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Document : 1017
Title    : A few notes on old Kilwinning Town and the Biography of Robert
Morrison, Crosshouse.
Author(s): Mr Robert Morrison

Copyright holder(s): Dr Beth Dickson

Text

A few notes on old Kilwinning Town
and the Biography of R. Morrison, Crosshouse.

Being a native of the old historick town, famed through all the World as
being the birth place of Free Masonry, I am surprised that there is not
more said about it by  some clever writers through the press of our local
papers. It cheers the heart of the old I believe, especially when they can
sit on their old arm chairs and read from the  pages of their weekly local
paper, something that concerns the old times and the coustoms of their old
native town. I notice from the pages of the Kilmarnock  Standard a Mr
Christie by name has been giving us a very interesting report concerning
the life of his fore bears. Informing us about their habits and manners of
life  from now and back nearly 100 years ago. And I can tell you as one who
remembers His old father well, I enjoy his remarks. Now being a native of
Kilwinning, and  my forebears of there as well, I just like to recall a few
incidents relative to my old native town. I am now above the alloted span
retired from work about 3 years ago,  having completed 56 years down in the
bowels of the earth in a few different pits that surround my native parish.
Namely, the diamond pit near to Fergushill, and No  28 Pit belonging to the
Missis Finnie, all so a short time in Mr. Kenneths wee pit for supplying
coal and clay for the Brick work that was situated below the old Corse 
hill. I was a short time in big Red burn a pit that belonged to the Messers
Baird’s There was two pits big and wee allong side each other producing
much coal for the  furnaces but I may say my first experience of work began
before I was 12 years of age and that was on the new railway then in
construction. The big steam navvy as  we called it then was working near to
a farm namely the Wallcot holes and the dirt it produced had to be taken
away by a steam pug driven by a big course man  named Bob Bonnar. So my
work was to shift two points to conduct the empty waggons into the navvy
and allow the full ones to be taken out. My wage was 9/ per  week and I can
tell you I was a proud boy when I put 18/ in my mothers hand in Lamonts Row
where I was born 71 years ago. So that was my first experience as  regards
work before I was 12 years of age. Now as we know everything comes to an
end down here. So the big steam navvy finished his job and I was knocked
out  of work after having wrought 12 weeks to the great Mr. Robert McAlpine
railway contractor. I may say, I went away down lately and had a walk away
up the old  Blair Road as far as the Pear tree Bridge that spans the
railway and it acted like a tonick to me to stand and view the old scene of
my boyhood and manhood days.  Previous to the railway being made from
Barmill to Ardrossan the old pear tree grew at the top of the hill. But
owing to the railway comming through below it, the old  pear tree was
removed. But still there will be many in my old native parish who will
remember the very spot where it grew, especially them who walked hand in
hand  with them they loved up that old romantic road namely the old Blair
Road. My Father James Morrison by name, born and bred in old Kilwinning in
the year 1837 was  a lime stone miner. He was born on the main street near
to the old post office between that point and Oxenward. being a lime stone
miner he wrought above 20 years  in a lime stone pit named Clon beith,
about 3 miles to the north east of the old town where he was born. The
limestone was required for to keep the furnaces open, so  that the burning
mass would keep moving down the inside of the furnace. He left his home in
the morning at five o’clock and returned home at 6 p.m. after having 
wrought a hard days work amongst powder smoke so dense that they could
scarcely see one another from morning to night. I was an eye witness of
these conditions  so you can rely on what the writer records. The writer
wrought in that Pit 3 or four months with my Father. I may say that there
is few to the fore who wrought or  remember the old Clon beith Pit and the
wee raw of Houses built to acomidate a few of the workers. I know of one
still to the fore in the old town Archibald  McNeish by name who wrought
with his Brother and his Father 57 and nearly 60 years ago. I may say the
remuneration for that laborious work in the year 1887 was  4/ per day I was
paid 2/ at the age of 15 years. He removed from old Clon beith and went up
to work in a small coal and limestone Pit situated about 1½ miles from 
Dalry namely Kersland Colliery. There were about 20 miners producing coal
and my Father he wrought in the limestone seam a working about 6 feet high.
