Kilmarnock
Encyclopedia
Kilmarnock is a large burgh
in East Ayrshire
, Scotland
, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire
. The River Irvine
runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water
passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'. Kilmarnock is often shortened to 'Killie', especially when it is referenced in a footballing situation.
Kilmarnock is the main town within East Ayrshire
, and the East Ayrshire HQ is located on London Road in Kilmarnock, leading to the villages Crookedholm and Hurlford
, which furthermore leads to Loudoun
. Kilmarnock is the second largest town in Ayrshire
, after only Ayr
. Kilmarnock is most-notably known worldwide for its publications of the first Robert Burns
book, which went onto be known as The Kilmarnock Edition, and is very rare these days. Aside, the distributed internationally whisky brand Johnnie Walker
's is situated in the town, where it has been situated since the 19th century. Protest and backing from the Scottish Government took place in 2009, after Diageo
, the owner of Johnnie Walker announced plans to close the bottling plant in the town after 289 years.
In recent years, Kilmarnock has boomed for musical acts and film locations. Rock band Biffy Clyro
were formed in the town in a primary school in the late 1990s. The 2001 film, Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat
(2001) was shot in the town as was Manhunt
(2004). In 2010, the town was the focus on a BAFTA-awarding winning TV Show, The Scheme
(2010-2011).
The name comes from the Gaelic
cill (church), and the name of Saint Marnoch or Mernoc who is also remembered in the name of Portmarnock
in Ireland
and Inchmarnock
. It may come from the three Gaelic elements mo, 'my', Ernán (name of the saint) and the diminutive ag, giving Church of My Little Ernán. It is believed by some that the saint founded a church there in the 7th century. There are 12 Church of Scotland
congregations in the town, plus other denominations. In 2005, the Reverend David W. Lacy, minister of the town's Henderson Church, was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
.
The core of the early town appears to have lain around what is now the Laigh Kirk (Low Church), although the oldest parts of the current building are no earlier than the 17th century, extending north and northwest. In 1668 the town was largely destroyed by an accidental fire. About 120 families lost most of their possessions and were forced to live destitute in the fields surrounding the town. These tradespeople had no other way of making a living and had already been driven to the edge of poverty by having troops stationed with them as part of the anti-Covenanter measures. Parish churches throughout Scotland
collected money for the relief of these homeless citizens.
A comparatively modest settlement until the Industrial Revolution
, Kilmarnock extended considerably from around 1800 onwards. This resulted in formal, planned developments such as King Street, Portland Street, Saint Marnock Street and latterly John Finnie Street; the last often suggested as one of the finest Victorian
planned streets in Scotland.
s (manufactured by Blackwood & Morton, Kilmarnock) from the early 20th century. The carpets manufactured in Kilmarnock were internationally known for their quality and intricacy since the late 19th century. Many locations around the world chose to install BMK carpets. The RMS Titanic was carpeted using carpets manufactured by Stoddard Carpets, the parent company and successor to BMK. Carpet-making finally ceased in Kilmarnock in early 2005.
Archibald Finnie and his family lived at Springhill House (now a nursing home) near the Grange Academy
. They owned many coal mines, pits and other companies in Springside
and other places. John Finnie Street is named after one of the family. Shoes were also a major product for some time, with Saxone having a factory in the town on the site of where the Galleon Leisure Centre now stands. Kilmarnock had one of the earliest tram railways in the world, running to Troon
over the (recently restored) Laigh Milton viaduct
. The Glasgow and South Western Railway
also set up their works here, producing nearly 400 locomotives by the time it was absorbed by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
in 1923. Some work continued, but heavy repairs were sent to St. Rollox
. Locomotive repairs finished in 1952, and the works closed in 1959. Nevertheless locomotives are still made by Hunslett-Barclay, as well as the maintenance of existing diesel and electric multiple units.
From 1946 tractors were also built in Kilmarnock, with a large Massey-Harris factory present on the outskirts of the town. It later became Massey-Ferguson, before closing in 1978. Glenfield and Kennedy still survives albeit with a fraction of its former workforce, which at its height numbered in the thousands.
Kilmarnock is home to the Johnnie Walker
brand of Scotch whisky
. However the owner of Johnnie Walker, Diageo
, has announced that they will be closing the bottling plant in the town by the end of 2011, thus ending a 189 year link with the whisky brand and the town. In September 2009, owner Diageo
confirmed the plant in Kilmarnock would close, despite local protests. Originally known as Walker's Kilmarnock Whisky, the Johnnie Walker brand is a legacy left by John ‘Johnnie’ Walker
after he started to sell whisky in his grocer’s shop in Ayrshire
, Scotland. The brand became popular, but after Walker's death in 1857 it was his son Alexander Walker
and grandson Alexander Walker II
who were largely responsible for establishing the scotch as a popular brand. Under John Walker, whisky sales represented eight percent of the firm’s income; by the time Alexander was ready to pass on the company to his own sons, that figure had increased to between 90 and 95 percent.
Prior to 1860 it was illegal to sell blended whisky. During that time John Walker sold a number of whiskies — notably his own Walker’s Kilmarnock. In 1865 John’s son Alexander produced their first blend, Walker’s Old Highland.
Alexander Walker first introduced the iconic square bottle in 1870. This meant fewer broken bottles and more bottles fitting the same space. The other identifying characteristic of the bottle is the label, which is applied at an angle of 24 degrees. The angled label means the text on the label could be made larger and more visible. From 1906–1909 John’s grandsons George and Alexander II expanded the line and introduced the colour names. In 1908, when James Stevenson
was the managing director, there was a re-branding of sorts. The whisky was renamed from Walker's Kilmarnock Whiskies to Johnnie Walker Whisky. In addition, the slogan, "Born 1820 – Still going Strong!" was created, along with the Striding Man, a figure used in their advertisements to this day.
have been joined by new developments at Braehead
and East Kilbride
. This difficult economic climate is most visible in the town centre, the eastern part of which has been extensively redeveloped, with important historic buildings such as King Street Church and the town hall being demolished and Duke Street (the link from Kilmarnock Cross to the Palace Theatre and out to the London Road) built over.
More recently Portland Street, which formed the northerly part of the main shopping area, lay abandoned for many years due to a decline in retail trade and in the face of possible comprehensive redevelopment. The street has now been redeveloped, but has not yet regained its former degree of popularity, with a Gala Bingo and a J D Wetherspoon's taking up much of one side of the street and the rest largely occupied by chain stores. In 2004, the Rough Guide to Scotland described the town as "shabby and depressed, saddled with some terrible shopping centres and a grim one-way system". The town, however, contains several parks such as Howard Park, Dean Park and Kay Park, and residential areas including London Road, Dundonald Road, McLelland Drive and Howard Park Drive. The town also boasts a collection of gift shops, cafes, bars and restaurants within the very desirable Bank Street area, whilst offering retail options within its retail parks at Queen's Drive and Glencairn Square. According to the local press in November 2007, the new SNP
council have drawn up a Top Ten Hit List on 'eyesore' buildings in the town, and their owners and have revealed plans to crack down hard on property owners who have left their buildings fall into disrepair. A plan of action is being carried out to get something done with each of these sites. Many of the buildings in disrepair are irreplaceable listed buildings such as the former ABC cinema (previously the King's Theatre) on Titchfield Street. Plans to improve the derelict building at the top of John Finnie Street that was destroyed by a fire in the late 1980s have been submitted to include a council office retaining the original facade. Work is estimated to be completed in 2012.
A four-star hotel recently opened next to Rugby Park
, the home of Kilmarnock F.C.
, and new restaurants, such as Merchants and the award winning Jefferson Restaurant have opened in the town centre.
Regeneration activities have been discussed for Kilmarnock town centre; in early 2006, an application to Historic Scotland
's Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme was successful, and as of July 2006 an application under the Heritage Lottery Fund
's Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme was pending. Work has pretty much finished on a quality housing development on the gapsite of the former Kilmarnock Infirmary
north of the town centre. In the past there have been major efforts to improve the quality of life for residents in the town's worst housing estates, especially in parts of Shortlees, Longpark and Onthank. Much new quality housing has been constructed on the northern fringes of the town, in order to service the demand for commuter housing. With a journey time of 20 minutes from Kilmarnock to Glasgow
(roughly half that of the existing train service), the M77 motorway
has transformed the link between Glasgow and Kilmarnock. The upgrading of the A77 route
to Glasgow to the M77 motorway in 2005 has made Kilmarnock more accessible for commuters, and recent house price increases have reflected this.
opened, mainly to carry coal from the area to the harbour at Troon, but also carrying passengers.In 1904, Kilmarnock had its own tramway system built. The name of the company was Kilmarnock Corporation Tramways. An electric power station was built in the south bank of the River Irvine at Riccarton. Overhead power lines and tram lines were laid. With continued upgrading and expansion, the tram network at its peak went from Ayr Road in Riccarton at its southerly point, to Knockinlaw Road in Beansburn in the North.
