CATRINE, a village (manufacturing) and quoad sacra parish (formerly),
in the parish of Sorn, district of
Kyle, county of Ayr, 25 miles (E. by S.) from Mauchllne;
containing 2659 inhabitants. This place, which,
prior to the year 17S6, contained only the two families
of the miller and the blacksmith of the parish, is indebted
both for its origin and progress to the establishment of
the cotton manufacture, at that time, by the late Claud
Alexander, Esq., of Ballochmyle, and David Dale, Esq.,
a merchant of Glasgow. The works, after being carried
on for a few years, were purchased from the original
proprietors by Messrs. Finlay and Company, of Glasgow,
who enlarged the concern, and brought it to its present
flourishing condition. The buildings are spacious, and
replete with machinery of every kind. Two waterwheels,
each fifty feet in diameter, estimated at 200-horse
power, have been erected for giving motion to the
machinery; and two steam-engines, of sixty-horse power
each, have been added, to secure the continuance of the
work under any failure of water. In the bleachingworks,
also, the requisite machinery is propelled by a
water-wheel of thirty-two feet diameter, and by a steamengine
of twenty-eight horse power. Every process of
the cotton manufacture is carried on, with the utmost
regularity; the raw material sent from Glasgow is spun,
woven, bleached, and finished, either for home consumption,
or for exportation to foreign markets. In the
bleaching-works, which were established in 1824, in addition
to the goods produced in the cotton factory of
this place, all the cloth manufactured at the other works
of the company are bleached; the process is carried on
within the walls, at all seasons of the year, aud from
150 to 200 acres of land, which would be requisite for
the exclusive purpose of a bleachfield, are thus appropriated
to agricultural uses. The number of persons employed
in both the works is 960.
The village, which alone constituted the parish, is
pleasantly situated in an extensive and picturesque vale,
through which the river Ayr pursues its winding course,
and is neatly built on the north bank of the river, over
which is a handsome stone bridge. It is lighted with
gas, from a work belonging to the inhabitants, which is
considered by competent judges the best constructed of
any in Ayrshire, both in regard to the quality of the gas
manufactured, and the economy of its production. There
are two public libraries, containing each a collection of
from 600 to 700 volumes, and supported by subscribers j
a philosophical library 3 and a library in connexion with
a Sunday school. Many of the inhabitants are employed
in hand-loom weaving for the manufacturers of Glasgow
and Paisley, and several in the various trades requisite
for the supply of the population; a sub-post has been
established, and there is an excellent market on Saturday
for provisions of all kinds. The ecclesiastical parish was
in the presbytery of Ayr and synod of Glasgow and Ayr.
A chapel of ease was built by Mr. Alexander, in 1792, at
an expense of £1000; and was purchased sixteen years
ago by the feuars of the village, who are bound by their
feu disposition to erect a church, and inclose a piece of
land for a burying-ground. It is a substantial edifice,
and, by the addition of galleries about twelve years since,
is adapted for a congregation of 11 60 persons. A convenient
place of worship has been built for members of
the Free Church, which is calculated to contain 978
persons; and there is also a neat church belonging to
the United Presbyterian Synod, affording accommodation
for 650. Here are three public schools, and a school for
the young persons employed at the works is supported
by the proprietors. A friendly society was established
in 1829; it has a fund of £300, and has proved very
beneficial in obviating necessity for parochial aid. In
1834 a female society was estatjlished, under the act of
George IV. and 'William IV.; this possesses a fund of
£120, and has been of great benefit to many families.
The late Dugald Stewart, the eminent professor of moral
philosophy at Edinburgh, had a summer residence here,
which still remains in the possession of the family, but
is let to a tenant, his son Colonel Stewart having built
an elegant mansion about a mile distant from the village,
where he resides.