Park Village
Cample
Dalgarnoc
Other
The building was the home of the Stuart-Menteath Family until bought by the Baird family in 1851, the hall superseded the castle as lairds seat in the parish, the building was abandoned before 1900 and during the last war was used as target practice that together with gale force winds have reduced this fine building to rubble. What remains is displayed in the picture below was part of the left front corner of the building.
Douglas Baird was born at Kirkwood in 1808. On his return from school in
Glasgow, where he lived with his brother Alexander, he was employed by the
Company in office work, and became an expert clerk. He kept the accounts and
paid the men. When the firm of William Baird & Company was formed he was
made a partner, and he afterwards undertook the charge of Thankerton Colliery.
In 1848 he purchased that part of the estate of Closeburn in Dumfriesshire,
which belonged to the late Mr. Leadbetter, and in 1851 he acquired the remainder
from Sir James Menteath. He died suddenly at Closeburn in 1854. This was the
first death in the family of Alexander Baird. He married Charlotte, only
daughter of Captain Henry Acton, by whom he had twin daughters, who succeeded
him. The eldest married Mr. Villiers, son of the Bishop of Durham and nephew of
Lord Clarendon, and the second married Lord Cole, eldest son of the Earl of
Enniskillen.