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Burnside Row, in the parish of New Cumnock, Ayrshire, was where I saw light for the first time on 6 February 1941. The houses were built for miners and their families and were woefully inadeqate; in fact one observer states that they were amongst the worst housing that he had surveyed and he had examined many. In those days access was by Western SMT bus from Kilmarnock and Dumfries. Although there was a railway station at New Cumnock on the main line south to England via Dumfries, the final stage of the journey to Burnfoot Row had to be made by bus or walk 7 miles. That would not be an experience you would wish during the winter because the weather was so inclement and the snowfall so heavy that many a person would perish. I was the second issue to my father Joseph and Agnes;a son James had been born the previous year and died after 4 months with meningitis; it was a wonder I was not named James, since it appeared to be the practise when a child died, the next if, of the same gender, would inherit the name. My earliest memories were of my grandmother lining we youngsters outside the house and closely examining our hands, knees and necks and woe betide you if you had not washed. We moved from Burnfoot Row to Hurlford where we set up home at Riccarton Road. The house had stone floors and very little to commend it to many potential occupant. The communal toilet was located outside and it was shared with the Whites who lived at ground floor opposite us; the Donalds and Adrains who lived upstairs. Lord help you if there was a queue and you were desperate to use the facilities. Water supply was cold and had to be boiled on the gas ring cooker. I recall many a time when my father worked at Forty Acres, a mine near Kilkmarnock, when he came off the pit bus outside our home at Riccarton Road about 3.00pm and my mother had made ready a large zinc bath tub the water in which she heated on the 4 ringed gas cooker in ther kitchen. When father entered the house, she laid it in front of a large coal fire and he washed himself there; there was no showers or baths in those days in our house. I made many pals during my early days at Hurlford and when I went to school I made even more. People like Ian Hutchinson; Billy Hamilton; Murray Spence; Eric Stewart; Ian Moffat; Aged 5 years I attended school at Hurlford Primary. I recall teachers Jean Cairney; Wee Tooshie Aird and others. At Secondary School teachers included, Miss Gibson; Mr Frank Steel the gym teacher, Mr Gillespie (Big Gil) science teacher; Jimmy Whiteside, technical teacher, James Ferguson, English Teacher, Frank Collins and Big Blackwood the maths teacher who used his big wooden board ruler to whack you, Janitor, Sanny Smith who managed the school football team. School days were not particularly happy for me, I was neither academic then or athletic, and when I left aged 15 years I did so with a piece of paper in my hand which said I was there from age 5 years. I well recall "Wee Jimmy Whiteside's" comment to some of us on our last days at school, "I'll be watching for news of you all in the papers." For me Jimmy, you would only read positive things. During those early years my father taught me to handle ferrets which we used to catch many rabbits prior to the days of myximatosis. We had rabbit cooked in so many ways i.e. pie; casseroled and roasted. I carried my ferrets inside my jacket lining. When I boarded a bus I used to look for some of the "twin set" brigade e.g. an elderly lady with purple hair and pearly and twin set. I would sit beside her with my hands clearly visible to everybody and the ferrets would be tumbling around inside my jackets touching the lady whose face was a treat to watch. I used to ferret all round Carnel Estate, LMS Railway lines, Bowhouse Ammunition factory and Bargower area. One other skill I was taught was how to catch salmon and pheasant. Many a time I was at the River Irvine and came home with a large salmon or up at Carnel Estate at night snaffling the odd pheasant as they slept in the copse of trees. When we kids went out at night we played "Pole to pole" i.e. run and pole, walk a pole; Hoppng Charlie, Hockey, peevers and girs and cleeks. Shops in the village included Big Tam Blackwoods chip and sweetie shop at Riccarton Road; One of Tam's daughters married Lorimer Headley who was a photographer at Kilmarnmock. The Docherty's of the bakery fame,lived near us at Riccarton Road and I remember the daughter called May who was muich older than I. In our house, which was part of a tenement hovel, at Riccarton Road were the Whites - Tom and Harry; upstairs were Willie Adrain and his family and oposite them the Donalds. Across the other side of Riccarton Road were the Ackroyds, young Billy was a paint sprayer; to the rear of Foys Pub - now a