Kilbarchan walk to Lochwinnoch

..and the Kilbarchan Standing Stones.
The Knights Templars that band of medieval Christian warriors who defended Crusaders and later claim to have found the Holy Grail in Jerusalem may perhaps indeed be linked to the villages in this area. The 'Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown may also have brought some extra tourism to the villages just because of that Templar link - as Templar gravestones in the local Collegiate church as well as in the nearby Kilbarchan West Churchyard combined with the Temple at Kenmuir Hill all intimate (to some people although not everyone) an association between this local area and those Knights Templars. It is known that when the church disbanded the Knights Templars in the early 12th century, many of them did come to Scotland for sanctuary.
The name Kilbarchan means "the Church, Cell, or Retreat of Barchan" and was founded upon the Chapel of St Katrine round about 1483. Saint Barchan was allegedly a Scoto-Irish saint who lived between 550 and 650 who pursued his clerical calling both in Ireland and in Scotland, at Clonsast, King's County and at Kilbarchan.
On the north face of the village steeple below the clock, a niche dated 1882 contains the statue of Habbie Simpson, piper of Kilbarchan (1550 to 1620). H.V.Morton wrote "In a niche in the church steeple stands the most famous inhabitant of Kilbarchan. Habbie is carved in wood and stands with his pipes on his shoulder, a fitting patron saint for a town that lives in the past."
William Brodie from Kilbarchan is remembered for time immemorial as the man who laid the Foundation Stone of the Statue of Liberty, gifted by France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence which was drafted in 1776.
A 1982 newspaper article about the Weaver's Cottage stated thus: "Here at Barngreen in 1723, Andrew John and Janet Brydein built one of the original 'cruck' cottages of the village. H.V.Morton wrote in 1933 "Looms filled the front rooms. Although it was dusk the shuttles were clacking like mad, for, as one old lady put it - nae weaver wastes daylight!" and continued "Kilbarchan is a strange place - a girl from the next village who marries a Kilbarchan man is an incomer all the days of her life". And nearly 80-years later this is still true!
The Temple on Kenmuir Hill (locally referred to and nicknamed by some locals as 'Castle Semple') was built around 1760 and is best described as a circular folly, the view from which is over Castle Semple Loch and Barr Loch.
The ruins of Castle Semple Collegiate Church, which was built around 1504-5, can now be viewed from the path. This ruined church was built for John, 1ST Lord Semple and a small 'college' of resident clergy were to sing masses for the souls of his family in perpetuity. Along with James IV and many other influential Scots, Semple was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513 and his tomb lies within the monument. The church is currently in the care of Historic Scotland.
Barr Castle was built in 1520 and there are remnants of a walled courtyard; the top parapet has been knocked off for safety reasons and all the windows and doors have been barred. The ruined tower was built around the seventeenth century by the Glen family, then Lairds of Barr and its purpose was really for family prestige rather than any type of military use. The tower sits in a pasture overlooking the path and the picturesque Barr Loch, situated within an R.S.P.B. managed nature reserve. The Castle has a lintel above the entrance doorway with the date of 1690 on it and the tower has four floors and the remains of that parapet.
I should add that for any information regarding the Kilbarchan Standing Stones you should contact Renfrewshire Council!! Finally, theres a spelling mistake in the video text - oops! More recently (July 2009), the historian A.J.Morton claimed to have discovered 14th century records showing Knights Templar property in the nearby Kilwinning area and concludes that the Holy Grail lies hidden in an Ayrshire village!!
Back in Kilbarchan H.V.Morton was told that "never had a Conservative speech ended in Kilbarchan, though many a one had started there!" Finally, the Habbies reminded him "man ye canna be an Englishman wi' a name like Morton!"

[@alvee33]

Nice video. The stone circle looks quite authentic on a frosty morning.

[@spaghetticat1540]

I'm a habbie and I can clarify the information that nobody really knows where the stones came from. Giving their nickname IS the mysterious standing stones of Kilbarchan. I know all over Kilbarchan and have seen the standing stones many a times.

[@rogergriffith286]

The standing stones were delivered by dump truck it was part of the landscaping for the Bypass. from Johnstone to Kilbarchan

[@roddymck]

Thanks Roger, that confirms it then.

[@roddymck]

Thanks Carol - I've updated the text as it corrupted upon uploading.

[@roddymck]

Well there doesnt appear to be any historical record of them so the finger is pointing at Renfrewshire Council as the stones apparently only appeared with the development of the motorway. There must be some Habbies out there who can clarify events?

[@glamfakir]

I'm confused. Are the standing stones in Kilbarchan authentic and ancient or a feature made in recent years by the local council?
Thanks.
G.

[@bissetproductions]

Proud to say i live in Kilbarchan =D

[@mauigoomba8043]

Me too

[@roddymck]

Yeah - Believe Renfrewshire Council must have been involved.

[@mauigoomba8043]

I was climbing on the mysterious rocks
I feel bad now