Lodging HousesCUMNOCK’S LODGING HOUSES by George Scott
According to STRAWHORN’s “New History of Cumnock”, there were 87 licensed beds in local lodging houses in 1893, and that an average of 50 persons per night used the basic facilities there. These cheap lodging houses fulfilled a need, - to accommodate itinerant workers and vagrants. By 1902 a Model Lodging House had been built in Tanyard Lane, in the area now devoted to part of the Health Centre car park. The word “Model” suggests that it was, in these days, a “state of the art” design for simple accommodation.
Strawhorn goes on to state that in 1910, besides the Model, there were other eight lodging houses: CARTER’s, BRYAN’s, DIGBY’s, WHITTEN’s, LORIMER’s, MOORHEAD’s, PHILLIPS’ and HAMILTON’s. At a much later date, towards the end of WWII, another “model” lodging house was opened by Marion REID at Greenholm, in the building originally occupied by Geo. MCCARTNEY & Co., Engineers.
Many of the people who used these lodging houses were vagrants, who walked from town to town. They were usually described as “tramps”. There were many, - a census of these tramps was taken in 1903, and the count for Cumnock parish was 88! To supply these people with a bed and basic food was a severe drain on the local council`s finances.
The tramps must have had a very hard life, walking from town to town, carrying their necessarily few worldly goods, and being completely at the mercy of the elements. Hypothermia was not generally known as a killer in those early days, and it is not surprising to discover that many became ill, and had to be removed to the local poorhouse which, in Cumnock`s case, was Kyle Combination Poorhouse in Ayr, where basic care and nursing was administered.
The writer of this little paper visited the two remaining Cumnock Lodging Houses many times in the 1940s, while acting as a Public Assistance Officer. Although they were not at all luxurious establishments, they supplied a roof over the vagrants` heads, some warmth, beds, and simple food. Their Managers maintained a firm discipline, but they also looked after their lodgers.
The lodging houses no longer exist. There was no demand for them from the 1950s onwards as full employment ensured that workers obtained regular work, and a more settled way of life. Nowadays a tramp is a very rare sight.
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