New Cumnock

New Cumnock, or Cumnock Castle as it was once called, came into being with the splitting of Cumnock Parish in 1650. The parish was split into Old and New Cumnock with New Cumnock having the greater land mass. The Castle of the village's early name dated from the 14th Century, however by the early 19th century the castle was a ruin and it occupied the site of current Arthur Memorial Church.

Robert Burns visited New Cumnock and a cairn has been built near the River Afton - Flow gently sweet Afton - in memory to his visits.

As with the surrounding villages coal has played a major role in the life of New Cumnock, the first commercial mining begun at Straid by the Afton Mining Company in the early 18th Century. This industry soon grew quickly and was further helped by the coming of the railway in 1850. By 1909 New Cumnock Collieries was the largest in the area. During nationalisation after the Second World War, the six remaining pits were taken over.

An ironworks was built in 1847 which saw an influx of workers and the housing built for them was called the Furnace Rows. However this was not a successful venture and ten years later it was on the market. Other minerals proved more successful with clay from the area being used in both Cumnock Pottery and brick production.

A monument to New Cumnock's mining past has been erected at the Castle.

New Cumnock Facilities include:

Bank:  Royal Bank of Scotland (pm only), Castle, New Cumnock. TEL: 01290 421651

Chemist: Lloyds, Castle, TEL: 01290 338266

Doctor Surgery: 67 Afton Bridgend,  TEL: 01290 338242

Local Butcher: Afton Glen Meats, http://www.aftonglenmeats.co.uk/ (site under construction)

Local Bakers: Afton Bakery, 26 Afton Bridgend, KA18 4AU. Pathhead Bakery Ltd., Unit 1-3 Waterside Industrial Estate, Pathbrae, KA18 4DF

Hotels/Pubs/Clubs: Lochside House Hotel, http://www.lochside-hotel.com. Bridgend Inn, Afton Water, Working Men’s Club, Glens Bar & Lounge, 116 Castle, Homing (Pigeon) Club (the Doocet): Darts, Pool, Dominoes. Bowling Club, Afton Lily.

Take-aways: Silver Dragon (Takeaway). 61 Castle KA18 4AG, TEL: 01290 338707. New Afton Spicy Hut (Takeaway). 44-48, Afton Bridgend, KA18 4AZ, TEL: 01290 332300

Knockshinnoch Lagoons, SWT Reserve includes walks and wetlands.

Open Air Swimming pool: Castle, New Cumnock.

Local Waters:River Nith, Afton Water, Connel Burn, 3 Lochs, Afton Reservoir.