It was  wrought in the stoop and Room principle rooms about 15 feet wide
and stoops to support the roof So it was there I learned to houk and bore
and blaw the limestone  oot to be taen awa, to mak the furnaces burn and
blaw. till iron and slag ran oot sae braw. I continued there with my Father
6 or seven years untill I was introduced by  Tammy Morrison to a job in 28
Pit as an oncoct worker. I call Him Tammy we never knew him by Thomas. He
was a good Hearted soul and known all round for a  distance of 10 miles
fond of all kind of sport so I was taken up with that work for 5 years
untill I gave up and removed from No 28 to the Diamond Pit to produce  Lady
Ha Coal and be a help to my old Father who was beginning to show signs of
going down the Brae, eight hutches per man was the darg and for that work
you  received the sum of 4/ per day that was in the year 1895 and that wage
remained from 1894 untill 1898 when wages began to take a turn and since
that time untill  now wages never went back to a starvation point. Father
left the Daimond and gave up the pits and ended his laborious life by
taking an easy job down in Kilwinning  Iron Works attending to the Chemists
and there he ended His days in the Bridgend where he died at the age of 68.
By that time I was back to 28 again working as a  Colliery Firemen Married
and residing in Fergushill and I remained in that job for 17 years. But my
old companion through life from boyhood days being a colliery  manager
George Paisley by name got me advised to leave and engage as a Fireman
under him in South hook Colliery. So in the year 1915 we removed away from 
old Fergushill up to South hook where I wrought for 25 years under the
managership of George Paisley W. Bertram and John Gibson. having completed
56 years and  health beginning to show signs of weakness I left Firemanship
and was engaged as bottomer in one of Mr. Howies pits for a short time
before retiring in the year  1940. I will now return to the scenes of my
boyhood days in and arround my old native town, being born in Lamonts Row
all the boys in that part of the town  frequainted the lower part more so
than the higher. Yet we were acquaint from one end of the town to the other
The most of my boy companions were schooled in the  parish school but I was
educated in the ironworks school under Mr. James Brown and Mr. Wm. Blair
Headmaster So I was thorough aquaint from the Byres to the  Corsehill heid,
and to the Barrel raw, and right on to the sanny hills not forgeting the
Kennets raw the five roads the big planting the Ridy Stidy and right on
past the  Kennels up to good old Fergushill I may say before I get away
from school days I would just like to say I started my school days in the
Corse hill under an old man  named John McKechnie. He had been a pit
Engineman and met with an accident where by he lost his leg. So he was
started in this little school under the school  board. I began with him at
the age of 4½ years. But poor old Jock died about 6 months after I began.
The house he resided in is still to the fore so that is near to 66  years
since old Jock Died. It was at Jocks school that I met with George Paisley
who became my companion for 55 years. We worked together courted our girls
got  married shortly after one another and got gloriously saved by the
Grace of God about 2½ years after one another. He became a mine manager
and died following that  Occupation in the year 1930 aged 59. Now I would
just like to remind you as boys about the old brig end we had our sport
there was cricket playing football and  playing below the lamp post at the
bools. Jock Conn, Darrock Service, and Jimmie Swire, experts at the bools.
