Ayr History &
Information
The
former county town and now headquarters of two of the four
Districts created within the old county boundaries. may have been
reduced in stature, butt it remains of great importance
commercially, with its growing population it is the largest of the
holiday resorts on this ever popular and highly scenic Firth of
Clyde coast: it is also the heart of the Burns country, and thus a
Mecca for the poet's devotees. But the town
also has a worthy history, from its early 13th-cent. charter of
William the Lion, few visible proofs of this antiquity remain, but
thee ancient Church of St
John may be dated as early
as the charter, although the tower is possibly later: Cromwell
dealt with the church in his usual way but left the present
Auld Kirk of Ayr (1654). now hidden by modern buildings in the
High Street.
The famous
Auld Brig of Ayr on its present site is also probably of equal
antiquity, although it is not mentioned as being of stone until
the reign of James IV (I488 1513). Loudoun Hall overlooking the
harbour and dating from 1534 narrowly escaped demolition as a slum
some years ago but it has been well restored and is regarded as
one of the oldest town houses in Scotland: it is in use as a
cultural centre, apart from
these precious relics Ayr has little that is old.
The neo-Gothic
Wallace Tower dates only from 1832. the former town Hall has a
fine steeple (difficult to view properly) there are a few good
Georgian and Regency groups in Alloway Place and Wellington Square where the Court
House and former County Buildings are impressive. But Ayr is
rightly proud
of its parks at Bellisle and Craigie, both 18-cent estates,
notable for their woodlands, gardens and those at the Old
Racecourse and the Low Green, and its playing fields with
provision for
children of all ages and of course its 2 miles. Of beaches: and
during bad weather or for the less energetic there are two
cinemas, theatres, an ice rink. dancing, and swimming-pool complex, the golfer has two
courses at Bellisle another at Dalmilling and all the richness of
Prestwick, Troon and Turnberry almost on the doorstep, and the
race-goe'r is catered for with Ayr's several important meetings.Robert Burns
devotees can visit the imposing statue in Burns Statue Square,
then the Tam o' Shanter inn in the High Street, now a fascinating
museum, and of course the Auld Brig.
Then you can head for Allowy along a pleasant road which
transverses part of the beautiful Rozelle
estate (where there are Nature Trails), and the Brig
O’ Doon
and its lovely river.Ayr is now a
modern town and has a fine shopping centre, with innumerable
hotels and guest-houses. caravan sites and a holiday camp. and
whether the
visitor goes in search of Burns, beaches, or bunkers, he will find
it all there.
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