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Troon
TROON, a promontory, a harbour, a thriving
sea-port,
and a quoad sacra parish, at the west end of the parish
of Dundonald, Ayrshire. The town, situated on the
promontory, is 6 miles north of Ayr, 6 south of Irvine,
9 south-west of Kilmarnock, 31 south-west by south of
Glasgow, and 75 west-south-west of Edinburgh. The
promontory is a belt of rock, extending 1¼ mile into
the sea, and so curved as to form a large segment of a
circle, with the concave side facing the north. Its
mean breadth is only about 2 furlongs. In its natural
state it was covered with rich pasture toward the land,
but became linked rock toward the extreme narrowing
point. A continuation of the promontory extends a short
distance beneath the sea, so as to be concealed even at
low water. The embayed marine space embraced by the
bold curvature is by far the best natural harbour in
Ayrshire; it affords safe anchorage-ground from every
quarter except the north-west; and, at half-a-cable's
length from the rock, it has, at half-flood, a depth of
3 fathoms. The merchants of Glasgow, aware of its
advantages, made a vain effort, about the year 1700, to
purchase the circumjacent property for the erection of
a seaport; and, in consequence of the repulse they met,
were obliged to select the very inferior site of
Port-Glasgow as the station next in eligibility. After
the effluxion of a century, the Duke of Portland, the
proprietor, commenced a series of vigorous operations
to render the place fully available for commerce. About
the year 1817, he constructed a new pier 800 feet long,
nearly at right angles with the rock, where the depth
is 19 feet at low water, and he afterward constructed a
fine wet dock with floodgates, a dry dock for repairing
vessels, a light-house, and large store-houses. Due
encouragements were offered to make the place a resort
of trade and a seat of population; and they were
rapidly followed by success. A railway hither from
KILMARNOCK [which see] was the first public work of its
class in Scotland, and brings down vast quantities of
coals for shipment to Ireland, Galloway, and other
destinations. A new act of parliament was obtained in
1837 to alter and amend this railway, and to raise
sufficient funds for the object. A communication is
maintained likewise with the Glasgow and Ayr railway,
the main line of which passes in the vicinity. During
the year which ended on 31st August, 1840, no fewer
than 165,850 tons of coals were shipped. In 1837, 1,060
vessels of aggregately 79,291 tons, took part in the
port's trade; and, in 18-10, upwards of 30 vessels
belonged exclusively to the place. The town is built
along a large part of the promontory, and forms a
conspicuous and fine feature in the broad and brilliant
landscape of Ayrshire and the frith, as seen from
numerous vantage-grounds, 8 or 12 miles to the south or
north. Many of the inhabitants are employed in a large
ship-building yard, a rope and sail manufactory, and
some other works; and not a few of them draw an entire
or partial maintenance from letting lodgings to
families of sea-bathers. The town has a branch-office
of the Ayr bank. The quoad sacra parish consists of the
town, and a small district in its vicinity. The church
was erected, in 1836, at a cost of £1,100. Sittings
900. A chapel belonging to a United Secession
congregation which was formed in 1822, and for some
years dissolved, and formed anew in 1839. was built, in
1822, at a cost of £320. Sittings 289. In 1836, the
population of the town was 1,088, and of the town and a
district extending 2 miles from it 1,600.
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