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Pigot 1837

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West Kilbride and Neighbourhood
Ayrshire Directory 1837
Pigot & Co

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West Kilbride is a village, in the parish of its name and district of Cunningham, 73 miles wsw from Edinburgh, 30 sw from Glasgow, 24 ssw from Paisley, the like distance n from Ayr, 22 s from Greenock, 19 sw from Kilmarnock, 12 n from Irvine, 7½ s from Largs, 7 sw from Dalry, 5 n from Saltcoats, and the like distance s from Fairlie, and 4 nw from Ardrossan; situate in a hollow, surrounded on all sides by rising grounds, which on the west protect it from the keen sea breezes, and on the opposite aspect from easterly winds.

The scenery around is bold and romantic, interspersed with several genteel handsome residences. The ruins of Law castle and of Portencross are in the immediate vicinity of the village, and are both objects of interest to the curious in architectural relics. The principal employment of the inhabitants is weaving, in which about one hundred and forty looms are engaged; there is also a manufactory for charcoal, and a mill for grinding the article. In population and extent the village has materially increased within the recollection of many persons; in the former respect it has augmented more than two-fold in the progress of the last thirty years.

The places of worship are the parish church, and a small chapel in connection with the united associate synod. The parochial school, a most useful institution, affords education upon very moderate terms to those who are enabled to pay, and gratuitously to such as are not blessed with the means of doing so; there is likewise a parochial library.

The parish extends six miles along the shore of the Firth of Clyde, and inland from two to three miles. The district, independent of the ruins already mentioned, possessed other attractive vestiges of antiquity; and it is worthy of remark that, off the sea line of the parish, one of the largest vessels composing the Spanish Armarda remains sunk to ten fathoms water: an attempt was made about eighty five years since, to examine the internal condition of this ship, and the operation succeeded so far that a piece of ordinance was raised from her bulk.

POST OFFICE

William Hunter, Post master - Letters from Saltcoats, Glasgow &c arrive every forenoon at eleven, and are despatched every afternoon at two - Letters from Largs, &c arrive every afternoon at one, and are despatched every afternoon at twenty minutes before two.

GENTRY AND CLERGY

Alexander, Major Alexander, Carlung
Alexander, the Misses, Carlung
Boyd, Miss Marion, Orchard
Cranford, John, Esq of Auchenames
Cranford, Miss, Portencross
Findlay, Rev Thomas, Manse
Fullarton, Lieut. John of Overtown
Hindman, John Blair, Esq Springside
Huegen, George McMurdo, Esq, Seamill cottage
Hunter, Robert, Esq, of Hunterstone
Hunter, Robert, Esq, of Kirkland
Love, Mrs Janet, Hall hill
Richie, Francis C, Esq Kirktown hall
Spiers, John Esq, Surgeon
Wark, David, Esq, Portencross

ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS:

Campbell, Margaret
Craig, William
Parochial School, William Smith, master

INNKEEPERS AND VINTERS: 
Gray, Hannah ans AnnHughs, Edward
King, John (Cranford's Arms)Muir, Eliz. (Crosshill Inn), Crosshill
Richie, Alexander, (Wellington Inn)Russell, John
Simpson, RobertSmith, James
Tyre, Ann 
  
SHOPKEEPERS AND TRADERS: 
Barbour, Ephrain, linen draper and manufacturer's agentBroadfoot, John, linen draper and manufacturer's agent
Brown, John, blacksmithCraig, John, tailor
Duncan, William, BlacksmithGemmil, Hugh, grocer
Gemmil, John, joinerGemmil. Wm. grocer and spirit dealer
Graham, Malcolm, grocerHenry, John, joiner
Hunter, William, linen draperJamieson, William, charcoal manufacturer and grinder
King, John, joiner and timber merchantLogan, Elizabeth, grocer
Logan, William, joinerMcCueg, Duncan, shoe maker
McFie, John, shoe makerMcIntyre, William, tailor
McKinnon, John, tailorMiller, James, baker
Parochial Library, Wm Hunter, librarianRichmond, Thomas, miller
Scott, William, stone masonShaw, John, agent to manufacturer
Smith, William, blacksmithStalker, David, tailor
Stalker, John, tailorStirling, Alexander, shoe maker
Templeton, Geo., grocer, spirit dealer and ironmongerWilliamson, Alx., linen draper and stamp office
Wilson, Daniel, joinerWilson, Gilbert, stone mason
Wilson, John, millerWilson, Robert, joiner

CARRIERS:

To Glasgow - George Robertson, every Monday.

To Saltcoats - Andrew Clark, daily.

This transcript was kindly provided by Keith Muirhead from Queensland.