SALTCOATS AND STEVENSTON
Ayrshire Directory - 1837 - by Pigot & Co
Saltcoats is a sea-port, partly in the parish of Stevenston and partly in that
of Ardrossan; 74 miles wsw from Edinburgh, 30 sw from Glasgow, 19 n from Ayr, 14
w by n from Kilmarnock, and one from Ardrossan: eligibly situate on the Frith of
Clyde, near to its northern extremity. The general appearance of this town is
far from prepossessing, but its situation and proximity to Ardrossan, the
arrival and departure of the trading vessels, and the passing and repassing of
the different steam-packets and railway carriages, all contribute to give life
to this ancient place; a spirit of improvement is becoming manifest with the
inhabitants; and the town, it is expected, will be lighted with gas before this
work is published. About 170 years ago, Salt-cots (then so called) consisted
only of a small number of cots or cottages, the inhabitants of which obtained a
livelyhood by making salt in kettles; but at the beginning of the last centuary,
a harbour being constructed for the convenience of shipments of coal, the
produce of the mines in this neighbourhood, the little hamlet began to assume
the semblance of a village; it is but in recent years, however, that it has
risen to any note. During the late war this place possessed an extensive trade,
and ship-building was carried on with great spirit; but since the peace its
commerce has been much reduced, and it is now nearly confined to the importation
of timber, and the exportation of coals to Ireland, in which trade there are
sometimes about forty vessels employed. The manufacture of salt here is
considerable, and a great number of looms are employed in the weaving of
muslins, &c. for the Glasgow and Paisley markets. A branch of the Irvine
custom-house transacts the revenue business, and the proprietors of the Ayrshire
bank have a branch here; the house in which the business of the latter is
transacted, and which is also the residence of the manager Mr. W.B.Orr, is a
very handsome building, and an ornamentto Raise st in which it stands. Both at
the east and west of the town are extensive chymical works, belonging to Messrs
Burns and Son, who manufacture magnesia and epsom salts. The principal Inns are
the "Saracen's Head", in Harbour street, and the "King's
Arms", in Bradshaw street, the former a good posting- house. The
Town-house, the foundation of which was laid in 1825, consists of a spacious
hall, with two smaller appartments adjoining, and a lock-up for prisioners: the
ediface, which is surmounted by a steeple, is a prominent and effective object
when approaching the town. A justice court, for the recovery of small debts,
sits in this town once a month. The places of worship are a church of the
establishment, two others for the seccessional body, one for the relief synod, a
Gaelic church, and a Baptist meeting-house. The children of the town have the
advantage of free, parocial and Sabbath schools, and a library of religious and
moral works. There are several benefit societies, which alleviate the suffering
and relieve the necessities of the poor; and one of those establishments that
must ever aid the impulse of industry and prudence - a savings bank. An annual
fair is held on the last Thursday in May. Stevenston is a village in the parish
of its name and district of Cunningham - situate one mile north-east of
Saltcoats, and two south-west from Kilwinning. It consists chiefly of one
street, half a mile in length; and derives its name from Stephen, or
"Steven", the son of Richard, who obtained a grant of lands from
Richard Morville, constable of Scotland; the latter, then a very celebrated man,
died in 1189; under this grant Steven settled here, and gave his patronimic
designation to the place. The parish abounds with coal and freestone, of which
large quantities are annually shipped. The dairy and agricultural produce,
comprising cheese, butter, wheat, oats, and potatoes, is likewise of
considerable value. A great portion of the inhabitants of the village are
employed in weaving, and through the agents here the works of their looms are
conveyed to the Glasgow houses. The present church is a neat and handsome
building, of modern erection. The old church belonged formerly to the monks of
Kilwinning. Yearly fairs are held on the second Friday in August and the 31st of
October.
Post Office, Quay street, Saltcoats, William Snodgrass, Post Master - The
Kilmarnock, Irvine and Edinburgh mails arrive every morning at eight, and are
despatched every afternoon at four. Post Office, Stevenston, Robert Forrest
Scott, Post Master - the Irvine and Kilmarnock mails arrive every morning at
eight, and are despatched every afternoon at half-past four.
