Ayr

For other uses, see Ayr (disambiguation).
Ayr
Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Àir [1]
Scots: Ayr

Clockwise from top-left: Place De Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Robert Burns statue, Wellington Square Gardens, The Wallace Tower and Burns Statue Square.
Ayr
 Ayr shown within South Ayrshire
Population 47,190 [2](est. 2012)
Urban62,870 [2](est. 2012)
OS grid referenceNS338214
Council areaSouth Ayrshire
Lieutenancy areaAyrshire and Arran
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town AYR
Postcode district KA6-KA8
Dialling code 01292
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK ParliamentAyr, Carrick and Cumnock
Scottish ParliamentAyr
List of places
UK
Scotland

Coordinates: 55°27′29″N 4°37′44″W / 55.458°N 4.629°W

Ayr (/ɛər/; Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Àir, "Mouth of the River Ayr") is a large town and former Royal Burgh in Ayrshire, Scotland. Ayr was the county town of the wider county of Ayrshire until 1975. Ayr is now the administrative centre of South Ayrshire council area, which is the unitary local authority.

History

Ayr Market Cross in 1810

On 26 April 1315, the first Parliament of Scotland was held in Ayr by Robert The Bruce at St. John's Tower by the sea. It was once known as 'Inverair/Inverayr' (meaning mouth of the Ayr) and this usage is still retained in the Scottish Gaelic form of the name Inbhir Air. Later, during Cromwellian times, the town was used as a base and fortress for some of his men. Cromwell built a huge wall around certain areas of the town, most of which can still be seen today, creating a citadel.[3] St John's Tower was originally part of a massive church, but the church was knocked down, and the tower used to practise on; it is now protected by the "Friends Of Saint Johns Tower" (FROST) residents of the nearby "Fort Area". A permanent military presence was established in the town with the completion of Ayr Barracks (later known as Churchill Barracks) on the citadel site in 1795.[4]

Governance

The Westminster constituency of Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock is currently held by the Labour Party's Sandra Osborne who has been the Member of Parliament since the 5 May 2005 general election.[5] From 1950 to 1997 the former Westminster constituency of Ayr was a Conservative seat. The Member of Parliament for most of this period was George Younger, who represented the constituency from 1964 to 1992.

In the Scottish Parliament, Ayr still exists as a constituency and has been represented by Conservative MSP John Scott since 2000.[6] Regional MSPs that represent the South of Scotland (including Ayr) are Claudia Beamish (Labour), Chic Brodie (Scottish National Party), Jim Hume (Liberal Democrats), Joan McAlpine (Scottish National Party), Aileen McLeod (Scottish National Party), Graeme Pearson (Labour) and Paul Wheelhouse (Scottish National Party).[7]

The elected Councillors representing Ayr on South Ayrshire Council are as follows:

List of Ayr Councillors[8]
Ayr North Ayr East Ayr West
Douglas Campbell (SNP) Ian Douglas (SNP) Kirsty Darwent (Labour)
Ian Cavana (Labour) Mary Kilpatrick (Conservative) Allan Dorans JP (SNP)
John Hampton (Conservative) Brian McGinley (Labour) Bill Grant (Conservative)
Rita Miller (Labour) Corri Wilson (SNP) Robin Reid (Conservative)

As a former Royal Burgh, Ayr had a Provost as chief magistrate of the burgh council and the earliest recorded provost is Nicholas de Fynvyk. The title of provost was retained by Kyle and Carrick District Council and South Ayrshire council for their civic heads.[9] The role of provost is now apolitical and carries a number of duties including chairing meetings of the council, acting as civic head representing South Ayrshire Council, promotion of South Ayrshire Council and networking with various organisations such as local businesses.[10]

A chain and robes are worn by the provost while undertaking their ceremonial duties. The provost's chain was donated in June 1897 by James McLennan who was a Glasgow wine and spirit merchant who was born in Coylton and lived in Ayr. The official provost's robes have been provided by the council since 11 June 1923. In addition, South Ayrshire Council erects lamp posts with the Royal Burgh Coat of Arms emblazoned on the diffusers outside the official resident of the provost - this has been undertaken since 1854.[9]

