Bonnet Trade

Stewarton has been known as "The Bonnet Toun" ( Town) for centuries and although it is recorded that the Bonnet Trade of Stewarton existed in 1650 (over 370 years ago) it is likely that woollen bonnets were being knitted in and around the town long before that.

The knitting of bonnets was not confined to the townspeople as it took place in the surrounding countryside in farms and cottages, (hense the name " Cottage Industry") which frequently appear in old records including Cutstraw, Lintbrae, Little Corsehill and Nether Robertland. Farmers turned to bonnet making during the winter when it was almost impossible to work on the land.

The bonnets were all knitted by hand using a leather belt around the waist and the knitters used 3 needles, one fixed into the belt and the other two held in each hand (just as your Gran or Mum would do today). When the bonnets and caps were finished they were taken to be firmed and dyed to the required colour.

The bonnet makers of Stewarton organised themselves into a society and when this was formed there were 57 bonnet makers in Stewarton.

Towards the end of the 18th Century the Industrial Revolution had arrived in Stewarton which transformed the manufacturing methods. This virtually put an end to the original Cottage Industry.

The first Bonnet making factory set up in Stewarton in 1820 was Robert Sim on the banks of the Annick at Robertland Mill and this firm existed until 1987. Originally Makie's were a spinning and dying business, however in 1842 Robert Mackie set up his firm called T. Makie and Sons as a bonnet making business originally in Home Street.

In the 1960 there were 10 bonnet makers, 3 woollen spinners and 8 agents to the manufacturers all in Stewarton employing a considerable number of people.

It was not just bonnets that were made in Stewarton, Makies also made carpets for a while. In the Sim factory they also made balaclavas, Ski and bob caps for the sportswear retailers and it is also believes that Sherpa Tensing was wearing a balaclava made by Sim's when he reached the summit of Mount Everest. In 1960 the Mackie factory in Holm Street was destroyed by a large fire and they moved into their new factory in Bridgend where they are stilloperating today.