South Ayrshire Culture

South Ayrshire
The South Ayrshire Unitary Authority replaced Kyle and Carrick District Council when local government was reorganised in 1996. The principal administrative centre is Ayr. Prior two the creation of Kyle and Carrick District, there were five distinct burghs within the area, each with a local providing a variety of services. Historically, the area was divided into Kyle, the lands in and around Ayr and the southerly area of Carrick. These two districts have distinct characteristics, Carrick being predominately upland whereas Kyle is comparatively flat. These differences are a reflection of the geological structure of the south of Scotland, with the Southern Upland fault determining the alignment of the River Stinchar. Ayr was established as administrative centre for the area with the earliest burgh charter dating from 1203. The sheriffdom, that evolved into the county of Ayrshire at the end of the 19th century, was, was located in Ayr. There were three divisions, Cunninghame in the north (including the royal burgh of Irvine), Carrick to the south and Kyle (sometimes known as Kings Kyle) centred on Ayr. Robert Burns was born in Alloway, educated in Ayr and farmed at Lochlea in the parish of Tarbolton before moving on to Mosgiel and later to Dumfries. His contemporary, John Loudoun McAdam, was born in Ayr (at Lady Cathcart's House which still stands in the town), making his name as an engineer and road builder. The district of Kyle was among the most fertile regions of Scotland and was a centre for agricultural improvement in the 18th century. There were numerous large estates where the owners successfully exploited the land and the mineral wealth. The estate at Culzean, with extensive woodlands and pleasure gardens, has been conserved by the National Trust for Scotland. The house was commissioned in the 1770's, by the 10th Earl of Cassilis, and built by Robert Adam. In the 19th century artists linked with south Ayrshire have included Robert Bryden, born at Coylton and William Bell Scott who created a mural at Penkill Castle and painted numerous landscapes of the castle grounds. In the 20th Century, Peter Howson lived in Prestwick for a number of years and Robert MacBryde was born in Maybole. International stage designer Julian Crouch lived in Ayr for several years and was educated at Ayr Academy Today, deep mining for coal has ceased, but potatoes are grown in fields along the Carrick coast. Links to local groups and organisations. South Ayrshire Council Galleries and Museums Library Services Funding Advice What's on in Ayrshire Ayr Arts Guild Ayr Choral Union Ayr Film Society Ayr Fort Players Ayr Music Club AANHS Ayrshire Philharmonic Ayr Photographic Society Ayr Writers Club Burns National Heritage Park CRAG Creative Writing Croy Art Group Culzean FIB Youth Theatre Girvan Camera Club Holy Trinity Arts McKechnie Institute Maclaurin Art Gallery	South Ayrshire Locations Ayr and District Ayr Map Girvan and South Carrick Girvan Map Maybole and North Carrick Maybole Map Prestwick and Troon Prestwick Map Tarbolton and East Kyle Tarbolton Map Ayrshire Archive East Ayrshire North Ayrshire South Ayrshire Routes To go to district pages or other local authority areas, select the area tab from the menu below. To display a route map in a new browser window, please click on the district map tab in the menu. Dunure Castle Ruins ©M.Bailey Dalquharran Mansion Dailly (Ruin) ©Bernie Bailey Turnberry Lighthouse ©Paul Russell The Fish Cross, Ayr ©MBailey Loudoun Hall Courtyard from the west ©MBailey	South Ayrshire ©Art Advice Ayrshire ©Howard Cheng Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire Coast ©Albring McCandlish Village Hall, Straiton © JSL595 St Nicholas Church, Prestwick (ruin) ©David Edgar The Woodcutter's Art, Dailly Woods ©Bernie Bailey Ayr Malt Cross and Loudoun Hall ©MBailey
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South Ayrshire

The South Ayrshire Unitary Authority replaced Kyle and Carrick District Council when local government was reorganised in 1996. The principal administrative centre is Ayr. Prior two the creation of Kyle and Carrick District, there were five distinct burghs within the area, each with a local providing a variety of services.

Historically, the area was divided into Kyle, the lands in and around Ayr and the southerly area of Carrick. These two districts have distinct characteristics, Carrick being predominately upland whereas Kyle is comparatively flat. These differences are a reflection of the geological structure of the south of Scotland, with the Southern Upland fault determining the alignment of the River Stinchar.

Ayr was established as administrative centre for the area with the earliest burgh charter dating from 1203. The sheriffdom, that evolved into the county of Ayrshire at the end of the 19th century, was, was located in Ayr. There were three divisions, Cunninghame in the north (including the royal burgh of Irvine), Carrick to the south and Kyle (sometimes known as Kings Kyle) centred on Ayr.

Robert Burns was born in Alloway, educated in Ayr and farmed at Lochlea in the parish of Tarbolton before moving on to Mosgiel and later to Dumfries. His contemporary, John Loudoun McAdam, was born in Ayr (at Lady Cathcart's House which still stands in the town), making his name as an engineer and road builder.

The district of Kyle was among the most fertile regions of Scotland and was a centre for agricultural improvement in the 18th century. There were numerous large estates where the owners successfully exploited the land and the mineral wealth.

The estate at Culzean, with extensive woodlands and pleasure gardens, has been conserved by the National Trust for Scotland. The house was commissioned in the 1770's, by the 10th Earl of Cassilis, and built by Robert Adam.

In the 19th century artists linked with south Ayrshire have included Robert Bryden, born at Coylton and William Bell Scott who created a mural at Penkill Castle and painted numerous landscapes of the castle grounds. In the 20th Century, Peter Howson lived in Prestwick for a number of years and Robert MacBryde was born in Maybole. International stage designer Julian Crouch lived in Ayr for several years and was educated at Ayr Academy

Today, deep mining for coal has ceased, but potatoes are grown in fields along the Carrick coast.

South Ayrshire Locations

To go to district pages or other local authority areas, select the area tab from the menu below. To display a route map in a new browser window, please click on the district map tab in the menu.

Dunure Castle Ruins
©M.Bailey