National Gazetteer, 1868

"NEW CUMNOCK, a parish in the district of Kyle, in the county of Ayr, Scotland, 67 miles from Edinburgh, and 55 from Glasgow by the Glasgow and South-Western railway, which has a station in the village. It is situated at the head of the rivers Nith and Afton, and is 12 miles long by 8 broad. The surface is hilly, and beautifully diversified with three lakes, which afford excellent fishing. Aften Water, celebrated by Burns, rises under Black Larghill, and runs through Glen Aften to the river Nith. Besides the village of New Cumnock-which is a considerable place, with two banks, a church, Free church, &c. the parish contains the hamlets of Afton-Bridgend, Mansfield, and Pathhead. Many of the inhabitants are engaged in the working of lead, lime, coal, and graphite, all of which are found in this parish; the coal, however, is of inferior quality, called glance coal. The parish is in the presbytery of Ayr, and in the patronage of the Marquis of Bute. The minister's stipend is £200."

"AFTON BRIDGEND, a village in the parish of New Cumnock, in the county of Ayr, Scotland. It is situated near New Cumnock on Afton Water, a small river which rises under Black Larghill, flows through Glen Afton, and falls into the Nith. Afton Water is the subject of one of the songs of Burns. The population of the village is small, and a few hands are engaged in the lead mines."

"CASTLE, a village in the parish of New Cumnock, in the county of Ayr, Scotland."

"MANSFIELD, a village in the parish of New Cumnock, county Ayr, Scotland, 2 miles N.E. of New Cumnock town."

"PATHHEAD, a village in the parish of New Cumnock, county Ayr, Scotland, 67 miles from Edinburgh. It is in conjunction with the villages of New Cumnock, and Afton Bridgend."

Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003