Ayr

Ayr, a county on the W. coast of Scotland, having an area of 1,149 square miles, and returning two members to Parliament. The islands of Ailsa and the two Cumbraes belong to it. The surface is hilly, but the soil is fairly productive, and iron, copper, lead, graphite, antimony, coal, freestones, and valuable pebbles abound. There are several small rivers, and some inland lakes, the largest being Loch Doon. The trade in iron and chemicals is considerable, and factories exist for woollen and cotton fabrics, thread and muslins. The chief towns are Ayr, Kilmarnock, Maybole. and Ardrossan. Burns, the poet, was born at Alloway in this county. Ayr (Erigena), the capital, stands at the mouth of the river of the same name, 40 miles by railway from Glasgow. It is a fine well-built town connected by two bridges with the suburbs of Newton and Wallace Town, on the right bank of the river. Wallace's Tower in the High Street occupies the site of an older building where the great chief is reported to have had his quarters. The chief industries are shipbuilding, carpet-weaving, iron-founding, and machine-making. A large trade is carried on in iron, coal, and timber. The harbour is fairly good and docks are being completed. For purposes of parliamentary representation it is grouped with four other burghs.