The Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers is a Scottish archery society that was established in 1483. It holds an annual archery competition where members shoot at a target called a Papingo. The society possesses a Silver Arrow prize that dates back to 1697 and contains medals commemorating past winners. Notable past winners include members of the Scottish nobility as well as figures involved in important historical events like the Jacobite risings. The society continues the ancient Scottish tradition of archery practice to this day with over 500 years of history.

1. 1
The Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers
A short history of the first 530 years.

2. 2
The History of the
Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers.
From its commencement in
1483
to the present day.

3. 3
In Scotland by decree of King and
Parliament the young men of every parish
had to turn out for archery practice and
these "wapenschaws" or exhibitions of
arms were in many places held “every
Sunday after divine service” and shooting
at the Papingo usually formed part of this
demonstration of skill.
Basically this was shooting at an elevated
target with the Abbey Tower being a very
convenient place to fix such a device. The
target was usually in the form of a bird, the
Papingo (or Popinjay), and was shot at with
a bow although by the 17th
century muskets
were being used having, by then, replaced
the bow as a weapon of war.
At Kilwinning however a Company of
Archers persisted and the use of the bow
continued as a popular sport rather than as
a demonstration of proficiency as a military
force.
Papingo or Popinjay Shooting

4. 4
Extract from the Society’s First Written Record of 1688
This states that the
Society had been
shooting at the
Papingo for the
‘space of two
hundred years and
upwards’ giving
us a start date of
at least 1488 with
later debate finally
fixing it at 1483
Click Forward
to transcribe
(All spelling as Original)

5. 5
Extract from the Society’s First Written Record of 1688
This states that the
Society had been
shooting at the
Papingo for the
‘space of two
hundred years and
upwards’ giving
us a start date of
at least 1488 with
later debate finally
fixing it at 1483
Shooting with Bow and Arrow at Butts and Papingo has been used and
practised at Kilwinning by the inhabitants thereof for the space of Two
Hundered years and upwards. The prize shott for at the Game of the
papingo in former times was a piece of fine Persian Taffetie Three Ells
long and three Quarters broad of several colours viz Blew, Green,
Scarlet etc. to the value of Twentie pounds at least; which they term’d a
Benn.

6. 6
James III
It is almost certain that Hugh Montgomerie, the 1st
Earl of Eglinton, took part in that contest
and would have raised his own contingent from this part of Ayrshire and this would
undoubtedly have included a body of archers.
Whilst not conclusive it is quite possible that it was this event that saw the genesis of our
present day Society when the archers, returned from the war in 1483 and having to
practice archery anyway, as it was a law made by King James, chose to do so with their
own band of comrades. They would have practiced together at the butts after church on
Sundays and at the Papingo where the Abbey tower was a ready made place to set it up.
Alexander Duke of Albany
Interestingly we do know that
in 1482 James III of Scotland
raised an army to fight his
brother Alexander who,
whilst contending the
Scottish throne, had formed
an alliance with Richard of
Gloucester (later to become
Richard III) and together they
invaded Berwick upon Tweed
in the borders.

7. 7
The Original Silver Arrow
This is the original Silver Arrow presented by David Mure to fulfil his pledge of a piece
of ‘Silver Plait’. It was to cost at least 20 shillings but as can be imagined this cost
considerably more than that.
At one point there were 110 medals fixed along its length, so it was extremely crowded.

8. 8
David Mure 1697 1723 1724
David Mure presented the
Society with the original
Silver Arrow as his piece of
‘Silver Plait’ and from 1725 it
became the recurring prize for
the Papingo.
As we can see he obviously
took the opportunity to fit a
medal covering his wins from
the previous years.
His win of 1697 is the earliest
date on the Silver Arrow

9. 9
Picture from the Illustrated London News of 1846
Kilwinning Papingo Day shooting at the target field
On the morning of the annual shoot the Society paraded to the Butts
preceded by the band to shoot for a prize of the piece of silver ‘plait’
that had been pledged, in turn, by each Society member as it fell due.
We still have pledges yet to fall due up to the year 2410!

10. 10
Picture from the Illustrated London News of 1846
Kilwinning Papingo shooting at the Abbey Tower
After dinner the Society
again paraded to the
Abbey Tower where the
‘bird was loosed’ and
the members proceeded
to shoot in turn trying to
knock it off the pole.
When this was achieved
the steeple bell was
rung, the crowd cheered
and the instrumental
band struck up.
The new Captain was
fitted with his ‘Benn’ (a
red sash) and he made
his pledge to fit a medal
onto the Silver Arrow
the following year.
He also had to pay for
the Ball that followed!

11. 11
At the Grand Ball our own tunes would be played.
There are 4 tunes Click on the links below to listen to them
At the ball the new Captain led off the dancing with one Sybil or ‘Sibby’ Glen,
a widow of some ‘fourscore years’, a favoured partner in those times.