The cricket I think was a game we played at because  there was a cricket
team of young men named the Segton who played in a field belonging to the
Redstone Farm There were a few good players whose names I  remember well
big Sanny Stirrat, Big Sanny McGowan, John Woods, Johny Reid, James Reid,
and a few others who were very good players at Cricket. So as boys  we
tryed to do our best taking them for our example. We played out at Kennets
old Brickfield and on what we called the Watering Green a little piece of
ground in  the centre of the Garnock comming from the Meal Mill Dam. So
many a hard game was specktated from the old bridge by a few who delighted
to watch the boys  nearly 60 years ago. Where is now the merry party gone
Then there were the old Monkcastle foot ball team My first recollection of
it was when the game was played  in the field round at the Butts and also
out in a field at West Doura. I believe it was at the Butts where the great
J. Sloan appeared first to play with Kilwinning and we  used to think as
boys when we knew that J. Sloan had arrived down from old Killie all would
be well. After this the Claremont field came in to prominence and the 
great old Monkcastle played some of its hardest games in that field. The
players by name were A. McIlroy A. Dods John Brown or A. Anderson H. Dunlop
A. Black  Wm. Morgan J. Morgan Punch Campbell D. Devlin A. Ralston H. Howie
D. Service and the famous John Allan of international fame I can tell you
these men were  hard to beat. The old song they used to sing was search the
hale of Ayrshire and Scotland through and through you would not get a team
to beat Monkcastle team the  noo. I have omited to mention old J. Sloan He
was a good player of foot ball I think he would be a native of Kilmarnock.
But before I finish with football, I must  remind you of the famous John
Allan. He was swift and sure and one of the finest players of football that
ever played the game. He had no dirty tricks and for a good  distance all
arround the old town men flocked to the Claremont field when they knew
Allan was going to play just to see his gentleman play and how he could
handle  the ball. a native of the old town And now I refer to the old sport
when gentlemen from all parts of the country came together once a year to
shoot with Bow and  Arrow up to the heights of the old Steeple and which
ever one of them shot down the wooden pigeon was made Captain for that
year. So each year there were the  Gentlemans Popin jay the working mans
and the boys. So if I am correct with my memory I remember the last time
the boys engaged in that sport the boy who was  made Captain was Robert
McGowin by name. He resided in Kennets Row. I remember following the Band
and Him up to his home. I might be wrong but I will take  it as a
compliment if I am. So the old town was famed for its Archers. But off
course these stirring times of men with Bows and Arrows was before my time,
But I  have read and heard much about it. Now for the industry of the old
town above 100 years ago was principally weaving and mining. I have heard
my Father say that he  remembered when there were 500 weavers in and
arround the old town. So the sound of the shuttles was heard from the byres
to the Corse hill head at that time. I  can remember my self 2 looms in
Corsehill. Old Wm. Ralston and John Conn were the weavers then there were
one in the Green and one in the way going to Green  from the Dovecot Lane.
Old Andrew McCartney was the weaver Allso in Dalry Road Peter McGinn had a
loom He was the first Irish weaver in the old town. I have  heard my Father
say that he remembered when there were just a few Irish families in the old
town all together. I may say that the building of the furnaces brought a 
good many from Ireland and they remained and increased as the works
advanced. Now for the old worthys that all of my age remembers well, there
were old Wull  Dickie a native of the old town We knew him as whistling
Wull Dickie he was a strong whistler with his mouth. He put in coals to
different People and received as  much for that sort of work as fed him So
Wull ended His days by dying in the Gas work. Mr + Mrs Craig was very kind
to Wull. He had many quaint sayings and  actions that we as boys were all
amused by them. One of his actions were to dive in to the Mill Dam for to
give him self a good wash Then there were old Jock  Macartney who was a
native and who was very fond of a dram. Then there were James Lynch another
native a confederate of Jock Macartney. Then we had  interloupers such as
the Lintie billy Cook and Johnny Hawkins. The Lintie was a quary man to
trade but owing to being too fond of a dram the Lintie became a  nuisance.
