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A nice easy cache close to the A77 with parking close by (please park clear of the cycle track as it is well used). The terrain is flat with rough tussocks of marsh grass and it can be a bit wet underfoot best wear strong waterpoof boots or wellies. Once in the area the cross is obvious and the cash is on the edge of the woodland to the south west about 80 meters from away from the cross. Good for a cache n dash on your daily commute - but wear strong waterproof footware
Kingswell Cross is my own name for this location as it provides a good and interesting description of the feature close to the cache rather than the bland “monument” shown on the OS map. Whilst the cross is within a few hundred metres of both the the old A77 and the new M77, most of the hundreds of people passing every day will be totally unaware of its existence as it is only visible through a narrow window on the A77 near the juction with the B764 Fenwick Moor Road.
On close inspection it is primarily a monument to Alice Mary Corbett (nee Polson) the wife of the First Baron Rowallan, then to the first Baron himself (Archibald Cameron Corbett ). It also commerates the lives of their second son Artur Cameron who was killed in action on the 4th December 1916 and of John Polson, the second son of the 3rd Baron, who was killed in action in July 1944.
Why the monument is placed at this particular location I have not yet manged to find out, and I assume that that it may be at the edge of the former land holdings around Kilmarnock as otherwise it seems a rather odd and forlorn position.
Alice Mary Polson was the only child of John Polson of Castle Levan, Gourock, Scotland, and married Archibal Cameron Corbett in 1877. They had two sons, Thomas Godfrey and Arthur Cameron and one daughter, Elsie Cameron. Alice died on the 10 Jul 1902.
Archibald Cameron Corbett was born on 23 May 1856 , the son of Thomas Corbett of South Park, Cove, Argyll & Bute, Scotland and Sarah, daughter of Archibald Cameron. He was educated at Glasgow Academy, and went into business at the age of 20, leading to his involvement in the management of his father’s estate at Woodgrange, London, England. He inherited this estate on his father's death, continuing the development of workmen's clubs, cottages, allotments and gardens there. In 1887 he married Alice Mary Polson and he contested the parliamentary seat of North Warwickshire, England, in 1884. He was elected Liberal MP for the Tradeston district of Glasgow in 1885 , continuing as MP until 1911 . He was also a Justice of the Peace for Warwickshire, England and Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Archibald Corbett was well-known as a politician and a philanthropist, being a prominent benefactor of the City of Glasgow. In recognition of his parliamentary service and his generosity to the citizens of Glasgow in gifting Rouken Glen Park and Ardgoil Estate, Argyll & Bute, for recreational use, he was granted the Freedom of the City of Glasgow on 21 January 1908 . His philanthropic work included giving financial support to a number of religious and social movements, including the Foundry Boy's Society and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). He was also very active in the work of the Temperance Movement in Scotland.
He was created Baron Rowallan on 27 June 1911. He died suddenly on 19 March 1933 , whilst reading at his gentleman's club, Brook's Club, London. He was succeeded by his eldest son Thomas Godfrey Polson, who became the 2nd Baron Rowallan .
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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