[7] It was granted by Walter, High Steward of Scotland, to the short-lived independent Gilbertine convent of Dalmulin.

[11] It was replaced by the present church (at NS 4282 3639) in 1823, which was built on the old Judgement or Moot hill of the barony of Riccarton.

Of the old church in the small churchyard nearby, nothing now remains above ground, the stones being used to build a single story house close to the old bridge.

[12] The manse no longer exists, however it had a claim to significance in that it had a mantelpiece in its kitchen which came from the dining room of Riccarton castle.

Burns has him preaching with hell-fire roaring, enough to send the Devil himself back to his hot hell in fright.

[16] Burns also references him in the Holy Fair[16] with : This was followed by a lampooning in "The Kirk's Alarm" where his swarthy complexion earned him the title of Singet Sawnie.

[16] Burns wrote The Holy Tulzie in 1784 in response to a verbally violent dispute over parish boundaries between Alexander Moodie and the John Russel, minister of Kilmarnock's High Kirk.

Gilbert's Scots nickname was 'Jop' and as a man of great stature and generally impressive appearance he was chosen by Edward I to carry the sacred banner of Saint John of Beverley at the head of the English army at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296 after voluntarily joining the English army.

About 1787 he separated from his wife and made the unusual pledge that if either of them were to make an attempt at reconciliation then that person was to pay the other a £100; a considerable sum in those times.

He set aside money for all the beggars in Ayrshire to come and see his body lying in state and then enjoy a great feast in his honour.

[21] Sir James Shaw, Bart., a Lord Mayor of London was born at Mosshead farm on the Treesbank estate in 1764.

[23] Sir James endeared himself to Scotland by the active part which he took in raising money in London for the widow and children of Robbie Burns.

"[8][25] Soil from the foundations of the new church on the old moot hill was used to fill up part of the river bed when its course was changed at East Shaw Street, and this area though north of the Irvine still lies in Riccarton parish.

[28] After his murder of Selby, Governor of Dundee, William Wallace first sought refuge in Riccarton castle; another time being after he had revenged his uncle's death at the Barns of Ayr.

[29] A little below the watermeetings[30] of the Irvine and the Kilmarnock Water took place a pivotal incident in 1297[31] which led to the Scottish Nation regaining its independence following what was effectively its conquest by Edward I of England.

Sir William Wallace was fishing on the Irvine at Monksholm also Maxholm farm,[32] about half a mile to the west of old Riccarton castle,[33] when a troop of English soldiers dismounted and demanded that he give up his catch.

[30] A thorn tree called the "Bickering Bush" stood nearby and its site is marked on the 1860 OS map and a public house by that name used to stand in Riccarton, although another still exists in Bonnyton, Kilmarnock.

The English were ambushed as they crossed the ford on the Irvine and sixty lay dead before the survivors fled.

Riccarton parish was often in dispute with the Kilmarnock to Cumnock committee over the payment of so-called 'conversion' money for the Toll Road maintenance.

[45] John Galloway, Esq., of Barleith and Dollars Collieries built an institute in New Street Riccarton for the use of the working-men in the locality.

It is listed in 1929 as 'Riccarton and Craigie' by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, one of the stations which the company conveyed goods to.

The Todgrige burn runs from near Muirmill Equestrian centre to join the Irvine at the Caprington Castle estate.

The publican was famous for providing a free kebbuck of cheese and a scone with lunchtime pints; a custom that was quite prevalent in various parts of Scotland and England up until the 1914-1918 war.