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STEWARTON,
DUNLOP
AND
NEIGHBOURHOOD
Ayrshire Directory
1837 - by Pigot & Co
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 significance, 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
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 dilligence and frugility 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
independant 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
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 centuary 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
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS
Brownlee,
John, High st/
Buchanan, Walter,
Dunlop/
Holborn, John,
Avenue st/
Marshall,
Peter, Langton/ Parish School, near the Church -
Duncan McFarlane,
master/
Parochial School, Dunlop -
Wm Bryce, master/
Smith, Alexander,
Kingston/
Sutherland, Dundas, Avenue st
AGENTS TO
MANUFACTURERS
Brown,
John,
Townhead/
Caskie, Mary, Vennel st/
Dunlop,
Alexander, High st/
Kerr,
James, Avenue
st/
Logan, Andrew, High
st/
Logan, Robert, Townhead
BAKERS
Craig,
Robert, High st/
Mackenzie,
Duncan, (& 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
BLACKSMITHS
Baird,
John,
Lainshaw smithy/
Brown, Thomas, Townfoot/ Edgar,
William,
Dunlop/
Simpson,
Thomas, Sidehead/
Wyllie, James, Avenue st
BONNET MAKERS -
TARTAN, MILITARY etc.
Bicket,
James,
Kirkford/
Bicket, Mary, Kirkfoot/
Black, Hugh, Darlington/
Black,
Mary, Darlington/
Bowles, James,
Darlington/
Caskie, Jane, Holm/
Currie,
Alexander, Darlington/
Currie,
Andrew, Townhead/
Currie, David,
Darlington/
Currie, James,
Darlington/
Currie, John,
Darlington/
Currie,
Thomas,
Darlington/
Gibson, James, Kirkford/
Gibson, James jnr, Kirkford/
Harper, Margaret,
BOOT & SHOE
MAKERS
Dunlop,
William, High st/
Dunlop, William jnr, High st/
Ferguson, Robert,
High
st/
Fulton,
Robert, Dunlop/
Hall, Roger,
High st/
Hood, Thomas, Dunlop/
Jamieson,
James,
Dunlop/
McFarlane,
Andrew, Kingston/
Picken,
Alexander,
High st/
Smith, David, Dunlop/
Young, David, Rigg st/
Young,
William,
Society
buildings
CABINET MAKERS
Alexander,
John, Cross hill/
Dunlop, John, Avenue st/
Paton, Adam, Avenue st/
Smith,
George, Townhead
CARPENTERS, JOINERS
AND CARTWRIGHTS
Bowies,
James,
Townhead/
Conn, James, Avenue st/
Dunlop, John, Avenue
st/
CARPET MANUFACTURERS
Deans,
John, Thomas & Co. Scoto, Turkey & Persian carpet & rug, & three
ply
superfine
& fine carpet manufacturers ,
Holm
Muir,
Dunlop and Black, Nether Robertland mill
CATTLE DEALERS
Dunlop,
Gabriel,
Rigg st/
Dunlop, Gabriel and
John, Vennel st
CHEESE & MEAL
DEALERS
Cochrane,
John, Dunlop/
Cochrane, Robert,
Chapel house/
Cochrane,
Thomas,
Mains/
Malcolm, James, Dunlop/
Maxwell,
Frame, Dunlop/
Nairn, Robert,
Dunlop/
Nairn, William,
Dunlop/
Peacock,
Andrew, Dunlop/
Reed, Robert,
FIRE & LIFE
OFFICE AGENT
Insurance
Co of Scotland (fire) & Standard (life),
James A
Snodgrass, High st
FLESHERS
Kerr,
John, High st/
Kerr, William, Cross/
Mackie, Peter, High
st/
GROCERS
(marked thus * are
also spirit dealers)
*
Anderson, William, High st/
Barr, Andrew,
Avenue st/ *
Blair, James, High st/
*
Blair, Joseph, Townhead/ *
Dalgleish,
John, Avenue st/
Dunlop,
Robert,
High
st/ *
Ferguson, James,
High st/ Ferguson,
John, High st/ *
Grubb,
Thomas,
High st/ *
Jackson,
David, High st/
King,
Alexander, High
st/
Logan,
John,
High st/
Nairn, James,
High st/
Stirling,
James, Cross/ *
Wallace,
Francis,
High st
INNKEEPERS &
VINTERS
Anderson,
William,
High st/
Angus,
Malcolm, Leighmoor/
Barbour, John,
High
IRONMONGERS
Miller,
Hugh, (and nail maker, and printer & stationer), High st
LINEN AND WOOLLEN
DRAPERS
Armstrong,
Jane,
High st/ Gavin, Hugh, High st/
McHardie,
Joseph, High st
MILLERS
Anderson,
James, Aiket mill/
Eaglesham, William,
Lainshaw mill/
Kerr,
Robert,
Old mill/
Orr, William, Crosshill mill/
Wyllie, John, New mill
MILLINERS & DRESS
MAKERS
Dalrymple,
Mary, High st/
Picken,
Martha, High st/
Richmond, Janet &
Sister,
high
st/
Snodgrass,
Margaret, High st/
Wallace, Margaret &
Sister, High st/
Wilson,
Mary & Sister, Avenue st
SHOPKEEPERS &
DEALERS IN SUNDRIES
Anderson,
John, Dunlop/
Greig,
Margaret, Dunlop/
Morns, John, Dunlop
SLATERS
Kirkland,
James, High st/
Stevenson, John
& Son, High st
SPINDLE MANUFACTURERS
Skeoch,
Charles
& Son, Avenue st
STONE MASONS
Anderson,
William,
High st/
Brown &
Steel, Dunlop/
Brown,
Matthew, High st/
SURGEONS &
DRUGGISTS
Caskie,
John,
High st/
Ferguson,
Alexander, Langmoor/
Ferguson,
Alexander, Avenue
st/
Newman, William,
Avenue st/
Renfrew,
William, Langmoor/
Skeoch,
Charles
R.N. Avenue st/
Wyllie,
Andrew, Townhead
TAILORS
Aird,
John, Dunlop/
Allan, John, High st/
Borland,
James, High st/
McRaith,
Stewart,
Andrew, Dunlop
WATCH & CLOCK
MAKERS
Cameron,
James, Rigg st/
Wilson,
Thomas, High st
WOOLLEN SPINNERS
Bowes,
James, Crosshill mill/
Harper,
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 hill
Snodgrass,
James Anderson
(and Notary Public and proctor in the Ayr court),
High
st
MISCELLANEOUS
Aitken,
James, cooper, Vennel st/
Faulds,
Andrew, factor to Lainshaw/ Gas
Works,
Holm -
James Stirling, manager;
John Caskie, treasurer;
Andrew
Dunlop,
clerk/
Gordon,
William, tinsmith, Avenue st/
Kerr, James,
damask
manufer,
Avenue st/
Kerr, Robert,
saddler, High st/
McKie, Thomas, dyer,
Darlington/
Patrick, William, auctioneer, Kirkford/
Skoech,
(J?), clock-work
forger,
High st/
Smith, Robert, wheel maker, High st/
Templeton,
Robert,
flax
dresser, Aiket mill/
Thomson, Wm, skinner &c, Robertland/
Watt, Alexr.,
horse
dealer, Peacock bank/
Wilson, John, umbrella maker, High
st/
Wilson,
Thomas,
painter, oil and colour man, and druggist, High st
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Established
Church,
Rev Chas B Steven
United
Secession Church,
Rev Peter Cairns
Original
Burgher,
Rev James Clelland
Independent
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
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