Girvan
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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.

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.

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.