Kilbirnie

File:Kilbirnie place Ayrshire.jpg, where the Scots mustered under Alexander III before the Battle of LargsKnight, James (1936), Glasgow and Strathclyde. London: Thomas Nelson & Sons. pp. 83–84.]]

Archaeological digs conducted in the 19th century have shown that the area was inhabited during the Bronze Age. A crannog with a connecting causeway was discovered in Kilbirnie Loch. In 1792 Mr Dickie, the miller at the Nether Mill, was building the road near the mill pond when he uncovered an empty stone coffin, 6.5 feet long by 2.5 feet wide. He is recorded to have broken up the coffin and used it in the road's construction.[https://canmore.org.uk/site/42220/kilbirnie Canmore - Nether mill Coffin, Lade, etc.] The earth mound known as the 'Miller's Knowe' has been identified as an 'ancient sepulchral tumuli', a burial mound, in the New Statistical Account of Ayrshire.[http://kilbirnieheritage.com/0158%20Crannog%20on%20Kilbirnie%20Loch.html Kilbirnie Heritage]

The town derived its name from the parish church, the "Auld Kirk". In 1740 there were only three houses; the population grew to 959 people by 1801. Half a century later, the town had grown substantially; in 1851 Kilbirnie contained 5,484 people, due to the Industrial Revolution. Growth continued with the opening of Kilbirnie railway station in 1906.{{Butt-Stations}}, p. 131

The 1913 networkers' strike in Kilbirnie was agreed at a National Federation of Women Workers meeting in late March. It lasted from April to September 1913, and was the longest recorded strike of women workers at that time. The strike, which enjoyed community support, was led by Kate McLean. In May 1913 there was a meeting in Kilbirnie where 10,000 supporters were present. The networkers' dispute was resolved on 2 September 1913 with improved wages and working conditions.{{cite ODNB|title=McLean [married name Beaton], Catherine [Kate] (1879–1960), trade unionist|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-54413|access-date=2020-08-06|year = 2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/54413}}{{cite journal|date=Spring 2015|title=The Strike in Irish and Scottish History|url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/riiss/content-images/OnlineJISS8.2.pdf|journal=Journal of Irish and Scottish Studies|volume=8| issue = 2|pages=36–|via=Aberdeen University}}

The Decoy Bride, a film starring David Tennant and Kelly Macdonald, was partially filmed in Kilbirnie.{{cite web|url=http://www.davidtennantontwitter.com/DB.html|title=David Tennant in The Decoy Bride|access-date=25 September 2022}}

Glengarnock Steel Works opened its blast furnaces around 1841 which caused a massive influx of people from all over the country, as well as all over the world. Initially, these works were owned by Merry & Cunninghame before being taken over by David Colville & Sons and eventually nationalised as part of British Steel Corporation and finally closed in 1985. The steelworks in Glengarnock provided employment for most men of the community.{{cite web|url=http://kilbirnieheritage.com/0168%20Video09%20Glengarnock%20Steelworks%201843-1985.html|title=Glengarnock Steelworks 1843-1985|publisher=Kilbirnie Heritage|access-date=25 September 2022}}

Image:Moorpark House in Kilbirnie.JPG

These mills are famous for their nets, used by the British Army and BT Tower. They are one of the very few companies in the United Kingdom who have expertise in this field. W & J Knox Threadmills was owned by the Knox family who were prominent, not only in Ayrshire but in the South of England too, becoming important members of society.{{cite web|url=https://trc-leiden.nl/trc-needles/organisations-and-movements/companies/w-j-knox-kilbirnie|title=W & J Knox, Kilbirnie|publisher=Textile Research Centre|access-date=25 September 2022}}

Once the barony mill, it was known as the 'Nethermiln of Kilbirnie.' Until circa 1938, this Nether Mill, a corn and meal mill, was located on Knoxville Road. The remains of the cast iron waterwheel and walls of part of the mill are still visible (datum 2022).

Since the closure of the steel works in the 1980s, the area has been an unemployment blackspot with distinct social problems. The town has very few local employers, and people generally commute out of the town to work. Glengarnock railway station serves the town and has three trains per hour to Paisley and Glasgow.{{Butt-Stations}}, p. 104

Amongst many other old buildings in the town, stands the Walker Memorial Hall, a building dedicated to Dr Walker, one of the first physicians in the town. In the 1960s it was a famous concert venue, coming second only to the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow. Famous bands to have played the hall include Gerry and the Pacemakers and Bill Haley & His Comets. These days, however, it houses the town's Citizens Advice Bureau.{{cite The relocated KA Leisure gym is also currently located within the hall.

