Miss Betty Lees Collection

Thank you to Miss Betty Milligan Lees for providing some New Cumnock memorabilia from her collection. New Cumnock born Betty was a teacher at New Cumnock Junior Secondary School.

Betty was my Primary 7 teacher in 1969/70 and I recall she had been on secondment to the USA prior to returning to teach at New Cumnock. This was the last year of the New Cumnock Junior Secondary School with Cumnock Academy now the destination for secondary aged pupils; while Betty went on to teach at Auchinleck Academy. New Cumnock Junior Secondary School would later be re-named the Castle Primary School and is now the New Cumnock Primary School.

In retirement Betty was a regularly attendee at New Cumnock History Club and the Cumnock Living History Group. She has now returned to live in her home town of New Cumnock.

I’m sure you will enjoy Betty’s memories of New Cumnock.

VIEWS OF NEW CUMNOCK

A class exercise illustrations and note on four “Views of New Cumnock”

1. MARTYRS’ CHURCH by TOM MORTON

The following article was obtained by Tom Morton in an interview with Mr. MacPherson

The present Martyrs’ Church was opened in 1833. The name Martyrs’ was given to it in 1929. It was suggested by Mr. James H. Stevenson, Rottenyard farm, and was accepted by great unanimity by the congregation. This is the county of the martyrs – there is a monument to two of them off the Dumfries road.

The church replaced a previous building, now in ruins, which was built in 1659.

The church has had many ministers; the Rev. Robert E Murray was the minister for almost 50 years. The last minister, Mr. Waugh, resigned his charge to take up a preaching appointment at the Riverside School, Falkirk.

aa_parishchurch — New Cumnock Parish Church

2. ARTHUR MEMORIAL by JOHN MASON

The present church was built about 1914. There had been another church on the site before, but it was pulled down. The front of the old building was rebuilt as the front of the present church hall. The church was called the Arthur Memorial in memory of a local farmer, who when he died bequeathed the money to erect the present building. He also left money to build a library in New Cumnock which was never built. About 100 years ago this church had its own school; the house, at present is occupied by Miss McKenzie, was the headmaster’s house. Mr. Lowrie told us all this. He also was very keen to show us round the church. He pointed out the stained glass windows and showed his paintings of previous ministers.

aa_arthurmemorial — Arthur Memorial UF Church – Built 1912 – demolished 2015

3. MR MILLER’S HOUSE by SHEILA ALLAN

The above sketch is one of the Schoolhouse next to the Junior Secondary School. It was built by a Mr Beattie in the year 1872.

Since then five headmasters have lived there. They were:

Mr William Guthrie (1872-73)
Mr John Nairn (1873-1887)
Mr John Whiteford (1887-90)
Mr John Wales (1890-1927)
Mr Willian J. Dow (1927-47)

The last headmaster, Mr Dow now lives in retirement at Barrhill, Cumnock. He was headmaster of twenty years. Our present headmaster is Mr. Millar who came to our school from Largs.

The teachers that followed have been pencilled in as follows –

Mr John Millar (1947-1965)
Mr Gordon Douglas (1965-1971)
Mr Robb (1971-
Mrs McMillan

4. SHILLING HILL by DAVID HUNTER

This drawing of the “Shilling Hill” by David Hunter (3D), is the fourth in our series of “Views of New Cumnock”. It was intended that David should write a short article explaining the origin of the name “Shilling Hill” to accompany the drawing, but so far we have been unable to find out why it is co-called.

MR TROTTER’S OPINION

Mr. Trotter, good friend of the School, thought the term may have a connection with the “Toll”, perhaps being derived from the payment of certain dues in former days. Perhaps one of our readers can tell us why this part of New Cumnock is called the “Shilling Hill”. In the meantime David Hunter’s drawing is capable of standing on its own merits