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GIRVAN
Ayrshire Directory - 1837- by Pigot & co
Is a port town and burgh of barony, in the parish of its name and district of
Carrick; 99 miles wsw of Edinburgh, 56 ssw of Glasgow, 31 nnw of Portpatrick,
the like distance nne of Strauraer, 21 s by w of Ayr, 13 n by e of Ballantrae,
12 ssw of Maybole, and 6 sw of Dailly; situate on the left bankof the Garvan or
Girvan, near to its influx with the sea and at a point exactly opposite the
islet called Ailsa Craig. The harbour, which is now convenient for shipping,
underwent great improvement at the expense of the late Sir H.D. Hamilton, the
then sole proprietor; and others, upon an extensive scale, are contemplated, in
consequence of, ant to give convenience and effect to, the new line of railroad,
and the establishment of a steam-packet direct to Glasgow. Large quantities of
grain, of various kinds, are annually exported from hence, chiefly to Liverpool
and Glasgow. The consignments of timber from North America to merchants in this
town are considerable; the trade in coal and lime is likewise important - the
mines of the former and quarries of the latter being numerous in this
neighbourhood; but the principal business of the town consists in the
manufacture of a variety of cotton and other goods, for the Glasgow and Paisley
markets, which affords employment to the bulk of the inhabitants. The government
of the town is vested in two bailies and twelve common councilmen - four of the
latter being chosen annually, upon the retirement or otherwise of the like
number, on the 12th October; the Duchess of Coigney, or her representative, is
superior of the burough.
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The places of worship are, a church of the
establishment (a neat structure, thoroughly repaired some years since), united
secession and methodist meeting-houses, and a Roman catholic chapel. To the
parochial school a valuable donation was made by the late Mrs Crawford, of
Ardmillan, who left the interest of £1,000 forever to the teachers, for the
education of forty children, subject only to the deduction of two guineas, to be
distributed in small prizes amongst the pupils; the same munificent lady also
left the interest of £1,000 of which £12 are given to the preceptor of the
church for the instruction of ten of the children in sacred music, and the
balance to be divided among poor householders, not receiving parish relief. Here
is also a charity school, supported by various donations and subscription fron
the gentry and others residing in the town and neighbourhood.
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A market, chiefly
for grain, is held at Girvan every Monday; and there are two annual fairs, on
the last Monday in the months of April and October, for stock, hiring servants,
and general business. The celebrated and extraordinary rock called Ailsa Craig
is immediately opposite to, and fifteen miles distant from Girvan, rising out of
the Frith of Clyde to the height of a thousand feet. It is two miles in
circumference; and the top, which is conical, is covered with a luxurious crop
of heath, grass and other plants, which feed great numbers of goats and rabbits.
In one place the nettles form an impenetrable forest, six feet in height; and
all the other plants likewise attain a proportionally gigantic size. All around,
on the precipitous sides of the rock, uniformly nestle almost inconceivable
numbers of solan geese, puffins, and gannets, which flutter about, and produce
incessant deafening noise. On a long terrace or shoulder of the craig, at the
elevation of 200 feet from the base, stands a deserted square tower, or
castellated house, still very perfect as a ruin. Higher up issue two sparkling
and beautiful springs of water, one of which forms a small marshy plain, covered
with various plants, amongst others, the "hydrocatile vulgaris" of
extraordinary magnitude. The rock belongs to the Marquess of Ailsa, who draws
from it a yearly rental of about £30 which is paid by the feathers of the fowls
and the rabbit skins. Naturalists and botanists would find a visit of value, in
increasing their knowledge of the vegetable world.
Post Office, Thomas Donaldson, Post master - Letters from Glasgow and England
arrive every night at a quarter before twelve, and are despatched at a quarter
before eight at night - Letters from Portpaatrick arrive every night at a
quarter before eight, and are despatched every night at a quarter before twelve
- A penny-post to Barr every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at eight.