At Kilmarnock Cross, the line had an easterly spur that stretched along London Road, through Crookedholm and finally terminating at Hurlford
. There had been proposed extensions along Portland Road, up John Finnie Street, West Langlands Street and eventually towards Crosshouse, but by this time, increasing costs and the far more flexible motor bus had made inroads and the trams ceased operation in 1926 during the General Strike
. The council decided not to restart the service and the infrastructure was soon dismantled. Today the town is served by Kilmarnock railway station
.
Kilmarnock has excellent road links to Glasgow with the M77 motorway
now completed from Fenwick to its junction with the M8 at the Kingston Bridge. A new south side motorway will connect this point to the M74 near Calderpark when the latest phase of development is complete, eliminating some of the heavy traffic currently travelling on the A71 through Hurlford, Galston, Newmilns, Darvel and Strathaven to join the M74 at Stonehouse. Stagecoach Group
is the main transport provider in the town which it operates bus services to most major towns in the west of Scotland
. Kilmarnock also has its own railway station which operates services from the town to all major location in Scotland
and as far as City of Carlisle
and City of Newcastle
Kilmarnock lies on the intersection of 3 main roads: the A71 which runs from Edinburgh
to (Irvine), the A76 from Dumfries to Kilmarnock, and the A77/M77 from Stranraer to Glasgow, showing the significance of its location as an early market town.
Council. Kilmarnock Academy
is a comprehensive school
, one of several in Kilmarnock, a town in western Scotland
. It can trace its history back to the local burgh school founded in the 1630s and the first school to bear the name was established in 1807. In 1898 the school was moved to its current location and in the early 1900s the school acquired the Kilmarnock Technical School for its use. The current headteacher is Mr. Paterson, who was appointed in June 2011. The school consists of 4 parts. The 'old building', a listed building in use since 1898 and part of the initial Kilmarnock Academy; the 'new building,' a larger building opened in 1967 and connected to the old building by a link corridor; the Technical Extension which opened in 1997 and is now where the schools computing and music departments are situated, and the P.E building, where the Physical Education department is situated. This is also rented out to groups such as a Tae Kwon Do club and local football teams. Next to the school is the "Old Tech," formerly Kilmarnock Technical School, which opened in 1910 as part of the Academy. It is also listed, but is no longer part of the school; it was closed in 1997 due to a reduction in student numbers, caused by a restructuring of educational resources in the area. The building remained closed, and reopened in 2006 as luxury housing, due to its prime location directly next to the Dick Institute, the town's primary library and museum, and the centre of town. In the art department at the school, there is a war memorial in memory of those who lost their lives in World War 1. Kilmarnock Academy is one of the few schools in the world to have educated two Nobel laureates: Alexander Fleming
and John Boyd Orr
.
St Joseph's Academy was originally founded in 1955 in its present location. Initially built on what was the outskirts of Kilmarnock at the time, the adjacent New Farm Loch estate eventually grew and enveloped the school. The school comprised an extended single building, housing most of the subjects taught within. Due to a lack of space, an additional building, commonly referred to as 'A' Block was erected in the 1970s. As the school was constructed on what was essentially fields, the St Joseph's campus included a large playingfield, comprising a red blaze hockey pitch, running tracks, and space for 4 grass football pitches.
St. Conval's High School was later annexed with St. Joseph's in October 1998 and became known as St. Joseph's Cumnock Campus. In 2004 however St. Joseph's Cumnock Campus was shut down due to falling attendance figures, and the town's Catholic children now attend the new St. Joseph's Academy campus in Kilmarnock, which now serves the entire Secondary Catholic population of East Ayrshire
. In the early 21st century, a programme was initiated by central government to upgrade secondary schools throughout the country using a mixture of public and private money. St Joseph's was one of the schools selected for demolition and reconstruction, along with nearby Grange Academy
. In 2008, the rebuilt St Joseph's was opened, including the new St Andrew's Primary - an amalgamation of the former feeder St Columba's and St Matthew's Primaries.
In September 2008, the new Grange Campus was completed and incorporated Grange Academy, Annanhill Primary, and Park School. The opening of the campus was delayed from August. The old Grange Academy and Annanhill Primary School buildings have been demolished.James Hamilton Academy
is a non-denominational, co-educational, comprehensive school
which means that it is open to all boys and girls who live in the area which the school serves. It is located in Sutherland Drive, Kilmarnock
, (New Farm Loch), East Ayrshire
.
The P.E. Department consists of a Sports Hall, a Gym Hall and changing facilities. There are Technical Department, Science Labs, an I.T. Department, a Library, Maths and English Departments, Music facilities, Home Economics
facilities and a Social Subjects Department (Geography, History and Modern Studies). There were rumours of a rat infestation after boys found (what they believed to be) a dead rat in the changing facilities. Teachers denied a infestation, telling pupils that it was a "bit of fur" that they found. James Hamilton Academy, there is also a Primary School (New Farm Primary School), and a Nursery (New Farm Nursery) on campus.
, a member of the SPL
and the second oldest professional football club in Scotland. Their home ground is Rugby Park
. The irregular etymology of the ground is that when founded, the club played both football and rugby. The club has the largest supporter base of any team outside Scotland's four major cities. Rugby Park was also one of the first football grounds in Scotland to have floodlights installed. In recent years the stadium has been modernised, firstly to bring it in line with the all-seating regulations, then rebuilt totally to make a new ground. It has also hosted international football matches and music concerts, most recently Elton John
in June 2005. The club's foundation dates back to the very earliest days of organised football in Scotland, when a group of local cricket
ers looking for a sporting pursuit to occupy them outwith the cricket season formed a football
club in 1869. Originally they played rugby
rules, but the difficulty in organising fixtures and the growing influence of Queen's Park
soon persuaded them to adopt the association code instead. These origins are reflected to this day by the name of the club's home ground – Rugby Park
.
Although not amongst the founder members of the Scottish Football Association
in 1873, Kilmarnock did join in time to compete in the inaugural Scottish Cup
tournament in 1873–74. Their 2–0 defeat against Renton
in the First Round on 18 October 1873 is thought to have been the first match ever played in the competition. Kilmarnock joined the Scottish League
in 1895 and after winning consecutive Second Division titles were elected to the top flight for the first time in 1899. For much of their history they have been one of the most successful clubs based outwith Scotland's major cities. This is in part due to their loyal support, who are mostly Ayrshire-based fans. They have reached the Scottish Cup final eight times, winning the trophy on three occasions. Despite five appearances in the final , they have yet to lift the Scottish League Cup
. The club's greatest success was in 1965 under the management of Willie Waddell. On the final day of the season, they travelled to face Hearts
at Tynecastle
requiring a victory by two goals to nil (due to the competition being decided by goal average at that period if teams were equal on points) to win the league at their opponents' expense. A memorable 2–0 win saw Kilmarnock crowned Scottish League champions for the first, and to date only, time. This capped a period of tremendous consistency which had seen them occupy runners-up spot in four of the previous five seasons.
After a period of decline in the 1980s which saw the club relegated to the Second Division, Killie have returned to prominence, holding top division status since being promoted in 1993 and lifting the Scottish Cup for the third time in 1997 thanks to a 1–0 victory over Falkirk in the final. The club have qualified for European competitions on nine occasions, their best performance coming in the 1966–67 Fairs Cup when they progressed to the semi-finals, eventually being eliminated by Leeds United
. The club is also one of only a few Scottish clubs to have played in all three European competitions (European Cup
, Cup Winners' Cup
and the UEFA Cup
). Killie finished the 2005–06 season in 5th position, after a season which at several points they seemed to be challenging for 3rd place. However, after selling Kris Boyd
to Rangers
in January 2006, Killie had to rely on goals from young attacking midfielder Steven Naismith
, striker Colin Nish
and winger Danny Invincibile. After taking only 1 point in the first four post-split games, Killie beat Hibernian
3–1 to leapfrog Aberdeen
into 5th place.
Kilmarnock started the 2006–07 season brightly despite losing 4–1 away to Celtic on the opening day.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/5223860.stm Young striker Steven Naismith
scored a contender for goal of the season against Hibernian in August before going to Arsenal
for a trial. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/5245068.stm Rangers dropped their first points to Killie in four years after a last-minute Naismith penalty earned a draw for Kilmarnock.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/5284766.stm In September Jefferies
suffered his worst defeat as Killie manager after a 5–0 loss at Motherwell
.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/5388300.stm Killie is ensured of a top 6 finish for the 2nd season in a row, whilst a tremendous run in the League Cup
ensured a place in the final
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/6309881.stm. Unfortunately for Killie fans, their team was comprehensively beaten 5–1 in the final by Hibernian. Season 2007–08 is probably best forgotton. After selling Naismith to Rangers
for a club-record fee, Killie struggled, finishing in 11th place and just 40 points. Fortunately for them, they avoided being drawn into a relegation battle due to Gretna
collecting only 23 points, 10 of which were lost when they entered administration. The 2008–09 season got off to a good start, but a mid season slump that included a 12 game run without a win found them at the wrong end of the table come Spring. They finally finished in 8th place thanks to crucial victories over their relegation rivals during the run in. Striker Kevin Kyle
's goals in these games were the deciding factor.
