Lost Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock is the largest town in Ayrshire and a major centre for the west of Scotland. It expanded hugely during the Industrial Revolution and in recent decades has rebuilt itself extensively, streets and structures built by Victorian planners being replaced with new shopping areas and buildings. Many of the manufacturing industries which had characterised Kilmarnock have closed in this period, from locomotive engineering, carpet making and agricultural machinery with Massey Ferguson, to Saxone shoes and Johnny Walker whisky. The town has had to generate a new economy in recent years with the centre and housing areas being redeveloped. Lost Kilmarnock presents a portrait of this town in Ayrshire over the last century to recent decades that has radically changed or disappeared today, showing not only industries and buildings that have gone but also people and street scenes, many popular places of entertainment and much more. This fascinating photographic history of lost Kilmarnock will appeal to all those who live in the area or know it well, as well as those who remember it from previous decades.

Kilmarnock resident, Frank Beattie, is well known for his local history books and for his weekly page in the Kilmarnock Standard. His history work has even been mentioned in the House of Commons.