12. 12
The 10th
Earl of Eglinton 1731
As the Earl was only about 8 years old at
this time John Warner the previous years
winner shot for him.
The young Earl however did sign the record
book himself as can be seen below!
These are some of the winners and Past Captains
The 10th
Earl was the one destined to be shot and fatally wounded
by Mungo Campbell in 1769 when he was challenged by the Earl
who suspected him of poaching on his lands near Ardrossan

13. 13
John Hamilton of Grange 1742
John Hamilton of Grange was the
uncle of Alexander Hamilton who
was born in the Windward Islands in
the Caribbean .
Alexander became one of the
founding fathers of the U.S.A. and
the 1st
Secretary of the United States
Treasury and his face still appears on
their $10 bill.
Several other members of this family also have medals on the Silver Arrow.

14. 14
Medal now attributed to Charles Boyd Esq. 1745
Why was this medal left blank?
Click Forward to find out

15. 15
Medal now attributed to Charles Boyd Esq. 1745
Hidden in the border are some
little Dog Roses or Briar Roses
the symbol of the Jacobites.
Look carefully at the left hand border!
Charles Boyd was a Jacobite!

16. 16
The Prize of Papingo
was gained by
Charles Boyd Esq
Son to
William Boyd
4th
Earl of Kilmarnock
May 16th
1745
Front
This medal
was left blank because
Charles Boyd fought for
Prince Charles Edward Stuart
at the battles of Falkirk & Culloden.
At the time this medal was fixed to the
Silver Arrow on May 15th
1746 just
4 weeks after the Jacobite defeat at
Culloden he was a fugitive from the
Government Forces eventually
escaping to France, returning
having been pardoned
about 1767
Back
Medal 1745 Charles Boyd
Having established who won this medal we are commissioning this
medallion to be fitted alongside the medal telling the story of why it was left
blank
The story of Charles Boyd is
covered in greater depth in the
Silver Arrow Medal Winners
archive elsewhere on this site.

17. 17
Charles Crookshanks 1785
Charles Crookshanks
was a bachelor living
in Bogside just to the
south of Kilwinning.
He was a long time
member of the
Society and
obviously a bit of a
lad with the ladies as
well if this poem is
anything to go by!
Click to
Transcribe

18. 18
Charles Crookshanks 1785
Charles Crookshanks
was a bachelor living
in Bogside just to the
south of Kilwinning.
He was a long time
member of the
Society and
obviously a bit of a
lad with the ladies as
well if this poem is
anything to go by!
Cupid beyond my wish hath favoured me.
Your Captain Ladies, this night I am to be.
Your Hearts the Prize all Archers aim at.
Twang goes the Bow Dear Girls have at it.
Good Ladies pray, put on your best attire.
Fan in your Bosom, the Celestial Fire.
Come not, in maiden beauties, coyest Mood.
But Smiling, look as ye wou’d be Wooed,
And we’ll do our best with our utmost skill,
To Win your Hearts with a hearty good Will.

19. 19
David Boyle Esq. 1793
David Boyle was the MP for
Ayrshire and the Solicitor General
for Scotland.
He is perhaps most famous for being
the presiding judge at the trial of
Burke & Hare, the notorious
Edinburgh body snatchers.
He sentenced Burke to be hung and
then publicly dissected which
ironically enough was to be have
been the fate of the bodies that they
were stealing.
Hare had got off with it having
turned ‘Kings Evidence’ against his
fellow accused!
There is a statue of David Boyle in
Irvine standing in the Seagate.

20. 20
Burke & Hare, from sketches made in court
David Boyle’s statue in Irvine in
the Seagate
Hare is looking the happier of
the pair, perhaps because he
knows he is getting off with it.

21. 21
The original Abbey Tower fell
down in 1814, just 3 weeks after
the Papingo shoot of that year,
and its fall is recorded on the
Silver Arrow!
It was nothing to do with us,
Honestly!
James Crichton 1814

22. 22
John Crichton 1857
This was John Crichton of Linn, Dalry.
He was a mill owner who had a mansion
house near to the present day Lidl.
The pillars at the entrance to his estate are
all that is left today.
This medal went missing from the Silver
Arrow some time around 1868 and has
only recently been discovered.
It was hiding in plain sight in a display
case in the Abbey Tower under the care of
Kilwinning Heritage.
It was returned and fitted to the Silver
Arrow, with due ceremony, in October
2017 about 150 years after it was lost.

23. 23
John Smith 1861
John Smith of Spring Grove in
Kilbarchan married Margaret Dunlop
who died shortly after giving birth to
twin daughters, Agnes and Margaret.
The girls were raised by their father
who was a solicitor and something of
an amateur linguist. They inherited his
love of travel and languages and both
became Semitic Scholars sometimes
known as the ‘Westminster Sisters’
On one of her many journeys to Sinai,
Agnes discovered and translated the
Syriac Sinaiticus which helped to make
sense of, and put into order the New
Testament of the Bible.

24. 24
Click Forward to transcribe
In 1830 the Society wrote to King William IV requesting the
honour of being his bodyguard in the West of Scotland.