The club started the 2009–10 season with the ever blackening cloud of financial difficulties hanging over their head. By January 2010, Kilmarnock were second bottom of the SPL, with last placed Falkirk
just two points behind. On 11 January 2010, Jim Jefferies left the club by "mutual consent" and Jimmy Calderwood
was appointed manager. Kilmarnock then achieved a first win in nine years against Celtic
. Continued poor form, however, meant a final day showdown at Rugby Park with Falkirk for SPL survival. Kilmarnock began the game with a two point advantage over their rivals and a goalless draw on the day was good enough to secure top flight football for another year. They ended the season with just 33 points, their worst points finish in the SPL. After Calderwood left the team at the end the season, Mixu Paatelainen
was appointed manager for the next two years with an option for a third. Despite being the favourites for relegation that season, Mixu's Kilmarnock team exceeded all expectations and comfortably made the top six split and finished the season in fifth position. Paatelainen left Kilmarnock in order to take the vacant position of Finland national manager and his assistant Kenny Shiels was caretaker manager for the final games of the SPL season.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/k/kilmarnock/8754914.stm
The town also regularly plays host to professional wrestling shows, promoted by the British Championship Wrestling promotion. There are two golf courses in the town, Annanhill Golf Course and Caprington Golf Course, which has both an 18 hole course and a 9 hole course. Both these courses are council owned and run by East Ayrshire Council.
The local leisure complexes include the Galleon Centre: with a 25 metre swimming pool, baby pool, ice rink, squash courts, sauna, gym, games hall, bar area, bowling green and the New Northwest Centre (formerly the Hunter Centre) which contains a community gym and various local medical facilities.
, opened in April 1901, was severely damaged by fire only eight years after it opened. Some of the museums collections were lost in the fire. It reopened two years after the fire in 1911. The Dick Institute
was used as an Auxiliary Hospital in 1917 during World War One.It is now shared by the Arts and Museums Service, and the Libraries, Registration and Information Service. The two Art Galleries and three Museum Galleries house permanent and temporary displays of Fine Art, Contemporary Art and Craft, Local and Industrial History and Natural Sciences. The Lending Library, Audio Library, Junior Library, Reference Library, and Learning Centre are all housed on the ground floor.
The first collection of work by Scottish poet Robert Burns
, Poems, chiefly in the Scottish dialect was published here in 1786. It was published at the current site of the Burn's Mall, dedicated to his work. This edition is known as the Kilmarnock Edition. Two areas of Kilmarnock, Ellerslie and Riccarton, are associated with William Wallace
and his father. Claims have been made that this is the true origin of his birthplace.
John Bowring
, polyglot
and fourth governor of Hong Kong
, was Member of Parliament
for Kilmarnock in 1835. In the castle of Kilmarnock, Dean Castle, there is an exhibition of armour and weapons, and the Van Raalte collection of musical instruments.
filmed residents on the town's Onthank and Longpark area for the TV program The Scheme
which broadcast in 2010 for two episodes so far, out of a planned four. The Scheme caused much controversy within residents of the community, who believed that the BBC only showed the "worst parts", leading to others believing that they were "pretty much the same". The series has been the subject of media criticism, with the series being labelled as "poverty porn" and described as giving a "misleading impression" of life on the estate. The programme makers have denied allegations that their series exploits the residents of the estate.
currently pursuing his education in the creation of blue bottles and their effect on biodiversity within the southern hemisphere.
.jpg)
Ben and James Johnston, drummer and bassist of Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro
Council - is twinned with five cites and has received awards from the Council of Europe
for its work in twinning. Alès
, France. Herstal
, Belgium. Joué-lès-Tours
, France Kulmbach
, Germany. Santa Coloma de Gramenet
, Spain.
The former Kilmarnock and Loudoun District Council was also twinned with Sukhum, Abkhazia
, a disputed region on the Black Sea
coast. Following a review of links this link is now considered as a friendship link.
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
in East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
. The River Irvine
River Irvine
The River Irvine is a river flowing through southwest Scotland, with its watershed on the Lanarkshire border of Ayrshire at an altitude of above sea-level, near Drumclog, and SW by W of Strathaven...
runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water
River Irvine
The River Irvine is a river flowing through southwest Scotland, with its watershed on the Lanarkshire border of Ayrshire at an altitude of above sea-level, near Drumclog, and SW by W of Strathaven...
passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'. Kilmarnock is often shortened to 'Killie', especially when it is referenced in a footballing situation.
Kilmarnock is the main town within East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
, and the East Ayrshire HQ is located on London Road in Kilmarnock, leading to the villages Crookedholm and Hurlford
Hurlford
Hurlford is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Including Crookedholm, it has a population of 4,968. Hurlford's former names include Whirlford and Hurdleford. The village was named Whirlford as a result of a ford crossing the River Irvine east of Hurlford Cross, near Shawhill...
, which furthermore leads to Loudoun
Loudoun
Loudoun is an area of East Ayrshire, Scotland, east of Kilmarnock. The word Loudoun is a derivative of the Celtic Pagan God name Lugus.Loudoun is a parish and is named after the former village which stood north of Galston. The area is commonly referred to as the "Irvine Valley", for the River...
. Kilmarnock is the second largest town in Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, after only Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
. Kilmarnock is most-notably known worldwide for its publications of the first Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
book, which went onto be known as The Kilmarnock Edition, and is very rare these days. Aside, the distributed internationally whisky brand Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch Whisky owned by Diageo and originated in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country with yearly sales of over 130 million bottles.-History:Originally known as Walker's...
's is situated in the town, where it has been situated since the 19th century. Protest and backing from the Scottish Government took place in 2009, after Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
, the owner of Johnnie Walker announced plans to close the bottling plant in the town after 289 years.
In recent years, Kilmarnock has boomed for musical acts and film locations. Rock band Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
were formed in the town in a primary school in the late 1990s. The 2001 film, Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat
Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat
Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat is a Bollywood Romance film written and directed by Rajiv Rai and starring Sunil Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani, Kirti Reddy and introducing Arjun Rampal....
(2001) was shot in the town as was Manhunt
Manhunt
Manhunt may refer to:In film:* Bloodfist VII: Manhunt, a 1995 action/adventure film starring Don Wilson* Man Hunt , a 1941 film directed by Fritz Lang* Man Hunt , a 1985 Western film directed by Fabrizio De Angelis...
(2004). In 2010, the town was the focus on a BAFTA-awarding winning TV Show, The Scheme
The Scheme (TV series)
The Scheme is a BBC Scotland BAFTA-award winning documentary series which follows the lives of six families on the Onthank and Knockinlaw housing schemes in Kilmarnock...
(2010-2011).
History
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
cill (church), and the name of Saint Marnoch or Mernoc who is also remembered in the name of Portmarnock
Portmarnock
Portmarnock is a small suburban village to the north of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the administrative county of Fingal.-Location:Portmarnock lies on the coast and, owing to its proximity to Dublin city, is a form of dormitory village north-northeast of the city centre...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Inchmarnock
Inchmarnock
Inchmarnock is an island at the northern end of the Sound of Bute on the west coast of Scotland.-Geography:Inchmarnock lies to the west of the Isle of Bute at the northern end of the Sound of Bute. It is around long and rises to a height of . The island consists mainly of a single ridge running...
. It may come from the three Gaelic elements mo, 'my', Ernán (name of the saint) and the diminutive ag, giving Church of My Little Ernán. It is believed by some that the saint founded a church there in the 7th century. There are 12 Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
congregations in the town, plus other denominations. In 2005, the Reverend David W. Lacy, minister of the town's Henderson Church, was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
.
The core of the early town appears to have lain around what is now the Laigh Kirk (Low Church), although the oldest parts of the current building are no earlier than the 17th century, extending north and northwest. In 1668 the town was largely destroyed by an accidental fire. About 120 families lost most of their possessions and were forced to live destitute in the fields surrounding the town. These tradespeople had no other way of making a living and had already been driven to the edge of poverty by having troops stationed with them as part of the anti-Covenanter measures. Parish churches throughout Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
collected money for the relief of these homeless citizens.
