Girvan

Girvan
Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Gharbhain
Girvan  Girvan shown within South Ayrshire
Population	6,651 (2011 Census)[1]
OS grid reference	NX185975
Council area	South Ayrshire
Lieutenancy area	Ayrshire and Arran
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	GIRVAN
Postcode district	KA26
Dialling code	01465
Police	Scottish
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Scottish Parliament	Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
List of places UK Scotland

Coordinates: 55°14′18″N 4°51′22″W / 55.23822°N 4.85614°W / 55.23822; -4.85614

Girvan (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Gharbhain, "mouth of the River Girvan")^[2] is a burgh in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 6,700. It lies 21 miles (34 km) south of Ayr, and 29 miles (47 km) north of Stranraer, the main ferry port from Scotland to Northern Ireland.

History

Girvan was originally a fishing port. In 1668 it became a municipal burgh incorporated by charter.^[3]

The opening of the railways, initially with the Maybole and Girvan Railway at the end of the 1850s encouraged the development of Girvan as a seaside resort^[3] with beaches and cliffs. The town is now served by Girvan railway station.

Just north of the town is a William Grant & Sons distillery which opened in 1963. There is a Nestlé factory that manufactures chocolate that is shipped down to York and used in Kit-Kat and Yorkie bars.^[3]

Local facilities and festivals

Girvan, Scotland, 1890s

The RNLI Lifeboat and fishing fleet

The McKechnie Institute was endowed by a local businessman and opened in 1889.^[4]

The HM Coastguard station.

The Girvan Folk Music Festival takes place on the first weekend of May each year. Girvan also has a folk music club.

The Lowland Gathering takes place on the first Sunday of June each year in the Victory Park in the centre of the town.

The annual Festival of Light takes place on the first Saturday in November. Its roots lie in the traditional bonfire night celebrations and the Celtic fire festival it replaced.^[5]

Nearby places of interest

Culzean Castle is about 8 miles (13 km) north of the town, and the volcanic island of Ailsa Craig is visible about 10 miles (16 km) offshore. Turnberry golf course and hotel are located 5 miles (8 km) north of Girvan. The coastline south of Girvan is famous for its geology, and also for Sawney Bean's Cave, where the legendary murderer and cannibal Sawney Bean supposedly lived until his arrest and execution in Edinburgh.

Education and community

Girvan harbour

Girvan has its own secondary school, Girvan Academy. The town also has a harbour.^[6]

The town's swimming pool was closed in 2009 by South Ayrshire Council, on the grounds that it had reached the end of its operational life. The building has since been demolished and the foundations have been paved over.

Churches

Girvan has a Roman Catholic church, "Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary" built around 1863. The Church is in Harbour Lane, situated between Louisa Drive and Henrietta Street, close to the junction with Ailsa Street West.

Girvan has two Church of Scotland congregations: Girvan North Parish Church in Montgomerie Street (with a spire over 100 feet tall) and Girvan South Parish Church.

The town's Episcopalian congregtion of St John was closed in 2014: they had been using the town's Methodist church building for services after their building became unusable in 2009.^[7]

Twin town

Torcy, Seine-et-Marne, France - in honour of a Scottish knight named Sir Thomas Huston originally from Girvan, who fought the English as part of the Auld Alliance during the Hundred Years War. Rewarding him for his bravery during the capture of Meaux in 1439, the King of France granted him the fiefdom of Torcy.

References

External links

• About Girvan
• Salmon Fishing on the River Girvan
• Girvan Online
• South Ayrshire Council
• Girvan Folk Club
• National Library of Scotland: SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE (archive films relating to Girvan)