Old Hurlford and Crookedholm

Meer over het boek

As with many of the towns and villages of Ayrshire, Hurlford came to prominence during the 19th century as industrialisation created a need for the coal upon which a large portion of southern Scotland resides. By the end of the 19th century there were five pits surrounding Hurlford and more at Crookedholm. As the century progressed iron smelting was added to the industrial mix and the discovery of fireclay on land belonging to John Howie led to the founding of one of the town's most successful businesses. Many of the pictures in this book hark back to Hurlford's industrial past, the tall chimney and round-topped kilns of the fireclay works, the Vulcan Foundry buildings on Galston road, a beautiful oil engine used in the brickworks, the railway station dating from 1848 and workers houses known as 'the blocks', both in use in 1908 and being demolished in the 1960s. Social life in the town is captured with a posed portrait of the Hurlford United football team in 1912 and a casual shot of Miner's Institute members on a rambling trip, also in 1912. The abodes of the affluent are represented by Carnell House, which incorporates a 15th century tower, 'Dallars' house near Fiveways and several other architecturally interesting examples.