CATRINE IN
SORN, AND MAUCHLINE
Ayrshire Directory - 1837 - by Pigot & Co
Catrine is a thriving manufacturing village in the parish of Sorn, 72 miles wsw of Edinburgh, 32 s of Glasgow, 14 e by n of Ayr, 12 sw of Kilmarnock, 5
from Old Cumnock, and 4 from Ochiltree; pleasantly situate nearly in the centre of the county, on the north bank of the river Ayr. This place has
risen from insignificance to a considerable town. In 1787 its site contained only a blacksmith's
shop and a meal mill, while its present population numbers nearly 3,000 persons. The cause of this surprisingly
rapid increase is the erection of cotton works by the late Claud Alexander, Esq. of
Ballochmyle, who, having acquired a large fortune in the East
Indies, purchased the land for the purpose of establishing works thereon, by which he might increase the value of his property here. But not
understanding the cotton business himself, he formed a partnership with the late David Dale, merchant of Glasgow, with whom he carries on the business
until the 13th April, 1801, when it was entered upon by Messrs James Finlay & Co, since which period the works here have been very considerably
increased. At first the spinning of cotton yarn for sale was carried on to a limited extent; but this has been greatly extended: nearly the whole is
made into cloth by power looms, and about 60,000 yards are produced weekly, employing nearly 900 hands, besides many others in the process of bleaching,
the works in which branch are considerable. It is impossible to speak in adequate terms of the excellent manner in which this extensive concern is
conducted, for it not only gives employment, and, therefore, the means of support to the labouring classes, but the health and morals of every
individual, in any way connected with it, are studied in a manner the most laudable to the proprietors. Schools, with efficient teachers, are
provided, in which every branch of moral and useful instruction is imparted to about 200 of both sexes: there is also a sewing school in which the girls
are taught needlework , and to make articles of dress for their own use. A Sabbath evening school has also been established, to which a library is
attached, consisting of upwards of 500 volumes, and free sittings in the chapel are provided for those attending the school whose circumstances
require gratuitous accommodations. The feuars (?) of the village have bought the chapel from Mr Alexander, by whose father it was erected about
forty years ago. A further proof of the prosperity of all around these works is, that most of the workmen have been able to purchase from the
company the houses in which they live. The other principal trading establishments are two for the manufacture of a peculiar and beautiful
description of snuff boxes. Sorn Castle, about a mile and a half from Catrine, once the seat of the Loudon family, is now the property and
residence of Mrs Sommerville, who, with Miss Farquhar, Sir James Boswell, and Claud Alexander, Esq., are the principal heritors of the parish of Sorn
- which abounds with coal, limestone and ironstone. Douglas Stewart, Esq., the late celebrated professor of moral philosophy, in Edinburgh, was born in
the neighbourhood of Catrine.
The parish of Sorn, is bounded on the east by Muirkirk, on the south by
Auchinleck, on the west by Mauchline, and on the north by Galston and Strathaven. The form of the parish is nearly square, measuring about six and a half miles each way; it formed a part of the extensive parish of
Mauchline, till the year 1656; the parish church stands about three miles distant from that village. The land originally
moorish, has been much
improved and well enclosed; and there are fine plantations near the Ayr, which river runs through the parish, from east to west.
Mauchline, a considerable village and capital of the parish of its name, 2½ miles from
Catrine; is situate in a pleasant part of the county, and
surrounded on all sides by a delightful country, interspersed with several elegant mansions. The buildings are neat and possess an air of pleasing
variety.
Mauchline Castle, the present residence of Alexander Hamilton, Esq., is an ancient building, well deserving the notice of the antiquarian.
