Bob and I went to Scotland this summer. We wanted to see the town that his grandfather and great grandfather emigrated from. The town is Kilwinning. It is home to Kilwinning Abbey and the first Masonic Lodge, known as The Mother Lodge.
It was founded in 1140! Bob’s ancestors were members here.
We knocked on the door and stated our reason for being there and were given a very warm welcome and a tour of the lodge.
But most exciting was that they were having a parade the day we were there!
It was called an Orange Walk or Orange March.
I had never heard of the Orange Order, but it’s a fraternal organization.
There were lodges represented from all over Scotland and Ireland.
Their name comes from Prince William of Orange.
Each lodge carried a big banner.
It was so interesting to see the way the different groups were dressed.
Some just marched, some had drums and some had fifes.
And a few had drum majors like this guy, who was very good!
I think there were about 75 units in the parade.
It lasted over an hour.
There were a few women’s groups, and I loved their hats!
The most dominant feature of the town is the ruins of the Abbey.
You see it from everywhere.
After the parade, we wandered over to the Abbey.
We were delighted to find that the tower was open and you could go up with a guide. While we were stopped on the bell level, the bells chimed! I just about jumped out of my skin!
The view was fantastic!
On the way down, I told the guide that Bob’s great-grandfather had been provost of Kilwinning (that’s like the mayor). She said, “You know that we have the robe he would have worn when he presided at meetings.” Well, we didn’t know, but what a thrill to see it and imagine all the times Bob’s great-grandfather donned it.
She told us there was even a street named for him…
…so we had to check it out, of course!
6 Responses
September 10th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
What a fantastic trip, and so much personal history to it! I love that!
It’s really wonderful that you know so much about your ancestry. My parents are not very forthcoming with information; my mother’s people are from Greece and she doesn’t know any of the language. I understand my father’s mother left the family when the kids were little, and his father was awful……disfunction started really early for our clan! :o( I’m always in awe of the stories you tell, and how much history you are aware of. It’s really wonderful! Thanks for sharing it!
September 11th, 2012 at 7:55 am
Great pics, Karen! I know how meaningful it must have been to Bob to be able to stand on the same ground his GGF stood upon. Great story!
September 11th, 2012 at 8:38 am
I’m glad you had a good day in my home town of Kilwinning…
You should be aware however that the Orange Order is a sectarian organisation and not everyone regards them as a benign organisation in terms of connections with terrorist activities in Northern Ireland I respect everyone’s right to religious freedom, but disputes between Protestant and Catholic societies in West Central Scotland have generally been harmful to development, and Orange walks have been a significant part of the contention.
As I said, I’m really glad you had a good day in Kilwinning, but please don’t think of the Orange Order in the same way as the masons. Some background reading here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Order
September 11th, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Great photos. I love how the Hamilton Street sign is ticked into the hedge. Or is that hedge row?!
November 26th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Glad you enjoyed Scotland, but the Orange order are far from benign, they are a bigoted bunch who seek to perpetuate hatred and division with their hatred of all things Catholic. They are a stain on society and the sooner they fade into memory the better leaving Scotland to continue its transformation to an equal and fair society for all.
December 5th, 2012 at 7:25 am
Many thanks for posting phtographs of Kilwinning and especially the Orange parade. The Orange is very popular in Kilwinning, there are 3 mens and one ladies Orange Lodges. They have been in Kilwinning since the 1830′s, they were in Dalry, the next town up the road even longer.
In Kilwinning, there are also a Royal Black Preceptory, an Apprentice Boys of Derry Club and two loyalist flute bands.
Really do not agree that Orange Order is founded on hatred, and it doesn’t perpetrate hatred in any way, and I say that as a member of 20 years. They also won’t fade from society as the above posters wish, Scottish Orange membership peaked in the 80′s, dipped and has risen for the past five years, so obviously it has a relevance and shouldn’t just be dismissed as hatred. The Orange in Ireland have just been awarded £3million from the Peace and reconstruction fund from Northern Ireland because of the work they did during Ulsters Troubles keeping youths away from paramilitary membership.
Reverend Stitt in Mansefield Church Kilwinning was a member.
Very happy you also visited Lodge Mother Kilwinning, a South African friend of mine took the opportunity to visit and March and they made him and his wife very welcome.
There is no link between the Orange and Masonic Lodges, but there are a large number of men are members of both, myself included.
Cheers
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