The Old Loudoun Kirk and graveyard can be reached by taking the unclassified road on the A719 directly opposite the entrance of what was once the Loudoun Castle Theme Park. Follow this road for about half a mile and park adjacent to the graveyard gates which are never locked. The Kirk was established at the end of the 12th century but was damaged during the Kennedy/Campbell feuds in 1527 and subsequently rebuilt. Gradually it fell into disrepair and in 1994, the charity 'Friends of Loudoun Kirk' was established and, with help from Historic Scotland and Heritage Lottery Fund, this ancient and sacred place was restored and reconsecrated. The graveyard is the traditional burial place of the aristocratic family the ‘Campbells of Loudoun’ and whose coat of arms can be seen on the south wall of the Kirk, along with the family motto, ‘Bide Thy Time’. Also buried in this graveyard is Jean Little aka the ‘Scottish Milkmaid’ who was a contemporary of Robert Burns. She was greatly interested in the Bard’s works and visited him at Ellisland near Mauchline. A volume of her poems ‘The Poetical Works of Janet Little, the Scottish Milkmaid’, was published in 1792. There is also an obelisk within the graveyard that commemorates Lady Flora Hastings who was the unmarried daughter of the Earl of Loudoun, and a ‘lady in waiting’ to the young Queen Victoria. Showing symptoms of a swollen stomach, Lady Flora was suspected of being pregnant and although she professed her innocence, Queen Victoria treated her badly. Lady Flora died some months later from a cancerous growth on her liver but her name was never completely cleared. Eventually, the Crown did provide her family with a realistic compensation for having sullied her good name and the monies were then used to build ‘Lady Flora’s School for Girls’ in Newmilns in her memory. This is a very old and interesting graveyard and definitely worth a visit. The ‘Galston Historical‘ cache also makes a visit to this sacred site. For many years the owners of the Loudoun estate have searched everywhere for a reputed buried family treasure but unto this day its whereabouts has remained a mystery. This is your opportunity to find it but it will not be easy.
Congratulations go to Rose-&-Thistle and the other members of the jaggy clan for being the FTF................Well done guys.