web|url=http://www.traditionalmasonry.co.uk/projectcasestudies/ProjectCaseStudy.aspx?id=47#../CmsProjectCaseStudyImages/Project_47_Walker_Imperial_copy.jpg|title=Walker and Imperial Hall - Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire|publisher=Traditional Masonry|access-date=25 September 2022}}

Other sources of entertainment in the 1950s and 1960s included two cinemas, both of which have long since closed. One of these cinemas is now the Radio City.{{cite web|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst18990.html|title=Radio City|publisher= Gazetteer for Scotland|access-date=25 September 2022}}

The fair was considered the largest horse market in the west of Scotland. Robert Burns refers to the town in his poem "The Inventory" about a plough-horse that he purchased at the fair:{{cite web|url= https://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/15347471.burns-memorial-unveiled-in-the-garnock-valley/ |title=Burns memorial unveiled in the Garnock Valley|date=18 June 2017|newspaper=Ardrossan Herald|accessdate=25 September 2022}}

"My furr-ahin 's a wordy beast,

As e'er in tug or tow was traced.

The fourth's a Highland Donald hastle,

A damn'd red-wud Kilburnie blastie!"

Local football team Kilbirnie Ladeside F.C. derive their sobriquet "the blasties" from the poem, a suitable appellation and an epithet which remains to this day due to the town's past of steel and iron production, as a reference to the blast furnaces.{{cite web|url=http://www.robertburns.org/works/94.shtml |title=The Inventory|publisher=robertburns.org|accessdate=25 September 2022}}

• Kimberly Benson, professional wrestler.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-44381620|title=Kimberley Benson aka Viper: 'People wrote me off because of my size'|last=Brocklehurst|first=Steven|date=10 June 2018|work=BBC Scotland News|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425124441/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-44381620|url-status=live}}
• Jameson Clark, actor, starring in films such as Whisky Galore![https://web.archive.org/web/20090113205120/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/71433 Year of birth and date of death]: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
• James Jameson, Surgeon General, Army Medical Service{{cite web|title=Jameson, James (1837–1904)|url=http://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/biogs/E002349b.htm|website=Plarr's Lives of the Fellows Online|publisher=Royal College of Surgeons|access-date=14 March 2016}}
• Joanne Love, footballer[https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/15270040.players-making-history-still-treadmill-love-game/ Players making history: Still on the treadmill all for Love of the game], The Herald, 7 May 2017 {{subscription required}}
• Gordon McQueen, former Scotland, Manchester United and Leeds United footballer and Sky Sports presenter.{{cite web|url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/gordonmcqueen.html |title=GORDON McQUEEN at the Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database |publisher=Neilbrown.newcastlefans.com |date=26 June 1952}}
• George Stevenson, former Scotland and Motherwell F.C. footballer, went on to be the club's most successful manager[http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/the-club/history/former-managers/george-stevenson/ Managers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531172142/http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/the-club/history/former-managers/george-stevenson |date=2017-05-31 }}, Motherwell F.C. official site.
• Lorna J Waite, academic, poet and community activist{{Cite news |last=Sutherland |first=Giles |date=12 September 2023 |title=Scotsman Obituaries: Lorna J Waite, academic, poet and community activist |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/scotsman-obituaries-lorna-j-waite-academic-poet-and-community-activist-4287884 |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=The Scotsman}}
• Allan Wilson, Politician, former Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government Minister.{{cite web|url=https://radiocityassociation.co.uk/who-we-are|title=Who we are|publisher=Radio City Association|access-date=25 September 2022}}

File:Kilbirnie Kirk.JPG

The "Auld Kirk" is one of the oldest churches in Scotland still in use both pre-and post-Reformation. It is a Category A listed building.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB7492|desc=Kilbirnie Auld Kirk and Cemetery Walls|access-date=25 September 2022}}

The church was established in 1858 and the current building opened in 1862.{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishchurches.org.uk/sites/site/id/5873/name/St+Brigid%27s+Roman+Catholic+Church+Kilbirnie+Strathclyde|title=St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church|publisher=Places of Work in Scotland|access-date=25 September 2022}}

Tracing its roots back to 1889, the mission hall was completed in 1897.{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishchurches.org.uk/sites/site/id/5872/name/Gospel+Hall+3+Kilbirnie+Strathclyde|title=The Gospel Hall|publisher=Places of Worship in Scotland|access-date=25 September 2022}}