Each newly elected provost enters their name into a Bible at the "Kirkin ‘O The Council" service at Ayr Auld Kirk after each council election. The Bible in which the names are entered was acquired by the Kirk during the Provostship of Hugh Miller (1841-1855).[9] The names of the provosts entered into the Bible are as follows:-

List of Ayr provosts[9]
Term Provost
1841 – 1855 Hugh Miller
1855 – 1861 Primrose William Kennedy
1861 – 1864 Andrew Paterson
1864 – 1873 John MacNeillie
1873 – 1876 Robert Goudie
1876 – 1882 Thomas Steele
1882 – 1888 William Kilpatrick
1888 – 1891 James Murray Ferguson
1891 – 1894 Robert Shankland
1894 – 1897 Hugh Douglas Hillock
1897 – 1903 Thomas Templeton
1903 – 1909 William Allan
1909 – 1912 James Shaw Hunter
1912 – 1918 John Mitchell
1918 – 1922 I M Mathie-Morton
1922 – 1924 Donald McDonald
1924 – 1927 James Robertson Gould
1927 – 1930 John S Stewart
1930 – 1933 Thomas Watson
1933 – 1936 Thomas Galloway
1936 – 1940 James Wills
1940 – 1943 Robert Bowman
1943 – 1949 Thomas Murray
1949 – 1952 James Smith
1952 – 1955 Adam Hart
1955 – 1958 William Anderson
1958 – 1961 William Sidney Lanham
1961 – 1964 William Cowan
1964 – 1967 Charles O’Halloran
1967 – 1970 Alexander S Handyside
1970 – 1973 Donald McLean
1973 – 1975 A Howie
1975 – 1978 Alexander Paton
1978 – 1980 Charles O’Halloran
1980 – 1984 James Boyle
1984 – 1988 Gibson T Macdonald
1988 – 1992 Daniel MacNeill
1992 – 1996 Gibson T Macdonald
1996 – 1998 Robert Campbell
1998 – 2003 Elizabeth A Foulkes
2003 – 2006 Gordon S McKenzie
2006 – 2012 Winifred D Sloan
2012 – present Helen Moonie

The current provost is Labour Councillor Helen Moonie.[9]

Geography

Ayr is a coastal town which lies on the mouth of the River Ayr. The river then flows out into the larger Firth of Clyde estuary. From the coast the Isle of Arran can be seen, and on a very clear day, the northern tip of Northern Ireland. It is within the region of Strathclyde. Much of the land in and around this area is very flat and low lying, used for rearing dairy cattle. Towards the south of Ayr however the land is higher than most areas in the county of Ayrshire, with e.g. the Brown Carrick Hill situated due South of Doonfoot. Ayr lies approximately 35 miles (55 km) southwest of Glasgow.

The urban area which encompasses Ayr is defined by the General Register Office for Scotland as the adjoining localities of Ayr, Prestwick and Monkton.

Location

Destinations from Ayr
Firth of Clyde Prestwick, Troon Kilmarnock, Glasgow
Firth of Clyde Auchinleck, Cumnock
   Ayr  
Maybole, Girvan, Stranraer Newton Stewart Dalmellington, Castle Douglas

Areas of Ayr

Bellisle

Braehead

Fort Glencairn

  • Greenan

Hawkhill Hayhill

Rozelle

  • Seafield
  • Wallacetoun
  • Whitletts
  • White City
  • Woodfield
  • Lochside

Climate

The nearest official Met Office weather station to Ayr is Auchincruive, about 3 miles (5 km) to the north-east of Ayr town centre.

