Earlstoun   Loch,   in   the   valley   of   Glenkens,   Dumfries   and   Galloway,   is   approximately   1   mile   outside   St.   John’s Town of   Dalry   (where   Hugh   Foss   lived)   on   the A713   towards Ayr.   The   loch   is   formed   by   a   widening   of   the   Water   of   Ken and   the   Earlstoun   Linn   falls   into   the   loch   at   its   head.   On   its   eastern   shore   stand   Earlstoun   House   and   Earlstoun Castle which was built by the Sinclair family in the mid 16 th C and passed to Alexander Gordon of Airds in 1615. Earlstoun   Loch   is   part   of   the   area   used   by   the   Galloway   hydro-electric   power   scheme,   a   network   of   dams   and hydro-electric   power   stations   built   between   1932   and   1936.   The   generating   stations   draw   water   from   the   River Ken,    River    Dee    and    River    Doon    through    reservoirs    at    Loch    Doon,    Kendoon,    Carsfad,    Clatteringshaws,    and Tongland.   The   unusual   modernist   stations   were   designed   by   Scottish   civil   engineer,   Sir   Alexander   Gibb,   and   can produce   a   total   peak   power   of   around   106   megawatts.   The   total   cost   of   the   scheme   was   around   three   million pounds   so   at   a   cost   of   £29   per   kilowatt   of   installed   capacity,   they   were   some   of   the   least   costly   stations   ever built in the UK. The   stations   are   generally   white,   highly   glazed   Modernist   structures,   with   large   airy   turbine   halls.   The   designs were   stylistically   advanced   for   their   time   and   whilst   the   credit   for   the   design   is   given   to   Alexander   Gibb   and Partners,   it   is   likely   that   they   received   input   from   H.   O.   Tarbolton,   the   architectural   advisor   to   the   scheme's 'Amenities   Committee'.   This   committee   was   set   up   to   "make   to   the   Company   such   recommendations   as   they   may think   are   reasonable   and   proper   for   the   preservation   of   the   beauty   of   the   scenery",   and   these   stations   bear   some striking resemblances to Tarbolton’s design for the Pitlochry power station. BUILDING THE EARLSTOUN DAM The   arch   section   of   the   dam,   built   across   the   River   Ken,   is 282   feet   long   on   a   radius   of   145   feet.   The   upstream   face   is vertical   and   there   is   a   slight   slope   on   the   downstream   face. Openings   had   to   be   left   in   the   dam   while   work   was   in progress   to   allow   the   waters   of   the   Ken   to   pass   through. With   the   exception   of   the   centre   opening,   into   which   was built   an   outlet   conduit   closed   by   a   valve,   the   openings   were filled   in   to   complete   the   work.   Massive   flood   gates   were incorporated   in   the   gravity   section   of   the   Earlstoun   dam. Spillways   were   provided   along   the   417   feet   length   of   the gravity   dam,   but   these   alone   would   have   been   insufficient to   lead   off   all   the   flood   water   so   the   flood   gates   have   a span of 17’ 6” and can be raised to a height of 25 feet. 140   acres   of   water   are   impounded   by   the   Earlstoun   dam   and water   for   the   Earlstoun   turbines   is   drawn   from   the   eastern end of the dam by a canal 1,200 feet long. In   great   contrast   to   the   bright   pristine   nature   of   the   stations,   the   dams   are   organic   and   entwined   with   the natural rock and generally arch dams which are curved in plan. Today   the   dams   are   well   liked   and   a   source   of   pride   to   the   people   of   Galloway   -   the   Glenlee   Power   Station   and Bridge   are   listed   buildings   -   and   of   course   the   scheme   is   still   generating   environmentally   friendly   electricity. However they were not universally admired when they were first built, as local poet W.G.M. Dobie wrote: A raider comes today who kills The glories of our glens and hills With unheroic acts and bills and "Private Legislation" The Company promoters pen Will Dam the Deugh and dam the Ken and Dam the Dee - oh Dam the men Who Plan such desecration!

EARLSTOUN LOCH  (R5x32)  Hugh Foss  Glendarroch SD Sheets  1- 8 1s   &   3s   cross   RH,   cast   1   place,   cross   LH,   cast   round   4th   corner   into Double Triangle positions (BtoB facing own sides)  9-16 All dance Double Triangles & end in 2 nd /4 th  place own side 17-24 1s   &   3s   lead   down   1   place,   cast   up   1   place,   turn   RH   &   lead   up   to original places to end with 1s facing 2s & 3s facing 4s 25-32 1s   &   3s   set   to   2s/4s   &   ½   turn   facing   dancer   2H,   1s   &   3s   set   to   4s/5s & ½ turn facing dancer 2H to end 2 4 1 5 3