fleming printers. Finnie, E. (1985). The House of Hamilton: Patronage, Politics and the Church in the Reformation Period. Innes Review. V. 36.