There are several excellent benevolent societies for the relief of sick members and poor widows, and a bible society has been, for a length of time,
promoted with success. The parish school is well conducted and numerously attended. The weaving of cotton goods in this, as in all the towns of the
neighbourhood, forms the principal support of the inhabitants. There is, however, besides, in the town, two considerable manufacturories for snuff
boxes, cigar cases, &c., (that belonging to Messrs W and A Smith enjoys the patronage of royalty), and a respectable branch of the Commercial Bank of
Scotland. The parish is seven miles in length, and its extreme breadth is five miles. The Duke of Portland, Lord
Glenlee, Sir James
Boswell and Claud Alexander, Esq., are the principal heritors. Burns resided several years at
Mossgiel, a small farm, about half a mile to
the north of Mauchline, on the left side of the road from thence to Kilmarnock. The steading may still be seen environed by a few trees, as
well as the fields, in traversing which, it is said, he composed some of his best poems. His chief resort, when he visited
Mauchline, was the
public-house, kept by John Dow, which still stands, - a well thached house of two flats, nearly opposite the church-yard gate. The cottage of
"Ponsie Nansie", or Mrs Gibson, the scene of "the Jolly Beggars", stands more immediately opposite the church-yard gate. Mauchline
kirk, the scene of the
"Holy Fair", was of the pure barn species. There is now an elegant new church, in the gothic style, with a steeple. In the surrounding cemetary
may be seen the graves of the Rev. Mr Auld. Nanse Tinnock, and several other persons who figure in the satires of Burns; and on the banks of the Ayr, at
a short distance from Mauchline, is the scene of some of the bard's more pleasing poems, his lyrics particularly.
Post Office, Wood street, Catrine, Peter Stewart, Post master - Letters from all parts of Scotland arrive from Mauchline every morning at eight, and
are despatched every afternoon at two. - Letters from England arrive from Sorn (by foot post) every afternoon at four, and are
despatched every night at nine.
Post Office, Sorn, R.K. Dalgleish, Post master - Letters from Kilmarnock and the north arrive every morning at seven, and are despatched every afternoon
at half past two. - Letters from England arrive from Douglas every afternoon at half past two and are despatched every morning at seven. - Letters from
Mauchline arrive (by foot post) every morning at half past nine, and from Cumnock every night at nine and are despatched every afternoon at half past two.
Post Office, Mauchline, Hugh Wilson, Post master - The mail from Edinburgh, with letters from the north of Scotland, and Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr,
arrive every morning at six.- The mail from Douglas, with letters from all parts of England, arrives every afternoon at three. - Letters to all parts
of England and Scotland (except Edinburgh) are despatched every morning at six, and afternoon at three, at which latter hour are also
forwarded letters for Edinburgh.
NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY
Alexander, Claud, esq., of Ballochmyle/ Braberan (?), Lady Cecilia, of
Kinginckley/ Campbell, Robt., esq., of Auchmannock/ Campbell, William, esq., of Nether pl/ Douglas, George, esq., of
Rodinghead/ Farquhar, Miss
Margaret, of Gillmannock/ Glenlee, the Hon., Lord, Barskimming/ Hamilton, Colonel (of
West port), Cairnhill/ Hamilton, Miss Margaret, Loudon st, Mauchline/ Ranken, George, esq., (of Whitefield),
Barnhead/ Somervell, Mrs Agnes, (of Hamilton farm), Sorn castle/ Stewart, Rev. John, Sorn manse/ Stewart,
Lieut.-Col. Matt of Catrine/ Tod, Rev. John, Manse, Mauchline/ Walker, Rev. John,
Mauchline/ Wallace, Mrs Ferrier, Cairnhill/ White, Thomas, esq., of Sawrston/ Woodrow, Robert, esq., of Viewfield
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS
Bryan, William, Mill square/ Catrine Works School - James Park, master/ Currie, Rev.
