Millbank House, 14 Lugar Street

Researched by the late Bobby Grierson with additional information from KayM

Jim Barker

2024

Built about 1860 by Daniel King who lived there with his wife Isabella and 7 children, Helen, Isabella, Marion, James, William, Jane and Annie and 2 servants. He was a woollen manufacturer employing 5 men and 4 women. Daniel was one of the first commissioners of the new burgh in 1866. In 1871 he was a junior police magistrate and a woollen manufacturer employing 36 men and 12 girls. He served on the council for 9 years from 1866-1875. In 1881 he was still at this address with his family as a woollen manufacturer employing 20 men and 15 boys.

Daniel King, now a widower died in 1882 at Millbank aged 75 and in 1895 his son James was now owner occupier having succeeded on his father’s death to the Lugar Woollen Mills and Carmacoup Woollen Mills in Douglas, Lanarkshire. James died suddenly on 26 March 1888 in his early 40s, of a heart attack at St Enoch’s station in Glasgow.

Daniel King’s daughter Helen married Dr James Morrison in October 1888. At that time James Morrison was residing at Millbank House and a physician and surgeon.Helen King was residing at Beachworth Villa in Dunoon. They were married at Holmside House, Cumnock the home of Helen's sister Jane, Mrs Sam Galbraith.  Helen died in March 1893 and by 1895 James Morrison was now owner occupier. By 1901 he was retired and living at Blackbush Cottage, Doctors Road, Ochiltree and in 1905 James Morrison had leased the house to Mrs Agnes Logan, or Climie. She lived there until 1907.

By 1911 Robert Livingstone, licensed grocer was now owner occupier. And living there with his wife Agnes and 3 children, Marion, Jane and James.  1915 George Brown Connell aged 27 yrs, Trooper 1st Battalion, Ayrshire Yeomanry, was residing at Millbank, Cumnock. He wasn't a relation of the Livingstones'.  In 1918 son James Livingstone was a sergeant airman in the RAF and giving his address as Millbank. In 1920 Robert Livingstone was still owner occupier. Robert died there in September 1928.

His son James was living there on 30 Aug 1930 when his mother Agnes died. The building was purchased by the district council shortly after that in 1931 as a county registry office.

In 1937 a branch of the county library was opened in the grounds of Millbank House in a new building with child welfare clinic attached. In 1935 a scout and guide hut was also opened in the grounds at Millbank.

Millbank House operated as the Cumnock County Registration Offices for births, deaths and marriages until Rothesay House at Greenholm Road opened in 2013.

It now houses several businesses including a jewellery studio on the upper floor.