23/02/2026
A Look Back to 1876 – The Beginning of Lockharts
When John Lockhart began offering legal services in 1876, Ayr was a very different place. From his office in the grand terraces of Wellington Square, he could nip into Ayr Sheriff Court in under a minute — the court itself having been built 58 years earlier, standing proudly in front of the town jail.
John didn’t just practise law; he also became Sheriff Clerk — an honorary role at the time. Criminal cases were heard only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Thursdays also reserved for commissary and small debt court sessions. It was a simpler court calendar in a less busy Ayrshire.
In 1876, the county’s population stood at 217,000 — around 60% fewer than today’s 366,000. Yet Ayrshire was booming. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing, driving growth through coal and ironstone mining, sandstone quarrying, limestone working, railway expansion, spinning and weaving, and shipbuilding. At that time, 104 working collieries employed some 13,000 people across the county.
While we don’t know the exact date in 1876 when Lockharts first opened its doors, we do know this: it was the start of a proud legacy rooted in community, industry, and service — one that continues to this day.
Photo - John Lockhart
#1876
