West Kilbride
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West Kilbride, Portencross and Seamill are related villages in a small area on the west coast of Scotland by the Firth of Clyde, looking across the water to the Isle of Arran. The village of West Kilbride nestles between Law Hill and Tarbert Hill (backed onto by the Crosbie Hills) and is home to Law Castle.
West Kilbride's coat of arms is a shield split horizontally, with the bottom section divided again into three parts vertically. The top of the shield bears two fleurs de lis with a hunting horn between them. The left and right sections of the bottom of the shield are depictions of two castles, representing Law and Portencross castles. In the centre section is a representation of the Spanish galleon which was sunk off Portencross. Below the galleon is the cross of St. Bride overlaid with a mill iron, and above it the shuttle to represent the village's old weaving industry.
The three castles in the area are of significant interest to those who study the history of the region. They are easily seen and accessible, and they have been the subject of several myths and local stories.
Law Castle (situated on Law Hill) was built in the 15th century for King James III's sister Mary. The castle is a simple rectangular structure with a sloped roof and several large chimneys protruding at each side.
The 14th-century Portencross Castle is situated right next to the sea at Portencross harbour. It is L-shaped and four stories high, with a barrel-vaulted ceiling. The castle is currently roofless due to storm damage but is otherwise in reasonable shape, even though, unlike Law Castle, little has been done to restore it. Currently the castle is under consideration for ownership by the people of West Kilbride, Seamill and Portencross after fierce battling to take it off the market by the residents.
Hunterston Castle, on the nearby Hunterston estate, is home to the historic Clan Hunter. It hosts regular clan gatherings which bring clan members to the area, from all corners of the world. The current Clan Chief is Madam Pauline Hunter.
West Kilbride is also home to several churches: Overton and St. Andrew's (formerly St. Bride's), which are both Church of Scotland, as well as the diminutive St. Bride's Catholic Chapel. "The Barony" (Barony Church), a large 13th-century sandstone building, is situated just across from St. Andrew's. This building is no longer in use as a church; however, it remains in public hands, being used for many events such as auctions and art shows. Unfortunately, its 19th century stained-glass windows were illegally removed by its previous owner despite the building being listed. Attempts to trace the windows have been unsuccessful and it is assumed they have been sold to a private collector.
St. Andrew's is not only a church, but has several large function rooms, which are used for some local groups. It has a large rose stained glass window and a tall gothic spire bell tower. Overton Church is a large red sandstone building with a spectacular interior and a very loud, working bell tower. St. Bride's is a small chapel with a large garden behind it.
West Kilbride was a weaving town as well as agricultural, with oats, barley, flax, and potatoes all being produced in the 18th century. Today the farmland is mainly used for sheep and cattle, although the area is well known for its local Ayrshire potatoes.
The other major industries around the village are Hunterston B nuclear power station and the nearby Hunterston ore terminal owned by Clydeport.
The community is served by an unmanned railway station with only one passenger track. Trains from Clydeport and Hunterston run through West Kilbride's second track, which no longer has a platform as it originally did when first built in the late 1870s.
The architect of West Kilbride Station was the distinguished James Miller. (See also his spectacular railway station at Wemyss Bay, Renfrewshire.) The station building is now undergoing extensive renovations (November 2006) with a view to turning it into a bistro/bar/cafe. Previous attempts to turn the station into a local meeting place have been disrupted by the local "neds" vandalising the building. Local police now regularly monitor via camera and a mobile police station is available on the station car park two/three times per week.
The line at West Kilbride extends from Largs, further up the coast, to Glasgow Central. Rail is probably the easiest way to get to the village, since there is little other public transport other than an hourly bus service to Saltcoats / Stevenston. By train the journey is around 50 minutes from Glasgow and by road anywhere between 45 and 60 minutes via the M8, A737, and B781.
Through the endeavours of the local initiative group, West Kilbride is now achieving fame as the "Craft Town Scotland". The village boasts a growing number of craft shops / studios, as well as several leading artists. The Initiative Centre provides a convenient way for craftspeople to sell their art or craftwork, in return for a small share of the profits.
In September 2006, West Kilbride Craft Town won First Prize in the prestigious "Enterprise Britain Award", conferred by the UK's Department of Trade and Industry. Presenting the award, Alistair Darling MP praised the resourcefulness and dedication of the West Kilbride community.
There are almost 6,000 residents in the village, which has its own local primary school as well as a public hall (home of the West Kilbride Horticultural Society's two yearly shows, West Kilbride Players productions and the local museum), community centre, war memorial, brand new library, and a wealth of hairdressers. (There have been, in the past, six hairdressers in the village - one for every thousand people.)
[edit] References
West Kilbride, Seamill, Portencross & Thereabouts West Kilbride Amenity Society (2000)
[edit] External links
- West Kilbride Community Page
- Gazetteer for Scotland entry for West Kilbride
- Friends of Portencross Castle
- Carlton Seamill Bed & Breakfast
- Map of the local area
