|
Newmilns (population 3322) nestles in the narrowest part of the Irvine
Valley. Despite its name, it is actually the oldest burgh of the area,
having received its charter a century before Kilmarnock. The people took
a leading role in the wars of the Covenant. The handloom-weaving of figured
muslin or leno in the 18th century gave way to machine-made
textiles in the 1870’s.
The Town House, Newmilns was built in 1739 by the 4th Earl of Loudoun
to house the town council of the Burgh of Barony of Newmilns. It has a
belfry and tower and a double outside stair. The bell in the tower predates
the building and is engraved with the date 1547. The upstairs of the building
was used as a court and for council meetings - the first floor was a Tolbooth
which was used as a prison for minor offences.
The Oldest building in Newmilns is the fortified tower house in Castle
Street (formerly New Road) known as the Keep. It was built in the 16th
century when it was in the possession of John Campbell of Newmilns. John
Campbell was summoned before King James IV as one of the early church
reformers known as the "lollards of Kyle". In 1685 while being
used to imprison covenanters - it was attacked by local men who released
the 8 Covenanter prisoners. Since then it has been used for a variety
of purposes - including a grain store, a beer cellar, a doocot and a band
hall. It is a B listed building under the protection of the Historic Scotland
Today, Newmilns retains some lace industry and fabric manufacturing companies
together with engineering businesses. The largest employer manufactures
ceramics for use in the steel and foundry industries.
|