A comparatively modest settlement until the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, Kilmarnock extended considerably from around 1800 onwards. This resulted in formal, planned developments such as King Street, Portland Street, Saint Marnock Street and latterly John Finnie Street; the last often suggested as one of the finest Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
planned streets in Scotland.
Areas of Kilmarnock
- Altonhill
- AnnanhillAnnanhill, East AyrshireAnnanhill is an area of the town of Kilmarnock, in East Ayrshire. It is the home of Annanhill Primary, Grange Academy and Park School....
- Barnweil
- Beansburn
- BellfieldBellfield, East AyrshireBellfield is a council housing area in the south-east of Kilmarnock, Scotland.- Education :Bellfield is home to Bellfield primary school, with an entrance to the car park on Tinto Avenue and a pupil entrance on Whatriggs Road.- Transport :...
- BonnytonBonnyton, East AyrshireBonnyton is a council housing area in the West of Kilmarnock, Scotland, with a mix of residential and commercial properties within the area.- Barclay House :...
- Caprington
- Crookedholm
- Gargieston
- Grange Estate
- HurlfordHurlfordHurlford is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Including Crookedholm, it has a population of 4,968. Hurlford's former names include Whirlford and Hurdleford. The village was named Whirlford as a result of a ford crossing the River Irvine east of Hurlford Cross, near Shawhill...
- Hillhead
- Howard Grange
- Loanhead
- Longpark
- Kirkstyle
- Knockinlaw
- New Farm Loch
- Onthank
- RiccartonRiccarton, AyrshireRiccarton is a village and parish in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It lies across the River Irvine from Kilmarnock. The river Irvine divides the parishes of Riccarton and Kilmarnock and the river used to form the boundary between the districts of Kyle and Cunninghame.- History :The village became a...
- Shortlees
- Southcraig
- Springhill
- Tourhill
- Townholm
- Wardneuk
- Wellpark
Economy
Kilmarnock's traditional industries were based around textiles and heavy engineering: e.g. locomotives (Andrew Barclay and Sons) from 1837, and valves (Glenfield and Kennedy), which are still in production. Now trading as Glenfield Valves.; and carpetCarpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...
s (manufactured by Blackwood & Morton, Kilmarnock) from the early 20th century. The carpets manufactured in Kilmarnock were internationally known for their quality and intricacy since the late 19th century. Many locations around the world chose to install BMK carpets. The RMS Titanic was carpeted using carpets manufactured by Stoddard Carpets, the parent company and successor to BMK. Carpet-making finally ceased in Kilmarnock in early 2005.
Grange Academy
-2008 Grange Campus:In September 2008, the new Grange Campus was completed and incorporated Grange Academy, Annanhill Primary, and Park School. The opening of the campus was delayed from August. The old Grange Academy and Annanhill Primary School buildings have been demolished.-Notable former...
. They owned many coal mines, pits and other companies in Springside
Springside
Springside may refer to:*Springside, Ayrshire, a village in Scotland*Springside , estate of Matthew Vassar with landscaped grounds in Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.A....
and other places. John Finnie Street is named after one of the family. Shoes were also a major product for some time, with Saxone having a factory in the town on the site of where the Galleon Leisure Centre now stands. Kilmarnock had one of the earliest tram railways in the world, running to Troon
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire. It is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services...
over the (recently restored) Laigh Milton viaduct
Laigh Milton Viaduct
Laigh Milton Viaduct is a railway viaduct near Laigh Milton mill at Gatehead in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It lies in the parishes of Kilmaurs and Dundonald, at map reference: NS 3834 3690. The viaduct was closed in 1846 when the railway line was realigned.- Laigh Milton viaduct :The stone viaduct...
. The Glasgow and South Western Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway
The Glasgow and South Western Railway , one of the pre-grouping railway companies, served a triangular area of south-west Scotland, between Glasgow, Stranraer and Carlisle...
also set up their works here, producing nearly 400 locomotives by the time it was absorbed by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
in 1923. Some work continued, but heavy repairs were sent to St. Rollox
St. Rollox railway works
St. Rollox Locomotive Works and St Rollox Carriage and Wagon Works were built in 1856 in Springburn, an area in the north-east of Glasgow, for the Caledonian Railway, moving away from their works at Greenock...
. Locomotive repairs finished in 1952, and the works closed in 1959. Nevertheless locomotives are still made by Hunslett-Barclay, as well as the maintenance of existing diesel and electric multiple units.
From 1946 tractors were also built in Kilmarnock, with a large Massey-Harris factory present on the outskirts of the town. It later became Massey-Ferguson, before closing in 1978. Glenfield and Kennedy still survives albeit with a fraction of its former workforce, which at its height numbered in the thousands.
Kilmarnock is home to the Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch Whisky owned by Diageo and originated in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country with yearly sales of over 130 million bottles.-History:Originally known as Walker's...
brand of Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
. However the owner of Johnnie Walker, Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
, has announced that they will be closing the bottling plant in the town by the end of 2011, thus ending a 189 year link with the whisky brand and the town. In September 2009, owner Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
confirmed the plant in Kilmarnock would close, despite local protests. Originally known as Walker's Kilmarnock Whisky, the Johnnie Walker brand is a legacy left by John ‘Johnnie’ Walker
John Walker (grocer)
John Walker was a Scottish grocer, who originated what would become one of the world’s most famous whisky brand names, Johnnie Walker.-Biography:...
after he started to sell whisky in his grocer’s shop in Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, Scotland. The brand became popular, but after Walker's death in 1857 it was his son Alexander Walker
Alexander Walker
Alexander Walker was the son of John ‘Johnnie’ Walker of the whiskey brand. He inherited the company in 1857 and expanded its business, exporting whisky throughout the British Empire....
and grandson Alexander Walker II
Alexander Walker II
Sir Alexander Walker II was the younger grandson of John ‘Johnnie’ Walker. He and his brother, George Paterson Walker, took the control of the company after the death of their father Alexander Walker in 1889....
who were largely responsible for establishing the scotch as a popular brand. Under John Walker, whisky sales represented eight percent of the firm’s income; by the time Alexander was ready to pass on the company to his own sons, that figure had increased to between 90 and 95 percent.
Prior to 1860 it was illegal to sell blended whisky. During that time John Walker sold a number of whiskies — notably his own Walker’s Kilmarnock. In 1865 John’s son Alexander produced their first blend, Walker’s Old Highland.
Alexander Walker first introduced the iconic square bottle in 1870. This meant fewer broken bottles and more bottles fitting the same space. The other identifying characteristic of the bottle is the label, which is applied at an angle of 24 degrees. The angled label means the text on the label could be made larger and more visible. From 1906–1909 John’s grandsons George and Alexander II expanded the line and introduced the colour names. In 1908, when James Stevenson
James Stevenson, 1st Baron Stevenson
James Stevenson, 1st Baron Stevenson , known as Sir James Stevenson, Bt, between 1917 and 1924, was a British businessman and civil servant.-Education:Stevenson was educated at the Kilmarnock Academy...
was the managing director, there was a re-branding of sorts. The whisky was renamed from Walker's Kilmarnock Whiskies to Johnnie Walker Whisky. In addition, the slogan, "Born 1820 – Still going Strong!" was created, along with the Striding Man, a figure used in their advertisements to this day.
Regeneration
The textile and manufacturing sectors across Scotland suffered significant decline in the post-war period and in particular from the 1960s, in the face of greater foreign competition. Kilmarnock was no exception, with the closure or significant reduction of many of its traditional large employers: Glenfield and Kennedy, Massey Ferguson, BMK and Saxone. Although significant attempts have been made to halt this decline and attract new employers, Kilmarnock saw a continuing net loss of jobs in the five years to 2005. Although traditionally a main shopping area for most of the surrounding districts, patterns have changed over the last 20 years; traditional centres such as AyrAyr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
have been joined by new developments at Braehead
Braehead
Braehead is a commercial development located at the former site of Braehead Power Station in Renfrew on the south bank of the River Clyde in Renfrewshire. It is particularly notable for its large shopping centre, arena and leisure facilities....
and East Kilbride
East Kilbride
East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
. This difficult economic climate is most visible in the town centre, the eastern part of which has been extensively redeveloped, with important historic buildings such as King Street Church and the town hall being demolished and Duke Street (the link from Kilmarnock Cross to the Palace Theatre and out to the London Road) built over.