GENTRY AND CLERGY
Crawford, Archibald Clifford Blackwell, esq., Ardmillan house
Duncan, Rev. Alex, (secession), Old st
McMaster, Rev. Peter, Manse
Tyson, Mrs. Mary, Shallock
Wilson, John, esq., (factor to the Duchess de Coigney), Bailock cottage,
Bank street
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS
Frew, Agnes, High st
McDougall, Alexander, the Green
Parochial School, the Green - Rev Cathcart Kay, master
Shaw, John, Dalrymple st
Steven, Rev. Andrew, Montgomery st
Subscription School, Hamilton st - William Goudy, master
AGENTS TO MANUFACTURERS
Davidson, James, Dalrymple st/ Davidson, Thomas, High st/ Chalmers, Joseph,
Montgomery st/ Frazer, Hugh, Dalrymple st/ Graham, John, Dalrymple st/ Harvey,
John, Down park/ McClymont, Alexander, High st/ McHowell, Thomas, Hamilton st/
Neil, Thomas, Dalrymple st/ Paul, Adam, High st/ Powell, James, Dalrymple st/
Powell, James, Hamilton st/ Powell, John, Dalrymple st/ Tinsley, Thomas,
Dalrymple st
BAKERS
Austin, James, High st/ Howie, William, Dalrymple st/ Kelly, Alexander, Hamilton
st/ Kelly, Dugald, High st/ Murray, John, Knockushion st/ Peacock, Andrew,
Dalrymple st/ Powell, William, Dalrymple st/ Thomson, Hugh, Dalrymple st
BANKS
Ayr Bank (Branch of), High st - (draws on Sir William Forbes and Co
Edinburgh, The Royal bank, Glasgow, and Herries, Farquhar, and Co, London) - Kennedy Brown, agent
Ayrshire Bank (Branch of), Bank st - (draws on the Royal Bank, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Williams, Deacon and Co London), William Johnston, agent
BLACKSMITHS
Adams, Hugh, Bridge st/ Deckie, William, Bridge mill/ Forbes, William, Bridge st/ McCracken, William,
Shallock/ Wallet, John, Down park
BOOKSELLERS
Ferrier, William, Dalrymple st/ McQuaker, Joseph, Dalrymple st
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS
Chalmers, David, Montgomerie st/ Davidson, Alexander, Dalrymple st/ Eglesham,
Archibald, High st/ Gillespie & Roxburgh, Montgomery st/ Irvine, Samuel,
Dalrymple st/ McAuley, James, Montgomery st/ McCrorie(?), Robert, Montgomery st/
McHarg, William, Hamilton st/ Steven, Alexander, Dalrymple st/ White, James,
Hamilton st
CART & WHEEL WRIGHTS
(see also wrights)
Dunbar, Jeremiah, Dalrymple st/ McClatche, Hugh Bridge mill/ McCracken, Alexander, Beggar know/
McTaggert, James, Old street/ Young, Alexander, (and
millwright), Vicarton row
COAL DEALERS
Hannah, Alexander, Down park/ McEwan, Robert, Ailsa street
COOPERS
Conway, Charles (& turner), Montgomery st/ Gardner, Robert, Hamilton st/
Goudie, John, Dalrymple st
FIRE &c OFFICE AGENTS
Caledonian, Kennedy Brown, High st
Insurance Company of Scotland, David Randall Craig, Bank st
Hercules, John Gardner, Montgomery st
West of Scotland (fire) and Scottish Amicable (life) Co., William Johnston, Bank st
FLESHERS
McKissock, James, High st/ McMillan, Robert, Dalrymple st/ Sinclair, James, High
st/ Smith, James, Dalrymple st/ Weir, William, Dalrymple st
GLASS AND EARTHENWARE DEALERS
Clachar, Alexander, Hamilton st/ Smith, William, High st
GROCERS
(Marked thus * are alsoo spirit dealers)
(See also Spirit Dealers and also Shopkeepers &c)
* Armstrong, James, Dalrymple st/ * Cathcart, James, Dalrymple st/ Douglas,
Robert, Montgomery st/ * Ferguson, David, Hamilton st/ Ferguson, James,
Dalrymple st/ * Hannah, John, Dalrymple st/ * Hannah, Robert, High st/ * Hunter,
