Pigot 1837

TORBOLTON

Torbolton or Tarbolton, is an attractive village, in the parish of its name and district of Kyle, 12 miles se from Irvine, 8 s from Kilmarnock, and 7 nne from Ayr; situate about five miles from the shore of the Firth of Clyde, surrounded by a fine country, and occupying a considerable space of ground, which is intersperced with some very handsome houses.

The church, rather an elegant structure, having a beautiful spire, surmounted by a clock with four dials, was completed in 1821, and cost upwards of £2,500. A neat chapel for burghers, a Sabbath school, and several benefit societies, are in the village; there is also a subscription library. The parish is about seven and a half miles in length, and its average breadth about four and a half. The Duke of Portland, the Earl of Ellingtoun, W A Cunningham, Esq., and Colonel Thomas Hunter Blair, are the principal heritors.

A fair is held on the first Tuesday in June (old style), and on the first Wednesday in November (new style).

FAILFORD

Failford is a small village in the parish of Torbolton, three miles from that place. A manufactory for razor hones and strops, of a pecular and excellent description, is carried on here by the inventor, Mr Smith; the cases are veneered with wood, and are finished much in the same style as the admired Scotch snuffboxes, forming an elegant and useful appendage to the dressing case.

STAIR

The parish of Stair is in the district of Kyle, lying on the south or right bank of the river Ayr, and extending six miles in length, by about two in breadth; it was first erected into an independant parish in 1653, when it was severed from Ochiltree for the accommodation of the noble family of Dalrymple, of Stair. The village of Stair, which comprises but a few dwellings and a neat parish church, is about two miles and a half from Torbolton; its situation is most romantic, and many highly ornamental mansions add tot he beauty of the surrounding country. The neighbourhood abounds with mines of coal.

The earldom of Stair is now merged in that of Dumfries; and the principal heritors of the land, at the present day, are Lord Glencoe and Sir James Boswell.

JOPPA

Joppa is a village in the parish of Coylton, five miles from Ayr. The church, which was erected in 1833, is a handsome structure, and contains sittings for seven hundred and fifty persons. The parish, which is adjacent to the west border of the district of Kyle, is about five miles in length, by about two in breadth.

POST OFFICE:

Torbolton, Henry Gibson, Post master - Letters from Kilmarnock arrive every morning at nine, and are despatched every afternoon at three.

CARRIERS (from Torbolton):

To Ayr, Andrew Fisher, John Highet and William Dunlop, every Friday To Glasgow, John Highet and William Dunlop, every Tuesday.

To Kilmarnock, Andrew Fisher, every Wednesday.

This transcript was kindly provided by Keith Muirhead from Queensland.