DALRY
1837 Ayrshire Directory by Pigot & Co
Is a small town, in the parish of its name, and district of Cunningham; 69 miles w by s of Edinburgh, 25 sw of Glasgow, 16¼ ssw of Paisley, 5 sw of
Beith, 4 n of Kilwinning and 7 n by e of Saltcoats; pleasantly situate on a rising ground, surrounded by the rivers
Caaf, Rye and Garnock, which run in
different directions so near the village, as to give it, when the streams are swelled with rain, the appearance of an island. The branches of
manufacture existing in the town and parish are those of cotton and carpet yarn with silk and harness weaving, in which many of both sexes are
employed; while a considerable number of females are occupied in sewing and embroidering, usually demoninated "Ayrshire needlework" for the Glasgow and
Paisley manufacturers. The dressing and spinning of flax is likewise carried on to some extent, and lime and coal abound in the
neighbourhood.
At the beginning of the last century, Dalry village contained only about six dwellings, and a population not exceeding 100; at present there are about
1,000 inhabitants, and the town consists of five streets, three of which diverge from a centre forming a small square; many of the houses are well
built, and the shops are neat. There are several public houses for the accommodation of
travellers, and two which belong to the grade of Inns; the
one called the "Crown" is the principal. The town is lighted by gas, by a Company formed in 1834. There are three public libraries in the parish,
viz, the "Dalry Library", the Dalry Church Library" and the "United Secession Library".
At Loansbrea is a reasonably fine spring of water; and from a situation near the church is seen, to the west, a beautiful natural cascade, which has a
curious and extraordinary appearance during the continuance of frost. At
Auchenflech, on the estate of Blair, two miles from Dalry, is a cave,
evidently the work of nature, and well deserving the examination of visitors to the district; it is about 183 feet in length, and from 5 to 12 in height;
the roof is encrusted with petrefactions, and over the entrance projects a vast rock, 30 feet by 27; its exterior resembles Gothic arched work; near
the middle it expands into a spacious chamber, 35 feet long by 12 broad, and 12 feet in height; in former times popular superstition peopled it with
elves - it accordingly received the appellation of "elf-house"; in later days, under the arbitrary and treacherous reign of Charles II., it afforded
a refuge to the covenanters of this parish from the violence of their infuriated persecutors. In Dalry parish also is "Camp-hill", where the
Scottish army is said to have encamped previous to the battle of Largs, in 1263. Dalry bestows the title of baron upon the eldest son of the Earl of
Glasgow. The weekly market is held on Thursday, and there are fairs in January, May and July.
Post Office James Stirrat, Post master - Letters from Beith, Glasgow &c arrive every morning at a quarter past ten, and are despatched every
afternoon at a quarter before four.
GENTRY AND CLERGY
Blair, Col William of Blair/ Hamilton, Mrs Parkhill/ Henderson, Rev. David Green bank/
Johnstone, Rev Thomas manse/ Miller, William Esq of Monkcastle/ Mushet, Rev James Rose bank/ Smith, Ebenizer Esq of
Pitcan/ Smith, John Esq of Swindridge muir
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS
Barr, Henry/ Hoag, Robert/ Parocial School, Wm Harvie - master/ Wallace, Adam
AGENTS TO MANUFACTURERS
Barclay, William/ Chalmers, John/ Currie, Archibald/ Harvie, Janet/ King, Janet
McEwing, James/ McNair, James/ Spiers, Hugh/ Stirrat, James
BAKERS
Blair, John/ Hunter, John and James/ Reilly, Hugh
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS
Alexander, William/ Bone, David/ Brackenridge, James/ Love, William Tennant/
McDonald, Malcolm/ McMillan, Daniel/ Miller, William/ Montgomerie, James/
Montgomerie, John/ Montgomerie, Robert/ Smith, David
CABINET MAKERS & JOINERS
Allan, Robert (& turner)/ Boyd, John/ Longwell, James/ McKimm, Samuel/
Ninnian, William
FLESHERS
Harvie, William (and Auctioneer)/ Russell, James/ Stirrat, James
GROCERS &c
Aitken, Andrew/ Gibson, Thomas/ Riddet, William/ Rodger, James/ Stirrat, Francis/
Stirrat, Helen/ Stirrat, John
INNS
Crown, Janet Craig/ King's Arms, Peter Colligan
LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPERS
Cochran, Ann & Co/ Hogarth, Martha/ Stirrat, James
MILNERS
Craig, John Beadland mill/ Gray, Robert Blair mill/ Hogg, Thomas Toft's mill/
Kerr, James Doggartland/ King, William Galgarvan mill/ Thomson, David Craig mill
MILNERS & DRESS MAKERS
Archibald, Elizabeth/ Blair, Margaret/ Boyle, Magdalen/ Cumming, Isabella/
Mackie, Christina/ Montgomerie, My/ Reid, Isabella/ Reilly, Janet/ Sloan, Mary/
Spiers, Elizabeth
SURGEONS
Christie, Patrick/ Gibson, William
TAILORS
Cumming, John/ Duff, Alexander/ Duff, John/ Love, David/ McKinnon, Chas/ Sillers, Henry/ Wolf, George
TINSMITHS
Hamilton, William/ Warden, James
VINTERS
Aitken, Andrew/ Barr, John/ Gibson, Thomas/ Kerr, John/ Montgomerie, Jn/ Roger, Hugh/
Stirrat, Allan/ Stirrat, John/
Thomson, Wm (Black Bull)
WOOL MANUFACTURERS
Biggart, Thomas Bridge-end mill
WRIGHTS
(see cabinet makers &c)
WRITERS
Clarke, John/ McCosh, James (& agent for the Insurance Company of Scotland)
MISCELLANEOUS
Dormin, Neil Earthenware dealer/ Harvie, James cooper/ Kerr, Hugh turner
Auchingrae/ Kerr, Robert Woollen carder Doggartland/ Kirkwood, Thomas
flax dresser/ Morris, John stocking manufacturer/ Muir, Andrew manager of the gas works/
Parke, William saddler/ Pollock, John stone mason/ Small,
Robert blacksmith/ Spiers, Hugh bookseller, stationer and librarian/ Stirrat, James tow and woollen carder/
Stirrat, John blacksmith
COACHES
To Glasgow the "Fair Trader" (from Saltcoats) calls at the Crown Inn every morning (Sunday excepted) at eight; and the "Herald" calls at the King's
Arms every evening (Sunday excepted) at seven; both fo through Beith and Paisley.
To Saltcoats and Ardrossan the "Herald" (from Glasgow) calls at the King's Arms every morning (Sunday excepted) at nine; and the "Fair Trader" calls at
the Crown Inn every evening (Sunday excepted) at half past seven.
CARRIERS
To Glasgow Robert Crawford and Hugh Roger every Tuesday and Friday.
This transcript was
kindly provided by Keith Muirhead
from the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.
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