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Pigot 1837

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Maybole
1837 - Ayrshire Directory
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Maybole is a small, neat, market and post town, the capital of the parish of its name and the district of Carrick; 87 miles sw from Edinburgh, 52 n from Portpatrick, 44 ssw from Glasgow, 25 w from Ballantrae, 22 s from Kilmarnock, 12 n by e from Girvan, and between 8 and 9 s from Ayr; situate in a most delightful part of the country, on the face of a gentle eminence wit a southerly exposure, and surrounded by lovely scenery, formed of parks, highly cultivated, and hill and dale, with a sea-view of the "busy Firth of Clyde" opening on the west.

Maybole was created a free burgh of barony on 14th November, 1516, and a grant to Gilbert Earl of Cassilis, the patron, and to the provost and prebendaries of the collegiate church of Maybole, to which belonged the lands whereon the town stands. In October, 1639, an act, ordaining the head court of Carrick to be held at Maybole, was passed by the Lords of the Articles.

The streets of the town are narrow, and contain no eminently fine places or public buildings; but it nevertheless possesses, in a certain degree, a character of massive magnificence seldom seen in much larger places. This is attributable to the circumstance of its having been, in former times, the winter residence of many of the noble and baronial families of the neighbourhood, some of whose mansions yet standing, with their turrets, impart an air of antique dignity to the houses around. Several of the dwellings now inhabited by weavers bear a venerable aspect, and doubtless were at a distant period the domiciles of more dignified personages. The mansion-house or castle of the Cassilis family is the finest surviving specimen of the winter seats formerly existing in Maybole; it is a stately well built structure, situate at the east end of the town, and is said to have been the residence of the repudiated Countess of Cassilis. The building now used as a town-hall belonged to the Kennedys of Blairquhar.

The principal business carried on here is weaving for the Glasgow houses, in which branch there are many local agents employed, and many families indefatigably occupied. The collegiate church has been for some time in ruins, and the ground appropriated as a private cemetery for the Cassilis family. A church of the national establishment, and one of the seceders or burghers, comprised the religious edifices until the 28th June, 1824, when the first stone of a Methodist chapel was laid; the Church of England service, however, is performed in the subscription school once a month. The parochial school dispenses instruction to about 170 boys and girls, who are taught all the sciences (?) and some of the polite branches of literature.

Yearly and quarterly meetings of the 'Carrick Farmers' Society' are held in the town-hall; the annual one is on the first Thursday of August, and the quarterly on the first Thursday in the months of February, May and November; the quarterly in August merges in the yearly assemblage.

A "Knox" club was instituted in 1824, for the purpose of communicating the serious exertions of that extraordinary man.

In the vicinity are many interesting objects, among which is the celebrated ruin called Crossraguel (noticed in the sketch of Kirkoswald); Kilbenzie Castle, now in a similar state of dilapidation, once belonging to a branch of the Cassilis family, who were for a long period hereditary bailles of Carrick; and the remains of Greenan Castle half a mile from the town. Ancient coins have been frequently found, and a vast quantity was some years ago discovered, in fine preservation, in this district. In the neighbourhood are two remarkably fine springs of water, popularly named 'St Cuthbert's and 'Well-trees'; the latter is said to yield ten thousand imperial gallons per hour.

The market is held on Thursday, and there are the following annual fairs; Candlemass Fair, the second Thursday of February; Beltan Fair, the second Tuesday of May; Lammas Fair, the second Tuesday of August; and the Halloween Fair, the second Tuesday of November.

Culroy

Culroy is a small village in the parish of Maybole, three miles and a half from that town, and on the road to Ayr, from which it is five miles and a half distant.

POST OFFICE

Maybole, William Rennie, Post master - Letters from Glasgow and England arrive every night at ten, and are despatched every night at a quarter past nine - Letters from Portpatrick and Ireland arrive every night at a quarter past nine, and are despatched every night at ten.

GENTRY AND CLERGY:
Ballentine, James, esq of BlairstonBell, Capt. John, Sunnyside
Campbell, Mrs Agnes, New yardsCrawford, William esq, of Doonside
Ferguson, John esq, of MonkwoodGrey, Rev George, Manse, Kirkland
Hutchinson, Mrs Mary, New yardsKelso, Mr Archibald, Sawchrie
Logan, Mrs Agnes, Mayburgh cottageMcTyer, Mrs Janet, of Red brae
Ramsey, Mrs Helen, St John'sRankine, James esq, Broch
Rankine, John esq, KnockdawRankine, James MD Otterdon
Thompson, Rev JohnWilson, Miss Margaret, Duncanland
 
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS
Gray, Elizabeth, DuncanlandMcCaig, John, Calrow
McGarragh, James, Wilson squareMcMaster, Hugh, Burns
McNab, Thomas, KirklandNicholson, Eliza & Jane, Whitehall st
Parochial School, the Green - Rev John Inglis, masterSubscription School, Dangerland str
 