Climate data for Auchincruive 48m asl, 1971-2000, Extremes 1960-
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.4
(57.9)		 14.8
(58.6)		 18.3
(64.9)		 23.5
(74.3)		 25.4
(77.7)		 29.4
(84.9)		 30.0
(86)		 29.8
(85.6)		 24.7
(76.5)		 22.2
(72)		 16.5
(61.7)		 13.9
(57)		 30.0
(86)
Average high °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)		 7.0
(44.6)		 8.6
(47.5)		 11.0
(51.8)		 14.6
(58.3)		 16.6
(61.9)		 18.3
(64.9)		 18.1
(64.6)		 15.7
(60.3)		 12.7
(54.9)		 9.3
(48.7)		 7.5
(45.5)		 12.2
(54)
Average low °C (°F) 1.6
(34.9)		 1.7
(35.1)		 2.8
(37)		 3.9
(39)		 6.2
(43.2)		 9.0
(48.2)		 11.2
(52.2)		 11.0
(51.8)		 9.1
(48.4)		 6.7
(44.1)		 3.7
(38.7)		 2.3
(36.1)		 5.8
(42.4)
Record low °C (°F) −11.7
(10.9)		 −12.7
(9.1)		 −11.1
(12)		 −4
(25)		 −2.8
(27)		 0.2
(32.4)		 2.2
(36)		 1.7
(35.1)		 −1.1
(30)		 −5.1
(22.8)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −10.7
(12.7)		 −12.7
(9.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 97.3
(3.831)		 71.1
(2.799)		 80.4
(3.165)		 51.7
(2.035)		 51.0
(2.008)		 56.7
(2.232)		 70.0
(2.756)		 83.0
(3.268)		 101.5
(3.996)		 112.9
(4.445)		 105.4
(4.15)		 103.5
(4.075)		 984.4
(38.756)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 44.3 66.1 91.5 143.7 198.4 178.5 167.4 152.8 118.2 86.2 57.3 37.8 1,342.2
Source #1: MetOffice[11]
Source #2: Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute/KNMI[12]

The area experiences very cool summers and somewhat mild winters. The air is cooler during the summer due to its proximity to the sea as water has a major cooling effect on summer temperatures. During the winter months the reverse happens and the sea air has a major warming effect on the climate. The area rarely ever sees extremes due to the effects of sea air. Rainfall is generally plentiful throughout the year due to Atlantic weather systems sweeping in from the west. Compared with the rest of Scotland, the area rarely sees much mist and fog. This is because the land is relatively flat and low lying and with the wind blowing across the flatter land, this generally hinders fog from developing widely. This has made Glasgow Prestwick International Airport particularly well known as one of the less fog-prone airports in Scotland. Snowfall is rare in this part of Scotland because of the mild sea air.[13]

Economy

The Wallace Tower

Ayr's industry has flourished over the years mainly because of the River Ayr. Ships that were built on the mouth of the River Ayr in the eighteenth century improved Ayr's economy. From 1883 to 1901, 143 ships and barges were built on the Ayr by Samuel B Knight and the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company. Repair work on the Ayr ceased in 1960 when Ailsa moved its operations to Troon.

The North side of Ayr Harbour still operates as a commercial port today, mainly exporting coal, and extensive railway sidings still lead down from the main railway line near Newton-on-Ayr station.

In addition, the River Ayr and River Doon were used for the fishing of whitefish and salmon. These were then exported from Ayr Harbour.

Manufacturing of textiles such as carpets and lining was important to Ayr's economy until the factories closed in the 1970s. This caused mass unemployment in Ayr. Many of the old factories are still standing and can be seen on McCalls Avenue and Walker Road in Lochside, North Ayr, though many are derelict and unsafe. There was a large factory engaged in the production of fertilisers and other agricultural products. This has since closed, but parts of the old complex are sublet by local businesses.