25. 25
The Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers
Extract from the Society Records held in the Scottish Records Archive, Edinburgh
Transcript of record page no 180 – 1830 (Letter to William IV)
To the Kings Most Gracious Majesty
May it please your Majesty
We your Majesty's most dutiful loyal subjects the members of the Ancient Kilwinning Papingo,
Ayrshire, having celebrated the 347th* anniversary of this institution, beg leave to approach
the Throne on the occasion of your Majesty's Accession with every sentiment of respect and
attachment.
We sympathise with your Majesty & the Country on the loss sustained by the death of your
Illustrious Brother our late beloved Sovereign, But we rejoice that Providence has blessed us
with a successor in your Majesty's Person worthy to reign over a great nation and we beg
leave to express the confidence which we feel in the wisdom and popularity of the reign of
one who has received a Christian Education under the eye of an upright and venerable father.
And who since his accession to the Throne has secured the warmest affections of all over
whom he is called to preside.
May it please your Majesty.
If your Majesty should ever think fit to honor the western part of Scotland with a visit, we beg
leave to tender our services as Body guard on that occasion and will feel highly gratified if
your Majesty shall be pleased to distinguish us by so proud an appointment.
That your Majesty's reign may be long and peaceful and happy is the sincere Prayer of an
ancient Body of Archers.
(Signed) D. S. Buchanan Captain
In 1830 the Society wrote to King William IV requesting the
honour of being his bodyguard in the West of Scotland.

26. 26
Click Forward to transcribe
His Majesty accepted see below signed by Robert
Peel

27. 27
Transcript of record page no 181 - 1830
(Reply from Sir Robert Peel To The Earl of Glasgow on behalf of William IV)
Whitehall October 15th 1830
My Lord
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's letter of the
3rd October and I have not failed to lay before the King the Memorial which
accompanies it from the Members of the Ancient Kilwinning Archers.
I am commanded by his Majesty to request that your Lordship will assure the
Kilwinning Archers that should his Majesty be enabled to visit the western
parts of Scotland He will gladly accept the services of which they make him
a tender.
I have the Honor to to be My Lord
Your Lordship's Obedient Servant
(signed) Robert Peel
His Majesty accepted see below signed by Robert
Peel

28. 28
The Silver Arrow as it is today
This magnificent trophy is awarded annually to the new Captain with a silver
medal being fixed to it to join the many others from antiquity.

29. 29
Copy of the cover of the Rules
& Regulations from 1844.
It shows that Prince Albert
became our Patron then.
Royal Patronage continued over the years.

30. 30
The Silver Arrow was not always
mounted on a base!
Here we see it mounted on a pole
in the times when it was carried at
the head of a parade through
Kilwinning.
The archers in the photograph
could well be Society members
Andrew Scott and William Brown
who, in 1859, had been given the
task of obtaining a new Arrow and
instead opted to add the bow and
crossed arrows to the original.

31. 31
Bobby McKee letting fly at the Papingo in 1976
Bobby McKee, the Captain in 1967
was one of the members along with
Harry Travers, who were
responsible for reforming the
Society in 1948 just after the war.
They also, with the help of the Earl
of Eglinton, successfully persuaded
the Royal Company of Archers to
return the Silver Arrow to us.

32. 32
The Return of the Silver Arrow to Kilwinning
In 1951 the Silver Arrow was returned to us by the Royal Company of Archers.
Their Captain General is pictured here with Provost Hamilton Fleming.

33. 33
The Walker Trophy is a scale
model of the Kilwinning Abbey
tower complete with miniature
archer and papingo.
This is now the trophy for hitting
the Papingo.
It was made by Andrew
Walker the brother of one of
the Society’s members, in the
1950’s after the decision was
made to adopt the Kilwinning
Round to decide the Captain.

34. 34
We still shoot at the Papingo today!
Whilst the Captain is now decided at the
Butts the traditional Papingo shoot
continues to this present day.

35. 35
Society members take aim at the butts in McGavin park, 2014

36. 36
These days we decide who
becomes Captain by shooting
the ‘Kilwinning Round’ at the
Butts in McGavin Park.
And the Lieutenants come
from the minority bow types!
Captaincy Shoot at McGavin Park

37. 37
The Society also takes part in Community Events
Here we are forming a Guard of
Honour for the Queen’s Baton Relay
when it visited Kilwinning in 2014.

38. 38
A.S.K.A. archers at the lighting of the Queen’s Beacon 2016
We had the honour of leading the parade up to the Beacon
on the Castlehill in Ardrossan.

39. 39
Michael Portillo paid us a visit in 2014
for Great British Railway Journeys!

40. 40
Drummond Castle
We have recently started shooting at the Papingo at Drummond Castle Tower by
kind invitation of Lady Jane Willoughby de Eresby who, along with Countess
Ignatieff presented us with this Silver Arrow.
Drummond Castle
gardens near Crieff
were portrayed as the
Marquis of Montrose’s
gardens in the movie
‘Rob Roy’!

41. 41
The Society also features on the Great Tapestry of Scotland
Look at the bottom right hand corner! Click forward
to magnify

42. 42
The Society also features on the Great Tapestry of Scotland
Look at the bottom right hand corner!

43. 43