..........The Kirklands moved into the Quarter area in 1833. Alexander Kirkland took over the tenancy of Burnbrae Farm and a small farm called Paddock Craig. The two farms were joined into one with the buildings at the small farm being removed when the Railway went through their land. The fields of the farm stretched from the farm house of Burnbrae to within one field of Limekilnburn. In the 1851 census the Burnbrae Farm is being run by Alexander's son John Kirkland and his wife Margaret Wilson with their children of Alexander born 1839, Janet born 1871, Ann born 1843, Margaret born 1845, Robert born 1846, Mary born 1849 and lastly Archibald who was born early in 1851.
............John Kirkland was still the head farmer in 1881, having 130 acres and his children Robert, John born 1855, Jane born 1853 and Agnes born 1857 were employed on the farm. His son Robert took over the farm and also married a Margaret Wilson. It was this Robert who helped transport the stone from the quary to build the Quarter Parish Church. In turn his son also Robert who was born in January 1900 and married Jane Wiseman Lennox Murray from Sandford in 1936. Jane and Robert met at a Farmers Ball in the Duchess Nina Institute. When Robert and Jane moved over to let their son Robert run the farm they moved to Darngaber Farm before Jane moved with her daughter Alison into a new bungalow in Limekilnburn Road.
..........In 1922 the Duke of Hamilton Estates offered to sell the farms of Quarter to the sitting tenants and the Kirklands, like the majority of farmers, took the opportunity to own their farms and invest in their own future. As mentioned above the Railway ran through their farm and the station was just across the road from their fields. Even in the mid 19th century supplies were delivered to the Quarter station for the farmers, who could be seen collecting their supplies by horse and cart.
...........The farm is still run by Robert with his brother Guy and John now working on other farms and his sister Margaret married a farmer from Carluke. Robert's son may step into his shoes and continue the run of Kirklands at burnbrae Farm. One other member of the family should be mentioned is Annie Kirkland who married Bill Ferguson from Shotts. Bill lodged in Quarter with the Hornels while he learned his trade as manager in the coal industry. They emigrated to South Africa where they married and then settled in Bulawao, Rhodesia and Bill was manager in the local coal mine. There son went on to be head of security under the Smith government during the independence struggle of the 60's.