Billy Cook was a miner but owing to his mind giving way he gave up the pits
and became a wanderer about the old town. Then Johny Hawkins where he 
sprang from I could not say. But I remember him when he first came about
the town delving gardens and cutting corn for John Frain. Poor souls they
all got there little  time ended in the poor house with the exceptions of
Wull Dickie I would like also to bring to your rememberance Wee Peter Watt
a native of the Corsehill who lived  and died there. Peter would be between
4 to 5 feet high and as boys we tormented Peter when he came down to the
town to do messages being a little weakling we  used to cry after Peter
there was a sodger. So Peter being afraid of sodgers we got good fun from
annoying Peter as he passed by the brigend. Three weeks ago I  gaid awa
doon jist to hae a bit walk roon ma auld native toon. So starting awa at
the auld brig end a stood for a moment and took a look roon. But sorry to
sae the  auld hooses that used to be all toon has left only there mark to
tell us. They all had been tain doon. There is still a wee hoose a butt and
a ben where all Nanny Curdy  leaved to her end. She kept a wee shop and
selt black man. and when as callans we played at the auld brigend, we aye
got a wee bit o’ nannys black man. O how we  used to steal doon the burn
or through auld Johny Wylies entry doon to the Garnock to hae oor dook. I
would like to bring to your rememberance auld Willie Service  with his shop
of all attractions for the children. How we used to look in the window at
these prizes which were to be obtained by draws ½ pennys each very often
it  was try again we got instead of a prize and we came away from Willies
shop disheartened at receiving for our halfpenny a try again instead of a
prize. Then there were  Mary Sheddans Grocery where Darock Jamie Tam and
Rab sprung from. They turned out Grocers Drs. and Engineers and joiners all
natives of the auld Brigen. I  remember on a New Year’s Night I received
a severe black eye from Tam while playing at guesses and running across
from his mothers window to Jenny Aulds I met  Tam and owing to me being a
little taller I received the blow from Tams head, and I can tell you it
closed my eye for a time. Dr Milroys house is still to the fore where  I
got my first tooth extracted by the Dr. He was a fine man and clever in his
profession He laboured in Kilwinning for nearly 40 years and then retired
and Died in the  town of Ayr at the age of 86 He was ably assisted by Dr.
Gage a native of Montrose in the East coast. He died in Kilwinning and was
buried in his native town  Montrose A clever wee man and had his profession
at heart. He began his career in Dr. Milroys shop and went on with his
studies untill he got capped as a Dr. Then I  remember old Dr. Auld a
native of the old town a canny going man. I used to hear my mother speak of
him when he began as a young lad learning shoe making but he  got away from
that and then went on to study to come out for to be a doctor. He lived and
Died in Kilwinning. I allso remember two Drs. who were natives of the old 
town namely Dr. Craig and Dr. Andrews then there were Dr. Service and Dr.
Milroy followed after. I don’t remember him he died shortly after I was
born. So these  are men who looked after the weak to endeavour to make them
strong. Now I would like to bring to our rememberance How the old town was
watered before the  introduction of the gravitation water which I remember
was introduced when I was a boy. It was conveyed in metal pipes from the
Munick reservoir near to Dalry.  Before this there were a few Principal
wells 2 in the Corsehill one in Wood wynd one in Kyle’s well street one
in the Howgate one in the byres. Then there were a few  private wells and
one I will not have to forget was St. Winning’s well the oldest in the
town It was cut away when the new Railway was passing on to Ardrossan and 
to Irvine So these were all spring wells but in process of time, some of
them Had pumps erected such as the Howgate the byres and Wood wynd and
Kyleswell. But  the two we were most acquaint with were the two in the
Corsehill. Gordy’s by name and the Dyets. Even after the introduction of
the gravitation in the summer time  when it was extra hot we often went up
to Gordys well for a cold refreshing drink. I might say taking it as a
whole the old town was well watered from Byres to  Corsehillhead Another
form of supplying them in the town who were thirsty were by shops who sold
strong drink such as Ale Porter and Whisky From the five roads  to the
South West station including ironworks store there were no less than 20.
But glad to say a few of these has been done away with now. However I
remember  the 20 when they were in full swing. One of them could say their
liquor was good and injured none Refresh and pay and travell on that
remained above the door for a  long time. Good for some of us that we
became Rechabites and afterwards became New Creatures in Christ. Now I
would like to bring before you the men who  supplied us with that which was
beneficial for our body namely Bread. I would just like to mention a few
who I reveared as descent honest men. We will start with  Mr. Babinton at
the head of Oxenward and Mr. Robert Crawford and wee Sany Nairn and Tam
Lynch James Crawford and John all bakers in Mr. Crawford’s bake  house
and I can tell you it was a treat to get one of their Pies on a Saturday
night, allso the Baking Society and old Baker Youngs in the centre of the
town a fine  energetic old man looking after the interest of the town and
his own business as well and further down on the Brae was old Wattie Howie.
