Portland Iron Works,. J & R Howie's Fireclay Works and the Woodyard
Hurlford, Shawhill and it's Present Condition
Some years after his purchase, Carse sold the estate to John Carlyle and at Carlyle's death in 1822 he sold it to Colonel Clark whio greatly enlarged and improved the house. At present the estate is in the ownership of John Stewart of the well known firm of Stewart Bros. Clothiers, Kilmarnock and London.
The erection of Portland Ironworks in 1846 brought together several collieries and increased the population to 4000. During 1760s Hurlford was no more than a dozen scattered cottages and Crookedholm was more populated. After successive changes the Ironworks now belong to Messrs Baird of Eglinton Iron Coy. Six furnaces were built. The works were located in Riccarton Parish on the south side of the River Irvine. There were 2 foundries at Hurlford, one owned by Mr A Strang and the other by Mr J Simpson. The proximity of these Foundries and Portland Ironworks gave them ready access to Glasgow via the South Western Railway Station and thence to all parts of the UK. One of the largest industries was the Fireclay Work of J&R Howie, first started circa 1800. About 1856 valuable seams of fireclay were found at Hurlford and it was discovered that the clay was excellent for making clay pipes; gas retorts; sewerage pipes, cattle troughs; horse mangers & chimney cans and beautiful enamelled pickling dishes.
Located exactly behind the Parakeet Public House was the Woodyard where logs were cut into the various sizes by the huge circular saw which operated on a "belt system." Many a great "night" we young boys had playing amongst the logs and piles of sawdust and stacks of newly cut wood.
Some years after his purchase, Carse sold the estate to John Carlyle and at Carlyle's death in 1822 he sold it to Colonel Clark whio greatly enlarged and improved the house. At present the estate is in the ownership of John Stewart of the well known firm of Stewart Bros. Clothiers, Kilmarnock and London.
The erection of Portland Ironworks in 1846 brought together several collieries and increased the population to 4000. During 1760s Hurlford was no more than a dozen scattered cottages and Crookedholm was more populated. After successive changes the Ironworks now belong to Messrs Baird of Eglinton Iron Coy. Six furnaces were built. The works were located in Riccarton Parish on the south side of the River Irvine. There were 2 foundries at Hurlford, one owned by Mr A Strang and the other by Mr J Simpson. The proximity of these Foundries and Portland Ironworks gave them ready access to Glasgow via the South Western Railway Station and thence to all parts of the UK. One of the largest industries was the Fireclay Work of J&R Howie, first started circa 1800. About 1856 valuable seams of fireclay were found at Hurlford and it was discovered that the clay was excellent for making clay pipes; gas retorts; sewerage pipes, cattle troughs; horse mangers & chimney cans and beautiful enamelled pickling dishes.
Located exactly behind the Parakeet Public House was the Woodyard where logs were cut into the various sizes by the huge circular saw which operated on a "belt system." Many a great "night" we young boys had playing amongst the logs and piles of sawdust and stacks of newly cut wood.