Home Report Kilwinning

Kilwinning can be found in North Ayrshire, on the River Garnock, just north of the town of Irvine and roughly 21 miles south of Glasgow. It is also neighboured by Stevenston to the West and Dalry further north. It is home to roughly 16,000 residents. There is evidence that the area around Kilwinning has been settled since ancient times, however, the modern history of the town started with the construction of the Abbey of Kilwinning in 1140, an abbey of significance during the time, the ruins of which still exist today. The town was a noted centre of Scottish archery in medieval times.

Fast forward some centuries later to the 1800s, when during the industrial revolution, Kilwinning became an important industrial centre, with coal mining, textile production, milling and iron works bringing prosperity and more people to the town until the decline of these industries in later decades. The Pringle knitwear company originally manufactured their goods in Kilwinning. Another company that existed was Wilson’s Foods, which operated a plant in the grounds of the Eglinton Estate.

Indeed today, Kilwinning is seen as a post-industrial commuter town for the wider Ayrshire area as well as Paisley, and Greater Glasgow. In 1966 it was designated to be a part of the Irvine New Town project. Around this time Kilwinning experienced rapid expansion with new estates being constructed on surrounding farmland to meet the demand for the planned increase in population. A significant number of the town’s new residents were a result of Glasgow’s ‘clearances’, part of a wider programme to rid the city of its slum housing and improve the conditions of the population. Kilwinning itself consists of the pedestrianised historic town centre, Bridgend (which originally was a separate village), both now surrounded by the estates of Corsehill, Woodwynd, Blacklands, Pennyburn, Whitehirst Park, and Woodside with the last three being added after its incorporation into Irvine New Town. The Main Street of Kilwinning has recently been refurbished as part of the regeneration of the Irvine Bay area by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company.

Kilwinning has excellent road and rail transport links for the commuter. The A78 dual carriageway offers connections to the A71, A77 and nearby M77 motorway, for travel into wider Ayrshire, Glasgow, Dumfriesshire and further. The town is served by its own train station with regular services to Ayr, Ardrossan, Paisley Gilmour Street, Glasgow Central, or on to Edinburgh Waverly.

In terms of local education, there is one secondary school in the town, Kilwinning Academy, although until recently the town was also served by St Michael’s Academy. Kilwinning’s primary schools are: Corsehill Primary School, Abbey Primary School, Blacklands Primary School, St Winning’s Primary School, Pennyburn Primary School, Whitehirst Park Primary School and St Luke’s Primary School. A large campus of Ayrshire College (formerly James Watt College) was completed in the summer of 2000. Its arrival has brought some benefits to the town with increased revenue from the students supporting local businesses. Since 2013 the campus has been part of Ayrshire College.

Kilwinning has an abundance of things to see and do. The Museum of Ayrshire Country Life and Costume is found within Dalgarven Mill, which dates back to 1640. The museum is home to a unique collection of agricultural machinery, tools and photographs of the period. The imposing ruins of the 12th-century Kilwinning Abbey can be found just off the main street where you can ascend the old tower for views across the town, not to mention the nearby ruins of Eglinton Castle. Additionally, Eglinton Country Park in the grounds of the old Eglinton Castle Estate offers a plethora of activities for families and residents from trail walking to fishing, camping, children’s play areas, wildlife spotting and more.

A variety of the usual dining options can also be enjoyed in the town’s cafés and restaurants. Residents also benefit from Irvine’s amenities due to the town’s proximity.