Annick Lodge
The estate at present known as Annick Lodge has been formed gradually by the purchase of several contiguous estates, some of which can be traced back to a very ancient date. The mansion-house occupies the site of the old manorial dwelling of Pearston-hall, the house of the Lairds of Over-Pearston in the fifteenth century. The lands of Pearston were acquired by the Blairs of Adamton through the marriage of one of that family with the heiress of Sir William Douglas of Pearston, and remained in their possession till the beginning of last century. The name of James Montgomerie appears as Laird of Over-Pearston in 1717 ; and though the lands passed out of the possession of that family for some time, they were again acquired in 1 790 by Alexander
Montgomerie, second son of Alexander Montgomerie of Coilsfield, a brother of Hugh, twelfth Earl of Eglinton, who named the place Annick Lodge. The manor-house is described by Pont as “a proper bulding, veill planted, the inheritance of Blaire, Laird of Adamtoune ; ” and it is probable that the erection to which he alludes was in the very spot upon which the modern mansion stands, as some traces of an old foundation were discovered while the present house was under repair a few years ago. Lieut.-Colonel William Eglinton Montgomerie, the second Laird of Annick Lodge, succeeded his father in 1802, and died in 1852, leaving five sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Alexander, was formerly Captain, loth Regiment; whilst the second is Rear- Admiral John Eglinton Montgomerie, C.B. The third son, Roger Montgomerie, born 1828, was Advocate-Depute under several Conservative administrations, and was M.P. for North Ayrshire from 1874 until his death in 1880. Thomas George, the fourth son, who was Lieut.-Colonel of the Royal Engineers, an F.R.S., and Gold Medallist of the Royal Geographical Society, died in 1878; and Archibald William, late Lieutenant, Royal Artillery, died in 1877. The present proprietrix is the widow of Lieut.-Colonel William Eglinton Montgomerie, who succeeded to the estate on his father’s death in 1802.
The mansion-house, which was erected at the close of last century, is a commodious and unpretending structure, architecturally decorated with a porch supported upon elegant Corinthian pillars, and surmounted by a fa9ade bearing sculptured urns at its three angles. The tympanum is filled in with a heraldic shield and scroll-work in high relief The river Annick, which gives its name to this residence, takes its rise in Renfrewshire, flowing south-westward by Stewarton, and falls into Irvine Water at a short distance above the town of Irvine.
Historical and descriptive accounts of the Castles and mansions of Ayrshire by Millar, Alexander Hastie, 1847-1927