More recently Portland Street, which formed the northerly part of the main shopping area, lay abandoned for many years due to a decline in retail trade and in the face of possible comprehensive redevelopment. The street has now been redeveloped, but has not yet regained its former degree of popularity, with a Gala Bingo and a J D Wetherspoon's taking up much of one side of the street and the rest largely occupied by chain stores. In 2004, the Rough Guide to Scotland described the town as "shabby and depressed, saddled with some terrible shopping centres and a grim one-way system". The town, however, contains several parks such as Howard Park, Dean Park and Kay Park, and residential areas including London Road, Dundonald Road, McLelland Drive and Howard Park Drive. The town also boasts a collection of gift shops, cafes, bars and restaurants within the very desirable Bank Street area, whilst offering retail options within its retail parks at Queen's Drive and Glencairn Square. According to the local press in November 2007, the new SNP
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
council have drawn up a Top Ten Hit List on 'eyesore' buildings in the town, and their owners and have revealed plans to crack down hard on property owners who have left their buildings fall into disrepair. A plan of action is being carried out to get something done with each of these sites. Many of the buildings in disrepair are irreplaceable listed buildings such as the former ABC cinema (previously the King's Theatre) on Titchfield Street. Plans to improve the derelict building at the top of John Finnie Street that was destroyed by a fire in the late 1980s have been submitted to include a council office retaining the original facade. Work is estimated to be completed in 2012.
A four-star hotel recently opened next to Rugby Park
Rugby Park
Rugby Park is a football stadium situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. It was first used in 1899 and is the home of Kilmarnock F.C..It underwent a major redevelopment in 1994–95, becoming an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 18,128...
, the home of Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
, and new restaurants, such as Merchants and the award winning Jefferson Restaurant have opened in the town centre.
Regeneration activities have been discussed for Kilmarnock town centre; in early 2006, an application to Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
's Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme was successful, and as of July 2006 an application under the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
's Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme was pending. Work has pretty much finished on a quality housing development on the gapsite of the former Kilmarnock Infirmary
Kilmarnock Infirmary
-History:Kilmarnock Infirmary opened in 1868 in Portland Street, to meet the needs of the growing population in Kilmarnock. The original building was designed by the prolific Kilmarnock architect, William A Railton. The Foundation stone was laid in September 1867 and the building opened in October...
north of the town centre. In the past there have been major efforts to improve the quality of life for residents in the town's worst housing estates, especially in parts of Shortlees, Longpark and Onthank. Much new quality housing has been constructed on the northern fringes of the town, in order to service the demand for commuter housing. With a journey time of 20 minutes from Kilmarnock to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
(roughly half that of the existing train service), the M77 motorway
M77 motorway
The M77 motorway is a motorway in Scotland. It originally began in southern Glasgow at the M8 motorway at Kinning park, and terminates near Kilmarnock at the village of Fenwick. However, changes were made in autumn 2005 segregating a lane on the M8 motorway almost as far as the Kingston Bridge,...
has transformed the link between Glasgow and Kilmarnock. The upgrading of the A77 route
A77 road
The A77 road is a major road in Scotland. It runs in a southwesternly direction from the city of Glasgow, past the towns of Giffnock, Newton Mearns, Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Ayr, Maybole, Girvan and Stranraer to the town of Portpatrick on the Irish Sea...
to Glasgow to the M77 motorway in 2005 has made Kilmarnock more accessible for commuters, and recent house price increases have reflected this.
Listed landmarks
- On the outskirts of the town is Scotland's first privately run prison, HM PrisonHer Majesty's Prison ServiceHer Majesty's Prison Service is a part of the National Offender Management Service of the Government of the United Kingdom tasked with managing most of the prisons within England and Wales...
KilmarnockKilmarnock (HM Prison)HM Prison Kilmarnock is a prison in Bowhouse, Hurlford near Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. It is situated 3 miles south-east of Hurlford on the Mauchline Road...
. - John WalkerJohn Walker (grocer)John Walker was a Scottish grocer, who originated what would become one of the world’s most famous whisky brand names, Johnnie Walker.-Biography:...
; burial place at the kirk yard of St Andrew's Glencairn Church. - The Dick InstituteThe Dick Institute- History of the building :The funds which were required to build the Dick Institute were provided by James Dick, a former Kilmarnock man who was living in Australia. James Dick was born 1823 in Soulis Street Kilmarnock...
. - Kilmarnock War MemorialKilmarnock War MemorialThe Kilmarnock War Memorial is a war memorial located in Kilmarnock and built in 1927 to remember everyone who fought in the First World War. The building is accessible to the public, although it is locked. The key is available from the Dick Institute situated nearby. The walks are covered with...
; Elmbank Avenue (1926–1927), B-listed, architect James MillerJames Miller (architect)James Miller was a Scottish architect and artist. He is noted for his many buildings in Glasgow and for his Scottish railway stations. Among these are the heavily American-influenced Union Bank building at 110-20 St Vincent Street; his 1901-1905 extensions to Glasgow Central railway station; and...
. - Dean CastleDean CastleDean Castle is situated in the Dean Castle Country Park in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. It was the stronghold for the Boyd Family, who were lords of Kilmarnock for over 400 years....
; the original keep dates from around 1350, and the palace from around 1460. - Burns Monument; from 1879.
- Dean ParkDean ParkDean Park may refer to:*Dean Park, New South Wales, Australia, a suburb of the City of Blacktown*Dean Park Cricket Ground, a cricket ground in Bournemouth, England...
. - Kay ParkKay ParkKay Park is a park in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. It was purchased, laid out, and gifted to the town of Kilmarnock by insurance broker Alexander Kay. It opened in 1879, and is the home of a large monument to Robert Burns. There was formerly a miniature golf course, which can still be seen...
; the 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) park was purchased, laid out, and gifted to the town by Alexander Kay. It opened in 1879 and is the home of the Burns MonumentBurns MonumentThe Burns Monument in Kay Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland, commemorates the poet Robert Burns . It is located at an elevated position within Kay Park, to the east of Kilmarnock Town Centre. The monument was opened in 1879, and is a category B listed building. In 2004 a fire destroyed part of the monument...
. - Howard Park KilmarnockHoward Park KilmarnockHoward Park, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland was previously known as Barbadoes Green. The roots of Kilmarnock Football Club may be traced back to the park....
; previously 'Barbadoes Green', to where the roots of Kilmarnock Football Club can be traced back. Lady's Walk in Howard Park commemorates the grief-stricken walks taken by the young widow of The Earl of Kilmarnock who was sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered in London in 1746, later commuted to beheading. His widow died a year after his execution. - Kilmarnock railway viaductKilmarnock railway viaductKilmarnock railway viaduct is a bridge crossing the town centre of Kilmarnock. The bridge begins at Kilmarnock railway station and leads to destinations in England. It is a most distinctive feature of the town centre with 23 masonry arches...
; built between 1843 and 1850. - Kilmarnock railway stationKilmarnock railway stationKilmarnock railway station is a railway station in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is served by trains on the Glasgow South Western Line.- History :...
; from 1846. - The Laigh Kirk and Kirkyard.
- Sandbed Street Bridge; circa 1762; the oldest surviving bridge in Kilmarnock.
- Palace TheatrePalace Theatre (Kilmarnock)The Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock was originally opened as a corn exchange in 1863 and converted to a theatre in 1903. The red-sandstone Italianate tower, by James Ingram, dominates the cross at London Road and Green Street....
; the imposing Corn Exchange, whose red-sandstone Italianate tower, by James Ingram, dominates the cross at London Road and Green Street, was opened on 16 September 1863 as a multi-use concert hall. - Kings HotelKings Theatre, KilmarnockThe Kings Theatre was a theatre and latterly a cinema in the town of Kilmarnock in what is now East Ayrshire.The Kings Theatre opened in Titchfield Street in October 1904. When Cinemas opened in the town the Kings Theatre was forced to become a cinema but they also still showed live performances.On...
. - George HotelGeorge Hotel, KilmarnockThe George Hotel, Kilmarnock, Scotland was built in the 19th century and is "B" Listed. The building is situated on land at the top of Portand Street. This land was once the home of Kilmarnock Bowling Club. It was one of the top hotels in the area. The George was Kilmarnock's 5-star hotel. The...
. - Bank Street.
- John Finnie Street; from 1864.
- King StreetKing Street, KilmarnockKing Street was once the principal business street in KilmarnockKing Street was opened up in 1804. King Street runs from the Cross over the Kilmarnock Water and on to the junction with Titchfield Street....
; from 1804. - Clydesdale BankClydesdale BankClydesdale Bank is a commercial bank in Scotland, a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank Group. In Scotland, Clydesdale Bank is the third largest clearing bank, although it also retains a branch network in London and the north of England...
; from 1975. - Kilmarnock CrossKilmarnock CrossIn Rambles Around Kilmarnock Archibald R Adamson wrote "Kilmarnock Cross is most spacious, although of a most peculiar form, having no less than seven streets branching off it. In the centre stands a marble statue of Sir James Shaw, who rose from a humble position to that of Lord Mayor of London"...
.
