Rare atlas of Ayrshire.

The ‘proposal’ for potential subscribers at the beginning of the work gives details of the layout of the atlas, together the information that each map will show:

“Each map will contain the names of every House within the Parish – the whole Roads, Turnpike, Parochial, and Private – and the Rivers and Streams. Each Map will contain the names of the principal Heritors, and sundry Statistical and Historical Notices”.

Aitken was evidently successful in his bid to gain subscribers, as in 1829 he published the present work with surveys of all 16 parishes, on a scale of 2 inches to 1 statute mile. The work is dedicated to Archibald William Earl of Eglington, and contains a detailed distance table of town within the county.

Little is known about Robert Aitken, save that he was a member of the Beith Benficent Society. As well as the current atlas he is also known to have published a plan of Cowieland for John Richmond in 1837.

Scale : 2 inches to the statute mile.