Ayrshire Directory - 1837 - by Pigot & Co  

Is a considerable village, or rather town, in the parish of its name, and district of Kyle-Stewart, eligably situate on the left bank of the Irvine, on the road from Edinburgh to Ayr, and from Dumfries to Glasgow; it is 22 miles from the latter city, 16 se of Ayr, and five from Kilmarnock; seated in a hollow, sheltered on all sides by rising grounds.  The principal employment of the labouring classis weaving; there is manufactory for muslins, another for linens and three for bonnets.  The stream of the river, which is crossed by a stone bridge of three arches, gives motion to two corn-mills, another for preparing flax, and one for making paper; besides these various means of employment, another occupation is found in raising coals, of which a considerable quantity is obtained from estates of the Duke of Portland, who is superior of the parish.  A court is held in Galston, on the last Thursday monthly, for the recovery of small debts, and the administration of justice in affairs of minor importance.  Here are no fewer than five benefit societies, a bible and missionary association, two Sabbath evening schools, wherein 200 children receive the advantages of instrustion, and a subscription library. The parish extends about thirteen miles in length, by about four to five in breadth; laying in the upper part of the county, contiguous to Lanarkshire; and seperated by the Irvine from the parish of Loudon, on the north, Sorn bounding it on the south.  The surface is diversified with hills, but the land is generally arable, and there is a considerable quantity of wood.  The district is watered by some small tributaries of the Irvine, and the river Avon, which rises in the upper part of the parish.  About a mile from the town is Loudon castle, a large and magnificent structure, in the modern casteilated style; this, together with the old castles of Cessnock and Bar, surrounded as they are by natural and artificial woods, highly enhance the beauty of this district - in which is also Paties' Mill, celebrated in the delightful song called "The Lass of Paties' Mill".  The annual fairs are on the third Thursday in April, the first Thusrday in June, and about the first of December.

Post Office, William McHoull, Post Master - Letters from all parts arrive every morning at eight, and are despatched every afternoon at a quarter past four.

      GENTRY AND CLERGY

Blackwood, Rev. James,  Wallace St/ Campbell, John, Esq .,  Sornbeg/ Fairlie, James Esq.,  Holms/ Stirling, Rev Robert,  Manse  

      ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS

Brown, Hugh,  Wallace st/ Ewing, Isabella,  Garden st/ Parochial School, Alexander McNaught, master/ Stirling, Rev Robert,  (gent's boarding) Manse

      AGENTS TO MANUFACTURERS

Allison, William,  Titchfield st/ Gibb, James,  Titchfield st/ Goldie, John, Orchard st/ Johnston, Hugh,  Titchfield st/ Mair, Robert,  Orchard st/ Wallace, John,  Titchfield st

      BAKERS

Andrew, James,  Bridge/ Torrance, James,  Wallace st/ Warnock, Andrew, Polwhat st

      BLACKSMITHS

Findlay, John & Robt,  Henrietta st/ Wallace, James (and plough maker), Cross

      BONNET & CAP MANFCTRS

Richmond, Alexander,  Garden st/ Richmond, Hugh,  Garden st/ Richmond, Hugh jnr,  Titchfield st

      BOOT & SHOE MAKERS

Dunn, Douglas,  Titchfield st/ Hargreave, James,  Brewland st/ Highet, Gabriel,  Wallace st/ McDonald, Michael,  Orchard st/ Meickle, William, Wallace st/  Nisbet, James,  Wallace st/ Paterson, George,  Brewland st/ Paton, John, Polwhat st

      CARTWRIGHTS

Lanox, Hugh,  Wallace st/ McCormick, Andrew (and millwright),  Wallace st/ Paterson, Matthew,  Wallace st

      DRESS MAKERS

Gibb, Janet,  Bridge st/ Hamilton, Ann,  Brewland st/ Kay, Mary,  Bridge st/ McLuckie, Sarah,  Brewland st/ Wallace, Jane,  Titchfield st

      FLESHERS

Lambie, Alexander,  Bridge st/ Morton, John,  Polwhat st/ Paton, Robert, Wallace st/ Thomson, Hugh,  Brewland st

