The Square : Royal Hotel, the old church
The block, now entirely occupied by the Royal Hotel since 2015, once consisted of The Mercat Hotel (previously the Black Bull Hotel from 18th century) at the left end and the Royal Hotel dating from 1888 at the right end with shops in between.
The present Old Cumnock Parish Church was built in 1864-1867 on the site of at least two other church buildings, the previous one built by Robert Adam around 1754.
That building had an outside stair leading to a gallery, a belfry and steeple with weather cock. The ancient ‘Jougs’ for punishment were fastened to one gable end. The windows had wooden shutter to protect the glass from children playing handball against the walls. A bell cast in Rotterdam in 1697 now sits proudly in the vestibule of the present church. Previously on the same site there was a church dedicated to St Conval. In the days of the older parish churches the graveyard was around the church. It stopped being used about 1768 but burials were being carried out at the Gallows Hill in Barrhill which eventually became the old cemetery.
the previous church
cumnockhistorygroup.org
