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Pigot 1837

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Stewarton, Dunlop and Neighbourhood
1837 - Ayrshire Directory
Pigot and Co

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Stewarton is a prosperous manufacturing town, in the parish of its name and district of Cunningham; 16 miles s by w from Glasgow, 6 n from Irvine, 5 n from Kilmarnock, and 3 from Fenwick; situate in a pleasant part of the county, on the bank of the water of Annock. The parish, which is about ten miles in length, and varying from three to four in breadth, is a rich agricultural district, highly cultivated and improved, and adorned by several gentlemen's tastefully laid out seats.

For centuries Stewarton remained an inconsiderable and unnoted village; and it is only of a comparatively recent date that, owing to the general extension of trade and manufacture, it has increased to its present dimensions and consequence. It has, however, been long distinguished by the production of Highland or tartan and other bonnets, especially of regimental bonnets and caps; this business, which is chiefly carried on domestically, and partially in factories, furnishes employment to from three hundred and fifty to four hundred hands; whilst in the manufacture of carpets one hundred and fifty more persons find occupation. The making of spindles for cotton and woollen mills is an extensive branch here, and a considerable number of the cotton mills of Scotland are supplied from hence.

The manufacture or forging of clock-work, for which this town is peculiar in North Britain, is a trade of some significence, as it forms an item of exportation to the continent of Europe and America. Several woollen mills are engaged in carding and spinning for the carpet and bonnet trades; the largest concern is that belonging to Alexander Kerr Esq of Robertland, and occupied by Messrs Muir, Dunlop & Co, who have a steam engine for propelling the machinery on the occurrence of droughts or frosts.

A large portion of the population consists of silk and muslin weavers, who are employed by the Glasgow and Paisley establishments; linens and damasks are also issued from the Stewarton looms to some extent; and in the ingenious pursuits of 'Ayrshire Needlework' not fewer than three hundred females enjoy the fruits of industry.

The 'Glasgow Union Banking Company' have a branch of their firm in this place, and there is likewise a bank for savings; this latter institution, together with several benefit or friendly societies, creates a stimulus to the spirit of diligence and frugality in the working classes. This thriving little town has no magistracy or police; but regular district courts for the recovery of small debts, and such business as falls under the jurisdiction of Justices of the peace for the parishes of Stewarton, Dunlop and Fenwick, are held by quorum of the neighbouring magistrates.

Beside the established church, there are three other places of worship, including a united seccession church, one for original burghers, and the third for independent congregationalists.

The market day is Thursday. The fairs are held as follows: on the Monday before Irvine fair, for the sale of horses, cattle, dairy produce and dairy utensils, and for the hiring of servants; on the last Thursday of June, or Thursday following (Shotts and Kelton Hill fairs), for horses and cattle; on the next Friday after the 12th November, for fat cattle, dairy stock, and hiring servants; and on the last Thursday of December, for horses and cattle.

DUNLOP

Dunlop is a small village, two miles and a half from Stewarton, romantically situate on the banks of the Swiney, about three hundred yards off the road leading from Kilmarnock to Paisley; and when seen from a little distance, through the trees in which it is embounded, has an agreeable retired appearance. The houses being mostly old, and the street narrow, it does not improve on a nearer view, though in this respect it does not suffer by comparison with other places of similar rank throughout the country.

A new and handsome church was erected in 1835, its predecessor having suffered much from the continued effects of age and weather; it is a great ornament to the neighbourhood. In the church-yard is a small arched chamber, formed under the direction of Lord Viscount Clanaboyes, in 1641, over the grave of his father, the Rev Hams Hamilton, who for 45 years was minister of this parish; it contains a well executed monument in marble, justly deserving attention.

The parish, to which the village gives name, lies principally in the bailery of Cunningham, and county of Ayr; but on the north it extends into Renfrewshire. It has long been noted for the excellent quality of its cheese, which bears a rich character throughout Scotland. About the close of the seventeenth century one Barbara Gilmour is said to have commenced the practice of making cheese from the entire milk, nothing but skimmed milk having been used in the process, in this district, previously to that period; at present all the cheese similarly made in the western counties receives the appellation of 'Dunlop'; about 25,000 stones imperial are made in this parish annually. There is also a very considerable trade in meal carried on by the inhabitants of the village and the surrounding territory.

Dunlop House, in this parish, the seat of John Dunlop, Esq. member of parliament for Ayrshire, is one of the handsomest mansions in the county; on this estate, resting on a small knoll, is a stone of large dimensions, called the 'O Great Stone', supposed to have been employed in some ancient rites of worship.

Two fairs, for the sale of dairy stock, take place here annually; one about the middle of May, the other on the 12th of November; both are almost invariably well attended.

POST OFFICE:

Avenue street, Stewarton, Andrew Barr, Post Master. Letters from all parts arrive (from Kilmarnock) every morning at half-past eight, and are despatched every evening at ten minutes before five.