GENTRY & CLERGY
Bell, John Esq, Raise st/ Black, Mrs, Hamilton st/ Blair, Rev. James, Raise st/
Bolton, Mrs, Sandylands/ Brown, Hugh, Esq, Park end/ Brown, John Esq, Raise st/
Bryce, Rev. John, manse/ Crawford, James, Esq, Birkhead/ Croker, Samuel Esq,
Rock vale/ Cunningham, Robt., esq, of Sea bank/ Currie, John, Esq, Hamilton st/
Dow, Miss, Sandylands/ Elles, Rev. James, Windmill st/ Giffen, Rev. James, Hill
st/ Hamilton, Col. Alexander of Grange/ Hamilton, Capt. James, Raise st/ Henry,
Mrs Mary, Sandylands/ Howie, John Esq, Hullerhirst/ Jack, Mrs William, Raise st/
Landsborough, Rev. David, Manse, Stevenston/ McFee, Capt. John, Raise st/
Martin, Major Alex. Mayville cottage/ Miller, Robert, Esq, Raise st/ Miller,
Capt. William, Sandylands/ Muir, John Esq, of Hayocks/ Poe, Captain, Sandylands/
Reid, Boyd Esq, Sandylands/ Ronald, Rev. David, Hamilton st/ Roxburgh Mr Thomas,
Raise st/ Stevenson, Mr Robert, Raise st/ Stewart, Wm. H. Esq, Hamilton st/
Thomson, Mrs. Canal bank/ Warner, Patrick Esq of Ardeer/ Woodrow, Miss, Hamilton
st/ Workman, Mrs Robert, Raise st/ Young, Thomas Esq, of Springvale
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS
Free School, Saltcoats - Helen Allen, mistress/ Heron, Daniel, Chapel st/
Ormond, Hugh, Stevenston/ Parochial School, Stevenston - John Crawford & Jas
Orr, master/ Shaw, Neil, Raise st/ Smith, Alexander, Hamilton st/ Wakelin,
William, Chapel st
AGENTS TO MANUFACTURERS
Aitken, James, Dockhead st/ Baird, hugh, Dockhead st/ Barclay, Robert, Raise st/
Bolton, James, Chapelwell st/ Boyd, Thomas, Sandylands/ Crawford, Alexander,
Windmill st/ Ferguson, Alexander, Dockhead st/ Gordon, Gilbert, Sandylands/
Smith, Andrew, Hamilton st/ Smith, James, Raise st/ Thomson, David, Raise st
BAKERS AND FLOUR DEALERS
Chalmers, Hugh, Quay st/ Gibson, Gavin, Quay st/ Jamieson, George, Dockhead st/
Leckie, William, Dockhead st/ Logan, John, Stevenston/ McAllister, Daniel, Green
st/ McMillan, John, Bradshaw st/ Poe, David, Quay st
BANKERS
Ayrshire Banking Co (Branch of), Raise st - (Draw on the Royal bank, Edinburgh
& Glasgow, & Williams, Deacon & Co, London). William Bowes Orr,
Manager Savings Bank, Raise st - James Dunlop, manager
BLACKSMITHS
Allan, James, Stevenston/ Barclay, John, Dockhead/ Burns, William, Chapelwell st/
Lambie, William, Stevenston/ Miller, Thomas, Quay st/ Richie, hugh, Raise st
BOOKSELLERS AND STATIONERS
Skoech, James & Co, Bradshaw st/ Wilson, Amelia, Quay st/ Wilson, John, Dockhead st
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS
Currie, Daniel, Dockhead st/ Currie, John, Quay st/ Galloway, John, Dockhead st/
Glossop, George, Quay st/ Hamilton, Alison, Raise st/ McKenzie, Donald, Bradshaw
st/ McKillop, John, Quay st/ McMicken, William, Raise st/ McNeil, James, Quay st/
Scott, John, Stevenston/ Shaw, Thomas, Bradshaw st/ Sillars, Duncan, Dockhead st/
Thomaon, James, Quay st
CHINA AND EARTHENWARE DEALERS
King, Jean, Raise st/ McMahon, Patrick, Quay st
COOPERS
Davidson, Daniel, Dockhead st/ McArthur, Alexander, Raise st/ Richie,James (and fish curer), Raise st
CORN MERCHANTS
Graham, Thomas, Quay st/ Thomson, James, Raise st/ Watt, William, Raise st
CURRIERS
Anderson, Robert (and tanner), Raise st/ Cunningham, Alexander, Raise st
FIRE & LIFE OFFICE AGENT
Scottish Amicable (Life) and West of Scotland (fire), Hugh Richie, Raise st
FLESHERS
Baillie, Hugh, Stevenston/ Crawford, John, Dockhead st/ Fleck, John, Raise st/
McCall, John, Stevenston/ McKillop, Daniel, Dockhead st/ Maitland, Margaret,