These men were all natives  of the town that is how I like to mention them.
The most of their vans supplying bread went over a distance of 4 or 5 miles
each day. Returning back to the industries  of the town the furnaces began
nearly 100 years ago, and after them Engineers shops and fundry, and in my
boyhood the wool spinning mill came into prominence. I  remember when the
steam boiler came down through the town being conveyed to where it was
going to be built in its place by an attraction engine and we thought as 
boys it was a great affair. I remember while it was started to be built I
received my first black checked nail in between 2 bricks So that is I
believe, about 65 years  ago. And when building operations were completed.
The machinery were installed and girls from as far away as Irvine and all
round the town were engaged wages for  their labour averageing from 5
shillings to 8/6 per week labouring from 6.30 a.m. untill 6 p.m. with an
hour and a half deducted for meals, no wonder that Socialists  and
Comunists sprang up to defend their cause. I will now conclude my
reminiscence of by gone days by bringing to your rememberance the dooking
hole opposite  the mill, further up the river the Cobblers Hole, where old
cobbler Johnstone fell into the water while in the act of fishing along
with Sanny Paterson of Lamont’s Row  His body was carried down the river
as far as the Lumford Bridge where it was found and brought back to the
town for interment. I remember it well. Then there  were the wee dam stones
where we congregated on the long summer day and had our baths better Known
by us as dooking and learning to swim and dive from the  big stone in the
centre of the stream. So being wearied with the days proceedence, we made
our way home, climbing the jelly floor banking and todling doon the auld 
blair road and through the field where the hospital now stands we reached
oor destination Lamonts Row and the brigen. These were the days of no
thought nor care.  We just lay doon at nicht efter having said oor wee
prayer and slept till the morning. Comming forth to prepare to play at
these games that are noo sae rare. I have  given you an account of school
days and the sport then engaged in, both in land and water. I have also
mentioned the names of a few of the sportsmen such as  footballers and
cricketers and I would like to recall the names of a few swift men such as
Mr W. Steel John. Allan David Service Wm. Cully Hugh Howie. All swift at 
100 yds, ¼ mile and a mile race it was a treat to see them run. I have
also given you an account of the medical profession as far back as 1872.
Also the industries  engaged in from before my time and up to the present.
These took in weaving mining ironworks fundries Engineers spinning wool and
local joinering and Baking.  Speaking of joinering I remember as boys whose
parents kept pigs we frequented the joiner shops in the morning to clean up
the shavings of the floor for bedding for  our pigs, so the joiners we
frequented were namely James Reid better known as the Colonel, I knew him
well and his eldest son especially, James by name. His  joiners shop was in
the old tan yard. Then there were Tom Browns and Mr. Arnots, and old James
Robertsons of Winning Square All these shops were called on for  shavings.
I would like to bring to your rememberance the old coal carters I will
begin with old Hughie Boyd a native of the town he resided in the Green
Dovecot  Lane. Then there was old John Baird who resided in the Loch. and
old John Lynch who resided in the Green. and old Neil Horney whose stable
was in the Lane  James Mackie of Kennets Row with his cuddy and John Bakies
and Willie Rolley who resided in the port and stabled his wee hairy ponny
in the back of his house.  One of sayings to it when it inclined to go to
much to the left side were ‘Come out of the shuch on to the hard road’.
