Ian H MacDonald, President
17, Grange Terrace
Kilmarnock

01563 524748

ianhmac@aol.com

Chair of Museum Trustees and History Enquiries - Ian H MacDonald

17, Grange Terrace, Kilmarnock Tel 01563 524748, email ianhmac@aol.com

About Us

The Stewarton and District Historical Society meet once a month at John Knox Church Hall. Visiting speakers give talks on a wide range of topics both of local and wider historical interest.

Stewarton and District Historical Society was formed over 30 years ago by a group of residents from Stewarton & Dunlop who wanted to preserve the history of the district in word and picture and by collecting local artefacts.

Since its formation, the Society has flourished and has developed a small museum - but as the collection has temporarily gone into storage from September 23th 2009, the Society have moved to Flat 5b in The Avenue (the former Caretaker's Flat of the Institute Hall). Visits will be by appointment only in the meantime.

In addition, prizes have been donated to Stewarton Academy, and competitions run for the local primary schools as well as history exhibitions in the local Church Halls. History Booklets have also been produced for people with an interest in local history and those moving into the town, along with a Town Trail. Enquiries are welcome from any group wishing an illustrated talk on Stewarton's history (from a choice of half a dozen).

New This Month

Robert Tannahill

The last meeting of 2011 was addressed by local speaker, Mr David Mullen, who is originally from Paisley. Mr Mullen spoke to the members about the Paisley poet, Robert Tannahill, who died in 1810 aged 36 years. In 2010, Mr Mullen and others in Paisley organised an exhibition in the Paisley Arts Centre to mark the 200th anniversary of his death, and the speaker brought along many of the pictures on display on that occasion. He played one or two recordings of Tannahill's songs, of which there are over one hundred in existence.

Members were surprised to learn that Waltzing Matilda was based on one of his airs which had been overheard by the composer of the Australian song, while 'The Braes of Balquhidder' was the basis for 'The Wild Mountain Thyme'. Mr Mullen explained how, as a Paisley weaver, Tannahill worked at his loom and wrote his songs as he worked, writing them down as he worked. In many ways he reminded his audience of Burns, but although they lived around the same time in the West of Scotland, there is no evidence that they ever met.

Private Glen Yates

The website has yet again spread far and wide! The Society have had an enquiry from British Columbia from a lady who has recently discovered that she had an ancestor who had lived in Stewarton around 100 years ago. Private Glen Yates had lived in 'Brookwood' before enlisting in the army, but sadly he was killed during World War One. We have been able to find a photograph of him, as well as an obituary from the Kilmarnock Standard, which have been sent off to Canada. The Society have also found that he was not added to the Stewarton War Memorial as he had only live in the town for a short time, and was not a native of Stewarton. His son died in the Garnock Valley area only a few years ago.

January Meeting

The first meeting of 2012, on Monday 9th January, will be addressed by well-known local historian, Mr Tom Barclay. He will be speaking on the subject of the Scottish Wine Trade with France with particlar emphasis on Ayr. As always, anyone interested will be most welcome to come along to John Knox Lesser Hall at 7.30 on the 9th.

Annual Outing

It has been decided that the Annual Outing in June will be to Scone Palace at Perth, but more details will be available shortly.

This Month's Picture

Corsehill Banks

Following our recent item on the Bean Mill which used to stand across from the Millhouse Hotel, we have learned that the two primary schools have been working on a project about the Park in conjunction with East Ayrshire's Country Park Rangers.

The land was donated to the Town by the Cunnighame Watt family, many years ago, hence the name, and the picture this month is an old photograph which had been hand coloured by Armour the Stationer in Stewarton. It shows the burn further upstream. It was known either as the Corsehill Burn or the Clerkland Burn, depending on whether you lived in town or country.

An earlier project was carried out around 1970 by the pupils of the old High School (now Laishaw Primary) under the supervision of the late Mr T (Tommy) Hunter. This led to the erection of a bridge made of old railway sleepers being laid across the burn, giving access to Corsehillbank Street, along wih a few picnic tables made from the same materials, in the technical classes.

Stewarton & District Historical Society Archive

For more articles from the Historical society, visit our archive page.