Andrew, Hamilton st/ Irvine , James, Knockushion st/ * McClure, James, Dalrymple
st/ * McClymont, Samuel, High st/ * McKechine, Robert, Dalrymple st/ Powell,
Anthony, Dalrymple st/ * Robinson, Thomas, High st/ * Smith, William, High st/ *
Steven, Thomas, Montgomery st
IRONMONGERS
McCaa, Hugh, Dalrymple st/ McCracken, John, Dalrymple st/ McQuaker, Hugh, Dalrymple st
INNKEEPERS AND VINTERS
Bryden, Andrew, (and car keeper), Montgomery st/ Clacher, John, (Star Inn, and
livery stables), High st/ Davidson, Thomas, Dalrymple st/ Forgie, Thomas,
Montgomerie st/ Harvey, John, (Weaver's Arms), Down park/ Irvine, Samuel,
Dalrymple st/ Irving, James, Knockushion st/ Lyle, Thomas, (King's Arms Inn
& livery stables), Dalrymple st/ McCulloch, _____, (George), Down park/
McKissock, Elizabeth, (Buck's Head), Dalrymple st/ Mantell, David George, Old st/
Patterson, John, the Green/ Powell, Thomas, Dalrymple st/ Sands, David,
Dalrymple st/ Tinsley, Thomas, Down park
LEATHER CUTTERS
McIlwraith, Andrew, Montgomery st/ White, William, Hamilton st
LIBRARIES - CIRCULATING
Agricultural, Wm. McMorran's, Bank st - William Johnston, librarian and secretary/
Ferrier, William, Dalrymple st/ McQuaker, Joseph, Dalrymple st/
Subscription, High st - Robert Niven, librarian
LINEN AND WOOLLEN DRAPERS
Davidson, Alexander, Dalrymple st/ Davidson, Thomas, (and clothier), High st/
Drynan, James, Dalrymple st/ Haldane, Thomas, (& silk mercer), Dalrymple st/
McClymont, Alexander, (and silk mercer), High st/ McQuaker, John, Dalrymple st/
Morton, William, Old st
MILLERS
Austin, James, Bridge mill/ Trawburn, William, Shallock
NAIL MAKERS
Hannah, David, Bridge st/ Hannah, Robert, Montgomery st
PAINTERS - HOUSE, &c
Allen, Alexander, Dalrymple st/ Mantell, David George, Old st
SADDLERS
Campbell, Anthony, Hamilton st/ Kennedy, John, Bridge st
SHIP OWNERS
Cathcart, James, Dalrymple st/ Ferguson, David (and agent), Hamilton st/
McKechine, Robert, Dalrymple st
SHOPKEEPERS AND DEALERS IN SUNDRIES
Brackenridge, Elizbth, Dalrymple st/ Brown, Gilbert, Dalrymple st/ Chalmers,
Joseph, Montgomery st/ Davidson, James, Dalrymple st/ Davidson, John, Dalrymple
st/ Davidson, Thomas, Dalrymple st/ Eaglesham, James, Dalrymple st/ Frazer,
Hugh, Dalrymple st/ Girvan, Margaret, Montgomery st/ Guthrie, John, Montgomery
st/ Hannah, David, Hamilton st/ Heron, Alexander, Down park/ Houston, Ann,
Hamilton st/ Lore, Thomas, Hamilton st/ Luck, John, Dalrymple st/ McCrozie,
John, Dalrymple st/ McCulloch, George, Down park/ McIlwraith, Helen, hamilton st/
McMicking, Marian, Knockushion st/ McNeill, Roderick, Montgomery st/ McTaggart,
James, Old st/ Mantell, David George, Old st/ Matland, John, Montgomery st/
Neill, Thomas, Dalrymple st/ Powell, John, Dalrymple st/ Ralston, John,
Montgomery st/ Scobie, Mary, Montgomery st/ Scott, Thomas, Montgomery st/
Steven, Andrew, Montgomery st
SLATERS & PLASTERERS
Henderson, James, Montgomery st/ McKnight, Daniel, Knockushion st
SPIRIT DEALERS
(See also Grocers)
Dunn, John, Bridge st/ Ferguson, David, Hamilton st/ McCracken, John, Dalrymple
st/ Powell, William, Dalrymple st
STONE MASONS
Ferguson & Wright, Plumb st/ Knox, John, Dalrymple st/ Murrow, Robt. and
Archbld., Plumb st
STRAW HAT MAKERS
Eglesham, Mary, High st/ McIlwraith, Mary, high st
SURGEONS
Ballantine, Robert, High st/ Crawford, James, MD. Redman lodge/ Robinson, Andrew, Dalrymple
st/ Robinson, David, Bogrie hall/ Thomson, Samuel, MD.