house - at Riccarton Road were the Purdies. Down Portland Brae was "Ham" Goudies now Willie Templeton's home; Jock Bryson had his contracter/haulage business behind Ham Goudies. "Basher" Nimbley was one of his drivers. It was a fairly large yard Jock Bryson occupied. My father Joe Haining and "Basher" Nimbley and Jock Bryson built the Old Mens Cabin located at Riccarton Road near The Cross. That cabin was suich a well used building. Jimmy Wallace, the coal merchant - I never saw Jimmy washed and cleaned - had his business slightly further down Portland Brae. Near the foot of the Brae lived the McGills who were dog breeders, Kenny and Right at the foot of Portland Brae lived the Cosgroves who owned the nearby piggery farm. The tennis club was located adjacent to the Cosgrove house and many a summer evening we boys used to spend watching the young hopefuls playing tennis. Along the river was located the once flourishing Portland Iron Works. All that was left was the metal "crusher" and tons of slag. The "Retaining Wall" was of great interest to us boys as it was the located for birds to nest in. Many injuries were sustained by boys falling from that wall in the pursuit of their hobby; egg collecting. Sanny Baird I recall broke his ankle there. Walk further round the river flow and you arrived at the Millers Dam the favourite local swimming spot during the suymmer months. I remember Dr Moffat regularly visiting the school just before the summer holiday period warning us not to swim in the River Irvine as it was swarming with dangerous viruses; but did we take heed? Never the first day of the holiday we would all be found swimming at the Millers Dam from sun-up to sun-set. The "Seven Arches" bridge which carried the main railway between Glasgow and London was nearby and Jimmy Lauchlan a local worthy often said he had dived off the bridge into the deep hole in the River Irvine. I never seen him do it but several people said they did but I am drawn to conclude that the story, spread by Jimmy himself, took feet and grew into mythology and folklore. Remember the "Wee Moudie" and the "Big Moudie" and the "Sluice Gate" During the season it was fun to watch the salmon leap the dam heading up river to spawn. In the village "The Cross" was a local focal point where men of all ages would meet and have a good chat. McCogni's cafe, "The Tallies" was located there and old Billy, his wife Mary and young Bert made the best ice cream and fish suppers in the village. Mary and Alexis McClymont, "Nookers" daughter and wife, provided the service. Upm Riccarton Road a short distance was locted Geordie Tudhope's cobblers shop, which I loved to enter and smell the leather and polish, and adjacent was the Co-operative Drapery Dept. At Holyoake Terrace lived the Hynds family, Jean and Jim (Big Jimpy) who is now a miner at Canada. Around "The Cross" the main socio/commercial activities of the village occurred. At Galston Road was Docherty's Bakery, then the Clydesdale Bank; Jock McVey's Post Office; on the other side was the Wee Thack pub; the barbers; Simpsons Foundry and further up the police houses and then Howies Houses. Opposite was located St Pauls Chapel and the priest lived at the Chapel House near Kaimshill; later Bobby Rankines house; Bobby had a shop at Blair Avenue. Further up Galston Road was Shawhill House then occupied by Neil who did not like the local youths taking his chestnuts or "conkers" as we called the nuts. Tom White used to frighten the lives out of us younger boys by telling us that ghosts resided at Shawhill and they would be after us shortly. He then ran off leaving us terrified. Lady Loudoun, and elderly lady lived at Cessnock Avenue, Cadgers Row, and we boys used to taunt her as she walked around the village. She used to flail her walking stick at us which chased us away. Rumour had that she did not have sanitory facilities inside her home and she used a hole in the living room floor for the purpose. Her windows were so dirty that anytime I nervously looked inside I could see nothing. I can remember to this days when she chased me down Cadger Row with me fleeing for my life. At Mauchline Road near "The Cross" was the Co-operative Head Office. Remember calling there, upstairs, twice per year for the "Divi"? My Aunt Jean Forsyth paid the Dividend. Allan Findlay's Fish shop was nearby. We boiys had a song about ASllan which went solmething like
"Alla Findlay sells fish, Three ha'pence a dish, Don't buy it don't buy it, He dips it in p... which I don't think was true. Then there was the porkl rib man who call around the village in his van selling the pork ribs which were delicious. Jimmy Paton who stayed at Kerrmuir Avenue was a favourite as he went around the village in his horse and cart selling vegetables,potatoes and fruit. Jimmy's son Graham accompanied his Dad.
