Skelmorlie Aisle

The majority of the kirk (church) was demolished in 1802 when the new parish church came into use, but the aisle, a division of the once larger building containing the mausoleum, was retained.

The Skelmorlie Aisle contains a notable monument built by a local landowner, Sir Robert Montgomerie of Skelmorlie Castle, seventh Laird of Skelmorlie, as a burial site for himself and his wife, Dame Margaret Douglas. A third coffin within the tomb is said to be that of Sir Hugh Montgomerie of Eaglesham, a hero of the Battle of Otterburn. It can be compared with other significant tombs, such as that of the Cunninghames, Earls of Glencairn at Kilmaurs in East Ayrshire. Sir Robert's coffin is especially long and much of the lead on the bottom of the coffin is missing, supposedly taken by local fishermen who believed that lead weights made from it would result in a large catch of fish.

Today Skelmorlie Aisle is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. Admission is free, although visitors need to be accompanied by a guide from the adjoining Largs Museum. Both the kirkyard and museum are open from Easter until late September on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1:30pm to 4.30pm.