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BEITH
1837 -
Ayrshire Directory by Pigot and Co
Beith is a market and post
town, in the parish of its name and district of
Cunningham; 62 miles w by s of
Edinburgh, 19½ sw of Glasgow, 11 sw of Paisley, 5 n by e of
Dalry, 12 n by e of
Saltcoats and 8 s by w of Johnstone. It is situate near the confines of
Renfrewshire, on an eminence commanding a fine and extensive view of the
beautifully diversified country around, of which the Loch of Kilburnie, at a
distance of about a mile, forms a prominent feature.
The town which contains many
excellent houses, but is very irregularly built, is of modern date, comprising
at the commencement of the last century only a very few humble habitations; it
is now a place of respectable trade, and its neighbourhood is the residence of
many opulent families. Beith has long been noted for its manufacture of linen
thread, of which great quantities are made both for home consumption and
exportation. The manufacture of silk goods was formerly extensive, but it has
been almost entirely superseded by that of cotton, in which the majority of
inhabitants are employed by the manufacturers of Paisley and Glasgow. The
principal branches of trade, in addition to those already mentioned, are the
manufacture of starch (for which there is a respectable establishment), lime
burning and the making of ropes, twine, bricks and tiles.
The whole of the parish of
Beith is enclosed and subdivided, and is almost all arable; the farms are small,
and the tenants of this and the neighbouring parish of Dunlop may be said
universally to make cheese, known by the name "Dunlop cheese" which is
held in as high estimation in Scotland as the cheese of Cheshire and
Gloucestershire in England. The value of this commodity sent annually to market
from this parish has been calculated at upwards of £4,000.
In the town are three branch
banks, viz., the Commercial Bank of Scotland, the Glasgow Union Bank and the
Paisley Union; and there is an excellent Inn, the "Saracen's Head", in
Whang street. In 1807, a very handsome church of the establishment, with a
tower, was erected in the most elevated part of the town; its site is 343 feet
above the level of the sea. The town-house was built by subscription in 1817, to
the erection of which the late W. Wilson of Cumnock was a liberal contributor:
the upper part of the building contains a court room and other offices: the
lower part consists of shops, the rents of which are applied to purposes of
public benefit. The town is lighted with gas. The Ladies Benevolent Society is
worthy of particular commendation, and there is an excellent parochial school.
At Giffen, a short distance
from the town, is the stately ruined castle of the Montgomeries: there is also
another ruin at Hazelhead; and at the top of
Cuffs-hill, a considerable
eminence, is a druidical remain, known by the name of "Rocking stone".
The neighbourhood of Beith
produces coal, and abundance of lime stone. The weekly market of the town is
held on Friday; and there are annual fairs on the first Friday in January and
February (old style) and the 30th of August.
POST OFFICE:
Main street - Catherine Arnott,
post mistress - Letters from Paisley &c arrive every morning at eight, and
again (except Edinburgh letters) at seven in the evening, and are despatched
every morning at half past seven and at six in the evening. - Letters from Dalry
arrive every evening at half past five, and are despatched every morning at half
past eight - Letters from Kilbirnie arrive (by penny post) every evening at
five, and are despatched every morning at half past eight.
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GENTRY AND CLERGY:
(Marked * are Justices of the Peace)
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Anderson Rev James Head
st
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* Brown Hugh Esq of
Broadstone
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Colville Rev George
Mains Hill
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Dobie James Esq of
Cumnock
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Dobie Mrs Janet Grange
Vale
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* Houston Robt
Esq
Mains Hamilton
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Love John Esq of
Threepwood
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Meikle Rev James Head
st
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* Patrick Robert Esq MD
of Trearne
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* Patrick William Esq
of Roughwood
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* Reid Capt. Charles
Hope RN Grangehill
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Shedden Alexander Esq
of Morris Hill.
