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Pigot 1837

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Newmilns and Darvel
1837 Ayrshire Directory
Pigot and Co

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Newmilns is a neat market and manufacturing town, and burgh of barony, in the parish of Loudoun and district of Cunningham; 24 miles s of Glasgow, 18 ne of Ayr, 7 e by s of Kilmarnock, and 16 n of Cumnock; situate on the bank of the river Irvine, about two miles e from the village of Galston.

It was made a burgh of barony by King James IV, in 1490; and the charter was confirmed by Sir Matthew Campbell of Loudoun, in 1566. The bailies are competent to hold courts, from which there is no appeal, except to the courts of session; and in other respects their jurisdiction is as ample as that of most royal burghs.

The weaving of muslins is carried on here extensively, one thousand hands being employed in this branch of manufacture. The places of worship are an established church, and a meeting-house of the united secession body. The parochial school, and a Sabbath evening school, are both well attended; in the latter, about three hundred children of the working classes receive instruction.

The Marquess of Hastings, having married the heiress of Loudoun, is the superior of the burgh; Thomas Brown Esq., of Waterhaaughs, also has considerable property, and is superior of a village adjoining, called Greenholm.

The market is well supplied with the necessary articles of consumption. There are four annual fairs, namely, the the first Thursday in February, the third Wednesday in May, the fourth Thursday in August, and the fourth Wednesday in October.

DARVEL

Is a small village, in the same parish as New Milns. In this neighbourhood is Loudoun castle, the seat of the Marquess of Hastings, a mansion of modern erection and great elegance, in the castellated style of architecture, situate amidst some fine grounds near the Irvine river; the 'woods and braes' of Loudoun furnish a theme for one of Tannahill's best songs. The Marchioness of Hastings munificently erected a school in this village, which is still maintained by the family.

Post Office, Main street, Newmilns, Nicol Brown, Post master - Letters from Kilmarnock &c arrive every morning at nine, and are despatched every afternoon at half past three.

NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY
Brown, Thomas, esq (of Waterhaughs), LanfineBruce, Rev. John, MA, Somervalbank
Hastings the Most Noble the Marquess of, Loudoun castleLawrie, Rev. Archibald, DD., Manse
Patrick, Capt. Jas., Loudoun cottageRogerson, Rev. Archibald, Darvel
 
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS
Brown, James, GreenholmHaddow, Alexander, New Milns
Marchioness of Hastings' School, Darval, - John Lyon Campbell, masterParochial School, New Milns - Andrew Campbell, master
 
AGENTS TO MANUFACTURERS
Brown, John, Main stGemmell, James, Main st
Hood, James, GreenholmMair, Archibald, Main st
Millar, William, Main stMorton, James, Main st
 
BAKERS
Richmond, John, Main stSmith, Alexander, Main st
Smith, Hugh, Main stSmith, Hugh, Darvel
 
BLACKSMITHS
Bryson, Thomas, DarvelMorton, Alexander, Darvel
Neil, James, New MilnsNisbet, Matthew, New Milns
 
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS
Aird, John, DarvelBrown, Andrew, Main st
Clelland, Gavin, DarvelLeaper, James, Darvel
Morton, John, DarvelMorton, Robert, Darvel
Richmond, Hugh, Main stRichmond, James, Darvel
Torrance, David, Main st 
 
CARPENTERS AND JOINERS
Hamilton, Thomas, Main stHood, John, Main st
Mair, John, DarvelMiller, Thomas, Main st
Mitchell, Archibald, Main stNisbet, Thomas, Main st
Peden, Alexander, GreenholmYoung, William, Darvel
 
CARTWRIGHTS
Bertram, John, DarvelEllison, David, Greenholm
Mair, James, New Milns 
 
FLESHERS
Barrie, John, Main st/Haddow, Robert, Main st
Reid, Alexander Boswell, Main st 
 
GROCERS AND SPIRIT DEALERS
Boyd, Ann, Main stBrown, Nicol, Main st
Fleming, James (& cheese dealer), DarvelFleming, Thomas (& cheese dealer), Darvel
Gemell, James, Main stGibbie, Henry, Darvel
Haddow, George & Co, Main stHamilton, Thomas, Main st
Hood, John, Main stHowie, Thomas, Darvel
Laurie, Nicol Brown, Main stMcPherson, James, Main st
Morton, Alexander, DarvelMorton, James, Main st
Morton, Robert, (& auctioneer), Main stNisbet, George, Main st
Reid, Alexander Boswell, Main stRichmond, John, Darvel
Smith, George, Main st 
 
INNKEEPERS AND VINTERS
Anderson, James, DarvelGray, James, Main st
McKenley, Samuel, DarvelMorton, Elizabeth, Main st
Morton, James, DarvelSmith, Hugh, Main st
Wilson, Robert, DarvelWilson, William, (Black Bull Inn & posting house), Main st
 
LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPERS
Haddow, George, and Co, Main stLawrie, Nicol Brown, Main st
Morton, Alexander, Darvel 
 
MILLERS
Loudoun, James, New MilnsMitchell, James, Darvel mill
 
MUSLIN MANUFACTURERS
Cameron, James, Main stMackay, Archibald, Main st
Mair, Archibald, Main stMorton, Adam, Main st
Morton, John, Main stParker, John jnr, Greenholm
Paton, Alexander, Main stSmith, James, Main st
Young, William, Greenholm 
 
STONE MASONS
Donaldson, Robert Carrick, Main stMoore, William, Main st
Paterson, John, DarvelRichard, Joseph, Darvel
Thom, Alexander, Darvel 
 
TAILORS
Cameron, Nicol, Main stCampbell, John, Main st
Goldie, Andrew, DarvelKilpatrick, John, Main st
Miller, John, DarvelMorton, Alexander, Darvel
Waddel, William, Darvel 
 
WRITER
Hendrie, Jno. (& town clerk), Main st 
 
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Established Church, New Milns - Rev. Archibald Lawrie, D.D.United Seccession, New Milns - Rev. John Bruce, A.M.
Reformed Presbytery, Darvel - Rev. Archibald Rogerson 

COACHES

To Ayr, the 'Marquess of Hastings' (from Edinburgh), calls at the Black Bull, New Milns, every afternoon at half past two.

To Edinburgh, the 'Marquess of Hastings' (from Ayr), calls at the Black Bull, New Milns, every morning at half past ten.

CARRIERS

To Glasgow, Alexander & John Mair, from New Milns, every Monday and Thursday, and Thomas Fleming, from Darvel, every Monday.

To Kilmarnock, John Howie, from New Milns, every Tues and Fri, and Robert Taylor, from Darvel, every Fri.

To Strathaven, Robert Taylor, from Darvel, every Thursday.

This transcript was kindly provided by Keith Muirhead from Queensland.