AGENTS TO MANUFACTURERS (for Glasgow Weaving):
Brown, David, High stDunlop, Robert, High st
Gibson, Matthew, Weaver vennelGundie, William, High st
McMillan, Richard, KirklandMurdock, James, High st
Shaw, Thomas, High stWhite, Robert (& Paisley muslins), New yards
White, Robert, Whitehall st 
 
BAKERS:
Cathcart, Elizabeth, High stGibson, David, High st
Main, James, High stSinclair, Peter, High st
 
BANKERS:
Ayr Bank (Branch) - (draws on Hunter & Co, Ayr, Royal Bank, Glasgow, Sir William Forbes & Co, Edinburgh, and Herries, Farquhar and Co, London) - William Niven, agentAyrshire Bank (Branch) - ( draws on Royal Bank, Edinburgh and Glasgow & Williams, Deacon & Co, London) - Wm Brown, agent
 
BLACKSMITHS:
Black, William, Curral glenHaswell, John, New yards
Heterick, Alexander, CulroyLivingstone, John, Well path
Merry, James, High st 
 
BOOKSELLERS AND STATIONERS:
Campbell, William, (and bookbinder), Kirk wyndPorteous, Mitchelson (and printer), High st
 
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS:
Baird, Thomas, High stCrawford, Charles, Weaver vennel
Forsythe, William, School vennelGammel, Alexander, Kirkland
Gibson, Adam, CulroyGray, Gilbert, High st
Gray, James, School vennelKerr, Robert, School vennel
McCrindle James, Green sideMcCrindle, Robert, High st
McTyer, John, High stMuir, James, High st
Ross, John, New yardsWilson, David, Culroy
 
CARPENTERS AND JOINERS:
Dick, Quintin, Drumellon stFerguson, Hugh, High st
Gardiner, John, CulroyGoodall, Alexander, Kirkland
Haswell, John, New yardsHunter, Allan, Reform place
Jamieson, James, CulroyKerr, James, School vennel
McKall, William, Whitehall stMcLachlan, Campbell, Kirk wynd
McRonald, Thomas, Green sideRennie, Thomas Green head
Ross, William, Whitehall stShaw, John, Knox st
Stewart, William, Maybole 
 
COOPERS:
Dalziel, William, High stOsborne, John, High st
 
DRUGGISTS:
Cook, Alexander, High stHattorn, Fergus, High st
McFarlane, William, High st 
  
DYERS: 
Begg, John, Kirk wyndStellie, John, Reform place
  
FIRE & OFFICE AGENTS: 
Caledonian, Wm Nevin, High stScottish Amicable, Walter Andrews, New yards
Scottish Equitable, Wm Rennie, High stScottish Union, William Brown, High street
West of Scotland, Walter Andrews, New yards 
 
FLESHERS:
Kerr, Robert, School vennelMcCreath, John, Inche's close
Murray, Hugh, Knox stPorteous, John, High st
Sinclair, John, Market close 
 
GROCERS & SPIRIT DEALERS;
Baird, James, High stBaird, Margaret, High st
Brown, David, Whitehall stCrawford, James, High st
Dunlop, Robert, WelltreesEaglesham, Robert, High st
Edgar, James, Weaver vennelFerguson, Hugh, High st
Girvan, Hugh, Weaver vennelGoudie, William, High st
Gray, James, High stGray, John, High st
Hannay, John, Kirk wyndHenderson, William, Kirkland
McClure, Catherine, New yardsMcIlwraith, Thomas, New yards
McMillan, Richard, KirklandMcMurtrie, James, Kirk wynd
McTyer, Elizabeth, High stMarshall, William, Weaver vennel
Murdock, James,Neilson, Edward, High st
Orr, Jane, High stPollock, William, New yards
Porteous, John, High stReid, Francis, Whitehall
Roy, John, Weaver vennelStewart, Jane, High st
Thomson, Alexander, High stWhite, Robert, New yards
White, Robert, Whitehall st 
 
INNS:
Cassilis, John Pollock, High stKing's Arms (and livery stables), James Rennie, High st
Sun, James Brownlee, High st 
 
IRONMONGERS:
McKall, William, High stRennie, William, (and stamp distributor), High st
 
LIBRARIES:
Agricultural society's, High st, - William Brown, librarianPorteous, Mitchelson (circulating), High st
Subscription Reading Room, High st, - Robt. Eaglesham, mangrTown Library, Mitchelson Porteous, librarian
 
LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPERS:
Baird, Andrew, High stBryce, William, High st
Dunn, James, High stDunn, Thomas, High st
Galloway, John, High stGibson, John May, High st
McCubbin, John, KirklandsMuir, Alexander, High st
Rennie, William, High st 
 
