Pigot 1837

Cumnock (or Old Cumnock) is a considerable village of thoroughfare; 60 miles sw of Edinburgh, 16 e of Ayr, and the like distance sse of Kilmarnock; situate on a line of road between Dumfries on the south-east and Glasgow on the north, 44 from the former town and 38 from the latter.

The village,which is of an irregular triangular form, in seated in a deep sheltered hollow, at the confluence of the Glaisnock and Logan waters; it is celebrated for the manufacture of those beautiful wooden snuff boxes, a species of trade which originated here nearly thirty years since, and, with some few exceptions, as Lawrencekirk [N.B. a town roughly half-way between Dundee and Aberdeen], Catrine and Mauchline, is still confined to Cumnock. This branch furnishes employment to a considerable number of men, women and children, all of whom get more wages by their ingenious labour than most other artisans; and a good deal of money is thus caused to flow through and enrich the town. Plane [sycamore] is the wood used in the manufacture, and great ingenuity is evinced in adorning the lids with devices, which is chiefly performed by boys; the very nice manner in which boxes are constructed is admired and although, the hinges are part of the box, many imitations have been attempted, but have failed to rival the original manufacturer.

[N.B. The Mauchline ware page has more detail on Mauchline ware as it has become known.]

The places of worship are a church of the establishment, and one of the united seccession. To the parochial school, which is well attended, the sum of £25 annually, was left by Charles Duncan, esq., late merchant of London, and a native of Cumnock. The Marquess of Bute also allows the master a salary for educating twenty poor children of this parish, and pays the schoolmaster of New Cumnock and Ochiltree for the instruction of ten children in their respective parishes.

The principal part of the town occupies the site of what was formerly the church-yard; the present cemetery was, at one period, the place of execution, and contains the remains of three persons who were shot on the spot, in 1685, by a party of Highlanders, for their abherence to the covenanted work of reformation; and the corpse of Peden, a martyr of the covenanting body, who died in the parish of Sorn, was exhumed, by a party of dragoons, after being interred six weeks, and ignominiously buried at the gallows foot.

An establishment of the Ayrshire Banking Company, and two savings banks, are in the town; the first was opened in 1831, to which Messrs Crawford and Nichol are the treasurers; the other in 1835, to which Mr. Campbell is treasurer. There are also two libraries, viz. the "Cumnock Library" established in 1792 by shareholders, and the "Cumnock new public library", formed in 1832.

The castle of Terringzean, now in ruins, is in the neighbourhood - it gives the title of baron to the family of Dumfries.

The market is held on Thursday; and the fairs on the fourth Thursday after Candlemass, on the Wednesday succeeding the last Tuesday in May, and Wednesday after the first Tuesday in July, and after the third Tuesday in October, all old style.

AUCHINLECK

Auchinleck (pronounced Affleck) signifying a field of rock, is a respectable village in the parish of its name, 1¼ mile from Cumnock, three from Sorn, and the like distance from Catrine. Like Cumnock, many are employed in the manufacture of snuff boxes, and others in weaving and sewing muslins for the Glasgow houses.

The parish, which is 18 miles in length, by only about two in breadth, is watered on its northern extremity by the Ayr, and by the Lugar on the south. Coal and limestone are produced here, but the soil is for the most part mossy and unproductive.

The places of worship are a church of the establishment, and one belonging to the burghers; there is also a parochial school. The ruins of Auchinleck Castle stand in an angle formed by the Garpel burn and the Lugar; and in the neighbourhood is the Place of Auchinleck. a handsome mansion, erected in the last century by Lord Auchinleck, senator of the college of justice, and father of the eminent and amiable James Boswell, Esq., the friend and biographer of Johnson; the house is still the property of the Boswell family.

A well attended fair, for the sale of lambs, is held annually on the last Tuesday in August.

POST OFFICE:

Cumnock. Andrew Rankin, Post master. - Letters from Edinburgh and Glasgow arrive every morning at nine, and are despatched every forenoon at eleven - Letters from Sanquhar amd New Cumnock arrive every morning at half past eight, and are despatched every morning at half past nine. Letters from England arrive every afternoon at five, and are despatched to Douglas Mill every evening at 7.

Post, Auchinleck, Receiving house at Janet Dalrymple's - Letters from London arrive every afternoon at half past four, and are despatched every evening (to Sorn) at half past seven - Letters (excepting the London) arrive every morning at nine, and are despatched every afternoon at five.

NOBILITY, GENTRY & CLERGY:

Allanson, James, Esq of Glasnock

Bannatyne, Rev. Ninian, Manse

Boswell, Sir James, baronet of Auchinleck house

Brown, Rev. Robt, Bankhead manse

Bute, the Most Noble the Marquess of Dumfries house

Chrystal, Rev. James, Auchinleck manse

Cunningham, William Branson, Esq of Logan and Enterkine

ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS:

Gilmour, Edward, Auchinleck

McCrae, John, Cumnock

McCrae, William, Cumnock

Parochial School, Cumnock - James Campbell, master

Parochial School, Auchinleck - William Robertson, master

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Established Church, Cumnock - Rev Ninian Bannatne.

Established Church, Auchinleck - Rev James Chrystal.

Original Seccession Chapel, Auchinleck.

Seccession Chapel, Cumnock - Rev Robert Brown.

COACHES:

To Ayr - the "Independant" (market coach) from the Dumfries Arms, every Tuesday and Friday morning at seven.

To Carlisle - the "Independant" (from Glasgow), calls at the Dumfries Arms, every morning at eleven; goes through New Cumnock, Sanquhar, Thornhill and Dumfries.

To Glasgow - the "Independant" (from Carlisle), calls at the Dumfries Arms, every afternoon at two; goes through Mauchline and Kilmarnock.

CARRIERS:

To Ayr - Alexander Findlay and David Smith, every Tuesday and Friday: James Findlay, every Tues & Saturday, and Alexander Simson, every Monday and Thursday.

To Dumfries - John & William Robb, every Tuesday and Thursday, and Thomas Ferguson, every Wednesday.

To Edinburgh - Robt Lath every Saturday.

To Glasgow - John & William Robb, every Monday and Thursday; Thomas Ferguson, every Friday; and Elizabeth Bryan and David Weir every Monday.

To Kilmarnock - John & William Robb, every Monday and Thursday; Thomas Ferguson, every Friday; John Kerr every Wednesday and Saturday; Elizabeth Bryan and David Weir every Monday; and Hugh Findlay occasionally.

To Sanquhar - John & William Robb, every Tuesday and Thursday, and Thomas Ferguson, every Wednesday.

This transcript was kindly provided by Keith Muirhead from Queensland.