Ayrshire Archaeological & Natural History Society

 The AANHS, in association with the Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies, publishes Ayrshire Notes twice a year. This is an illustrated local history journal. Contributions for should be sent to Rob Close, 1 Craigbrae Cottages, Drongan, Ayrshire KA6 7EN.

Publications

 

Society publishes monographs with an Ayrshire theme usually twice a year. These are paperbacks with an illustrated cover usually in colour. The following titles are available from bookshops or directly from Ronald Brash, Distribution Manager, 10 Robsland Avenue, Ayr KA7 2RW. Prices are per copy and include postage.

Please make cheques payable to ‘Ayrshire Archaeological and Natural History Society’.

The following Monographs are currently Out of Print. However, they are available for consultation at various libraries:

 

George Lokert of Ayr by Broadie
The brief life of a distinguished scholar, teacher and philosopher who achieved international fame just prior to the Scottish Reformation in 1560.

Digging Up Old Ayr by Lindsay
A description of the excavations at the site of Ayr's Buttermarket, with evidence of early church buildings.

Ayrshire Honestones by Tucker

A history of the Tam o’ Shanter and Water of Ayr hone works.

The Shipping Trade of Ayrshire 1689-1791 by Eric Graham: £3.60

26 Servants in Ayrshire 1750-1914 by Jean Aitchison Price: £5.00
This sociological account of the times when the main employment was as a servant either indoors or outdoors as a farm worker, gardener or coachman. This work captures the securities and insecurities of servant life.

Ayrshire Monographs:

36 Burns and the Sugar Plantocracy of Ayrshire

Eric J Graham ISBN 978 0 9542253 8 4 (£6.00)

35 The Masters of Ballantrae

Jack Hunter ISBN 978 0 9642253 9 1 (£4.00)

34 The Loans Smugglers

Frances Wilkins ISBN 978 0 9542253 7 7 (£4.50)

33 Dr John Taylor, Chartist—Ayrshire Revolutionary

W Hamish Fraser. ISBN 0 9542253 5 X (£4.00)

32 Ayr and the Charter of William the Lion 1205

G.W. S. Barrow. ISBN 0 9542253 6 8 (£1.00)

31 Tattie Howkers: Irish Potato Workers in Ayrshire

Heather Holmes. ISBN 0 9542253 4 1 (£4.50)

30 The Early Transatlantic Trade of Ayr 1640-1730

Tom Barclay & Eric J. Graham. ISBN—0 9542253 3 3 (£4.50)

29 Vernacular Building in Ayrshire

John R Hume.  ISBN—0 9542253 2 5 (£4.50)

28 Historic Prestwick and its surroundings £2.50

A guide for visitors to the historic sites and buildings of Prestwick, Monkton, Tarbolton, Annbank and surrounding countryside.

64pp 23 illustrations ISBN—0 9542253 1 7

27 Ayrshire in the Age of Improvement edited by David McClure. : £4

Contemporary accounts of agrarian and social improvement in 18th century Ayrshire.
25 The Street Names of Ayr by Rob Close : £5.00
This covers the origins of the names of Ayr streets.

Armstrong's Maps of Ayrshire (published 1775, reprinted in 6 sheets): £12.00 Reproduced in 6 sections, each 60 x 45cm and enclosed in a plastic tube.

24 Historic Alloway, Village and Countryside: A Guide for Visitors: £2.00

23 The Last Miller: The Cornmills of Ayrshire by Wilson: £3.00
A short description and histories of almost 100 mills written by a retired miller.

20 Historic Ayr: A Guide for Visitors (Second Edition 2001): £2.50

19 Robert Reid Cunningham of Seabank House by Graham: £1.00
A detailed account of Cunningham's stewardship as manger of Stevenston Colliery 1770-1814 and an example of early industrialisation.

18 Cessnock: An Ayrshire Estate in the Age of Improvement by Mair: £2.00
The period described 1787-1800 is based on a record book of George Douglas, factor of the Loudoun Estate who also managed Cessnock. Cessnock provides a picture of an Ayrshire estate which took advantage of natural resources, mainly coal and the and entrepreneurial spirit at a time of rapid social and economic change.

21 A Community Rent Asunder - The Newmilns Laceweavers' Strike 1897 by Mair £2.00
An account of a bitter dispute between the Newmilns Textile Workers Union and the lace factory owners. The factories were the main source of local employment since their establishment in 1875.

Antiquities of Ayrshire by Grose Edited by John Strawhorn: £2.00
A series of drawings with descriptions of ancient buildings in Ayrshire by the soldier and artist Francis Grose, including the full original text of Tam O'Shanter which Robert Burns wrote by request to accompany the sketch of the first Alloway Church.

Mauchline Memories of Robert Burns Edited by John Strawhorn: £2.00
A series of articles published in 1858 by the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald containing a description of Robert Burns and some of his associates.

15 The Port of Ayr 1727-1780 by Eric Graham: £2.00
Ayr's revival as an international port, during the 18th century, is described in this study which also covers the ships involved in the trade and the commodities imported, based on in-depth research on letter and day books of customs collectors.

14 Smuggling and the Ayrshire Economic Boom of the 1760s and 1770s by Cullen: £2.00
The extensive trade in commodities on which a high government tax was levied and avoided is described in this work. The part played by the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Dunkirk and the Faroe Islands in the avoidance of paying duty on tobacco, tea and spirits is well documented.

13 Tolls and Tacksmen: 18th Century Roads in the County of John Loudoun MacAdam by David McClure: £1.50

An account of the improvements on the roads in Ayrshire as a result of the county turnpike acts of 1767 and 1774 and the merchants and financial interests behind them, including John Loudoun MacAdam (the future tar MacAdam). A map is included.

12 The Cumnock Pottery by G Quail: £2.00
This pottery which operated from 1792-1920 produced very distinctive earthenware dishes, vases and jugs for everyday domestic use. Illustrated with many full colour illustrations.

11 Robert Adam in Ayrshire by Margaret Sanderson: £1.50
Scotland's most famous 18th century architect and his work on Ayrshire stately homes, including Culzean, Dumfries House, Auchincruive, Caldwell and Dalquharran as well as the first New Bridge of Ayr are described and illustrated with 12 illustrations.

9 Plant Life in Ayrshire by Kirkwood and Foulds: £1.50
A detailed study of Ayrshire's trees, shrubs, flowers and herbs found in woodlands, shores and uplands. 18 pages of illustrations with 8 in colour.

6 A Scottish Renaissance Household by R MacKenzie: £1.00
This describes the longstanding feud between Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar-Hamilton and John Wallace of Craigie, with the inventory of the castle contents providing an interesting glimpse of living conditions in an early modern Scottish fortified house.