Ayr has always been a hub for shopping in South Scotland with the first department store, Hourstons, opening in 1896. In the 1970s, Ayr flourished further with the opening of further stores including Marks and Spencers and Ayr's first shopping centre, the Kyle Centre (1988). Heathfield Retail park, an out-of-town retail park, opened in 1993 with shops such as Halfords and Homebase. Ayr Central Shopping Centre opened in March 2006 with shops such as Debenhams and H&M and underparking for 500 cars. In December 2014 Threesixty Architecture received planning permission to refurbish the Kyle Centre by reinventing it as a centre of leisure through the creation of a new cinema complex among other new features.[14] The Royal Society for Public Health found Ayr's High Street to be the second healthiest in the United Kingdom behind Shrewsbury.[15]

During the 19th and 20th centuries Ayr became a popular holiday resort. This was due to its fine sandy beach and its popularity was increased by the building of the rail link to Glasgow in 1840.[16]

Transport

Ayr has three main roads serving the town:

Ayr railway station has services to Glasgow Central station with a half-hourly service except on Sundays. There are regular services to Edinburgh Waverley, Stranraer, Girvan, Kilmarnock, Dumfries, Carlisle and Newcastle. These services are operated by SPT/First ScotRail.

The railway station provides rail & sea connections via Stranraer for the connecting bus to Cairnryan for either the Stena Line ferry service to the Port of Belfast or the P&O Ferries service to Larne Harbour connecting with Northern Ireland Railways via Carrickfergus and Jordanstown to Belfast Central and Belfast Great Victoria Street. There is also the connection via Troon on P&O Ferries on a seasonal basis to Larne Habour.

The town has air links to European cities from Glasgow Prestwick International Airport just 2 miles (3 km) north from Ayr and is served by Glasgow Prestwick Airport station. Further destinations are available from Glasgow Airport, which is accessible by train to Paisley Gilmour Street for the connecting bus to the airport. In relation to Ayr, Glasgow Airport is 35 miles (56 km) away.

The town also has bus connections serving all of the town and Prestwick. These services are operated by Stagecoach West Scotland. The town has eight local services. There are express coaches to Glasgow Buchanan Street every 30–60 minutes. Ulsterbus operate bus services to Belfast via Stranraer Ferry service on Stena Line.

Although the town does not have any ferry services from its harbour, it has good access to ferry services mainly to Northern Ireland. Troon, 5 miles (8 km) north of Ayr, has a seasonal service to Larne onboard P&O. Troon can also be reached by train with trains every 30 minutes, or by bus. Stranraer, 60 miles (100 km) south of Ayr, has up to eight daily departures to Belfast.

Religion

The Auld Kirk Of St John The Baptist

The Church of Scotland is the main denomination in Ayr with nine churches spread throughout the town. The Roman Catholic Church has two churches and a Cathedral - previously located at the Good Shepherd Cathedral which has been demolished.[17]

There is also a Baptist Church and Evangelical church in John Street, a LDS Church at Orchard Avenue[18] and the Southside Christian Fellowship in Ayr Town Hall. Ayr is also home to two Orange Lodges.

Demography

At the United Kingdom Census 2001, Ayr had a population of 46,431, a fall of -3.2% on 1991.[19] Mid-2008 population estimates placed the total resident population at 46,070 making Ayr the 12th largest urban area in Scotland.[20] The 2011 census has shown that Ayr’s population has grown by around 0.9% since the 2001 census - this surpassed the population growth of Ayr and Prestwick which only grew by 0.63% which fell short of the national population growth of Scotland of 4.61%.

In 2001 nearly 0.36% (167) people in the town could speak Scottish Gaelic - this fell to 0.34% (161) in 2011. South Ayrshire Council provides no educational support for the language.[21]

