> A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

[Help with information by adding it to the last page and I'll edit it when I can]

There are at least 12 Gateways into Ayrshire by road.
Each of these towns and villages has a history/heritage which makes it more than
just
a Gateway.
Each has its story to tell and should try to bring some of it to the attention of locals and visitors.
It is surprising how many locals do not know about their own home town.

Marking all of the obvious Gateways on a map creates a pointer > . This sign signifies -"greater or more than". What better sign to place in front of -
"Gateway to Ayrshire"?

SKELMORLIE > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
KILBIRNIE > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
BEITH > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
DUNLOP > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
STEWARTON > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
FENWICK > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
DARVEL > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
MUIRKIRK > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
NEW CUMNOCK > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
DALMELLINGTON > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
BARRHILL > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
BALLANTRAE > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

Then of course there's by air:
PRESTWICK AIRPORT > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
and by sea:
TROON > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
LARGS > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
ARDROSSAN > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE
(LOCH RANZA, ARRAN > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE)

It would be great if we could add 40 interesting facts about each place.

[Geoff]

16 facts about:
SKELMORLIE > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

1) The northernmost settlement in Ayrshire.

2) To the south of Skelmorlie is the serpent mound, a prehistoric (perhaps druidic) site.

3) Skelmorlie Castle - south of the village - is a tower house built on the site of an older structure in 1502.

4) Skelmorlie is divided into two sections - Lower and Upper Skelmorlie.

5) An ancient seat of the Clan Montgomery.

6) During the nineteenth century the village was home to many Glasgow tea barons.

7) A large hydropathic institution once stood on the cliff above the shore, with access from the main road via a lift whose shaft was hewn out of the rock face. The building later operated as a hotel, but was demolished in the 1990s.

8) On Saturday 18 April 1925, an embankment on the reservoir which provided the main water supply for the whole village gave way, releasing millions of gallons of water down through the village. After 10 minutes many homes, streets and gardens were engulfed. Four children and an adult died.

9) The composer and arranger Brian Fahey lived in Skelmorlie until his death in 2007.

10) 'The Skelmorlie Mile' In the early part of the 20th century the Royal Navy used a measured nautical mile in the Firth of Clyde off Skelmorlie for speed trials of new warships.

11) The home of 23 Post, Skelmorlie: Fifteen feet below the ground, throughout the Cold War, the underground monitoring post of the Royal Observer Corps. Part of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation on the guard for a nucleur attack.

12) 'The Skelmorlie Panther' sightings in and around the area by numerous witnesses. The beast's actual species is still a mystery. According to most witnesses the creature is said to be larger than a cat and smaller than a bear.

13) 'Skelmorlie' by Walter Smart, published locally in 1969. Now out of print is a useful source of local history.

14) Skelmorlie Golf Club is a long established 18 hole private golf course with gentle slopes overlooking the villages of Skelmorlie & Wemyss Bay www.skelmorliegolf.co.uk/

15) "Skelmorlie" Hymn tune composed by Rev D. Bruce Nicol at south church for Hymn 19 1911 - 1920

16) "Maid of Skelmorlie" built at Yarrows 1953. Disposed 1973.

=============================================
Skelmorlie Golf Club is a long established 18 hole private golf course with gentle slopes overlooking the villages of Skelmorlie & Wemyss Bay www.skelmorliegolf.co.uk/
1780 back road to Largs completed Road came from Saltcoats via Largs
1785 a new road is constructed along the shore from Skelmorlie to Largs There is a toll at Kelly Bridge
1786 Robert Burns escorted Mary Campbell as far as Meigle Bridge
1812 Four mansions built along the private beach. Area was known as new Glasgow at the time
Skelmorlie village developed in 19th century
1857 A pier is constructed at Skelmorlie and is used by captain Duncan McKellar till 1869
1865 Death of General Sir Thomas MacDougal Brisbane some time in 1860's,
1868 Hydropathic Establishment is erected by Dr. Ronald Currie
1883 The fullrigged sailing ship "Skelmorlie" is launched at Skelmorlie Ship Co. in Port Glasgow
1903 Cases of Scarlet fever are found in Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay in September
1903 Gas street lamps in Skelmorlie are lit at last in October
1907 The Iron steamship "Kintyre" sinks off Skelmorlie in September


By Robert Cathcart 2009 www.s1skelmorlie.com/memories/chronology-of-local-events.html

[Geoff]

interesting facts about:
KILBIRNIE > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

interesting facts about:
BEITH > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

interesting facts about:
DUNLOP > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

interesting facts about:
STEWARTON > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

interesting facts about:
FENWICK > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

1) The Fenwick Weavers' Society was founded in 1761, if not the first, one of the first Co-operatives in the world.
2) Edgar Allan Poe's family were originally from Fenwick (perhaps). poeinscotland.com/
3) There are more Covenanters gravestones and memorials here than in any other single locality in Scotland.
4) James White's head was cut off and kicked over the green like a football during Covenanting times.
5) Celebrated Covenant preacher, author of "The Christian's Great Interest, Rev William Guthrie was the first minister of Fenwick in 1644.

[Geoff]

40 interesting facts about:
DARVEL > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

40 interesting things about:
MUIRKIRK > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

40 interesting facts about:
DALMELLINGTON > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

40 interesting facts about:
BALLANTRAE > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

40 interesting facts about:
NEW CUMNOCK > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

1) No one is sure of the origin of the name - Cumnock. Many think it means - the meeting place.

2) The parish of Cumnock covered a large area up until the 17th century when it was split in two.

3) Cumnock Castle sat on Castle Hill in the great loch at the head of the Nith. (Comenoch Castle, Cumnock Castle, Cumno Castle, Black Bog Castle). Now New Cumnock
www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=44712

4) Alan Wallace, father of William (according to the Lubeck Letter), was a tenant of Kyle Regis.

5) William Wallace had a fortress up the glen of Afton.

6) Robert the Bruce was "hounded" up the Glen of Afton.

7) William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Robert Burns all drank a healthy cog in the town at some time in the past.

8) Afton Water and the Nith are both born in the parish of New Cumnock and meet at New Cumnock.

9) A cairn beside the road above the Afton was erected by the New Cumnock Burns Club for their Golden Jubilee 1973, to commemorate Burns's song ‘Flow Gently, Sweet Afton’.

10) A cairn was errected to commemorate the fact that Mary Queen of Scots rested at Dalhannah Holm, up the Glen, on her way to "safety" after the Battle of Pinkie. It has disappeared.

11) New Cumnock is a Gateway to the Southern Uplands. Follow the Afton to the reservoir and you can join the Southern Upland Way to Sanquhar or St Johns Town of Dalry.

12) The film "The Brave don't Cry" was based on the Knockshinnoch Castle Pit Disaster of 1950.

13) The first Scottish Billionaire, Sir Tom Hunter, comes originally from New Cumnock.

[Geoff]

40 interesting facts about:
BARRHILL > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

40 interesting facts about:
LARGS > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE

[Geoff]

40 interesting facts about:
ARDROSSAN > A GATEWAY TO AYRSHIRE