Kilmarnock in the 1960s (2)

Jun4 by bmcuser

Our next session of Kilmarnock in the 1960s, on Wednesday 11th June (2 – 4pm), focuses on the area south of the town centre – for example, Netherton, Glencairn Square, Richardland Road, Gilmour Street, Robertson Place, and Armour Street.

Copy of CO3_17_1_50_137 Armour St

This area is possibly one of the most changed in Kilmarnock’s town centre landscape (see the street above for example*). Hundreds of families lived in these streets during the first half of the twentieth century, and lots of small businesses traded there. The collection actually stretches back to the 1930s for this area, when redevelopment work began.

Our first session of Kilmarnock in the 1960s focused on the Riccarton area and was a huge success. We gathered loads of really valuable information about streets, buildings, families and businesses. This information will be gathered up and eventually published online along with the photographs.

See you at session 2!

*Armour Street

Registration, 1856 and 2014

May22 by bmcuser

This week the Burns Monument Centre hosted a very special event – the 150th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Registrars of Scotland. The event brought together Registrars from all over Scotland, as well the Registrar General and staff from National Records of Scotland.

While preparing a display of archive material for the delegates, we came across this fascinating document from 1856. The Statement by Mr Gregory, first Registrar of the Parish of Kilmarnock, was written after the first year of the 1855 Registration Act of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Before the 1855 Act, there was no legal requirement to record births, deaths or marriages. Mr Gregory bemoans the public’s initial ignorance of the new Act, but also praises Kilmarnock mothers for their eagerness to register births.

Registrar1856(1)

Copy of Registrar1856(2)

One of the more startling statistics, which is highlighted by Mr Gregory, is the number of deaths of children under five – 40% of all deaths registered in the Parish. On a slightly happier note, Mr Gregory also mentions by name the death of “old Widow Snipe” at the age of 104!

The Association’s AGM was held in East Ayrshire on this 150th year because the current President is Cathy Dunlop, Registrar of East Ayrshire. During the event 3 members of East Ayrshire’s Registration team were presented with the Certificate of Profiency in the Law and Practice of Registration Examination, pictured below.

Reg AGM BMC

Although much has changed since 1856, Mr Gregory’s Statement ends in a tone that is familiar in 2014:

“…the Registrar General has intimated to me, that an Examiner will shortly call to inspect my books, correct any errors that may have occured, and to give me instructions as to future proceedings.”

Kilmarnock in the 1960s

May8 by bmcuser

Next week is our first Kilmarnock in the 1960s event – a series of open sessions inviting the public to help us identify and describe an outstanding archive of previously unseen photographs of the town.

Copy of CO3_17_1_50_62 Campbell St

The first session on Wednesday 14th May (2pm – 4pm) will focus on Riccarton and the Ayr Road area of the town. For example, this lovely shot of Campbell Streeet is packed with period detail. Some of the photographs are much more difficult to identify however, and that’s where we need help. Not only are we interested in confirming locations and street names, but also details of houses, shops and businesses. We’d also love to hear any personal stories about the areas in the photographs. The open sessions will be designed to encourage lots of blethering, sharing, and gathering of information.

The photographs are particularly significant and poignant because they were taken just before major redevelopments of the town during the late 1960s and 1970s. Many of them show areas, streets and buildings that were very soon to disappear. The collection stretches from the 1930s but the main focus is on the 1960s images. The sessions will also allow participants to look at 1960s maps, directories and newspapers.

The dates of the sessions are:

14th May – Riccarton and Ayr Road

11th June – Town Centre South (Netherton, Armour Street, etc)

16th July – Town Centre

20th August – Town Centre North (Wellington Street, Dean Street, etc)

Sessions will run from 2pm until 4pm at the Burns Monument Centre. No need to book or contact us in advance – just turn up and join in!

The Sports of Fastern’s E’en

May2 by bmcuser

Our display for the summer months focuses on East Ayrshire’s sporting heritage. Recreations, Races and Runners takes its title from descriptions of the area’s sporting past in 19th century local history books. The display covers a wide range of sporting activities, for example curling, bowling, steeple-chase, athletics, swimming, football, cricket, and whippet racing!

One of Kilmarnock’s oldest sporting traditions is The Sports of Fastern’s E’en, which was celebrated for centuries until it was formally discontinued by the Town Council in 1831. The illustration below, by local artist William Fleming, was reproduced in Thomas Smellie’s Sketches of Old Kilmarnock (1898).

The Sports of Fastern's E'en Kilmarnock

The picture shows the gathering in Ward’s Park (now approximately Howard Park), where the foot races were held.

The festivities were a variant of Shrove Tuesday, and as well as foot and horse races, they involved a diverse range of celebrations and ceremonies. Local historican Archibald McKay’s History of Kilmarnock (1848) gives an excellent account. Kilmarnock poet John Ramsay wrote a long and wonderfully vivid account of it in his ‘The Sports of Fastern’s E’en in Kilmarnock’ (1830).

The day began at the Cross, where the town’s fire engines were gathered to hose down the inhabitants, in what appears to be a big one-sided water fight! Ramsay’s account:

Out owre the highest house’s tap,

He sent the torrent scrievin’,

The curious crowd aye nearer crap

To see sic feats achievin’.

But scarcely had they thickened weel,

And got in trim for smilin’,

When roun’ the pipe ga’ed like an eel

And made a pretty skailin’.

As well as races and cock-fighting, Fastern’s E’en was a day of feasting and revelry. Ramsay’s poem mentions whisky-stands, drinking squads, and local howfs that were visited for refreshments (e.g. Tam Neil’s). He also lists the ‘foreigners’ who travelled to the town for the celebrations, from Fenwick, Beansburn, Stewarton, ‘Riccartonians’, Kilmaurs, Newmilns, Darvel, Hurlford, Galston, Crookedholm, Irvine, Kilwinning, Saltcoats, Ardrossan, Troon, Prestwick, Monkton, Ayr, and Dundonald! Public disturbances ensued, and the Town Council stepped in to halt the festival. It was revived for a short time in 1858 but didn’t have the same popularity with the public (possibly because it was a much toned-down version).

The display Recreations, Races and Runners is in the Burns Monument Centre from May until August.

Sports Day, 1934

Apr4 by bmcuser

Leading up to our Summer of Sport, and our next display on East Ayrshire’s Sporting Heritage, we have highlighted some wonderful images of Kilmarnock Academy’s sports days. These images of their 1934 Sports Day are incredibly vibrant and natural, showing running, hurdles, expressive dancing and tug-of-war. By this time the school had acquired the playing fields at Queen’s Drive, which are still used today. Click on an image to see a larger version.

The photographs of pupils in the throes of a physical / expressive movement piece are interesting in that they show what was a fairly progressive approach to health and fitness. This approach was influenced by Isadora Duncan and later, Margaret Morris, who emphasised the link between dance, movement and health. It favoured free and expressive movements and loose, flowing clothing, inspired by idealised images of ancient Greek dancing. It is in stark contrast to the image of the tug-of-war contest! [Thanks to Bruce Morgan, our Museums Officer, for information on this!]

We don’t have any names attached to these photographs unfortunately. If you can identify any of the people in them, please do get in touch with us at or pop in to see us.

The blog for East Ayrshire Heritage Services – Archives, Local and Family History

Category Archives: Archives

Kilmarnock in the 1960s (2)

Registration, 1856 and 2014

Kilmarnock in the 1960s

The Sports of Fastern’s E’en

Sports Day, 1934