History
Eight hundred years of Ayr
A royal burgh since 1205, the town where Robert the Bruce held a parliament, Cromwell built a citadel and Robert Burns was born. Each line below links to the source it comes from.
- 77 to 86 ADRoman legions camp at Ayr during Agricola's invasion. Archaeologists found the marching camp's fire pits in 2019. source
- 1197King William the Lion orders a new castle between the Rivers Ayr and Doon. source
- 1205William the Lion makes Ayr a royal burgh on 21 May. The charter is still kept by Ayrshire Archives. Ayrshire Archives source
- 1263Norwegian forces attack the town and fail. source
- 1315Robert the Bruce holds a parliament in St John's Church on 26 April and settles the succession to the crown. St John's Tower source
- 1470 to 1525The Auld Brig is built across the River Ayr. Auld Brig o' Ayr source
- 1512First written record of the Brig o' Doon. Brig o' Doon source
- about 1513James Tait builds Loudoun Hall, one of the earliest late medieval town houses in Scotland. Loudoun Hall source
- 1650sCromwell's army builds a citadel for up to 1,000 troops around St John's Church. Cromwell's Citadel walls source
- 1654The Auld Kirk of Ayr is finished to replace St John's. Auld Kirk of Ayr source
- 1756John Loudon McAdam, whose road-building method gave the world tarmac, is born in Ayr. source
- 1759Robert Burns is born in Alloway on 25 January and baptised at the Auld Kirk of Ayr the next day. Burns Cottage source
- 1771The first official race meeting is held, on a course at Seafield. Ayr Racecourse source
- 1795Newton-on-Ayr finishes the steeple of its new tolbooth. Newton Steeple source
- 1823The Burns Monument opens in Alloway, where Burns tourism began. Burns Monument and Gardens source
- 1830Thomas Hamilton's Town Hall is completed, its spire 225 feet high. Ayr Town Hall source
- 1840The first train service runs from Glasgow, and Ayr becomes a seaside resort. source
- 1877The New Brig is rebuilt after severe flooding. The Auld Brig, as Burns predicted, outlasts it. Auld Brig o' Ayr source
- 1882The Wallace Tower rises 113 feet over the High Street. Wallace Tower source
- 1893The Carnegie Library opens on 2 September. Carnegie Library source
- 1902The Gaiety Theatre opens on Carrick Street. The Gaiety Theatre source
- 1907Racing moves to the present course at Craigie. Ayr Racecourse source
- 1966The Scottish Grand National moves to Ayr. Ayr Racecourse source
- 2008The Ayrshire Coastal Path opens, developed by the Rotary Club of Ayr. Ayrshire Coastal Path source
- 2023Fire badly damages the Station Hotel. Part of it is taken down for safety in 2024. Ayr railway station source
Places to see the history
Alloway Auld KirkThe roofless kirk where Tam o' Shanter saw the witches dance, and where Burns's father is buried.
Auld Brig o' AyrAyr's medieval bridge, built between 1470 and 1525 and still used every day by people walking into town.
Auld Kirk of AyrThe church that replaced St John's in 1654, where Robert Burns was baptised the day after he was born.
Ayr HarbourThe harbour that made Ayr the port of Ayrshire, still working on its north side.
Ayr Town HallThomas Hamilton's town hall, completed in 1830, with a 69-metre spire that still rules the skyline.- Ayrshire ArchivesThe archive for all three Ayrshire councils, holding Ayr's burgh charter of 1205 signed by William the Lion.Hidden gem
Brig o' DoonThe steep single-arch bridge where Tam o' Shanter escaped the witches.
Burns CottageThe clay and thatch cottage where Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759.
Burns Monument and GardensThomas Hamilton's Grecian monument of 1823 above the Brig o' Doon, paid for by over 700 subscribers.
Burns Statue SquareGeorge A. Lawson's bronze Robert Burns, on a granite plinth with four relief scenes, outside the station.
Cromwell's Citadel wallsStretches of wall survive from the fort Oliver Cromwell's army built at the mouth of the River Ayr in the 1650s.Hidden gem
Greenan CastleA ruined 16th-century tower house on the cliff edge at Doonfoot, looking out to Arran and Ailsa Craig.Hidden gem
Loudoun HallA merchant's house from around 1513, one of the earliest late medieval town houses left in Scotland.Hidden gem
Newton SteepleA clock tower of 1795, the last piece of the tolbooth of the old burgh of Newton-on-Ayr.Hidden gem
St John's TowerThe bell tower of Ayr's first parish church, where Robert the Bruce held a parliament on 26 April 1315.Hidden gem
Wallace TowerThe 113-foot Gothic tower on the High Street, built in 1882 with William Wallace in its niche.
Wallace's HeelA spring said to run from a print in the rock left by William Wallace's heel.Hidden gem
Wellington Square and County BuildingsLawns and monuments in front of the County Buildings, headquarters of South Ayrshire Council.
Memorials, monuments and more
From OpenStreetMap.
Auld Brig of AyrBridgeSee the map
Ayr War MemorialMemorialFort
Burns MonumentMonumentSee the map
Cambusdoon HouseRuinsAlloway
Clock TowerTowerAyr KA8 0AT · Wallacetown- Craigmuir Mote, dun siteArchaeological siteAlloway
- CWGC Cross of SacrificeMemorialForehill
- Fishing vessel WatchfulMemorialFort
- Helen's CloseMemorialSee the map
- James Campbell MausoleumTombHeathfield
- John Loudon McAdam MemorialMemorialFort
- Laigh Kyleston, dun siteArchaeological siteHeads of Ayr
- Lindston HengeArchaeological siteSee the map
- Lindston House HengeArchaeological siteSee the map
- Malt Cross (site of)MonumentSee the map
Memorial to Primrose William KennedyMemorialFort
Mercat CrossMonumentSee the map- Miller's Folly (c. 1853)Historic buildingFort
- Monument to Archibald William, Earl of Eglinton and WintounMemorialFort
Monument to James George Smith NeillMemorialFort- Monument to Sir James Fergusson of KilkerranMemorialFort
- New Brig of AyrBridgeSee the map
Oswald's TempleHistoric buildingDalmilling- RAF Heathfield MemorialMemorialHeathfield
River Ayr ViaductBridgeSee the map- Royal Newfoundland Regiment War MemorialMemorialForehill
- Royal Scots Fusiliers South African War MemorialMemorialSee the map
- Royal Scots Fusiliers War MemorialMemorialFort
Steven Memorial FountainMemorialFort
War MemorialMonumentWhitletts
War MemorialMemorialAlloway- Witchbrae WoodHistoric siteDalmilling