James, Stewart place/ McClymont, John, Sorn/ Parochial School, Mauchline - Thomas Mitchell, master/ Parochial School,
Sorn - Adam Smith, master/ Patrick, John, St. Cuthbert's, Holm/ Sloan, (?), Sorn/ Smith, Hugh,
Mauchline
BAKERS
Ferguson, William, Mauchline/ Hamilton, James, Bridge st/ Miller, John,
Mauchline/ Walker, William, St. Germain st/ Wilson, George, Mill square
BANK
Commercial Bank of Scotland (Branch), Mauchline -(draws on that establishment, Edinburgh, and Jones, Loyd & Co. London)
- John Strathdee, agent
BLACKSMITHS
Bogle, David, Sorn/ Brown, James, Ayr street/ McKinlay, Alexander, St. Cuthbert
st/ Meikle, Thomas, Mauchline/ Taylor, James, Cowan place
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS
Brown, John, Mill square/ Garvan, James, Mauchline/ Gibb, James, Mauchline/ Hamilton, Robert, Stewart place/
Howat, George, Mill square/ Howat, Thos.,
(& leather cutter), Mill sq/ Le Pralk, James, Sorn/ McIntyre, John, Mill square/
McKinnal, Thomas & James, Mill st/ Nisbet, Robert, Mauchline/ Reid, John,
Sorn/ Seaton, William, Mill st/ Simpson, Hugh, Sorn/
Weir, William, Mauchline/ Wilson, Janet, Mill st/ Wilson, John, Sorn/ Wilson, Thomas, Mauchline
CARPENTERS, JOINERS & CARTWRIGHTS
Baird, John, Sorn/ Buchanan, Alexander, Town head/ Caldow, John, New mill, Sorn/ Cowan, Andrew, Mill
st/ Cowan, Robert, Cowan place/ Gemmell, John,
Lint mill, Sorn/ Goudie, Robert, Mauchline/ Granger, Robert, Holm head, Sorn/ Lees, David,
Mauchline/ Lees, William, Mauchline/ McCulloch, Hugh, Sorn/ McGill, James,
Mauchline/ McKinna, John, Ford st/
CATRINE COTTON WORKS
James Finlay & Co, proprietors/ Alex. Buchanan, resident partner/ John Barclay, manager of Cotton Works/ James Barclay,
manager of Bleach Works
DRUGGISTS
Bryan, William, mill square/ Wilson, Hugh, Mauchline
FIRE & LIFE OFFICES
Insurance Company of Scotland (fire), & Edinburgh Assurance Company (life), Mauchline - John
Strathdee, agent
FLESHERS
Climmie, Hugh, Mill square/ Crosby, James, Mill st/ Little, William, St Germain
st/ McClelland, Thomas, Mauchline
GROCERS
Bryan, David, St Cuthbert st/ Caldwell, David, Mill st/ Dalgleish, Robert Kirkland (& wholesale dealer in meal & cheese),
Sorn/ Ferguson, John, (and
dealer in meal and cheese), Sorn/ Gemmell, Thomas, Mill square/ McGaan (?), Robert, Mill
st/ McMurtrie, Henry, St Germain st/ Nisbet, Robert, Mauchline/
Paterson, John, St Germain st/ Reid, Hugh, Wood st/ Wallace, John, Wood st
INNKEEPERS & VINTERS
Baird, Hugh, (Greenfoot Inn), Sorn/ Bryan, David, (Black Bull) St Germain st/
Calderwood, William, (Cross Keys), Mauchline/ Caldwell, David, Mill st/Kirkland, Robert,
Sorn/ Lindsay, David, (Black Bull), Mauchline/ Lockhead,
James, Mauchline/ McClelland, Hugh, Mauchline/ McClelland, Thomas, Mauchline/
McCubbin, Mary, Bridge st/ McGaan, Robert, (Sun), Mill st/ McGaan, William,
Mauchline/ McMurtrie, Henry, St Germain st/ Morton, William, Wood st/ Muir, Matthew,
Mauchline/ Murray, Thomas, Stewart place/ Nisbet, Jean, Mauchline/
Paterson, John, (Crown) St Germain st/ Retson, John, Sorn/ Sharp, James,
Mauchline/ Smith, Hugh, Mauchline/ Stirling, Hugh, Mauchline/ Young, Andrew,
(Star), Mauchline
IRONMONGERS
McGaan, Andrew, Mauchline
LINEN AND WOOLLEN DRAPERS
Brown, Thomas, St Germain st/ Fleming, Robert, Mill square/ Goldie, John,
Mauchline/ McGaan, John, (& hatter), Mauchline/ McMaster, James, Mill st/
Smith, James, St Germain st
MILLINERS AND DRESS MAKERS
Paton, Euphemia, Mauchline/ Ross, Agnes, Mauchline