      GROCERS & SPIRIT DEALERS

Andrew, James,  Bridge st/ Caldwell, James,  Polwhat st/ Dunlop, William, Wallace st/ Gibb, William,  Titchfield st/ Hutchinson, Jane,  Brewland st/ McDonald, Elizabeth,  Bridge st/ Mchoull, William,  Bridge st/ Meickle, Thomas,  Bridge st/ Paterson, Agnes,  Wallace st/ Paterson, James,  Titchfield/ Pollock, Marthe,  Bridge st/ Porter, Jane,  Brewland st/ Reid, Hugh, Henrietta st/ Reid, James,  Bridge st/ Wallace, Marths,  Orchard st/ Whyte, Andrew,  Brewland st/ Wilson, Janet,  Titchfield st/ Young, Mary,  Brewland st/ Young, Robert,  Henrietta st

      INNKEEPERS AND VINTERS

Caldwell, James,  Polwhat st/ Campbell, John,  Polwhat st/ Dunn, Douglas, Titchfield st/ Frame, James (Loudon Arms),  Waterside/ Hamilton, Robert (Black Bull),  Bridge st/ Morton, John,  Bridge st/ Paton, John,  Polwhat st/ Richmond, Jas, Mason, Brewland st/ Wilson, Samuel (Portland Arms), Brewland st

      JOINERS

Parlane, Robert,  Orchard st/ Yewdale, Abraham,  Pie lane

      LINEN DRAPERS

Aitken, Christina,  Bridge st/ Howat, William,  Bridge st/ Wallace, John, Titchfield st

      MANUFACTURERS

Good, George (muslin),  Wallace st/ Mair, Robert (linen),  Orchard st

      MILLERS

Hunter, William,  Barr mill/ Scoular, Robert,  Paties mill

      SLATERS

Hutchinson, Cunningham,  Orchid st/ Hutchinson, John,  Henrietta st/ Hutchinson, John jnr,  Pie lane

      STONE MASONS

Menzies, Peter,  Henrietta st/ Neil, Robert,  Titchfield st/ Shields & Howat,  Bridge st/ Wallace, Robert,  Orchard st

      SURGEONS

Frame, Thomas,  Waterside/ Hamilton, George,  Brewland st/ Wallace, John, Bridge st

      TAILORS

Campbell, Jno (& draper),  Bridge st/ Galt, Jas,  (& draper)  Henrietta st/ Marsh, George,  Orchard st/ Parker, Robert,  Bridge st/ Richmond, Henry, Henrietta st/ Scott, John,  Bridge st

      MISCELLANEOUS

Anderson, Wm,  stone dealer,  Barrward quarry Bryce, Alexander,  cooper,  Brewland st Douglas, Walter,  watch maker,  Polwhat st Eaton, Andrew,  turner,  Cross Hamilton, William,  tin-smith,  Titchfield st Harrison, John,  Excise officer,  Bridge st McCormick, Andrew,  millwright,  Wallace st McHallum, John, flax dresser,  Long house Marshal, Alexander,  saddler,  Bridge st Parker, Matthew,  lime burner,  Cessnock Wardrop, John,  brewer,  Wallace st White, George,  glazier,  Wallace st Wilson, William,  saw mill,  Long house Young, James,  stocking maker,  Brewland st Young, Margt, ironmonger,  Henrietta st

      PLACES OF WORSHIP

Established Church, Rev Robert Stirling United Seccession Church, Rev James Blackwood

      COACHES

To Edinburgh - the "Marques of Hastings" (from Ayr), passes every morning at ten: goes through New Milne, Durval and Strathaven

To Ayr -  the "Marques of Hastings" (from Edinburgh), passes every afternoon at three; goes thro' Kilmarnock

To Kilmarnock - a Car, from the Portland Arms, every Friday morning at 10

      CARRIERS

To Glasgow - Robert Wilson, every Tuesday morning and Thursday night, and Samuel Wilson, every Tues morn

To Kilmarnock - James Robertson, every morning