Cumnock History Early History
The history of Cumnock really began in 1509 when a royal charter granted by King James IV established the small town as a burgh in barony. Other burghs were being created in Ayrshire, some of these for gaining prestige for local barons, others, as in the case of Cumnock, resulted in the establishment of a market with trades people and craftsmen, thus forming a centre from which trade encouraged a blossoming economy. This centre, marked by the market cross, gains the opportunity for the buying and selling of local produce at the weekly fair and also attracted trades from the surrounding area to the larger annual fair.
The charter gave permission for the inhabitants of Cumnock to buy and sell goods such as wine, wax, pitch and bitumen, woollen & linen cloth, wood skins, ox hides, salt, butter, cheese. Tradesmen included bakers, braziers, tanner, butchers, sellers of fish and flesh.
Local government
Since considerable organisation of these markets and fairs was involved, Baillie’s and other officers were elected by burgesses, a select few men of means, and those elected had to be approved by the Baron of Cumnock, at that time James DUNBAR who was the Burgh Supervisor. These Baillie’s and officers not only administered justice within the burgh but had also the power to exclude undesirables from office.
This system of administration continued until the 19th century when the burgh council became responsible for providing and administering local public services. The members of the council were elected, not by a privileged few but by the inhabitants of the burgh.
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