NAIL MAKERS
Brown, James, Mauchline/ Mason, John, Mauchline
SADDLERS
Caldwell, Joseph, Mauchline/ McGaan, James, Mill st
SHOPKEEPERS AND DEALERS IN SUNDRIES
(Marker thus * are also spirit dealers)
Alexander, William, Mauchline/ Baird, Hugh, Sorn/ Brown, John, Mill st/ Buchanan, William, St Cuthbert's
holm/ Cook, James, Mill st/ Gibb, James,
Mill st/ Gibb, James, Mauchline/ * Hood, James, Mauchline/ * Lamont, Matthew,
Mauchline/ McGaan, William, Mauchline/ * McJannet, Alexander, Mill st/ Mitchell, Robert, St Germain
st/ Morton, Janet, Mauchline/ * Muir, Andrew, Mill st/ Murray, Elizabeth, Mill square/ Murray, Janet, St Germain
st/ * Pagan, Quentin McAdam, Mill sq/ * Porteous, John, Bridge st/ *Richard, Andrew,
Mauchline/ Seaton, Ann, Mill st/ Tullock, James, Stewart place/
Wallace, Hugh, Mauchline/ Wilson, Robert, Damside, Sorn
SNUFF BOX MAKERS
Dunlop, George, Stewart place/ Lynn, William Miller, Stewart place/ Paterson & Lucas,
Mauchline/ Smith, Wm & Andrew (& cigar cases &c., to his majesty),
Mauchline
SPIRIT DEALERS
Gibson, Richard, Mauchline/ Nisbet, Robert, Mauchline/ Ronald, William,
Mauchline/ Smith, John, Mill square
STONE MASONS
Cameron, George, Sorn/ Lire (?), Hugh, Mauchline/ Nemo (?), James, Wood st
SURGEONS
Blackwood (?), John, St Germain st/ Hamilton, Douglas, Cow gate, Mauchline/Herbert, John, Mill
st/ Nicholson, James, Mauchline
TAILORS
Crawford, Wm (& clothier), Mill st/ Graham, James, St Germain st/ Lambie, James, St Germain
st/ Lambie, James, Mauchline/ Lambie, John, Mauchline/ Lambie, Margaret,
Mauchline/ Lambie, William, Mauchline/ Logan, James, Mauchline/ Montgomerie, John,
Mauchline/ Young, William, Bridge street
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS
Ferguson, Montgomerie, Mauchline/ Robertson, Matthew, Mill square
WRITERS
Hamilton, Alexander, Mauchline castle/ Murdock, William, Mauchline/ Strathdee, John, Mauchline
MISCELLANEOUS
Greenshield, Alex, brewer, St Germain st/ Howat, Hugh, cattle dealer, Sorn/ Kay, James, portrait painter,
Sorn/ Lire, Matthew, plasterer, Mauchline/
McCarlin (?), Alexander, dyer, Cornmill st/ Meikle, Hugh, painter, St Germain st/ Stamp Office, Cross, Mauchline - John McGaan, distributor/
Urquhart, John, auctioneer, Bridge st/ Wilson, Robert & Hugh, millers, Sorn/
Young, William, tinsmith, St Germain st
COACHES
To Carlisle, a coach (from Glasgow), calls at A. McGaan's coach office,
Mauchline, every morning (Sunday excepted) at ten; goes through Sanquhar,
Dumfries, Annan, &c - From Carlisle passengers are forwarded to London.
To Glasgow, a coach (from Carlisle), calls at the above office every afternoon (Sunday excepted), at three; goes thro'
Kilmarnock.
CARRIERS
To Ayr, Thomas Murray, from Stewart place, and John and George Reid, from
Mauchline, every Tuesday and Friday
To Glasgow, Donald McDonald, from Ford street, every Thursday; William and John Morton, from Wood street, every Monday and Thursday; and Robert
McCandlish, from Mauchline every Monday
To Glasgow and Kilmarnock, Francis Blain, from Wood street, every Tuesday and Friday
To Kilmarnock, Francis Blain, from Catrine, and William Wallace, from Mauchline, every Tuesday and Friday; and Andrew Gibson from
Mauchline, every
Wednesday and Friday
To Muirkirk, John and Gregory Reid, from Mauchline, every Monday and Thursday.
This transcript was kindly provided by Keith
Muirhead from the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.
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