Ludovic Mann

Ludovic McLellan Mann (1895-1955) was a Glasgow insurance broker.  He was fascinated by the  prehistoric archaeology of south-west Scotland and had a particular interest in Argyll and the Glasgow area.   Mann also spent some time in Wigtownshire.  In 1903 he excavated a Neolithic pit group at Mye Plantation, Stoneykirk and in the 1920s he investigated a Bronze Age burial at Low Glengyre, Leswalt and a Roman burial at High Torrs on Luce Sands.   Like many other antiquaries, Mann built up a huge collection of prehistoric finds from the shifting dune system on Luce Sands.  It seems, however, that the hard work of searching the dunes was often done for him by others.  Local people, knowing of Mann's interest in archaeology, used to meet him at the County Hotel, Stoneykirk.  There they would show him their latest discoveries and Mann would purchase the better pieces for his collection.   Mann's collection was bequeathed to Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow.