The lands were held by the Knights Templar until a date prior to 1570 when the Gemmells of Templehouse were granted the property and remained there until 1962, a period of around 500 years.

The property's name variously had the form, Templehouse, Temple House or Tempilhouse and was formally denoted as "the tempillandis of Dunlophill".

It covered just over half an acre, had a significant height and had a vehicular entrance facing to the east and a pedestrian access via steps to the cottages at the north.

The farm in 1913 consisted of two cottages attached to a byre and a separate building at right angles that may have served as an animal feed store and stable, etc.

The cottages have some well carved stonework and may be early 19th century, but earlier than the walled garden whilst the byre appears older.

[8] It was described circa 1855 as "A neat farm house with outbuildings and an excellent garden attached, the property and residence of John Gemmell Esqr.

"[9] The Knights Templar had owned considerable lands and properties in the bailiary of Cunninghame and in the early 17th century, Robert Montgomerie acquired the rights to these Templelands from the Sandilands family of Calder, the Lords Torphichen and thus became the feudal superiors.

[1] In 1559 Patrick Gemmell was granted Templehouse by the Temple Court at Ayr, the feudal superior being John Spottiswood, preceptor of Torphichen.

[6] This most likely related to an incident in January 1601 when Thomas Cunninghame and others broke down the door at Templehouse, forced Patrick and his wife out of their bed.

His wife was bound head and foot and placed in large chest whilst Patrick was pressured to give them his sliver and gold, however he refused and he was then hung by the neck from a timber beam for a considerable time until Thomas cut him down.

[13] In 1596 Patrick Gemmell resigned the Templelands of Dunlop Hill into the hands of the Superior, Lord Torphichen, in favour of his eldest son John, a regularly occurring family first name.

In 1656 the above Patrick's son, John Gemmell, had a charter to hold Templehouse with his intended wife for the length of the life of the longest lived.

[14] In 1754 John Gemmell obtained the lands of Templehouse from his grandfather as granted by the feudal superior, William Wallace of Carnell and held the sasine from 1759.

In 1935 the communion roll of Dunlop Church records a Miss Alice Gemmell at Loanhead, with a Margaret and Minnie Gemmill (sic) at Templehouse.

No heirs could be located and Minnie refused to make a will as she wished the property to return to the crown "..from whence it came", the house and walled garden are now completely ruinous.

Some demolition took place when an unstable gable end was in danger of falling onto the lane that takes a right angle bend around the site.

[18] A number of Gemmell family memorial stones are located in the Dunlop Church cemetery close to the John Hamilton mausoleum.

The old woodland indicator plant sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) and bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are present.

The dwelling is shown lying close to the road that branches of at Dunlop Church and runs down to Kirkwood via Borland.

[18] In 1618 Gabriel Porterfield married Marion Crawfurd and inherited the lands of Gills, Lothrihill, the Templeland and Maynes (Mains) of Hapland, including the mansion house and he also acquired Dunlop Hill.