Towns > Kilmarnock (and Riccarton) > 1868, 1872 - Post Office Kilmarnock directory > 1868

Xll HISTORICAL SKETCH
by our forefathers. Cutlery is spoken of, probably obtained from Kilmaurs,
and this, though extinct, has been supplanted by its kindred occupation of
engineering. Kilmarnock bonnets and night caps were long proverbial,
and are not yet supplanted. About thirty or forty years ago glove making
ceased to be carried on here, but the skin trade is still pretty vigorously
prosecuted. The progress in population within the last hundred years is
somewhat extraordinary. In 1763, it was nearly 5000 ; in 1792, 6776 ;
in 1801, 8079 ; in 1811, 10,148 ; in 1821, 12,769 ; in 1831, 18,093 ; in
1841, 19,956 ; in 1851, 21,283 ; in 1861, 23,551 ; and at present it is
estimated at 25,000. Thus Kilmarnock has quintupled itself in the last
century.
The town is singularly barren in antiquarian remains. Recent im-
provements have taken away some of the older portions of the town or
changed them so much that they are now barely recognisable. Aged
inhabitants speak of the old tolbooth and the jugs as antique in style,
though far from imposing in appearance. The oldest structure in the
town, so far as we know, is the Low Church Steeple. Its date, as we
have already remarked, is 1410. There can be little doubt of its antiquity ;
some years ago it was outwardly amended and otherwise improved. A
few vandals, for we can hardly call them anything else, proposed its re-
moval. It is true there is Kttle architectural beauty about the steeple, but
its very antiquity ought to speak in behalf of its preservation. Another
memento of olden time is Soulis Cross at the head of Soulis Street. Age
and exposure had so disfigured the original that it was removed, and the
present erected in a niche in the wall. The inscription is, "To the memory
of Lord Soulis, A.D. 1444. Erected by subscription in 1825. 'The
days of old to mind I call.'" Tradition has it that the monument was
erected to mark the place where one of the Souhs family fell, shot by an
arrow from the bow of Boyd, Lord of Kilmarnock. The Meal Market, a
few yards further on in the same line of street, is an old building. The
only other place of note is Kihnarnock House, the town residence of the
superior. Before St. Marnock Street was formed the situation of the
house was pleasant and beautiful. It was unfinished at the death of the
last Earl, and has passed through various changes. Presently it is
occupied by the Kihnarnock Industrial School, and the offices of the In-
spector of the Poor.
Like all dependencies of feudal lords, Kilmarnock was governed solely by
the will of the manor lord. In 1591 it was erected a burgh of barony.
Another charter was granted at the close of the 17th century, and by it
the town was ruled till the passing of the Reform Bill. It was then made
a Parhamentary burgh, a portion of the parish of Riccarton being included
in it. In conjunction with Renfrew, Port-dlasgow, Dumbarton, and Ruther-
glen, it returns a member to Parliament, Kilmarnock being the returning burgh.
At the present time an effort is being made to get a member for the town