Scotland/Scots > Life of Sir William Wallace, Knight of Ellerslie, and Guardian of Scotland

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NOTES,
P. 36. “ Riccardtoun is evidently a corruption of
Richardtown. It is generally said to have been
so called from a Sir Richard Wallace, who lived in
the vicinity of the village, and who is said to have
been uncle to the celebrated patriot Sir William
Wallace. Of his house no vestige now remains;
the place, however, where it stood is well known.
The village of Riccardtoun is within one mile of the
market place of Kilmarnock.” Stat. Acc. v. 117.
P. 41. “ Among other antiquities there may be
mentioned a place called Beg, above Allinton, where
the brave Wallace lay in a species of rude fortifica¬
tion, with only fifty of his friends, yet obtained a
complete victory over an English officer of the name
of Fenwick, who had two hundred men under his
command. This gallant hero, it is well known, had
several places of retirement towards the head of this
parish and in the neighbourhood, some of which still
retain his name to this day; Wallace-hill in parti¬
cular, an eminence near Galla-law; and a place called
Wallaee-Gill, in the parish of Loudoun, a hollow
glen to which he probably retired for shelter when
pursued by his enemies.” Stat. Acc. ii. 74.
P. 68. “ A little south of the village there is a
conical height called the Kin-hill, which is evidently
artificial, and seems to have been a military work.
There are the remains of a ditch or rampart of a
circular form, which proves that it is not of Roman
origin. It is probably t>f later date, and appears to