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ACADEMIES &
SCHOOLS:
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Blair, John Gateside
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Fleming, Mrs New st
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Gillian, David Newton
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Glasgow, Robert School
Wynd
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Harvie, David Bracken
hills
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Parochial School,
Braehead Jas Reid, master and session cleck
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Kerr, Bryce Hazelhead
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Miller, John Giffen
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Reid, Mary Whang st
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Wyllie, Robert Head St.
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AGENTS TO MANUFACTURERS
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Craig, Margaret Reform
st
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Lymburn, John Cumnock
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Maitland, James Head st
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Stevenson, Hugh Reform
st
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Stewart, William Newton
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AUCTIONEERS:
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Clark, John Gateside
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Kerr, George Braehead
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BAKERS:
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Dunlop, Marion Main st
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Gibson, Gavin (and
grain dealer)Main st
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Gillies, Robert Cross
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McKerrow, James Whang
st
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Shedden, Matthew Main
st
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Wilson, Andrew Main st
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BANKERS:
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Commercial Bank of
Scotland (branch of), Braehead,- (Draws on the Commercial
Bank of Scotland,
Edinburgh, & Jones & Co, London) - Wm King
- agent
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Glasgow Union (branch
of), Strand, - (Draws on the Glasgow Union Bank,
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Edinburgh & Jones,
Lloyd & Co, London) - James Dobie
- agent
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Paisley Union (branch
of), Whang head, (Draws on Sir William Forbes & Co,
Edinburgh and Sir
Richard Carr Glyn & Co, London) - Robert Spier
- agent
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BLACKSMITHS:
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Baird, Hugh Green hills
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Holmes, William Burn
house
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Kerr, William New st/
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Kirkwood, William Whang
st
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Reid, David Gateside
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Waterson, Andrew Whang
st
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BLEACHERS:
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Stevenson, Hugh (linen)
Threepwood
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Stevenson, John
(cotton) Threepwood
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BOOKSELLERS &
STATIONERS:
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Arnot, Agnes Main st
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Arnot, Catherine Main
st
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Smith, John (and
printer, library & church treasurer) Whang st
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BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS:
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Anderson, Robert -
Newton/
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Barr, William - Cross
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Crawford, William -
Newton
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Cunningham, William -
Whanghead/
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Edgar, Charles Main st
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Fulton, Robert - Newton
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Hunter, Andrew - Burn's
wynd
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Hunter, David -
Braehead
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Love, Hugh New st
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McCallum, William Main
st
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Mathie, James Main st
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Smith, James Reform st
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Stevenson, James Head
st
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Stewart, William Whang
st
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Thorburn, Thomas Whang
st
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BRICK & TILE
MAKERS:
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Parker, Hugh - Woodside
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Wilson, William -
Thirdpart
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CABINET MAKERS:
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Dale, James - Whang st
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Love, James - Townhead
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CARPENTERS AND
CARTWRIGHTS:
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Crawford, James Hall of
Caldwell
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Gilmour, Allan Braehead
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King, James Burn house
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Robertson, John Head st
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Rodger, Robert Whang st
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Steel, James Whang st
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Thomson, Henry Newton
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Wilson, John Gateside
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CHEESE DEALERS:
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Findlay, James Easter
Highgate
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Wylie, John Highgate
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COAL MASTERS:
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Smith, William Caldwell
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Templeton, Thomas Coal
burn
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COOPERS:
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Barr, John & David
Crummock st/
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McLaughlin, Mark Strand
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CORK CUTTERS:
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Gilmour, John Head st
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Stewart, Thos ( &
Spirit dealer) Main st
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COTTON MANUFACTURER,
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Stevenson, James Knows