Ayr 2011[19]
UK Census 2011AyrAyr & PrestwickScotland
Total population46,849 61,750 5,295,403
Population growth 2001-20110.90%0.63%4.61%
White98.6%98.5%96%
Under 16 years old16%15.9%17.3%
Over 65 years old21.9%22.1%16.8%
Christian57.9%58.7%56.3%
No Religion35%34%36.7%
’British’ national identity28.5%29.2%26.7%
Ayr 2001[19]
UK Census 2001AyrAyr & PrestwickScotland
Total population46,43161,3655,062,011
Population growth 1991–2001-3.19%-0.07%1.3%
White95.9%97.2%98.8%
Under 16 years old17.2%17.4%19.2%
Over 65 years old20.4%20.5%16.0%
Christian69.6%70.1%65.1%
No Religion23.9%23.8% 27.6%

Education

Nursery schools

Ayr has two nursery schools:[22]

There are also several partnership centres and nursery classes held within primary schools within Ayr.[22]

Primary schools

Ayr is served by fifteen primary schools:[23]

Special needs schools

Ayr has one special needs school:[24]

Secondary schools

Ayr is served by four secondary schools:[25]

Prestwick Academy is located within the neighbouring town of Prestwick and provides education to pupils who are resident within Ayr but fall within its catchment area.[26] Mainholm Academy was a former secondary school located within Ayr and was closed due to safety concerns.[27]

Independent schools

Ayr is served by one independent school that provides both primary and secondary education:[28][29]

Further education

Ayr has four further education establishments:

Culture and community

Burns Statue
James Brown Avenue

Ayr is home to The Gaiety Theatre. Built in 1902, reconstructed after a fire in 1904, its façade remodeled in 1935, and further reinstated after a fire in 1955. In 1995, an annex was constructed, including a new café, box office, dressing rooms and studio space. After a faltering start, which saw several years as a cinema after WWI, the theatre was bought by Ben Popplewell, from Bradford who already had a track record of success running the Pavilion theatre on Ayr seafront. For fifty years the Popplewell family ran the theatre – latterly as part of the Glasgow Pavilion business. During this time the Gaiety developed a reputation as a variety theatre with a ‘summer’ variety show – the Gaiety Whirl – which ran for 26 weeks at its height. Many Scottish and UK stars appeared regularly on its stage, and several started their careers there. The programme offered more than a summer show however, with several weeks of Shakespeare and regular transfers from Glasgow Citizens theatre, being part of a varied offer. After seventy years in private ownership the local Council acquired the Gaiety theatre freehold in 1974. It then operated as a municipal theatre under direct local authority management. After many years of successful operation the theatre began to lose audiences and the Council felt the revenue subsidy it provided and the requirement for capital investment required a new approach. In January 2009 the theatre closed, leaving Ayr without a theatre. The closure was met with considerable opposition and dismay among many Ayr residents, particularly since it appeared that the required capital and revenue investment to reopen the theatre would not be available. A public meeting attracted over 400 attendees, the future of the theatre was a key issue in the local press, many Scottish performers expressed their dismay and there was extensive discussion on social media. In early 2009 South Ayrshire Council invited tenders to take on the theatre management. The Ayr Gaiety Partnership (AGP), a charity formed for the purpose in Summer 2009, secured preferred bidder status. Just over three years later, having secured financial backing from the Council and Scottish Government, as well as from local fundraising, AGP took on a 99-year lease of the theatre.

To the north of Ayr is the adjoining town of Prestwick, which is famous for its golf and its aviation industry thanks to the presence of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Only 5 miles (8 km) north of Ayr is Troon, also famous for its golf and for hosting the Open Championship. Ayr has three golf courses in Bellisle, Seafield and Dalmilling, as well as a private one called St Cuthberts.

Ayr hosted the National Mòd in 1973.[30]

Several scenes for the 2007 TV movie The Donald Gray Show were filmed in and around the town.

Other neighbouring places include Alloway, known for its associations with the poet Robert Burns. To the south is Craig Tara, a Haven (formerly Butlins) holiday park, and the fishing village of Dunure, where there is a ruined castle formerly owned by the Kennedy family.