© Hurlford Village History | created at www.mrsite.com
Burnside Row, in the parish of New Cumnock, Ayrshire, was where I saw light for the first time on 6 February 1941. The houses were built for miners and their families and were woefully inadeqate; in fact one observer states that they were amongst the worst housing that he had surveyed and he had examined many. In those days access was by Western SMT bus from Kilmarnock and Dumfries. Although there was a railway station at New Cumnock on the main line south to England via Dumfries, the final stage of the journey to Burnfoot Row had to be made by bus or walk 7 miles. That would not be an experience you would wish during the winter because the weather was so inclement and the snowfall so heavy that many a person would perish. I was the second issue to my father Joseph and Agnes;a son James had been born the previous year and died after 4 months with meningitis; it was a wonder I was not named James, since it appeared to be the practise when a child died, the next if, of the same gender, would inherit the name. My earliest memories were of my grandmother lining we youngsters outside the house and closely examining our hands, knees and necks and woe betide you if you had not washed. We moved from Burnfoot Row to Hurlford where we set up home at Riccarton Road. The house had stone floors and very little to commend it to many potential occupant. The communal toilet was located outside and it was shared with the Whites who lived at ground floor opposite us; the Donalds and Adrains who lived upstairs. Lord help you if there was a queue and you were desperate to use the facilities. Water supply was cold and had to be boiled on the gas ring cooker. I recall many a time when my father worked at Forty Acres, a mine near Kilkmarnock, when he came off the pit bus outside our home at Riccarton Road about 3.00pm and my mother had made ready a large zinc bath tub the water in which she heated on the 4 ringed gas cooker in ther kitchen. When father entered the house, she laid it in front of a large coal fire and he washed himself there; there was no showers or baths in those days in our house. I made many pals during my early days at Hurlford and when I went to school I made even more. People like Ian Hutchinson; Billy Hamilton; Murray Spence; Eric Stewart; Ian Moffat; Aged 5 years I attended school at Hurlford Primary. I recall teachers Jean Cairney; Wee Tooshie Aird and others. At Secondary School teachers included, Miss Gibson; Mr Frank Steel the gym teacher, Mr Gillespie (Big Gil) science teacher; Jimmy Whiteside, technical teacher, James Ferguson, English Teacher, Frank Collins and Big Blackwood the maths teacher who used his big wooden board ruler to whack you, Janitor, Sanny Smith who managed the school football team. School days were not particularly happy for me, I was neither academic then or athletic, and when I left aged 15 years I did so with a piece of paper in my hand which said I was there from age 5 years. I well recall "Wee Jimmy Whiteside's" comment to some of us on our last days at school, "I'll be watching for news of you all in the papers." For me Jimmy, you would only read positive things. During those early years my father taught me to handle ferrets which we used to catch many rabbits prior to the days of myximatosis. We had rabbit cooked in so many ways i.e. pie; casseroled and roasted. I carried my ferrets inside my jacket lining. When I boarded a bus I used to look for some of the "twin set" brigade e.g. an elderly lady with purple hair and pearly and twin set. I would sit beside her with my hands clearly visible to everybody and the ferrets would be tumbling around inside my jackets touching the lady whose face was a treat to watch. I used to ferret all round Carnel Estate, LMS Railway lines, Bowhouse Ammunition factory and Bargower area. One other skill I was taught was how to catch salmon and pheasant. Many a time I was at the River Irvine and came home with a large salmon or up at Carnel Estate at night snaffling the odd pheasant as they slept in the copse of trees. When we kids went out at night we played "Pole to pole" i.e. run and pole, walk a pole; Hoppng Charlie, Hockey, peevers and girs and cleeks. Shops in the village included Big Tam Blackwoods chip and sweetie shop at Riccarton Road; One of Tam's daughters married Lorimer Headley who was a photographer at Kilmarnmock. The Docherty's of the bakery fame,lived near us at Riccarton Road and I remember the daughter called May who was muich older than I. In our house, which was part of a tenement hovel, at Riccarton Road were the Whites - Tom and Harry; upstairs were Willie Adrain and his family and oposite them the Donalds. Across the other side of Riccarton Road were the Ackroyds, young Billy was a paint sprayer; to the rear of Foys Pub - now a house - at Riccarton Road