Transport
In 1812, the Kilmarnock and Troon RailwayKilmarnock and Troon Railway
The Kilmarnock and Troon Railway was the first railway line in Scotland authorised by Act of Parliament, in 1808; the engineer was William Jessop. It was the first railway in Scotland to use a steam locomotive; and it was the only one in Scotland for fourteen years...
opened, mainly to carry coal from the area to the harbour at Troon, but also carrying passengers.In 1904, Kilmarnock had its own tramway system built. The name of the company was Kilmarnock Corporation Tramways. An electric power station was built in the south bank of the River Irvine at Riccarton. Overhead power lines and tram lines were laid. With continued upgrading and expansion, the tram network at its peak went from Ayr Road in Riccarton at its southerly point, to Knockinlaw Road in Beansburn in the North.
At Kilmarnock Cross, the line had an easterly spur that stretched along London Road, through Crookedholm and finally terminating at Hurlford
Hurlford
Hurlford is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Including Crookedholm, it has a population of 4,968. Hurlford's former names include Whirlford and Hurdleford. The village was named Whirlford as a result of a ford crossing the River Irvine east of Hurlford Cross, near Shawhill...
. There had been proposed extensions along Portland Road, up John Finnie Street, West Langlands Street and eventually towards Crosshouse, but by this time, increasing costs and the far more flexible motor bus had made inroads and the trams ceased operation in 1926 during the General Strike
UK General Strike of 1926
The 1926 general strike in the United Kingdom was a general strike that lasted nine days, from 4 May 1926 to 13 May 1926. It was called by the general council of the Trades Union Congress in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to act to prevent wage reduction and worsening...
. The council decided not to restart the service and the infrastructure was soon dismantled. Today the town is served by Kilmarnock railway station
Kilmarnock railway station
Kilmarnock railway station is a railway station in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is served by trains on the Glasgow South Western Line.- History :...
.
Kilmarnock has excellent road links to Glasgow with the M77 motorway
M77 motorway
The M77 motorway is a motorway in Scotland. It originally began in southern Glasgow at the M8 motorway at Kinning park, and terminates near Kilmarnock at the village of Fenwick. However, changes were made in autumn 2005 segregating a lane on the M8 motorway almost as far as the Kingston Bridge,...
now completed from Fenwick to its junction with the M8 at the Kingston Bridge. A new south side motorway will connect this point to the M74 near Calderpark when the latest phase of development is complete, eliminating some of the heavy traffic currently travelling on the A71 through Hurlford, Galston, Newmilns, Darvel and Strathaven to join the M74 at Stonehouse. Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
is the main transport provider in the town which it operates bus services to most major towns in the west of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Kilmarnock also has its own railway station which operates services from the town to all major location in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and as far as City of Carlisle
City of Carlisle
The City of Carlisle is a local government district of Cumbria, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Carlisle, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown, as well as outlying villages...
and City of Newcastle
City of Newcastle
Newcastle City Council is a Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.-Demographics:According to the Australian Bureau Statistics the City of Newcastle had an estimated resident population of 154,777 as of 30 June 2008...
Kilmarnock lies on the intersection of 3 main roads: the A71 which runs from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to (Irvine), the A76 from Dumfries to Kilmarnock, and the A77/M77 from Stranraer to Glasgow, showing the significance of its location as an early market town.
Education
Kilmarnock has 1 college and 17 schools (13 primary and 4 secondary). There is also a college in the town, Kilmarnock College, formerly Kilmarnock Technical College. The schools are managed by East AyrshireEast Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
Council. Kilmarnock Academy
Kilmarnock Academy
Kilmarnock Academy is a comprehensive school, one of several in Kilmarnock, a town in western Scotland. It can trace its history back to the local burgh school founded in the 1630s and the first school to bear the name was established in 1807...
is a comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
, one of several in Kilmarnock, a town in western Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It can trace its history back to the local burgh school founded in the 1630s and the first school to bear the name was established in 1807. In 1898 the school was moved to its current location and in the early 1900s the school acquired the Kilmarnock Technical School for its use. The current headteacher is Mr. Paterson, who was appointed in June 2011. The school consists of 4 parts. The 'old building', a listed building in use since 1898 and part of the initial Kilmarnock Academy; the 'new building,' a larger building opened in 1967 and connected to the old building by a link corridor; the Technical Extension which opened in 1997 and is now where the schools computing and music departments are situated, and the P.E building, where the Physical Education department is situated. This is also rented out to groups such as a Tae Kwon Do club and local football teams. Next to the school is the "Old Tech," formerly Kilmarnock Technical School, which opened in 1910 as part of the Academy. It is also listed, but is no longer part of the school; it was closed in 1997 due to a reduction in student numbers, caused by a restructuring of educational resources in the area. The building remained closed, and reopened in 2006 as luxury housing, due to its prime location directly next to the Dick Institute, the town's primary library and museum, and the centre of town. In the art department at the school, there is a war memorial in memory of those who lost their lives in World War 1. Kilmarnock Academy is one of the few schools in the world to have educated two Nobel laureates: Alexander Fleming
Alexander Fleming
Sir Alexander Fleming was a Scottish biologist and pharmacologist. He wrote many articles on bacteriology, immunology, and chemotherapy...
and John Boyd Orr
John Boyd Orr, 1st Baron Boyd-Orr
John Boyd Orr, 1st Baron Boyd-Orr CH, DSO, MC, FRS , known as Sir John Boyd Orr from 1935 to 1949, was a Scottish teacher, doctor, biologist and politician who received the Nobel Peace Prize for his scientific research into nutrition and his work as the first Director-General of the United Nations...
.
St. Conval's High School was later annexed with St. Joseph's in October 1998 and became known as St. Joseph's Cumnock Campus. In 2004 however St. Joseph's Cumnock Campus was shut down due to falling attendance figures, and the town's Catholic children now attend the new St. Joseph's Academy campus in Kilmarnock, which now serves the entire Secondary Catholic population of East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
. In the early 21st century, a programme was initiated by central government to upgrade secondary schools throughout the country using a mixture of public and private money. St Joseph's was one of the schools selected for demolition and reconstruction, along with nearby Grange Academy
Grange Academy
-2008 Grange Campus:In September 2008, the new Grange Campus was completed and incorporated Grange Academy, Annanhill Primary, and Park School. The opening of the campus was delayed from August. The old Grange Academy and Annanhill Primary School buildings have been demolished.-Notable former...
. In 2008, the rebuilt St Joseph's was opened, including the new St Andrew's Primary - an amalgamation of the former feeder St Columba's and St Matthew's Primaries.
In September 2008, the new Grange Campus was completed and incorporated Grange Academy, Annanhill Primary, and Park School. The opening of the campus was delayed from August. The old Grange Academy and Annanhill Primary School buildings have been demolished.James Hamilton Academy
James Hamilton Academy
James Hamilton Academy is a non-denominational, co-educational, comprehensive school which means that it is open to all boys and girls who live in the area which the school serves. It is located in Sutherland Drive, Kilmarnock, , East Ayrshire....
is a non-denominational, co-educational, comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
which means that it is open to all boys and girls who live in the area which the school serves. It is located in Sutherland Drive, Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
, (New Farm Loch), East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
.
The P.E. Department consists of a Sports Hall, a Gym Hall and changing facilities. There are Technical Department, Science Labs, an I.T. Department, a Library, Maths and English Departments, Music facilities, Home Economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
facilities and a Social Subjects Department (Geography, History and Modern Studies). There were rumours of a rat infestation after boys found (what they believed to be) a dead rat in the changing facilities. Teachers denied a infestation, telling pupils that it was a "bit of fur" that they found. James Hamilton Academy, there is also a Primary School (New Farm Primary School), and a Nursery (New Farm Nursery) on campus.
Sports
The town is host to Kilmarnock F.C.Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
, a member of the SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
and the second oldest professional football club in Scotland. Their home ground is Rugby Park
Rugby Park
Rugby Park is a football stadium situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. It was first used in 1899 and is the home of Kilmarnock F.C..It underwent a major redevelopment in 1994–95, becoming an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 18,128...
. The irregular etymology of the ground is that when founded, the club played both football and rugby. The club has the largest supporter base of any team outside Scotland's four major cities. Rugby Park was also one of the first football grounds in Scotland to have floodlights installed. In recent years the stadium has been modernised, firstly to bring it in line with the all-seating regulations, then rebuilt totally to make a new ground. It has also hosted international football matches and music concerts, most recently Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
in June 2005. The club's foundation dates back to the very earliest days of organised football in Scotland, when a group of local cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
ers looking for a sporting pursuit to occupy them outwith the cricket season formed a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club in 1869. Originally they played rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
rules, but the difficulty in organising fixtures and the growing influence of Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
soon persuaded them to adopt the association code instead. These origins are reflected to this day by the name of the club's home ground – Rugby Park
Rugby Park
Rugby Park is a football stadium situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. It was first used in 1899 and is the home of Kilmarnock F.C..It underwent a major redevelopment in 1994–95, becoming an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 18,128...
