NEWMILNS, a village and burgh of barony, in
the parish of Loudoun, district of Cunninghame,
county of Ayr, 8 miles (E.) from Kilmarnock, and 18
(N. E. by E.) from Ayr; containing 1 988 inhabitants.
This place was made a burgh of barony under a charter
of James IV., dated the 9th January, 1490, and which
vested the superiority in the Earls of Loudoun. It is a
thriving village, situated on the river Irvine, and at about
the middle of the south boundary-line of the parish:
nearly the whole of the population are engaged in weaving,
the principal article being muslin. There is a postoffice
for the convenience of the surrounding district.
The village is governed by two bailies, a chancellor,
treasurer, fiscal, and thirteen councillors: the nomination
of the magistrates and council is annual, the burgesses
choosing the council, and these, again, appointing
the bailies, chancellor, and other officers. Here is an
excellent market; and four annual fairs take place in
February, May, August, and October. The parish church
is situated in the village, which also contains the parochial
school, and a place of worship for the United
Presbyterian Synod. A bequest of £60 per annum by
Mr. James Smith, a native of the place, is appropriated
to decayed burgesses, their widows, and children, not
receiving parochial relief.