In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Blair like this:
Blair, an estate and iron-works in Dalry parish, Ayrshire. The estate is rich in minerals, and has, since the beginning of the present century, undergone vast improvement. A great extent of land in it, with steep rocky banks, formerly of little value, is now covered with thriving mixed plantations. ...
A romantic reach of glen here traversed by the river Dusk has, within a precipitous mass of limestone rock, a stalactite cave, the Elf House, 183 feet long, and from 5 to 12 feet wide, arched like Gothic work, and expanding near the middle into a chamber 35 feet long and 12 feet high. The mansion on the estate stands 1¼ mile SE of Dalry town, is partly of great antiquity, and has highly picturesque grounds; its owner, Capt. Wm. Fordyce Blair, R.N., holds 6680 acres in the shire, valued at £8031 per annum, including £2203 for minerals. The iron-works adjoin the Glasgow and South-Western railway, in the near vicinity of Dalry town, and were started about 1845. Here is a mission station of the Church of Scotland; and a public school, Blairmains, with accommodation for 100 children, had (1879) an average attendance of 53, and a grant of £36,17s. Pop. of Blair Works village (1861) 916, (1871) 1081.
Additional information about this locality is available for Dalry
Blair through time
Blair is now part of North Ayrshire district. Click here for graphs and data of how North Ayrshire has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Blair itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Blair in North Ayrshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/26134
Date accessed: 24th April 2024
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