Dean Castle, stronghold of the Boyds, is thought to have taken its name from the 'dene' or 'hollow' in which it was situated. The streams, the Borland and the Caufurdland, run on either side of the castle before coming together to form 'Kilmarnock Water'.

Dean Castle was originally the stronghold of the Loccarts, then Lord Soulisv before comming into the hands of the Boyds in the early fourteeth century.

The 9th Lord Boyd was fined £1500 by Oliver Cromwell for his support of the Royalist cause but on the 7th August 1661, he was created Earl of Kilmarnock by Charles ll. The 4th Earl was the last to occupy Dean Castle and in 1735 it was partially detroyed by fire.

The Earl joined Bonnie Prince Charlie and was appointed Colonel of Hussars. He wone the esteem of the Prince and was promoted Colonel of the Guards, the General. After the Battle of Culloden, the Earl was taken to the Tower of London before being tried for treason in Westminster Hall. He pled guilty but despite a plea of mitigation, he was beheaded, drawn and quarted on the 18th August 1746. The Countess of Kilmarnock died of grief on the 16th September 1747 at the age of 39.

By 1700, the population of Kilmarnock had risen to about a 1000. Half a century later it had trebled, surpasing that of the county town of Ayr.

Over the next two centuries the town expanded and by 1802 the population of the town and parish had risen to over 8000. Trade and industry had been stimulated by the Nepoleonic War with France. The old tenements were torn down to make way for wider streets and in 1804 the New Bridge was erected and King Street was built leading from the bridge to Titchfield Street. The opening of the horse drawn railway from Troon by the Duke of Portland in 1812, gave the town a rapid mode of transport to the nearest seaside resort and seaport. By the 1870's railway workshops had been erected in the Bonnyton area along with Sawmills, the Portland Forge, The Vulcan Foundry, the Britannia Works and the Titchfield Foundry.

The Old brig

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