Notes on the way through Ayrshire - 100 years ago

BALLANTRAE PARISH.

South west of Colmonell, and forming the most southerly point of the county. The village of Ballantrae stands on the right bank of the Stinchar, where it is crossed by a bridge, and ends in the sea, four and a half miles below Colmonell, and 13 miles south-south-west of Girvan. It is a seaport and fishing station, with a small artificial tidal harbour; has a post office, with telegraph, money order and savings bank departments; a Commercial Bank, a number of shops, a hotel, Established and Free Churches, a public school, and ruins of an ancient castle. Population in 1871, 515; in 1881, 426.

The hamlet of GLENAPP - comprising an Established Church, a public school, and a post office-occupies a sequestered spot on App Water, which, rising in the centre of the parish, flows south-westward through the beautifully wooded and whinny-browed Glen App, into Loch Ryan, which is a deep bay of the sea. The seat of Glenapp stands in the same charming glen. A mile south, along the pleasant shore from the foot of Glen App, is the foot of Galloway Burn, the southern extremity of the parish and of Ayrshire. The surface of the parish is an assemblage of high, benty hills, with numerous small burn glens running outward all round, a fine arable slope descending to the Stinchar in the north. Its length is about 10 miles, and its breadth about seven miles. Area, 33,561 acres. Population in 1871, 1442; in 1881, 1277. 

This Link takes you to the GOOGLE MAP SITE where you will find a map of the town and the surrounding area as it is today. You can zoom in and out and move around in all directions.

This Link takes you to the MULTIMAP website where you will find a map of the town and the surrounding area as it is today. You can zoom in and out and move around in all directions.

This Link takes you to the STREET website where you will find a street map of the town as it is today. You can zoom in and out and move around in all directions.

  Map of Old Ballantrae

This link goes directly to the OLD MAPS website for a detailed old map of the town around 1860. You can explore out to all sides by using the arrows at the top of the page. These maps are ideal for finding the locations of areas such as farms.

Old Maps of Ayrshire Towns

This link goes directly to the OLD MAPS website for an Ayrshire Index to detailed old maps of most Ayrshire Towns around 1860. You can explore out to all sides by using the arrows at the top of the page. These maps are ideal for finding the locations of areas such as farms.

Ballantrae "was not, however, created a Burgh of Barony till 1617. The inhabitants are chiefly fishermen, and in early times the smuggling of tea, tobacco, and brandy formed one of the staple industries of the place. Large pirate vessels called Buckers, carrying 20 or 30 guns, were accustomed to lie in the bay and discharge their cargoes at Ballantrae. The arrival of one of these vessels was the signal for the smugglers, who were called Lintowers, to proceed in a large body to the shore, with their horses, ready to receive the contraband goods, and convey them through the country. The lintowers numbered about one hundred men, all of them stalwart fellows, armed with cutlass and pistol ready to fight if resistance was offered them in the discharge of their illegal calling. The old Kirk was a favourite place for hiding the contraband goods......>