Cumnock and Holmhead facts for kids
Cumnock and Holmhead was once a busy town in Ayrshire, Scotland. It was located on the Lugar River, about 33¾ miles (54 km) south of Glasgow. In 1901, about 3,088 people lived there. The town had two railway stations, making it easy to travel to and from.
Contents
A Look Back at Cumnock
At the start of the 1800s, Cumnock and Holmhead was part of a larger area called Old Cumnock. It was a special kind of town known as a police burgh, which meant it had its own local government to keep order. By 1901, Cumnock was a lively place with a town hall, a small hospital, a public library, and a place for learning called an athenaeum.
The area was important for its natural resources. People dug for coal and ironstone nearby. The town also made many things, including wool clothes, tweed fabrics, tools for farming, and pottery.
The Story of Alexander Peden
A long time ago, in the 1600s, there was a man named Alexander Peden (1626–1686). He was a Covenanter, a group of people who faced difficulties for their religious beliefs. When Peden died, he was first buried in a church. However, soldiers later moved his body to the foot of the gallows (a place where executions happened) in Cumnock. They wanted to dishonor him, but they couldn't hang his body. So, they buried him there instead.
After a big change in the government, the people of Cumnock decided to honor Peden. They stopped using their old burial ground and turned the place where Peden was buried into their new cemetery. This showed how much they respected him. About five miles (8 km) southeast of Old Cumnock is another area called New Cumnock.
The Famous Boswell Family
Cumnock was also home to the important Boswell family. Three members of this family became very well-known:
- Lord Auchinleck: He was a judge. He famously gave the writer Dr. Samuel Johnson the nickname "Ursa Major," which means "Great Bear."
- James Boswell: He was Lord Auchinleck's son and became a famous writer, especially known for writing about the life of Dr. Johnson.
- Sir Alexander Boswell: He was James Boswell's grandson. He was a writer too, known for songs and poems like Gude nicht and joy be wi you a and Jennys Bawbee. Sadly, he died in a duel.
How the Name Changed
Cumnock became a burgh of barony in 1509. This was a special status given by the king. Later, in 1866, it became a police burgh and was officially called Cumnock and Holmhead. The "Holmhead" part was removed from the name in 1960, and the town has been known simply as Cumnock ever since.
See also