GENTRY & CLERGY: (Marked thus * are Justices of the Peace)
Brisbane, Rev Jas, Manse, Dunlop* Brown, Andrew Esq. (of Hill house) surgeon in the Hon. East India Company's service, Clerk hill
Cairns, Rev Peter, Bridge end* Cuninghame, Wm Esq of Lainshaw
Dickie, Rev Matthew, Borland*Dunlop, John Esq. MP of Dunlop
*Kerr, Alexander Esq. of Robertland* Macallister, Col Charles Somerville of Kennox
* Pollock, William Esq. of Barnyhill* Provan, David Esq. of Lockridge
Steven, Rev Charles B manse 
 
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS:
Brownlee, John, High stBuchanan, Walter, Dunlop
Holborn, John, Avenue stMarshall, Peter, Langton
Parish School, near the Church - Duncan McFarlane masterParochial School, Dunlop - Wm Bryce, master
Smith, Alexander, KingstonSutherland, Dundas, Avenue st
 
AGENTS TO MANUFACTURERS:
Brown, John, TownheadCaskie, Mary, Vennel st
Dunlop, Alexander, High stKerr, James, Avenue st/
Logan, Andrew, High st/Logan, Robert, Townhead
 
BAKERS:
Craig, Robert, High stMackenzie, Duncan, (& spirit dealer), High st
Picken, Thomas, (and spirit dealer), High st 
 
BANKERS:
Glasgow Union Banking Company (Branch of) - (draw on Robert Burns, Glasgow, the Union Bank, Edinburgh, and Jones, Loyd & Co, London) - James Anderson Sandgrass, agentSaving Bank, Townhead - John Brown, secretary and treasurer
 
BLACKSMITHS:
Baird, John, Lainshaw smithyBrown, Thomas, Townfoot
Edgar, William, DunlopSimpson, Thomas, Sidehead
Wyllie, James, Avenue st 
 
BONNET MAKERS - TARTAN, MILITARY &c
Bicket, James, KirkfordBicket, Mary, Kirkfoot
Black, Hugh, DarlingtonBlack, Mary, Darlington
Bowles, James, DarlingtonCaskie, Jane, Holm
Currie, Alexander, DarlingtonCurrie, Andrew, Townhead
Currie, David, DarlingtonCurrie, James, Darlington
Currie, John, DarlingtonCurrie, Thomas, Darlington
Gibson, James, KirkfordGibson, James jnr, Kirkford
Harper, Margaret, KirkfordHighet, William, Townhead
Knox, Alexander, KirkfordLaughland, Alexander, Holm
Laughland, David, TownheadLaughland, James, Townhead
Laughland, John, High stPicken, Alexander, Townhead
Picken, David, DarlingtonRamsay, David, Darlington
Rayburn, Robert, KirkfordRobertson, John, Darlington
Scoullor, Isabel, TownheadStewart, Shaw, Kirkford
Stewart, Shaw jnr, KirkfordWilson, James, Kirkford
Wilson, John, TownheadWilson, Margaret, Kirkford
Wilson, Mary, DarlingtonWyllie, Agnes, Darlington
 
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS:
Dunlop, William, High stDunlop, William jnr, High st
Ferguson, Robert, High stFulton, Robert, Dunlop
Hall, Roger, High stHood, Thomas, Dunlop
Jamieson, James, DunlopMcFarlane, Andrew, Kingston
Picken, Alexander, High stSmith, David, Dunlop
Young, David, Rigg stYoung, William, Society buildings
 
CABINET MAKERS:
Alexander, John, Cross hillDunlop, John, Avenue st
Paton, Adam, Avenue stSmith, George, Townhead
 
CARPENTERS, JOINERS AND CARTWRIGHTS:
Bowies, James, TownheadConn, James, Avenue st
Dunlop, John, Avenue st/Gemmell, Robert, Dunlop
Kerr, James, KirkfordLogan, William, Dunlop
Mitchell, William, SideheadPaton, Adam, Avenue st
Picken, James, DunlopRobertson & Dunsmuir, Dunlop
Smith, John, ThornSmith, Robert, High st
 
CARPET MANUFACTURERS:
Deans, John, Thomas & Co. Scoto, Turkey & Persian carpet & rug, & three ply superfine & fine carpet manufacturers, HolmMuir, Dunlop and Black, Nether Robertland mill
 
CATTLE DEALERS:
Dunlop, Gabriel, Rigg stDunlop, Gabriel and John, Vennel st
 
CHEESE & MEAL DEALERS:
Cochrane, John, DunlopCochrane, Robert, Chapel house
Cochrane, Thomas, MainsMalcolm, James, Dunlop
Maxwell, Frame, DunlopNairn, Robert, Dunlop
Nairn, William, DunlopPeacock, Andrew, Dunlop
Reed, Robert, LeighmoorRobertson, Robert, Dunlop
Ross, John, TitwoodStevenson, David, Money acres
Stevenson, James, North BorlandWyllie, Alexander, Dunlop
 
FIRE & LIFE OFFICE AGENT:
Insurance Co of Scotland (fire) & Standard (life), James A Snodgrass, High st
  
FLESHERS: 
Kerr, John, High stKerr, William, Cross
Mackie, Peter, High stSommerville, David, High st
Wyllie, James, Townhead 
 