Ayr has three libraries plus a mobile library. These are:[31]

The radio station West FM is based in Ayr and broadcasts on 96.7FM.[32]

The Ayrshire Post newspaper is based in Ayr.[33]

Sport

Horse racing

Main article: Ayr Racecourse

Ayr Racecourse is a well-known racecourse in Scotland and hosts both National Hunt and flat racing. It has the largest capacity in Scotland for horse racing. Notable events include the Scottish Grand National (April) and Ayr Gold Cup (September) as well as several night meetings. It was recently put up for sale by the owners and included the Western House Hotel as part of the potential sale.

Football

Main article: Ayr United F.C.

Ayr has a senior football team, Ayr United F.C., who play at Somerset Park in Division 2. They reached the final of the 2001-2002 Scottish League Cup competition. The club was formed in 1910 with the merger of Ayr F.C. (who were formed in 1879 by the merger of Ayr Thistle and Ayr Academical football clubs) and Ayr Parkhouse F.C..

Whitletts Victoria F.C. are a Junior side from the Whitletts area of Ayr.

Ice hockey

Main article: Ayr Scottish Eagles

The town has a strong history of ice hockey up to professional standard but no longer hosts a professional ice hockey team. The most recent professional team were the Ayr Scottish Eagles who played in the British Superleague between 1996 and 2002 based at the Centrum arena. During this time they have success most famously their grand slam season in 1997-8 winning all 4 titles available and becoming British Champions. The following season seen them compete in the European Hockey league with famous victories home and away to Russian champions AK Bars Kazan. Eagles finished 3rd in a group also containing clubs from Germany and Czech Republic. The Centrum closed in 2003 and was demolished in 2009 to make way to a Sainsbury supermarket.

Rugby

Main article: Ayr RFC

Ayr's rugby union team, Ayr RFC, play at Millbrae and are reigning Scottish Cup Champions and Scottish Premiership Champions 2012/2013, and won the 2008/09 Scottish Hydro Premiership. Ayr RFC have twice competed in the British and Irish cup involving clubs from Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

Ayr RFC celebrating winning the 2009 Premier League

A rugby league team, Ayr Knights ARLFC, play at Auchincruive.

Cricket

Ayr Cricket Club play at Cambusdoon, and occasionally act as host for Scotland matches.

Other sports

Ayr Curling Club play at the curling rink in Limekiln Road and Ayr's cricket team plays in Cambusdoon, Burns Wicket.

Ayr only has one leisure centre, this being the Citadel, which opened in 1997, located at the mouth of the River Ayr and at the seafront at the South Harbour area. Its facilities include a main hall measuring 34 m × 27 m (112 ft × 89 ft). This hall can accommodate various sports including 5-a-side football, basketball, volleyball, netball, indoor hockey, indoor cricket practise, badminton and short tennis. As well as individual sports, sporting events and competitions, the hall has hosted exhibitions, concerts, trade fairs, election counts and awards ceremonies. The Citadel is an expansion of the Ayr swimming pool, which opened in 1972. The Citadel features a Dance Studio approx 124 m2 (1,330 sq ft). It is predominantly used for dance or exercise classes but also accommodates martial arts groups and drama workshops and two glass backed squash courts. The Citadel Leisure Centre in Ayr is home to South Ayrshire Volleyball Club[34] as well as being the town's only public swimming pool and diving pool. The leisure centre has squash courts, a gymnasium, dance studio, cafeteria and adjacent salons and youth club. An Ayrshire basketball team, the Troon Tornadoes, play their national league matches at the Citadel, despite not being an Ayr team. Additionally, Ayr has a Strathclyde league basketball team, Ayr Storm.

Ayr is also home to Scottish Bowling. The greens at Northfield host the Bowls Scotland and SYBA finals each year as well as the Hamilton Trophy final. Both the Ladies and Gents World Championships have been held at the Northfield complex as have international series and the Atlantic Rim Championships. Ayr Indoor Bowling Green is the oldest existing indoor bowling stadium in the world.

Ayr beach

Speedway was staged at Dam Park in 1937, when two meetings, organised by Maurice and Roland Stobbart from Cumbria took place, featuring riders who raced in the north of England, at venues such as Workington and Hyde Road in Manchester.