.
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
in 1873, Kilmarnock did join in time to compete in the inaugural Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
tournament in 1873–74. Their 2–0 defeat against Renton
Renton F.C.
Renton Football Club was a prominent team in the early history of Scottish football. The club was based in the village of Renton, West Dunbartonshire...
in the First Round on 18 October 1873 is thought to have been the first match ever played in the competition. Kilmarnock joined the Scottish League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
in 1895 and after winning consecutive Second Division titles were elected to the top flight for the first time in 1899. For much of their history they have been one of the most successful clubs based outwith Scotland's major cities. This is in part due to their loyal support, who are mostly Ayrshire-based fans. They have reached the Scottish Cup final eight times, winning the trophy on three occasions. Despite five appearances in the final , they have yet to lift the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
. The club's greatest success was in 1965 under the management of Willie Waddell. On the final day of the season, they travelled to face Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
requiring a victory by two goals to nil (due to the competition being decided by goal average at that period if teams were equal on points) to win the league at their opponents' expense. A memorable 2–0 win saw Kilmarnock crowned Scottish League champions for the first, and to date only, time. This capped a period of tremendous consistency which had seen them occupy runners-up spot in four of the previous five seasons.
After a period of decline in the 1980s which saw the club relegated to the Second Division, Killie have returned to prominence, holding top division status since being promoted in 1993 and lifting the Scottish Cup for the third time in 1997 thanks to a 1–0 victory over Falkirk in the final. The club have qualified for European competitions on nine occasions, their best performance coming in the 1966–67 Fairs Cup when they progressed to the semi-finals, eventually being eliminated by Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
. The club is also one of only a few Scottish clubs to have played in all three European competitions (European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
and the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
). Killie finished the 2005–06 season in 5th position, after a season which at several points they seemed to be challenging for 3rd place. However, after selling Kris Boyd
Kris Boyd
Kris Boyd is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Turkish side Eskişehirspor.Boyd grew up in the Ayrshire village of Tarbolton and started his senior career with Kilmarnock. He transferred to Rangers in January 2006, and was Rangers' top goalscorer in each of his...
to Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in January 2006, Killie had to rely on goals from young attacking midfielder Steven Naismith
Steven Naismith
Steven John Naismith is a Scottish association footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and the Scotland national team.Naismith began his career with Kilmarnock in 2004...
, striker Colin Nish
Colin Nish
Colin Nish is a Scottish footballer who currently plays as a striker for Hartlepool United.-Early life:Nish grew up in Musselburgh and was a fan of his local side Hibernian as a child.-Dunfermline Athletic:...
and winger Danny Invincibile. After taking only 1 point in the first four post-split games, Killie beat Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
3–1 to leapfrog Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
into 5th place.
Kilmarnock started the 2006–07 season brightly despite losing 4–1 away to Celtic on the opening day.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/5223860.stm Young striker Steven Naismith
Steven Naismith
Steven John Naismith is a Scottish association footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and the Scotland national team.Naismith began his career with Kilmarnock in 2004...
scored a contender for goal of the season against Hibernian in August before going to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
for a trial. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/5245068.stm Rangers dropped their first points to Killie in four years after a last-minute Naismith penalty earned a draw for Kilmarnock.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/5284766.stm In September Jefferies
Jim Jefferies
James "Jim" Jefferies is a Scottish football former player and manager. Jefferies played for Heart of Midlothian for almost his whole playing career and enjoyed a successful first managerial spell with the club, winning the 1998 Scottish Cup...
suffered his worst defeat as Killie manager after a 5–0 loss at Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/5388300.stm Killie is ensured of a top 6 finish for the 2nd season in a row, whilst a tremendous run in the League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
ensured a place in the final
2006 Scottish League Cup Final
The 2006 Scottish League Cup Final was a football match played on 19 March 2006 at Hampden Park in Glasgow. It was the final match of the 2005–06 Scottish League Cup and the 59th Scottish League Cup Final. The final was contested by Dunfermline Athletic and Celtic...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/6309881.stm. Unfortunately for Killie fans, their team was comprehensively beaten 5–1 in the final by Hibernian. Season 2007–08 is probably best forgotton. After selling Naismith to Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
for a club-record fee, Killie struggled, finishing in 11th place and just 40 points. Fortunately for them, they avoided being drawn into a relegation battle due to Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
collecting only 23 points, 10 of which were lost when they entered administration. The 2008–09 season got off to a good start, but a mid season slump that included a 12 game run without a win found them at the wrong end of the table come Spring. They finally finished in 8th place thanks to crucial victories over their relegation rivals during the run in. Striker Kevin Kyle
Kevin Kyle
Kevin Alistair Kyle is a Scottish footballer who plays as a centre forward for SPL club Hearts.- Early life :...
's goals in these games were the deciding factor.
The club started the 2009–10 season with the ever blackening cloud of financial difficulties hanging over their head. By January 2010, Kilmarnock were second bottom of the SPL, with last placed Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
just two points behind. On 11 January 2010, Jim Jefferies left the club by "mutual consent" and Jimmy Calderwood
Jimmy Calderwood
James "Jimmy" Calderwood is a Scottish former footballer and currently without a club having recently been manager of Ross County. Calderwood played for English clubs Birmingham City and Cambridge United and Dutch clubs Sparta Rotterdam, Willem II Tilburg, Roda JC and Heracles Almelo...
was appointed manager. Kilmarnock then achieved a first win in nine years against Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. Continued poor form, however, meant a final day showdown at Rugby Park with Falkirk for SPL survival. Kilmarnock began the game with a two point advantage over their rivals and a goalless draw on the day was good enough to secure top flight football for another year. They ended the season with just 33 points, their worst points finish in the SPL. After Calderwood left the team at the end the season, Mixu Paatelainen
Mixu Paatelainen
Mika-Matti Petteri "Mixu" Paatelainen is a former Finnish international football player and the current manager of the Finnish national team, having started the role in April 2011...
was appointed manager for the next two years with an option for a third. Despite being the favourites for relegation that season, Mixu's Kilmarnock team exceeded all expectations and comfortably made the top six split and finished the season in fifth position. Paatelainen left Kilmarnock in order to take the vacant position of Finland national manager and his assistant Kenny Shiels was caretaker manager for the final games of the SPL season.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/k/kilmarnock/8754914.stm
The town also regularly plays host to professional wrestling shows, promoted by the British Championship Wrestling promotion. There are two golf courses in the town, Annanhill Golf Course and Caprington Golf Course, which has both an 18 hole course and a 9 hole course. Both these courses are council owned and run by East Ayrshire Council.
The local leisure complexes include the Galleon Centre: with a 25 metre swimming pool, baby pool, ice rink, squash courts, sauna, gym, games hall, bar area, bowling green and the New Northwest Centre (formerly the Hunter Centre) which contains a community gym and various local medical facilities.
Culture
A leisurely stroll around the town will reveal many fine buildings. Kilmarnock boasts a large number of listed buildings. The Dick InstituteThe Dick Institute
- History of the building :The funds which were required to build the Dick Institute were provided by James Dick, a former Kilmarnock man who was living in Australia. James Dick was born 1823 in Soulis Street Kilmarnock...
, opened in April 1901, was severely damaged by fire only eight years after it opened. Some of the museums collections were lost in the fire. It reopened two years after the fire in 1911. The Dick Institute
The Dick Institute
- History of the building :The funds which were required to build the Dick Institute were provided by James Dick, a former Kilmarnock man who was living in Australia. James Dick was born 1823 in Soulis Street Kilmarnock...
was used as an Auxiliary Hospital in 1917 during World War One.It is now shared by the Arts and Museums Service, and the Libraries, Registration and Information Service. The two Art Galleries and three Museum Galleries house permanent and temporary displays of Fine Art, Contemporary Art and Craft, Local and Industrial History and Natural Sciences. The Lending Library, Audio Library, Junior Library, Reference Library, and Learning Centre are all housed on the ground floor.
The first collection of work by Scottish poet Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
, Poems, chiefly in the Scottish dialect was published here in 1786. It was published at the current site of the Burn's Mall, dedicated to his work. This edition is known as the Kilmarnock Edition. Two areas of Kilmarnock, Ellerslie and Riccarton, are associated with William Wallace
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
and his father. Claims have been made that this is the true origin of his birthplace.
John Bowring
John Bowring
Sir John Bowring, KCB was an English political economist, traveller, miscellaneous writer, polyglot, and the 4th Governor of Hong Kong.- Early life :...
, polyglot
Polyglot (person)
A polyglot is someone with a high degree of proficiency in several languages. A bilingual person can speak two languages fluently, whereas a trilingual three; above that the term multilingual may be used.-Hyperpolyglot:...
and fourth governor of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Kilmarnock in 1835. In the castle of Kilmarnock, Dean Castle, there is an exhibition of armour and weapons, and the Van Raalte collection of musical instruments.