GROCERS (marked thus * are also spirit dealers):
* Anderson, William, High stBarr, Andrew, Avenue st
* Blair, James, High st* Blair, Joseph, Townhead
* Dalgleish, John, Avenue stDunlop, Robert, High st
* Ferguson, James, High stFerguson, John, High st
* Grubb, Thomas, High st* Jackson, David, High st
King, Alexander, High stLogan, John, High st
Nairn, James, High stStirling, James, Cross
* Wallace, Francis, High st 
  
INNKEEPERS & VINTERS:
Anderson, William, High stAngus, Malcolm, Leighmoor
Barbour, John, High stBrown, James, Dunlop
Brown, Matthew, High stChapman, Roger, Cross
Craig, William, HolmCurrie, John, Darlington
Dunlop, Thos, (Buck's Head), Avenue stMcLelland, Andrew, Dunlop
Picken, M.A. TownheadRamsay, James, Darlington
Slater, David, CrossSmith, John, High st
Thomson, James, TownheadWyllie, Hugh, Townhead
Young, Matthew, High stYoung, Richard, Leighmoor
 
IRONMONGERS:
Miller, Hugh, (and nail maker, and printer & stationer), High st
 
LINEN AND WOOLLEN DRAPERS:
Armstrong, Jane, High stGavin, Hugh, High st
McHardie, Joseph, High st 
 
MILLERS:
Anderson, James, Aiket millEaglesham, William, Lainshaw mill/
Kerr, Robert, Old millOrr, William, Crosshill mill
Wyllie, John, New mill 
  
MILLINERS & DRESS MAKERS: 
Dalrymple, Mary, High stPicken, Martha, High st
Richmond, Janet & Sister, High stSnodgrass, Margaret, High st
Wallace, Margaret & Sister, High stWilson, Mary & Sister, Avenue st
 
SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN SUNDRIES:
Anderson, John, DunlopGreig, Margaret, Dunlop
Morns, John, Dunlop 
 
SLATERS:
Kirkland, James, High stStevenson, John & Son, High st
  
SPINDLE MANUFACTURERS: 
Skeoch, Charles & Son, Avenue st 
  
STONE MASONS: 
Anderson, William, High stBrown & Steel, Dunlop
Brown, Matthew, High stGillies, James, High st/
Howie & King, DunlopLove, John (quarryman), Vennel st
Stevenson, Robert, High st 
 
SURGEONS & DRUGGISTS:
Caskie, John, High stFerguson, Alexander, Langmoor
Ferguson, Alexander, Avenue stNewman, William, Avenue st
Renfrew, William, LangmoorSkeoch, Charles R.N. Avenue st
Wyllie, Andrew, Townhead 
 
TAILORS:
Aird, John, DunlopAllan, John, High st
Borland, James, High stMcRaith, Mungo, (and clothes and haberdasher), High st
Morton, John, High stStewart, Andrew, Dunlop
 
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS:
Cameron, James, Rigg stWilson, Thomas, High st
 
WOOLLEN SPINNERS:
Bowes, James, Crosshill millHarper, Margaret, Scrogle mill/
Muir, Dunlop & Black, Nether Robertland mill/Somerville, William, Hapland mill
 
WRIGHTS (See carpenters, Joiners &c) 
 
WRITERS:
Miller, Robert (and Notary Public & justice of peace clerk), Clerk hillSnodgrass, James Anderson (and Notary Public and proctor in the Ayr court), High st
 
MISCELLANEOUS:
Aitken, James, cooper, Vennel stGordon, William, tinsmith, Avenue st
Faulds, Andrew, factor to Lainshaw Gas Works, Holm - James Stirling, manager; John Caskie, treasurer; Andrew Dunlop, clerk
Kerr, James, damask manufacturer, Avenue stKerr, Robert, saddler, High st
McKie, Thomas, dyer, DarlingtonPatrick, William, auctioneer, Kirkford
Skoech, (J?), clock-work forger, High stSmith, Robert, wheel maker, High st
Templeton, Robert, flax dresser, Aiket millThomson, Wm, skinner &c, Robertland
Watt, Alexr., horse dealer, Peacock bankWilson, John, umbrella maker, High st
Wilson, Thomas, painter, oil and colour man, and druggist, High st 
 
PLACES OF WORSHIP:
Established Church, Rev Chas B StevenUnited Secession Church, Rev Peter Cairns
Original Burgher, Rev James ClellandIndependent Congregational

COACHES:

To Glasgow - the 'Union' (from Irvine), calls at the Buck's Head, Stewarton, every morning at eight; goes through Barrhead and Pollockshaws.

To Irvine - the 'Union' (from Glasgow), calls at the Buck's Head, Stewarton, every evening at seven.

CARRIERS:

To Glasgow - George Russell & George Smith every Tuesday and Friday.

To Kilmarnock - Alexander Picken, daily, and George Russell and George Smith every Tuesday and Friday.

To Paisley - Alexander Russell, every Monday and Thursday.

This transcript was kindly provided by Keith Muirhead from Queensland.