In March 1558 the Montgomerie family purchased the feu of £3 2s 8d the lands of Sevenacres from the abbot of Kilwinning Abbey. Prior to this time the family had only rented the property. Holding the feu gave the Montgomerie family rights to the minerals beneath the land, a hereditary possession, a fixed feu duty, etc. The Bannoch Burn rises near Sevenacres and runs down from here to enter the
River Garnock at Bridgend in Kilwinning.
The Lairds In 1558 Patrick Montgomery is the first recorded holder of the Lands of Sevenacres following the selling of the feu by the abbot of Kilwinning and by the end of the century he was a fairly well-off "Bonnet Laird". William Montgomerie of Sevenaikers (sic) is recorded in 1562, but had died before 1612, for Thomas Montgomerie became heir to his father on 26 June 1673. The property appears to have passed from the family by sale or through marriage soon afterwards. The Montgomeries of Sevenacres are thought to have been descended from the Montgomeries of Smithston
The Laird's house Roy's map of circa 1747 shows the name Sevenacres applied to the site on the hill above what is now Sevenacres Mains. together with
Craig Mill in the Lynn Glen and
Dalgarven Mill. and it passed into secular hands with the purchase of the feu by the Montgomerie family in 1558. This old corn mill ceased production in the 1960s. William King was born to Thomas King and Barbara Neilson who are recorded on the 1755 baptismal records as living at Sevenacres Mill near Kilwinning. William went on to become the miller at
Scroggie Mill and also worked as a farmer.
Etymology A
Scottish acre was equivalent to 1.3 English acres, 5,080 square metres, or 0.508 hectares. Being such a small land holding the name Sevenacres may refer to the original lands of Sevenacres Mill that are largely enclosed within a loop of the Lugton Water only and was later applied to the lands running towards
Lylestone. The site is known as "Acres" on a few of the older maps and the recorded name 'Sundkers Mill' may also relate to it. It is worth noting that the
Scots word 'Aiker' can also refer to a cereal crop such as barley, oats, etc.
Quarrying The 1856 shows the
limestone quarry at Sevenacres. In 1897 and 1909 a narrow gauge 'tramway' route is shown that ran down from the Sevenacres limestone quarry passed Sevenacres Mains and linked with the mineral freight line above Sevenacres Mill that ran down to the Dirrans in Kilwinning. In 1897 it was not operational, however in 1909 the track had been relaid and a crane at Sevenacres was used for transhipment. More recently a
Bauxite mine was located near Sevenacres Mill. ==Cartographic evidence==