were the Purdies. Down Portland Brae was "Ham" Goudies now Willie Templeton's home; Jock Bryson had his contracter/haulage business behind Ham Goudies. "Basher" Nimbley was one of his drivers. It was a fairly large yard Jock Bryson occupied. My father Joe Haining and "Basher" Nimbley and Jock Bryson built the Old Mens Cabin located at Riccarton Road near The Cross. That cabin was suich a well used building. Jimmy Wallace, the coal merchant - I never saw Jimmy washed and cleaned - had his business slightly further down Portland Brae. Near the foot of the Brae lived the McGills who were dog breeders, Kenny and Right at the foot of Portland Brae lived the Cosgroves who owned the nearby piggery farm. The tennis club was located adjacent to the Cosgrove house and many a summer evening we boys used to spend watching the young hopefuls playing tennis. Along the river was located the once flourishing Portland Iron Works. All that was left was the metal "crusher" and tons of slag. The "Retaining Wall" was of great interest to us boys as it was the located for birds to nest in. Many injuries were sustained by boys falling from that wall in the pursuit of their hobby; egg collecting. Sanny Baird I recall broke his ankle there. Walk further round the river flow and you arrived at the Millers Dam the favourite local swimming spot during the suymmer months. I remember Dr Moffat regularly visiting the school just before the summer holiday period warning us not to swim in the River Irvine as it was swarming with dangerous viruses; but did we take heed? Never the first day of the holiday we would all be found swimming at the Millers Dam from sun-up to sun-set. The "Seven Arches" bridge which carried the main railway between Glasgow and London was nearby and Jimmy Lauchlan a local worthy often said he had dived off the bridge into the deep hole in the River Irvine. I never seen him do it but several people said they did but I am drawn to conclude that the story, spread by Jimmy himself, took feet and grew into mythology and folklore. Remember the "Wee Moudie" and the "Big Moudie" and the "Sluice Gate" During the season it was fun to watch the salmon leap the dam heading up river to spawn. In the village "The Cross" was a local focal point where men of all ages would meet and have a good chat. McCogni's cafe, "The Tallies" was located there and old Billy, his wife Mary and young Bert made the best ice cream and fish suppers in the village. Mary and Alexis McClymont, "Nookers" daughter and wife, provided the service. Upm Riccarton Road a short distance was locted Geordie Tudhope's cobblers shop, which I loved to enter and smell the leather and polish, and adjacent was the Co-operative Drapery Dept. At Holyoake Terrace lived the Hynds family, Jean and Jim (Big Jimpy) who is now a miner at Canada. Around "The Cross" the main socio/commercial activities of the village occurred. At Galston Road was Docherty's Bakery, then the Clydesdale Bank; Jock McVey's Post Office; on the other side was the Wee Thack pub; the barbers; Simpsons Foundry and further up the police houses and then Howies Houses. Opposite was located St Pauls Chapel and the priest lived at the Chapel House near Kaimshill; later Bobby Rankines house; Bobby had a shop at Blair Avenue. Further up Galston Road was Shawhill House then occupied by Neil who did not like the local youths taking his chestnuts or "conkers" as we called the nuts. Tom White used to frighten the lives out of us younger boys by telling us that ghosts resided at Shawhill and they would be after us shortly. He then ran off leaving us terrified. Lady Loudoun, and elderly lady lived at Cessnock Avenue, Cadgers Row, and we boys used to taunt her as she walked around the village. She used to flail her walking stick at us which chased us away. Rumour had that she did not have sanitory facilities inside her home and she used a hole in the living room floor for the purpose. Her windows were so dirty that anytime I nervously looked inside I could see nothing. I can remember to this days when she chased me down Cadger Row with me fleeing for my life. At Mauchline Road near "The Cross" was the Co-operative Head Office. Remember calling there, upstairs, twice per year for the "Divi"? My Aunt Jean Forsyth paid the Dividend. Allan Findlay's Fish shop was nearby. We boiys had a song about ASllan which went solmething like
"Alla Findlay sells fish, Three ha'pence a dish, Don't buy it don't buy it, He dips it in p... which I don't think was true. Then there was the porkl rib man who call around the village in his van selling the pork ribs which were delicious. Jimmy Paton who stayed at Kerrmuir Avenue was a favourite as he went around the village in his horse and cart selling vegetables,potatoes and fruit. Jimmy's son Graham accompanied his Dad.
© Hurlford Village History | created at www.mrsite.com