Scotland > 1825-1826 - Pigot & Co.'s new commercial directory of Scotland for 1825-6

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AYlt.
PSOtJrC^g
it is but little encouraged. The celebrated Scottish
bard, Robert Burns, was born within a short
distance of Ayr, in a small cottage, now converted
into a public house, about a quarter of a mile from
■which a very elegant monument has been erected to
liis memory ; it is placed on the banks of the river
Doon, amidst objects and scenery, which had often
inspired his muse. Chevalier Ramsay, author of
Cyrus's travels, &c, was a native of the town. Ayr
unites with the burghs of Irvine, Rothesay, Camp-
beltown, and Inveraray in returning a member to
parliament, who is T.' F. Kennedy, esq., and the
county is represented by Lieut. General Mont-
gomerie. New buildings are rising in every direc-
tion, and many of them are truly elegant. Welling-
ton-square may vie with many of those in the Eng-
lish metropolis, having a most noble erection to
form the west side, in the new court house and
hall, built at the joint expense of the county and
burgh, and at a cost exceeding 27,000/. The east
front of this edifice, which is wholly of stone, is
OTDameated with a fine portico. The centre of the
Bquare is inclosed with rails and planted with shrubs
and evergreens, and the surrounding houses are in-
habited by the «enteeler families of the place. At
the back of the nail are two well arranged prisons,
one for debfors, the other for felons ; these com-
bine everj' comfort which their unfortunate iiunates
can expect. In the hall are kept all the public
offices afid records for the town, and sessions and
courts for the county and burgh are held. The
POST OFFICE^ Main-street ; Pott Master, Mr. Robert Davidson. Mails from London, Edin-
burgh, Glasgow, and Kilmarnock arrive every morning at nine, and are despatched every day at a quarter
past one. Mails from the South, bringing letters from all parts of Ireland, arrive every morning at six,
and are despatched, every niglit, at nine. Mail to Glasgow, with the Irish bags, is despatched at six in
the mornings Mail to Maybole and Girvan, every morning at nine, with letters from Edinburgh and
the north- Mail to Dalmellington every Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday morning, and returns the same
days-
places of worship are two churches of the establish-
ment, one of the united secession and four others,
all of them well adapted for their different cengre-
gutions. The charitable institutions are numerous
and liberally conducted : the poor are assisted from
funds arising from lands and donations, and a dis-
pensary gives medicine and surgical aid to the sick.
Besides these there are a sailors' society, insti-
tuted in 1581 : a merchants' society instituted in
1655 ; a fund formed in 1821, for decayed members,
their widows and orphans j and the Ayr universal
society . the whole of which are conducted in tlie
most laudable manner. The civil _ government of
Ayr is vested in a provostj two bailies, a dean of
guild, a treasurer, and ten merchant and two trade
councillors. The principal market is held on Friday,
and there is a subordinate onCjOii Tuesday. Tlie
cattle market is held every Tuesday in a very con-
venient situation. Fairs are held on the first Tues-
day in Januajy (old style), the last Friday in April,
the last Tuesday in June (old style) , and first Tues-
day in October (old style) .
Newton is a distinct parish from that of Ayr,
and is governed by two bailies, a treasurer, and six
councillors. Weaving is carried on here for the
Glasgow market to a very considerable extent. It
is divided from Ayr by the river of the same name,
over which has been built a very handsome bridge
in lieu of the old one, now appropriated to passen-
gers.
PIiACES OF Vi^ORSHIP
Established Churches, Main-stand Academy -st,
Robt. Auld, DD. and Rev. Alexander Cuthill,
Ministers
Newton Church— Rev. Win. Peebles, DD- Minis-
ter
St. Qotvox* Church (near Ayr) — Rev. Stair
Mc Quhae, Minister
United Secession Church, St. John's-st; — Rev.
Wm. Schaw, Minister
Secession Church, Wallacetowu — Rev. Gep, Ste-
Tenson, Minister
Mje;thooist Chaf£L, Charlotte-st
Moravian Chapel — Mill Vennel, Rev. Cliristian
Frederick Soeunichsen, Minister
Independent Chapel, Newton — Rev. A- Mc Lean,
Minister
MAGISTRATES'
David Limond, esq. of Dalblalr, Provost
Adam Mc Hut«hon, esq.\ r>„;i-„^
Thos. McClelland, esq. /dailies
Peter Mc. Taggart; esq. Dean of Guild
David Gibson, e»q. Treasurer
INCORPORATED TRADES.
Conveners' Board.
John Mc Ilwraith, Convener
Deacon Mann, late Convener
Deacons,
Hammermen — Alex. Nisbet
Weavers — James Teunaut
Dyers — Wm. Wait
Tailors — Andrew Burns
Squaremen— James Miller
Skinners — John Maitlaud
Shoemakers — John Laughlan
Coopers — John Boyd
Fleshers — Wm. Rodgers
James Teunaut, Fiscal
218
MERCHANTS'
Henry Cowan, President
Wm. Murdoch, Treasurer
J. Edgar, Secretary
SOCIETY-
David Ewan
John Kirkland
William Gray
William Heron
Robert Johnston
Peter M c Taggart
Henry Cowan
Samuel Watson
Robeil Mackay
Wm. Gourley
James Murdoch
John Wilson
William Brown
Robert Davidson
James Morris
James Heron
A. Wallace
H. Aitkeu
A. Wise
H. Miller
D. Davidson
W. Cowan
David Auld
A. Mc Hutchon
Thos Gibson
H. Mc CljTiiont
John Dick
James Paton
John Ferguson
John Sloan c
MAGISTRATES OF NETVTON.
John Moore, esq.\„ .,.
Wm. Baird, esq. /"'^'ii'^s
Hugh Park, esq. Treasurer
CUSTOM HOUSE.
Wellitigton-square,
Hon. Roger Rollo, Collector
David Ewan, Comptroller
J. B. Latimer, Collector's Clerk
James Mack, Landing Waiter
EXCISE OFFICE'.
Neivtmi-green.
Thomas Ross, Collector
James Anderson, Supervisor
James Young ^
Richd. Beveridge J