Dalrymple st/ Walker, John, Old st
TAILORS
Annan, Alexander, Vicarton st/ Ballantine, William, Montgomery st/ Brown, William, Hamilton
st/ Crossan, James, Dalrymple st/ Cunningham, James,
Montgomery st/ Davidson, Samuel, Dalrymple st/ Davidson, Thomas, High st/ Gammel, Thomas, High
st/ Hannah, John, Bridge st/ Hannah, Robert, High st/
Law, Andrew, Bank st/ McClymont, John, Old st
TANNERS
Law, David, Bridge st/ McIlwraith, John, Bridge st
TIMBER AND SLATE MERCHANTS
Ferguson, David, Hamilton st/ McKechine, Robert (and lead), Dalrymple st
WATCH AND CLOCK MAKERS
Davidson, James, High st/ Graham, James, High st
WRIGHTS
(See also Cart & Wheelwrights)
Davidson, Thomas, Newton Kennedy/ Ferguson, James (and cabinet maker), Plumb st/ McConnell, Alexander, Knockushion
st/ McKenna, James, Dalrymple st/
Nelson, James, Bank st/ Ross, David, High st
WRITERS
Brown, Kennedy, N.P. High st/ Craig, David Randall, (& messenger at arms), Bank
st/ Gardner, John, Montgomery st/ Johnston, William, N.P. (magistrate
for Ayrshire), Bank st
MISCELLANEOUS
Bell, William, gauger, Excise office/ Craig, David Randall, auctioneer, Bank st/
Crawford, William, druggist &c, Bank st/ Elder, James, principal coast
officer, the Green/ Gray, Andrew, gardener, Bank st/ Johnston, William, factor
to Sir J A Cathcart, Bank st/ Lawson, John, rope maker, Dalrymple st/ McAdam,
Saml., hair dresser, Montgomery st/ McMorran, Wm., bookbinder &c, Bank st/
Murdock, Wm., coppersmith, Montgomery st/ Powell, James, grain dealer, Dalrymple
st/ Randall, David, town clerk, Graig town/ Shaw, Thomas, tallow chandler,
Bridge st/ Stamp Office, High st - Brown Kennedy, distributor/ White, James,
town treasurer, Hamilton st
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Church of Scotland, Hamilton st - Rev. Peter McMaster
United Secession Meeting House, Bridge street - Rev. Alexander Duncan
Catholic Chapel, Montgomery st - Rev. William Thomson, of Ayr
Methodist Meeting House, the Green - (No regular minister)
COACHES
To Ayr, the "Robert Burns", from the King's Arms, every Tuesday and Friday morning at six; goes through Kirkoswald on Tuesdays and Dailly on Friday
To Glasgow, the "Royal Mail", (from Portpatrick), passes through every evening at half-past seven
To Portpatrick, the "Royal Mail", (from Glasgow), passes through every night at half-past eleven
CARRIERS
To Ayr and Maybole, Wm. Dryden, from Montgomery st every Tuesday
To Ballantrae, John McWhirter, from the Star, every Monday
To Glasgow, Robert Hannah, from Dalrymple st, every Tuesday
To Stranraer, John Steven, from Vicarton-row, every Wednesday
CONVEYANCE BY WATER
Steam-Packets
To Glasgow, the "Nimrod" (from Stranraer), calls every Monday, and the "Loch Ryan" every Tuesday
To Stranraer, The "Loch Ryan" (from Glasgow), calls every Friday, and the "Nimrod" every Saturday
Coastal Vessels
To Glasgow, the "Earl Gray" (Robert McKechine, agent), and the "Irvine" (David Ferguson, agent) once a fortnight
To Liverpool, the "Jenny and Nancy" (Robert Ballantine, agent), and the "Sutit"(?) (Robert
McKechine, agent) occasionally.
This transcript was kindly provided by Keith
Muirhead from the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.
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