Road to CrawfordjohnThe Road from Cumnock to Crawfordjohn by George Scott
Elsewhere, in the history section of this Website, there is some information on “TURNPIKE ROADS”
The following paper is an attempt to enlarge on the subject, with special emphasis on one of the roads constructed under the Turnpike Acts - the toll road from Cumnock to Crawfordjohn. The fact that such a road ever existed between these two townships is not generally known in the Cumnock area despite the fact that a strong clue to the road’s existence is to be seen on the Armstrong`s Map of 1775. Armstrong`s Map shows the route of the road eastwards from Cumnock, and at the edge of the map are printed the words “to Crawford John”.
Investigation on the ground, and examination of old maps, has resulted in several miles of the old road being recognised and identified. Considerable sections of this toll road have been incorporated in more modern roads as these gradually developed. For instance, the present Townhead Street is exactly on the line of the 18th century road which, at that time was the only exit from Cumnock, towards the east and the south.
The old road re-appears behind Barshare School, and passes behind the foundation stones of Drumbrochan Cottage - latterly the clubhouse of the now defunct Cumnock Golf Club. It can clearly be seen circling the hill, and entering the area known to older Cumnock people as “The Stagecoach Road”, which proceeds in an almost straight line to the present Logan-Netherthird road. The continuation of the road line, across the modern road is the road towards Meikle Auchengibbert Farm road, where, after about 400 yards, at a sharp right-turn of the farm road, it takes a sharp left turn on to Boylston Farm ground (Grid Reference NS596195). (This aforementioned route is actually plotted on some modern O.S. maps, - e.g. the Explorer 327, and Landranger 71 maps). On Boylston ground it is easily traced along a line of beech trees, turning right and then left before proceeding through Crosslar Farm ground.
It eventually wended its way along the south bank of the Glenmuir Water - before fording the river on to Dornal Farm ground. It re-appears again, immediately behind Nether Guelt Farm, and it is clearly seen from the modern road, running parallel to it for over 400 yards. A line of beech trees marches along its northern edge here.
From Guelt Cottage the modern road appears to cover the toll road, down to Dalblair, behind which a section of it vanishes, presumably washed away over the years as it climbed the Bank, (a fairly high escarpment, now mainly wooded). The road from Dalblair to Glenmuirshaw (which is now exceedingly rough and probably not suitable for ordinary cars) is almost certainly the route of the toll road. At Glenmuirshaw Farm (now a dilapidated ruin), the very rough, stony road gives way to a grassy track, which proceeds eastwards for about a mile, where, due to farm tractors and shepherds’ quad bikes, its course has been obliterated. However, a very small waterway, often dry, described on the maps as Peat Syke, reveals the remains of a very low bridge. This is very close to Polwhannon Burn.
Here, for the next mile or so, the trail runs cold! We have to remember that the topography of the area may well have changed considerably in 230-odd years. We are approaching an area of comparatively modern forestry, which is seamed by not a few forest roads, any of which could probably have been laid on the line of the old road, before tree-planting commenced. The general line of these roads is north-east, and the probable line runs south of Pinbreck Hill, and to the north of Three-shire Hill. It then runs towards Auchendaff, where the old road is very obvious and negotiable on bicycle or on foot. Further on it reaches, via later modern forest/farm roads, Glentaggart Farm, which is about 3 miles south of the village of Glespin.
Close examination of sections of the old road reveal that it is about 9 feet wide. Its base and sides are constructed of largish stones, covered by smaller aggregate and grit, - rather like our modern forestry roads.
Charges (tolls) were levied on horses, ponies, carts and cattle being driven along these roads, of course, and these were collected at the toll-houses. We have evidence of these toll-houses, even today, in the names of Logan Toll and Moat Toll. Other toll-houses were to be found at Garrallan, Sykeside, Polquhap, Mossback, and in the centre of Cumnock, at the corner of the modern Ayr Road and Glaisnock Street.
Enquiries have been made to Biggar Museum, in the hope of discovering that someone had been making similar investigation of the road from Crawfordjohn to Cumnock. Unfortunately, there is no record of any such investigation.
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