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CURRIERS AND TANNERS:
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Muir & Ramsey
(& leather dressers) Reform st and Bath lane
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FIRE & OFFICE
AGENTS:
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Caledonian,
Rbt. Faulds
- Braehead
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Edinburgh Friendly
Insurance Society, James Dobie
- Strand
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Insurance Company of
Scotland, Robert Spiers
- Whanghead
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Scottish Union, William
King - Braehead
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FLAX DRESSERS:
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Caldwell, Thomas Rose
bank
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Crawford, James Barr
mill
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FLESHERS AND SPIRIT
DEALERS
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Barbour, Robert Main
st/
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Crawford, John Main st
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Gibson, Andrew Newton/
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Miller, William Whang
st
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Miller, William jnr
Main st
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GLASS CHINA &
EARTHENWARE DEALERS:
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McDonald, John Reform
st
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White, Matthew New st
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GROCERS AND SPIRIT
DEALERS:
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Barr, James Main st
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Barr, Robert Main st
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Gilbraith, James Main
st
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Gibson, Andrew New st
& Newton
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Gibson, Andrew Main st
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Gillies, Duncan Main st
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Kerr, James Strand
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Jamieson, James
Whang
st
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Kirkwood, Andrew
Whang
st
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Millar, James (grocer)
Cross
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Munro, Daniel (grocer)
School wynd
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Robertson, William Main
st
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Shedden, Elizabeth
Cross
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Smith, John Whang st
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Stevenson, James Whang
st
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Swan, Mary Main st
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Wilson, John School
wynd
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HAIR DRESSERS:
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Crawford, John Cross
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Wright, John Main st
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HORSE DEALERS:
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Robertson, John
Brownhills
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Stevenson, David
Shitterflat
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Stevenson, Robert
Shitterflat
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INN AND POSTING HOUSE:
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Saracen's Head
(commercial) Robt Paton, Whang st
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IRONMONGERS:
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Muir, John Main st
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White, Matthew Main
st/
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Wilson, Robert
Newton
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Wilson, Robert jnr Main
st
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LAND SURVEYORS:
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Aitken, Robert New st
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Miller, John Giffin
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Stewart, John Newton
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LIME BURNERS:
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Craig, Robert Broad
stones
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Gibson, John Broad
stones
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LINEN & WOOLLEN
DRAPERS:
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Clark, William & Co
Whanghead and at Main st Largs
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Craig, Andrew Main st
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Crawford, Hugh Whang
st/
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Downie, John Strand
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Giffin, Adam Cross
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Kirkwood, James
Cross
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Love, Robert (and wool
merchant) Whang st
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MILLINERS AND DRESS
MAKERS:
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Arnot, Catherine Main
st
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Dunlop, Elizabeth Main
st
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Morris, Elizabeth Main
st
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ROPE MAKERS:
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Rae, John (twine)
Townhead
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Wyllie, John Whang st
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SADDLERS:
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Banks, John Whang st
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Calderwood, John
Main
st
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SEEDSMEN:
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Boyd, William Newton
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Kirkwood, Andrew Whang
st
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Kirkwood, James Cross
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Love, Robert Whang st
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Stevenson, Robert Main
st
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Wardrop, Robert Head st
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STARCH MANUFACTURER:
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Caldwell, James
Clark's
bridge
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STOCKING MAKERS:
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Biggart, David Main st
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Biggart, William Main
st
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STRAW HAT MAKERS:
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Arnot, Jane Main st
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Craig, Janet Main st
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Rodger, Martha Whang st
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Stevenson, Janet
Main
st
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SURGEONS &
DRUGGISTS:
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Houston, John Whang
st/
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Mathias, Joseph Cross
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Miller, Thomas New st
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Spiers, Alexander Whang
st
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TAILORS:
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Hunter, Robert Whang st
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Lees, John Whang st
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Love, Andrew Main
st/
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Love, Robert Main st
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McRaith, John Main st
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Stewart, James Whang st
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Stewart, William Whang
st
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TALLOW CHANDLERS
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Barr, Robert Main st
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Galbraith, Thomas
Main
st
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TEA DEALERS -
WHOLESALE:
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Crawford &
King,
Whang st
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Faulds, James & Co
Strand
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Faulds, Robert & Co
Braehead
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Kirkwood, Andrew Whang
st
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Wardrop, Robert Main st
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THREAD MANUFACTURERS:
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Brown, Hugh Head
st/
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Caldwell, Thomas
Roebank
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Crawford & King
(and smallware dealers) Strand
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Crawford, Hugh Whang st
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Crawford, James
Whang
st
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Crawford, John Whang st
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Faulds, James & Co
(and smallware dealers) Braehead
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Faulds, Robert
& Co
(and smallware dealers) Braehead
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VINTERS:
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Allan, Annabella Main
st
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Borland, John (&
brewer) New st
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Boyd, John Gateside
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Crawford, Agnes
Gateside
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Kennedy, James Newton
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Kerr, James Strand
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Landers, James (and
card cutter and flower lasher) New st
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Logan, Robert Burn
house
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Love, James Newton
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Love, Margaret Main st
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McGregor, Donald (Star
Inn) Main st
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Paton, James (&
grocer) Whang st
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Robertson, John Head of
New st
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Shaw, Samuel (&
grocer) Whang st
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White, Margaret Cross
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Wilson, David Whang st
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Wilson, John Gateside
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Wilson, William Burn
house
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Wyllie, Margaret (&
grocer) Cross
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WATCH & CLOCK
MAKERS:
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Gibson, John New st
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Wilson, David (&
jeweller) Whang st
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WRITERS:
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Dobie, James (&
fiscal) Strand
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Kerr, Daniel Whang st
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King and Faulds,
Braehead/
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Spier and Love,
Whanghead
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MISCELLANEOUS:
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Anderson, John flower
lasher Newton
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Barbour, William
messenger Main st
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Barr(?),
Robert hat and
shoe dealer Strand
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Cowan (?),
William
painter Main st
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Crawford, Robert Card
cutter New st
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Galbraith, John nail
maker Whang st
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Gas Works, Reform st:
James Dobie esq. treasurer and clerk; -
David Young, manager
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Kirkwood, Thos flax
dresser Townhead
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Mitchell, John
bookbinder New st
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Rigg, Benjamin turner
Old Lea
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Stamp Office, Whanghead
- Robert
Spier, distributor
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Thomson, Robert
Veterinary surgeon, Whang st
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Warden, James tinsmith
Main st
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Whyte, Mary stationer
Whanghead/
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Wilson,David stone
mason Whang st
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PLACES OF WORSHIP:
Established Church,
Rev George Colville.
Relief,
Rev James Anderson.
United Associate ,
Rev James Meikle.
COACHES
To
Glasgow and Paisley: the
"Fair Trader" (from Saltcoats), calls at the Saracen's Head Inn, every
morning at nine, and an evening coach every night at half past eight.
To
Saltcoats: the "Fair
Trader" (from Glasgow) calls at the Saracen's Head Inn, every evening at
half past six; goes through
Dalry, Kilwinning
and
Stevenson.
To
Saltcoats and Ardrossan: a
coach (from Glasgow) calls at the Saracen's Head Inn, every morning at eight;
goes through Dalry,
Kilwinning
and
Stevenson.
CARRIERS
To
Glasgow:
William Kennedy,
from
Newton, and
James Boyd
from School wynd, every Tuesday and Saturday.
To
Greenock:
Robert Shedden,
from Head street, and
James Love, from Newton, every Tuesday.
To
Kilmarnock and Stewarton:
James Love, from
Newton, every Friday, and
Robert Shedden, from Head street,
every Tuesday and Friday.
To
Largs:
James Lauchland, from
Reform street, every Tuesday, and
Walter
Weir, from Reform Street, every
Saturday.
To
Paisley:
James Howie, from
New street, and Robert Thomson, from Commercial square, every Tuesday, Thursday
and Saturday.
To
Saltcoats:
James Wark, from
School Wynd, every Tues and Sat.
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