Quay st
GROCERS
Adam, John, Raise st/ Auld, John, Stevenston/ Boyd, John, Raise st/ Boyd,
William, Raise st/ Brown, Janet, Hamilton st/ Bryce, Robert, Dockhead st/
Chalmers, Hugh, Chapel st/ Craig, helen, Harbour st/ Davidson, Archibald,
Dockhead st/ Dunlop, James, Raise st/ Fullarton, Adam, Dockhead st/ Fullarton,
Catherine, Dockhead st/ Fulton, Andrew, Stevenston/ Hodson, Elizabeth, Raise st/
Howie, Alexander, Stevenston/ Lockhart, William, Stevenston/ McBride, James,
Raise st/ McBride, John, Raise st/ McConechy, Alexander, Bradshaw st/ McKillop,
John, Green st/ / ller, William, Stevenston/ Murchie, Peter, Quay st/ Orr,
Alexander, Raise st/ Pennel, Joseph, Stevenston/ Poe, Janet, Raise st/ Reid,
James, Chapel st/ Robertson, Daniel, Deckhead st/ Service, George, Raise st/
Shedden, James, Dockhead st/ Smith, James, Stevenston/ Snodgrass, William (and
Stamp distributor) Quay st/ Wilkie, Adam, Hamilton st
HAIR DRESSERS
Bolton, John, Dockhead st/ Gray, Robert, Raise st
INNS
King's Arms, Jas. Reid, Bradshaw st Saracen's Head (& posting house), Alexander Campbell, Harbour st
JOINERS AND CABINET MAKERS
Alexander, Alexander, Sandylands/ Armour, William, raise st/ Baillie, Hugh (ship
joiner), Green st/ Baillie, John, Raise st/ Craig, William, Chapel st/ Dickie,
James, Stevenston/ Hodge, James, Green st/ Hunter, Alexander, Green st/ Lusk,
David, Quay st/ Miller, Thomas, Raise st/ Scott, Thomas, Stevenston/ Service,
John, Raise st/ Young, James, Stevenston
LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPERS
Aitken, William, Dockhead st/ Baird, Alexander, Quay st/ Davie, Matthew, Quay st/
Ewing, Hugh, Quay st/ Gemell, William, Quay st/ How, John, Bradshaw st
MAGNESIA MANUFACTURERS
Burns, William & Sons (carbonate and calcined) Sandylands
MILLINERS AND DRESS AND STRAW HAT MAKERS
Davidson, Mary, Dockhead st/ Galt, Jean, Hill st/ McDonald, Elizabeth, Harbour
st/ McDonald, Margaret, Harbour st/ Moffat, Phoebe, Green st/Skroech, Elizabeth
& Janet, Raise st/ Smith, Agnes, Stevenston
NAIL MAKERS
Cooper, Peter, Chapelwell st/ Lennart, John, Chapel st
PAINTERS
Campbell, Boyd, Sandylands/ Hogarth, Robert, Stevenston/ Maule, Alexander, Dockhead st
SALT MANUFACTURERS
Burns, Willam & Sons (and Epsom salt and Magnesia ), Sandylands Warner & Cunningham, Sandylands
SEEDSMAN
Brown, John jun, Dockhead st/ Willock, Jas (& nursery) Dockhead st
STONE MASONS
King, Peter, Hamilton st/ McGill, Alexander, Chapelwell st/ Mills, Joseph, Green st/ Reid, Thomas, Hill st
SURGEONS
Brown, James, Dockhead st/ Drinnan, John, Quay st/ Wallace, Robert, Raise st
TAILORS
Bennet, Robert, Hill st/ Bryden, James, Raise st/ Currie, Daniel, Green st/
Hamilton, Archibald, Stevenston/ Henry, John, Dockhead st/ Hughs, Peter, Quay st/
McBride, Andrew, Dockhead st/ McBride, Thomas, Green st/ McFee, Daniel, Harbour
st/ McIntoch, James, Stevenston/ McKinnon, Alexander, Dockhead st/ McWhinnie,
Hugh, Quay st/ Scott, William, Raise st/ Smith, James, Raise st
TIMBER MERCHANTS
Fullarton, Wm. & John, Quay st/ Richie, James, Raise st
TIN-PLATE WORKERS
Fullarton, Duncan, Hill st/ Fullarton, Jas., (& ironmonger), Quay st
VINTERS
Adam, John, Raise st/ Banks, James, Stevenston/ Barclay, Hugh, Chapel st/ Boyd,
Hugh, Stevenston/ Boyd, John, Raise st/ Bryce, Robert, Dockhead st/ Chalmers,
Hugh, Quay st/ Chalmers, Hugh, Chapel st/ Cowan, David, Sandylands/ Crawford,
James, Stevenston/ Ferguson, Alex. (Swan), Dockhead st/ Fullarton, Adam,
Dockhead st/ Fulton, Andrew, Stevenston/ Good, John, Chapel brae/ Graham, Thos.