• Moorpark Primary School, accessed from Milton Road or School Road by students, was opened in 1978 to replace Ladyland School built in 1869 and Bridgend School, built in 1893. The school is located east of its namesake Moorpark House and is adjacent to the former site of local secondary school Garnock Academy. The new Moorpark Primary School is currently under construction on the site of Garnock Academy, due to open in Autumn 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/news/Exciting-times-as-work-on-new-school-begins.aspx |title=Exciting times as work on new school begins|website=North Ayrshire Council |access-date=22 November 2021}}
• Glengarnock Primary School has from 10 January 2017 been situated in the Garnock Community Campus.{{cite web|title=Glengarnock Primary School|url=http://www.glengarnock.northayrshireschools.co.uk/|access-date=12 March 2017}}
• Saint Bridget's Primary School, located on Hagthorne Avenue, educates local children of Roman Catholic and Christian parents. This location opened in October 1963 replacing the 1894 building.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/na/stbridgetsprimary/our-history/|title=Our History|publisher=St. Bridget’s Primary School|access-date=25 September 2022}}

• Garnock Academy[https://www.garnockcommunitycampus.co.uk/ Welcome to Garnock Community Campus], Garnock Community Campus is a secondary school that was formed in 1971 by the amalgamation of Beith Academy, Dalry High School, Kilbirnie Central School and Speir's school. Opening in September 1972, it was situated on School Road adjacent to Moorpark Primary, However, as of January 2017, the school moved into the new Garnock Community Campus in the Glengarnock area alongside the Primary school, Community Pool and library and other public offices and areas. It is a non-denominational co-educational school serving Barmill, Beith, Dalry, Gateside, Glengarnock, Kilbirnie, Longbar and the surrounding area. It has around 1,100 pupils.{{cite web|url=http://news.stv.tv/scotland/206580-school-league-tables-breakdown-of-every-scottish-school/|title=School league tables: Breakdown of every Scottish school's performance|work=STV News|access-date=4 October 2014}}

• The town is serviced by Glengarnock railway station which runs regular services managed by ScotRail on the Ayrshire Coast Line. There are three trains per hour to Glasgow Mon - Sat, and an hourly service on Sunday.

The area is served by Stagecoach West Scotland and McGill's Bus Services.

• 25, 25A, 25B and 25C Beith - Irvine Cross / Bourtreehill / Broomlands / Montgomerie Park
• 904 Largs - Paisley
• X36 Glasgow - Dalry

The hills between Kilbirnie and Largs were often black spots for aircraft passing over and many crashed due to low fog. The crash sites are available to visit, with wreckage still visible and some of these now form part of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.{{cite web|url=http://www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Aircraft-Crashes-in-CMRP1.pdf|title=Aircraft Crashes In and Around Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park|publisher= Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park|access-date=25 September 2022}}

File:111007 Glengarnock Castle from Burnt Hill.jpg

Lying {{convert|2|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} north of Kilbirnie on a promontory overlooking the wooded ravine of the River Garnock is Glengarnock Castle, a ruined 15th century keep. Ladyland Castle, mostly demolished, lay nearby and Ladyland House still survives as designed by David Hamilton.Love, Dane (2005), Lost Ayrshire: Ayrshire's Lost Architectural Heritage. Pub. Edinburgh: Birlinn Ltd. {{ISBN|1-84158-356-1}}, pp. 14–5.

Kilbirnie Loch is {{convert|1+1/2|mi|km}} long and nearly {{convert|1/2|mi|m}} broad.{{cite web|url=https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/kilbirnie-loch-north-ayrshire|title=Kilbirnie Loch, North Ayrshire|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=25 September 2022}}

File:Kilbirnie Loch looking towards Beith.JPG|The loch in summer

File:Kilbirnie Loch looking towards Kilbirnie.JPG|Looking towards Kilbirnie

File:Kilbirnie Loch and Boat House.JPG|Kilbirnie Loch boat house

File:Lagoon at south end of Kilbirnie Loch.JPG|The south end of the loch

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{{Commons category|Kilbirnie}}

{{reflist}}

• Strawhorn, J. & Boyd, W. (1951) The third statistical account of Scotland: Ayrshire. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd.
• Wylie, William (1851). Ayrshire Streams. London : Arthur Hall, Virtue, & Co.
• "Un Hombre bueno, La Vida De Jaime Clifford" (AC Thomson)

• {{commonscat-inline}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o8xKsZ0ii4 Video and commentary - The Place, Walled Gardens, Grand Avenue, etc.]
• [http://www.kilbirnie.uk.net/ Kilbirnie Community web site]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061005135912/http://www.kilbirnieauldkirk.org.uk/ Kilbirnieauldkirk.org]
• [http://www.ayrshireroots.com Ayrshireroots.com]
• [http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk Scotlandspeople.gov.uk]
• [https://archive.today/20130202160818/http://www.s1kilbirnie.com/ Kilbirnie Commercial site]
• [http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/article/5989 Plymouthbrethren.org]

{{North Ayrshire}}

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Category:Towns in North Ayrshire