1833 time capsule from Ayr

In March 1898, Turner’s Ayr and Newton Brewery was established to acquire the Watson and Brown Ayr Brewery located on Mill Vennel (later known as Mill Street), previously owned by the Dominicans. During its construction in 1833, a time capsule was placed within the masonry of the building by James Watson and Robert Brown. In […]

The Citadel of Ayr and the 1660 Restoration

Events at Ayr played a part in the power struggle which followed the death of Oliver Cromwell on 3rd September 1658, and which led to the restoration of the monarchy (which had been abolished in 1649 following the execution of King Charles I). John Lambert, the dominant figure in the army’s council of generals, was […]

VJ Day in Ayr 1945

Following the surrender of Nazi Germany in May 1945, it was generally expected that there would be a long continuation of the war in the Far East; that British forces, after driving the Japanese from Burma, would fight on to re-take Malaya and Singapore, and would ultimately participate in a costly invasion of Japan. However, […]

VE Day in Ayr 1945

Rumours of the surrender of Nazi Germany on Monday 7th May 1945 were confirmed in the evening when BBC radio announced that the surrender had been signed and would come into force early the next day. Tuesday 8th May was to be celebrated as Victory in Europe Day. Work on the decoration of Ayr’s streets […]

Full Programme for History on Your Doorstep 2019

South Ayrshire Local and Family History Fair Saturday 15 June, 9am – 4pm South Ayrshire’s Local and Family History Fair will this year be taking over the Carnegie Library, Ayr, for a full-day programme of informative talks from respected guest speakers. Visitors can also browse a variety of stalls offering advice and guidance on family […]

Ayr’s Newfoundland Heritage

Come along to find out more about the Newfoundland Regiment’s experiences in WW1, and their time spent in Ayr, as the teams from South Ayrshire Libraries & Museum service and the Remembering Auld Ayr Facebook Group come together to share to host their first-ever joint event! Together we will share the Newfoundlander’s stories through film, […]

The Colourists of South Ayrshire

A rare opportunity to see an outstanding collection of Scottish Colourists is taking place at The Maclaurin Gallery at Rozelle, Ayr, from 18th August – 30th September 2018. The exhibition ‘Rhythm of Light: Scottish Colourists from the Fleming Collection’ normally tours museums and galleries south of the Border, and draws record crowds. However, as part […]

Roll up, roll up for South Ayrshire’s annual History and Family History Fair

Saturday 2 June, 9.30am – 4.30pm Looking for something different to do on the weekend? Join us at South Ayrshire’s History and Family History Fair at the Walker Halls in Troon. Whether you’re interested in exploring your family roots or wanting to take a more specialised look at a particular topic, the History Fair – and the […]

Votes for Women

On 6th February 1918, the Representation of the People Act 1918 was given royal assent and became law. For the first time, British women were entitled to vote in general elections, provided they were over 30 and were property-owners. (Many women could already vote in local elections.) The years immediately preceding the outbreak of […]

Delve deep at Carnegie Library and unearth Ayr’s hidden past

Tuesday 26 September – Tuesday 31 October 2017 A special exhibition in Ayr Carnegie Library’s non-fiction lending area showcasing the original source material which has informed the professional archaeologists, as they prepare to dig deeper, and investigate what lies at the heart of Auld Toun. The Riverside Block on Ayr’s High Street occupies part of the earliest […]