The property was originally held by the Tironensian monks of Kilwinning Abbey and was the 'Monk's Garden', the rest home for the brothers.

Thomas Nevin was the first secular proprietor of the lands, "part of the ancient halydom of Kilwinning, which about this time was beginning to be parcelled out by the Abbots, to whoever would best remunerate them for the ostensible gift, foreseeing that their own possession was becoming doubtful and unsteady.

[5] Thomas Nevin, the first laird, was successful in the coal mining trade and was wealthy enough to start building the present mansion.

[3] Monkredding House, sometimes written as Monkreddin, is a small, much-altered L-shaped fortalice, now with a large modern wing to the rear, dating from 1905, and built to plans by Hugh Thomson, JP and architect working in Saltcoats,[6] who also built the porch and probably the Edwardian lodges.

Whitewashed roughcast harling covers the masonry; the roof has been lowered; the circular stair-tower has been significantly raised in height.

[8] The 17th-century building was enlarged and re-orientated in the early 19th century when the principal facade and central entrance were extended south.

[11] As stated, the tower was heightened, possibly returned to its original height, the work being part of the restoration carried out by the MacAlisters, including the enlargement of one of the two loopholes as a window.

Alexandrina MacAlister saw the backdoor as originally being the front entrance and saw the building as once possibly serving as a peel tower.

[17] Golconda is a ruined city in south-central India, west of Hyderabad and capital of an ancient kingdom (c. 1364-1512).

Monkredding, East and West, Hullerhill; Crofthead; Bannoch; Gooseloan; Corshill; Gaitmuirland; Nether Mains; Boutriehill; Lylestone; and Goldcraig.

[2] Circa 1562, in support of the Reformation, Andrew Nivin (sic) was a signatory to the Ayr Bond of the Congregation.

Their children were Thomas Nevin who succeeded, Ninian, Michael, Hugh of Gooseloan and Geilles, who married the Minister of Kilwinning.

Nevin was able to produce the legal documents that proved their control of these properties, originally obtained from last abbot.

John Niven set up as a blacksmith and was well known for designing and building a cart, with wheels that rotated on a fixed axle, at a time when most farmers still used sleds.

[2] Ferguson Cuninghame, succeeded his father in 1786, and being unmarried, at his death in 1830, the estate was divided in three shares among the heirs of his sisters, the eldest, Agnes, inheriting the family seat.

Agnes inherited one-third of the estate of Monkredding upon the death of her unmarried brother, Ferguson Cuninghame.

[29] The mansion house of Monkredding, with the gardens and about 6 acres (24,000 m2) (two fields), and an equal share of the estate, passed, as stated, to Agnes Miller as the eldest.

The estate at this time consisted of four farms, viz Hullerhill, Crofthead, Bannoch, and Gooseloan, a freestone Quarry, and about 18 acres (73,000 m2) of Woodlands.

[2] John Smith, the archaeologist, geologist, natural and local historian lived at Monkredding for a time in the late 19th century and wrote several of his books there, including 'Prehistoric Man In Ayrshire', published in 1895.

The census also records that George Speirs, born Irvine and baptised Dreghorn, died 28 November 1858 at Monkredding House.

In the lands of Monkridding there are old coal wastes, connected with the limestone series, from 2+1⁄2 to 3 feet in thickness, which had been opened several hundred years ago and they extend over between 50 and 100 acres.

This coal-bed must have been of great value in those days of defective machinery from the peculiar position of the coal and lay of the land, as it was all wrought water-free and from the old waste there is now a constant run of fine water.

In the 19th century the row contained six dwellings and was home to workers from the nearby extensive freestone and limestone quarries and coal pits.

[38] Closure of the quarries led to the decline and abandonment of this once thriving local community in the late 20th century.

Monkredding Quarry at NS329452 is a Provisional Local Nature Conservation Site as designated by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in co-operation with North Ayrshire Council.

[39] In 1605 the Nevins held lands from Sir Hugh Montgomery within his estates in the parish of Donaghadee in Northern Ireland.