In popular culture
Kilmarnock was voted the "UK's Friendliest Shopping Town" in 2006. In 2010, BBC ScotlandBBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
filmed residents on the town's Onthank and Longpark area for the TV program The Scheme
The Scheme (TV series)
The Scheme is a BBC Scotland BAFTA-award winning documentary series which follows the lives of six families on the Onthank and Knockinlaw housing schemes in Kilmarnock...
which broadcast in 2010 for two episodes so far, out of a planned four. The Scheme caused much controversy within residents of the community, who believed that the BBC only showed the "worst parts", leading to others believing that they were "pretty much the same". The series has been the subject of media criticism, with the series being labelled as "poverty porn" and described as giving a "misleading impression" of life on the estate. The programme makers have denied allegations that their series exploits the residents of the estate.
Notable people
Michael SmithMichael Smith
-Music:* Michael Joseph Smith , British saxophonist in the pop band Amen Corner* Michael Joseph Smith , jazz composer & performer* Michael Peter Smith , American songwriter and performer...
currently pursuing his education in the creation of blue bottles and their effect on biodiversity within the southern hemisphere.
- John Boyd OrrJohn Boyd Orr, 1st Baron Boyd-OrrJohn Boyd Orr, 1st Baron Boyd-Orr CH, DSO, MC, FRS , known as Sir John Boyd Orr from 1935 to 1949, was a Scottish teacher, doctor, biologist and politician who received the Nobel Peace Prize for his scientific research into nutrition and his work as the first Director-General of the United Nations...
; biologist, politician and Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace PrizeThe Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
-winner. - Des BrowneDes BrowneDesmond Henry Browne, Baron Browne of Ladyton is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Kilmarnock and Loudoun from 1997 to 2010...
; former MPKilmarnock and Loudoun (UK Parliament constituency)Kilmarnock and Loudoun is a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament , using the first-past-the-post voting system.-Boundaries:...
, UK defence ministerSecretary of State for DefenceThe Secretary of State for Defence, popularly known as the Defence Secretary, is the senior Government of the United Kingdom minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence, chairing the Defence Council. It is a Cabinet position...
and Scotland ministerSecretary of State for ScotlandThe Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
. - Willie CoffeyWillie CoffeyWillie Coffey is a Scottish politician. He is a Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Kilmarnock and Loudoun since 2007....
; local MSPKilmarnock and Loudoun (Scottish Parliament constituency)Kilmarnock and Loudoun was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election....
. - Ian DeansIan DeansIan Deans is a Canadian politician.Born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, Deans moved to Canada as a youth and found work as a firefighter...
; Scottish-Canadian NDP politician representing Hamilton, Ontario. - Robert DunsmuirRobert DunsmuirRobert Dunsmuir was a Scottish-Canadian coal miner, railway developer, industrialist and politician. -Origins in Scotland:...
; coal miner and industrialist for the Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay CompanyThe Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
. - William Findlay (pen name George Umber); author.
- Alexander FlemingAlexander FlemingSir Alexander Fleming was a Scottish biologist and pharmacologist. He wrote many articles on bacteriology, immunology, and chemotherapy...
; discoverer of penicillinPenicillinPenicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
, attended Kilmarnock Academy. - Thomas Gardiner, California newspaperman.
- William HewittWilliam Hewitt (moderator)William Currie Hewitt is a minister of the Church of Scotland and is a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland ....
; Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2009 - John Kelso HunterJohn Kelso HunterJohn Kelso Hunter was a self-taught Scottish portrait painter and author of two books.-Life:Hunter was the second son and in 1799 his father moved the Hunter family moved from Chirnside where he had been born in a village in Berwickshire. His father was a gardener at a South Ayrshire estate owned...
; 19th century oil painter and author. - David LacyDavid LacyDavid William Lacy is a minister of the Church of Scotland. He was the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2005-6.-Background and Career:...
; Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of ScotlandModerator of the General Assembly of the Church of ScotlandThe Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
and a local minister. - Malky McCormickMalky McCormickMalky McCormick is a cartoonist and caricaturist.- Biography :After leaving the commercial art world in 1965, he illustrated comics and magazines for D.C. Thomson in Dundee then became a graphic artist and designer with Scottish Television for 3 years...
; cartoonist. - Iain McDowallIain McDowallIain McDowall is a British crime fiction author. He has written six novels in his ‘Crowby’ series, featuring the present-day investigations of Inspector Jacobson and his team of provincial police detectives...
; crime writer. - Margaret McDowallMargaret McDowallMargaret Gibson McDowall , was educated at Kilmarnock Academy and was a member of the Scottish Swimming Team from the age of 14....
; member of the Scottish swimming team and silver medal winner at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. - Hugh McIlvanneyHugh McIlvanneyHugh McIlvanney is an award-winning, Scottish sports writer. He currently holds a long-running column on the back page of The Sunday Times sports section.- Life and career :...
; sports journalist. - William McIlvanneyWilliam McIlvanneyWilliam McIlvanney is a writer of crime stories, novels, and poetry. McIlvanney is a champion of gritty yet poetic literature; his works Laidlaw, The Papers of Tony Veitch, and Walking Wounded are all known for their portrayal of Glasgow in the 1970s.- Life and career :McIlvanney was born in the...
; writer, born 1936. - Lindsay McKenzieLindsay McKenzieLindsay McKenzie is a Scottish actress who starred in BBC1 children's show, Raven: The Island, playing the part of Princess Erina. She attended Kilmarnock Academy and then went to study acting at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts .-Princess Erina:Lindsay McKenzie's most notable role to date...
; actress. - Colin MochrieColin MochrieColin Andrew Mochrie is a Scottish Canadian actor and improvisational comedian, most famous for his appearances on the British and US versions of television improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.-Early life:...
; Scottish-Canadian comedian (of Whose Line is it Anyway?Whose Line Is It Anyway?Whose Line Is It Anyway? is a short-form improvisational comedy TV show. Originally a British radio programme, it moved to television in 1988 as a series made for the UK's Channel 4, for a 10 series run...
fame) born in Kilmarnock in 1957 - William and John Sloane; founders of W. & J. SloaneW. & J. SloaneW. & J. Sloane was a furniture and rug store in New York City that catered to the wealthy.-History:The company was founded as a rug importer and seller on March 2, 1843 by William Sloane who had just emigrated from Kilmarnock, Scotland, a town famous for weaving fine carpets and rugs. In 1852 his...
in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. - David Robertson; played for KilmarnockKilmarnock F.C.Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
and Queen of the SouthQueen of the South F.C.Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
before emigrating to New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he played for the U.S. National team. - James ShawSir James Shaw, 1st BaronetSir James Shaw, 1st Baronet , became Lord Mayor of London in 1805. From humble beginnings in a farming family in Ayrshire he became a successful merchant and politician; he was a relation of Robert Burns and used his wealth to support Burns's orphaned children...
; Lord Mayor of London in 1805. - Gordon Smith; former professional footballer and SFA Chief Executive.
- Malcolm Wallace; father of Scotland's hero, William Wallace, was born in Riccarton.
- Kirsty WarkKirsty WarkKirsteen Anne Wark is a British journalist and television presenter best known for fronting the BBC Two's news and current affairs programme Newsnight since 1993, and its weekly arts annexe Newsnight Review which is now relaunched as "The Review Show".-Biography:Wark was born in Dumfries to Jimmy...
; TV news and current affairs personality.
Ben and James Johnston, drummer and bassist of Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
Twin towns
Kilmarnock - as part of East AyrshireEast Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
Council - is twinned with five cites and has received awards from the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
for its work in twinning. Alès
Alès
Alès is a commune in the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. It is one of the sub-prefectures of the department. It was formerly known as Alais.-Geography:...
, France. Herstal
Herstal
Herstal, formerly known as Heristal, or Héristal, is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege along the Meuse river. Herstal is included in the "Greater Liège" agglomeration, which counts about 600,000 inhabitants...
, Belgium. Joué-lès-Tours
Joué-lès-Tours
Joué-lès-Tours is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.It is the largest suburb of the city of Tours, and is adjacent to it on the southwest....
, France Kulmbach
Kulmbach
Kulmbach is the capital of the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany. The town is famous for Plassenburg Castle, which houses the largest tin soldier museum in the world, and for its famous sausages, or Bratwürste.-Location:...
, Germany. Santa Coloma de Gramenet
Santa Coloma de Gramenet
Santa Coloma de Gramenet is a city in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the south-east side of the Litoral range, with the Puig Castellar...
, Spain.
The former Kilmarnock and Loudoun District Council was also twinned with Sukhum, Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
, a disputed region on the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
coast. Following a review of links this link is now considered as a friendship link.