(Cross Keys) Quay st/ Holmes, Mary, Quay st/ Howie, Alexander, Stevenston/ Howie,
John, Stevenston/ Jack, John, Stevenston/ Kenneth, Sarah, Stevenston/ Kerr,
Malcolm, Green st/ Lockhart, John, Stevenston/ Lockhart, William, Stevenston/
Logan, John (True Sun), Sandylands/ McBride, James, Raise st/ McBride, John,
Quay st/ McCall, John, Stevenston/ McConechy, Alexander, Bradshaw st/ McKillop,
John, Green st/ McMillan and Co, Stevenston/ McMillan, John, Bradshaw st/ Orr,
Alexander, Raise st/ Pennel, Joseph, Stevenston/ Ramsay, Alex., (Black Bull),
Raise st/ Richie, James, Stevenston/ Roy, Betay, Quay st/ Russell, Gavin,
Sandylands/ Service, George, Raise st/ Shedden, James, Dockhead st/ Smith,
James, Stevenston/ Smith, John, Stevenston/ Snodgrass, William, Quay st/ Taylor,
Archibald, Quay st/ Taylor, Gilbert (Rob Roy), Quay st/ Wilkie, Adam, Hamilton
st/ Willock, Thomas, Chapel st/ Wilson, William, Stevenston/ Young, John and Co,
Quay st
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS
Coulter, William, Quat st/ Gibson, John, Bradshaw st
WHEELWRIGHTS
Boyd, David, Stevenston/ Smith, Thomas, Quay st
WRITERS
Orr, William Bowes, Quay st/ Wark, Francis, Sandylands
MISCELLANEOUS
Banks, John, saddler, Quay st/ Barclay, John, tallow chandler, Harbour st/
Brown, Jno., jun hardware dir, Dockhead st/ Croker, Samuel, Manager of the
Stevenston collieries, Rock vale/ Cunningham, John, harbour master, Quay/
Duncan, Sinclair, searcher and landing waiter, Saltcoats/ Duncan, Thomas,
stocking maker, Quay st/ Gilmour, Robert, auctioneer, Stevenston/ Hill, Peter,
horse and cattle dealer, Chapel st/ Hill, William, horse dealer, Chapel st/
Hoole, James, stone merchant, Stevenston/ Hunter, John, flax dresser, Dockhead
st/ Kenneth, Sarah, corn miller, Stevenston/ McDonald, Daniel, block maker,
Harbour st/ McKelvie, John, sail maker, Raise st/ Maule, Margaret, dyer,
Dockhead st/ Moffat, Jas., superintendant of the Ardrossan and Johnstone
Railway, Railway Office/ Warner & Cunningham, coal proprietors, Stevenston
collieries/ Watt, Robert, rope &c maker, Sandylands/ Watt, Wm., brewer and
maltster (?), Raise st/ Whinton, Andw., umbrella mkr. Dockhead st
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Established Church, Stevenston - Rev. David Landsborough
Establishen Church of Ardrossan and Saltcoats - Rev john Bryce
Relief Church, Rev Jas. Giffen
Secession Church, Rev David Ronald
Secession Church, Rev James Ellis
Baptist, Rev James Blair
Gaelic Church
COACHES
To Glasgow, the "Fair Trader", from the Saracen's Head, Saltcoats, every morning (Sunday excepted) at seven; and the "Herald" at six in the evening;
both go thru' Kilwinning, Dalry, Beith,a nd Paisley.
To Irvine and Kilmarnock, the "Time Keeper", from the Saracen's Head, every morning (Sun excepted) at eight; and the "Ayrshire Lass" at six in the
evening; and an Omnibus, from the King's Arms, every morning (Sunday excepted) at eight.
RAILWAY CONVEYANCE
To Ardrossan and Eglingtoun, Carriages six times a day
CARRIERS
(From Saltcoats)
To Ardrossan, Thomas Graham and James Harra, daily
To Glasgow, Thomas Willock, every Monday, and Alexander and John Cunningham, every Monday and Thursday
To Irvine, John McBride and James Harra daily
To Kilbride, Andrew Clark, daily
To Kilmarnock, John Barr, every Tuesday and Friday
CONVEYANCE BY WATER
To Lamlash and Brodick, sailing vessels daily.
This transcript was
kindly provided by Keith Muirhead
from the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.
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