Ayrsireroots - The town of Catrine in Ayrshire Scotland

	Notes on the way through Ayrshire - 100 years ago CATRINE in SORN PARISH Sorn Castle is half-a-mile north-west of the village, and stands on a cliff overhanging the north edge of Ayr River; is a modernized edifice of unknown antiquity, set in the richest of garden, wood, and river scenery. It was visited by James V., as also the renowned Dr. Johnson. The Cleuch Burn, which here gurgles into the river from the distant Blaoksidend Hill, 1342 feet high, is adorned with bright cascades and rugged sylvan cliffs. THE TOWN OF CATRINE stands one mile and a-half farther down this beautiful river, on its right bank; two and a-half miles east-south-east,, by several winding roads, from Mauchline, its nearest railway station. It is compactly built on a modern plan, with a centre square and rectangular streets of two-story houses, giving it the air of a larger town; has Established, Free, United Presbyterian, and Evangelical Union Churches; a public school, with about 320 scholars; a Royal Bank; a post office, with money order and savings bank departments; a hotel, and a handsome display of shops. Population in 1871, 2584; in 1881, 2638. It was founded (together with extensive cotton mills) in 1785, by the celebrated philanthropist, David Dale, in company with the first Claud Alexander of Ballochmyle, whose sister Wilhelmina was immortalized by Burns as "The Bonnie Lass o’ Ballochmyle." Prior to that date the site of Catrine was occupied by a solitary house and smithy, belonging to one Thomas Henry, whose forefathers had lived at the same place from time immemorial. There is a disposition to call it the birthplace of Henry the Minstrel, but we have been unable to discover any definite oral tradition in support of it. Smith of Deanston, inventor of tile drains in agriculture, was employed in some capacity at Catrine mills before going to Catrine House, west of the town, stands on the south bank of the Ayr, where " The Dugald Stewart, one of the early friends of Burns. It was on the occasion of the young Poet’s introduction to the society of the professor at Catrine House that he first got so far up in the world as to dine with a lord (Basil, Lord Daer) who chanced to be here as a visitor. " This wot ye all whom it concerns, I, Rhymer Robin, alias Bunls, October twenty-third, A ne’er-to-be-forgotten day, Sae far I sprachled up the brae, I dinner’d wi’ a lord." This was in 1789, the year before the building of Catrine town and mills was commenced. With the woods of Catrine Bank on the east, Ballochmyle on the north, and plantation belts on the south, Catrine enjoys exceedingly fine sheltering environs.
	1837 Pigot's Directory of Catrine
	Catrine Obituaries

	Map of Catrine today 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.
	StreetMap of Catrine 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.
	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.