Billy Long says

Roo, The shop which Mrs Hands had is still there now known as Nicola's shop still a corner off-licenced newsagent grocers shop. I remember the shop well but it has changed slightly inside. Still it sells sweets and St Peter's Church is still there with a weekly Sunday service. Perhaps you could google earth both the shop and church and farm with street view and see recent pictures of it. . 

Roo Crawford says

thanks so much for the info.   As far as I know the farm is gone so dont think I could find it on google earth, will have a try tho.   I do have recent pics of the church but not the shop so will try that one

thanks again

Roo Crawford says

Me again Billy. Tried to googleearth the shop but its such a long time since I was there, couldnt quite place the spot, would you have the address for me to search it?   Also would you know any one who would be able to pin point where High Swindridge Muir was, I can only remember roughly - turning off not far from Highfield.   The new house built by my aunt and uncle was New Acre at Highfield but I cant find that on google maps either!

thanks

Kinnear McCallum says

Roo If you turn right when appraoching Highfield from Dalry, into what was "the Creepies", New Acre is on the right hand side. My grandmother's family (Houstons) lived at Little Acre which is the small white house on the left, before you climb the hill to the Coalheughglen road end.  What was Mrs Hand's shop is on the corner of New Street and Smith Street across from the old Police Station.      From Kinnear McCallum 

Billy Long says

Roo , The shop is on the corner of New Street Junction with Smith Street. The farm I don't know for sure where it is, but try from Highfield up the Stewarton Road.

Roo Crawford says

Kinnear, thanks for the infio, when did your grandmother's family live at little acre?

It's a longshot but my grandmother was living somewhere at the Highfield in 1910 prior to her marriage and I wondered if you knew anyone who may have information about where she actually lived, unfortunately on her marriage certificate it just gives Highfield as residence and in the census of 1901 she was at home with her parents but they were living in Maybole St Kilbirnie and I know that in 1925 they were in Smith St Dalry, so I have no record of the actual address in 1910

thanks, Roo

Kinnear McCallum says

Roo, my grandmother, Agnes Houston, was born at Lynn in 1866. She lived with her parents, David and Rebecca Houston at Little Acre from 1871 until the mid 1890's. She then married my grandfather, James McCallum and they lived at Tarry Row, Carsehead.

Roo Crawford says

thanks so much Kinnear, I said it was a long shot!   Co-incidentally I also had ancestors in Tarry Row and Careshead Row

best wishes

Roo