These men supplyed the old town with coals  carting them from fergushill
Pits and Kennets wee pit out Irvine Road. Now that puts me in mind of one
whom I would not like to forget namely John Con better  known by Jockey
Con. He was a carter and waggoner to R. Kennet a civil wee man and a good
Horse man. We all respected him and the reason for that was that he  loved
boys and delighted to give them a hurl in his cart many a time when he came
with coals to Mr. Smith or Mr. Hunter up Fergushill road we all got in to
his cart  and was hurled out as far as the Brickwork. But Poor Jockey Good
Horseman though he was one day he received a kick from the big horse he was
driving and so  that ended Jockeys carrear as a carter. He was a native of
the old town and resided in Lamonts Row where I was born and brought up a
few doors from his. I have  mentioned about the joiners now I would like to
say a word about the Blacksmiths. When we were boys Johnny Wilsons of Wood
wynd were our favourite for geting  our girrs walded together and boggys
sorted when they gave way. He was a nice quite, civil man and had a place
in his heart for the boys who frequented his shop.  Then the strongest man
and the heavyest man in the town wrought with him a mighty man was he. His
name was James Muir better known by big Jamie Muir. Also  Johny bain a
grand Horse shoer. These were natives of the old town. Then there was old
Sanny Langs smithy in Oxenward a fine quite old man. He excelled in 
sharping tools such as masons irons. When my Father and I and old Tam
McGowan wrought in dalry at the lime stone we brought some of our tools to
old Sanny to  sharp them and to repair the face of our limestone mells. He
was good at them. Then there was a shop belonging to Mr. Nairn the wire
fencer at the beginning of the  White hurst Road, where big Jamie Muirs
Father and His Brother Tom wrought. They were mainly taken up with fencing
and iron Gates and Railings. Which are in  many places owing to the war now
removed to help to supply iron to make bullets to kill the Germans. So that
concludes my remarks concerning the village smiths  who had arms as strong
as iron bands. I may say though I am a native and all belonging to me of
the old town I have only been once up on the top of the steeple and  that
was the night of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. The steeple is 100 feet high
to where people can stand and look over. It gives one a grand view for
miles around. I may  say the old grave yard is spread out in front of it
where lies the dust of the natives of the old town and surrounding parish.
I attended 3 interments one was my old  Uncle John Calderwood and the
others were a brother and sister who was entitled to be buried there. I
have still a cousin who claims to be intered there if she desires.  In the
centre of the old Grave yard stands the church where as boys and girls we
attended the Sabath School and from its precincts we made our first exit
towards  Eglinton Policies on a Saturday. We marched along Irvine Road with
our wee tinies hanging in front of us from a ribbon round our neck. and
when we arrived at the  field in front of the stables the days sport began.
So when the days sport came to an end we were marched through the Gardens
to view the fine flowers and fruit that  was growing in abundance there. I
remember another trip we got up to Blair going with the train to Dalry and
when we arrived we were marched up to the Policies  where we enjoyed our
selves to the full. I remember we were presented to the Old Captain before
the day finished. My teacher in the Sunday School was George  Jack a mason
to trade. He resided in the Byres near to the Railway Bridge and him and
old Robert Baillie wrought together as masons and Builders but not in a
large  scale. The Minister at that time and up to 1902 was Mr. Lee Kerr a
very fine man.


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Text
Text audience
Adults (18+): Informed lay people: Audience size: N/A
Writer knew intended audience: 
Text details
Method of composition: Handwritten
Year of composition: 1944
Word count: 5211

Text publication details
Part of larger text: Contained in: Jotter along with "Sermons" texts

Text setting
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Text type
Prose: nonfiction: 

Author
Author details
Author id: 910
Title: Mr
Forenames: Robert
Surname: Morrison
Gender: Male
Decade of birth: 1870
Educational attainment: N/A
Age left school: 11
Upbringing/religious beliefs: Protestantism
Occupation: Miner / Colliery fireman
Place of birth: Fergushill
Region of birth: N Ayr
Birthplace CSD dialect area: Ayr
Country of birth: Scotland
Father's occupation: Limestone Miner
Father's place of birth: Kilwinning
Father's region of birth: N Ayr
Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: Ayr
Father's country of birth: Scotland
Mother's occupation: Housewife

Languages:
Language: English
Speak: Yes
Read: Yes
Write: Yes
Understand: Yes
Circumstances: In writing, mainly in church
Language: Scots
Speak: Yes
Read: Yes
Write: Yes
Understand: Yes
Circumstances: At home, at work