Ayr has a sandy beach with an esplanade. This is very popular with joggers and day-trippers. Whitletts Activity Centre also serves the town of Ayr. It has an 11-a side outdoor soccer pitch and an indoor 5-a-side football pitch. Near Whitletts Activity Centre there is also a 5-a-side football complex called "Pro Soccer".

Public services

The NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health Board serves South, East and North Ayrshire - a part of Ayrshire and Arran's departmental headquarters is located in Ayr. Ayr is also the regional headquarters of the Scottish Ambulance Service for south-west Scotland that is located in Heathfield, next to the site of the old Heathfield Hospital.

Ayr previously had four hospitals: Heathfield Hospital (originally a fever hospital, but latterly medical and ophthalmic), Seafield Hospital (a children's hospital), Ayr County (originally a voluntary hospital, and latterly confined to surgery) and Ailsa Hospital (a psychiatric hospital). Ayr Hospital was built in 1993 which replaced all but Ailsa Hospital which is still open.

Ayr currently has three hospitals, these are:

Hollybush House on the outskirts of Ayr is used by a charity for the mental health welfare of ex-members of the UK Armed Forces.

Ayr has two community centres, these are:[35]

Notable people

Vintage postcard, dated 1899, showing Burns with the monument and cottage in Ayr

Twin towns

Ayr is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba ~ Gaelic Place-names of Scotland
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Mid-2012 Populations Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Protectorate Citadel Of Ayr". Scots Wars. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Barracks in Scotland". Scots at War. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Sandra Osborne". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "John Scott MSP". The Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  7. ↑ "Ayr - MSPs: Scottish Parliament". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "Councillor Wards". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 "Provosts of Ayr". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Provost". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "Auchincruive Climate". UKMO. Retrieved 7 Nov 2011.
  12. ↑ "Auchincruive extremes". KNMI. Retrieved 7 Nov 2011.
  13. ↑ "averages 1971-2000". Met Office. 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  14. ↑ 'Kyle Centre, Ayr - Planning Submission'
  15. ↑ 'Preston tops table of UK's "unhealthiest High Streets"'
  16. ↑ Lambert, Tim. "A BRIEF HISTORY OF AYR, AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND". http://www.localhistories.org''. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  17. ↑ Edwin, Lawrence. "House of prayer in Ayr set to be 25 houses". Ayrshire Post. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  18. ↑ "Worship With Us". Mormon.org. Archived from the original on 2009-10-29. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Find out about an area". The Scottish Government. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  20. ↑ "General Register Office for Scotland Mid-2008 Population Estimates for Localities in Scotland". Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  21. ↑ "Census 2001". South-ayrshire.gov.uk. 2009-04-06. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Nuersery Schools - Pre Schools in South Ayrshire". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  23. ↑ "Primary Schools". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  24. ↑ "Southcraig Campus". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  25. ↑ "Secondary Schools in South Ayrshire". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  26. ↑ "Catchment area". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  27. ↑ "Mainholm Academy Closure". South Ayrshire council.
  28. ↑ "Welcome to Wellington School". Wellington School. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  29. ↑ "Independent Schools in South Ayrshire". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  30. ↑ List of Mod's places for each year on Sabhal Mòr Ostaig website
  31. ↑ "Libraries in South Ayrshire". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  32. ↑ "Contact us | 96.7 West FM". West Sound Radio Limited. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  33. ↑ "Contact the Ayrshire Post". Ayrshire Post. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  34. ↑ "South Ayrshire Volleyball Club". Southayrshirevolleyball.org. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  35. ↑ "Hall Bookings". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
  37. ↑ "Accueil". Jumelagestgermainayr.fr. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  38. ↑ "Ayr Town Twinning Association". South Ayrshire Unitary Authority. Retrieved 2012-12-30.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ayr.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ayr (Scotland).