U - " Unions "

Union’s is a modern term to describe groups of workers joining together to ensure that they are not exploited either by Employers or Governments and to ensure their “ trade “ is protected.

This article is based on the previous names of groups of workers joining together and forming Guilds or in Stewartons case a court called the “Bonnet Court of Corsehill” who regulated the trade throughout the parish.

Bonnet Making in Stewarton and Surrounding Areas

Stewarton has been known as “The Bonnet Toun “ ( Town ) for centuries and although it is recorded that the Bonnet Trade of Stewarton existed in 1590 it is likely that woollen bonnets were being knitted in and around the town before that.

The knitting of bonnets was not confined to the townspeople as it took place in the surrounding countryside in farms and cottages 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 bonnet makers of Stewarton organised themselves into a society which was heavily administered by the Court and any discretions in quality etc. resulted in fines.  When the Society was formed there were 57 bonnet makers in Stewarton.

Towards the end of the 18 Centuary the Industrial Revolution had arrived in Stewarton which transformed manufacturing methods.