MESSENGERS:
Bell, Thomas, MayboleHannay, William, School vennel
 
MILLINERS AND DRESS MAKERS:
Balfour, Elizabeth, (& stay maker), DuncanlandBrackenridge, Margaret Jesse (and straw hat maker)
Crawford, Jane, High stCrawford, Janet, Maybole
Gardner, Margaret, Kirk wyndGirvan, Agnes, Duncanland
Gray, Margaret,McCrindle, Jane (& straw hat maker)
McCrindle, Margt. (& straw hat maker)Murray, Anna Bella
Patterson, Jane (milliner)Rennie, Janet, Green head
Ross, Sarah, High stShaw, Ann
Stewart, Ellen, High stWhite, Mary (straw hat maker)
 
NAIL MAKERS:
Fisher, William, MayboleLivingston, John, Well path
 
PAINTERS:
Allen, Maxwell (& glazier), MayboleShaw, Thomas, Whitehall
 
PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS:
Cooke, Alexander (surgeon), High stGirvan, William, MD
Hathorn, Fergus, MD, High stLogan, Hugh, High st/
McFarlane, William, High stMcTyer, William, MD, Red brae
 
SADDLERS:
Cathcart, George, High stRamsey, James, Whitehall
Wilson, Primrose Kennedy, High st 
 
SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN SUNDRIES:
Alexander, Hugh, MayboleBryce, Alexander, Maybole
Campbell, William, Grey stCook, James, Maybole
Graham, John, MayboleHunter, Allen, Reform place
Kerr, Robert, MayboleMilligan, Thomas, Maybole
Sym, William, MayboleTempleton, James, Culroy
Wale, John, MayboleWallace, John, Maybole
Wilson, Gilbert, Culroy 
 
STONE MASONS:
Gilmour and Hamilton, MayboleMcClure, James, Mason row
Wilson, Gilbert, Culroy 
 
TAILORS:
Aird, James, CulroyAlexander, John, High st
Fulton, John, MayboleKennedy, David, Maybole
McKay, Edward, Kirk wyndMcKay, Neil, Kirkland
McCubbin, Andrew, KirklandMcMurtrie, David (& clothier), High st
McQuater, Thomas, High stMaxwell, Archibald, High st
Stewart, Quintan, High stWatson, John (& clothier), New yards
 
TIN-PLATE WORKERS:
Cowan, Richard, High stSim, James, Post-office st
 
VINTERS:
Black, William, MayboleCunningham, Wm, (Coach & Horses), Culroy
Edgar, James, MayboleGibson, Ann, School vennel
Girvan, Hugh, (Black Bull), KirklandLamont, John, Culroy
McJannet, William, KirklandMcKlune, James, Maybole
Merry, James, High stMurray, Hugh, (Red Lion), Knox st
Purden, Robert, MayboleRamsey, John, Maybole
Tennant, Euphemin, (Buck's Head), Kirkland 
 
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS:
Kennedy, John, High st/Kennedy, John jnr, High st
Logan, Thomas, High st 
 
WRITERS AND NOTARIES:
Andrews, Walter, New yardBrown, William, Maybole
Hannay, William, Maybole 
 
MISCELLANEOUS:
Andrews, Walter, district procurator fiscal, New yardBell, David, tea dealer, Maybole
Bell, Thomas, auctioneer, Back vennelBrownlee, James, farrier, High st
Cowan, Richard, plumber, High stCrawford, Hugh, tanner, High st
Fulton, John, veterinary surgeon, High stGas Works, Dangerland - Thos McMurtrie, manager
Hannah, Wm, barber and cutler, KirklandJohnston, John, excise gauger, Maybole
Lamont, James, woollen manufactr, CulroyMcClatchie, John, grain dealer, New yards
Neil, Janet, tallow chandler, MayboleReid, James Hamilton, road surveyor, Duncanland
Stewart, John, wig maker, High st 
 
PLACES OF WORSHIP:
Church of Scotland, New yards - Rev George Gray
Church of England Subscription School
Burghers' Chapel, Knox street - Rev John Thomson
Methodist Chapel, Wilson Sq

COACHES:

To Ayr, the 'Robert Burns' (from Girvan) calls at the King's Arms, every Tuesday and Friday morning at eight; and the 'Earl of Cassilis', from the Cassilis Inn, at half past eight the same mornings.

To Girvan, the 'Robert Burns' (from Ayr) calls at the King's Arms, every Tuesday and Friday evening at six.

To Glasgow, the 'Royal Mail' (from Portpatrick), calls at the King's Arms every night at nine.

To Portpatrick, the 'Royal Mail' (from Glasgow) calls at the King's Arms Inn, every night at half past nine and goes through Stranraer.

CARRIERS:

To Ayr, William Drynan, from the Cassilis Inn, every Tuesday, and James Kennedy, from his house almost daily.

To Girvan, William Drynan, from the Cassilis Inn, every Tuesday, and Robert Hannah, once a week.

To Glasgow, Robert Hannah, from the Cassilis Inn, and John Dunn, from Greenside, every Tuesday.

This transcript was kindly provided by Keith Muirhead from Queensland.