Another request - this time about the 'The Blocks' or Railway Buildings at Barleith in Hurlford.
Mary Mackay from Ayr has asked the following;
- What was life like in The Blocks?
-Some addresses have '1/2' eg. number two and a half A Block etc. Why did some addresses have the half?
-What size were the houses? were some bigger than others?
-Mary's family moved premises. Does anyone know if this was likely because of a growing family?
-How was it possible to accommodate boarders / visitors?
-There seem to have been concerts on Saturday nights between 1920-1940.
It would be interesting to learn of anything you may know.
Please contact us at info@kilmarnockhistory.co.uk
Thanks
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMy Grandmother lived at 32C Block Barleith. It was the end of the block nearest the road. She lived on the first floor. I remember it very well as I spent a couple of summers there when I was a child. This would have been about 1958/59. The toilet was outside on the landing. The house itself had two rooms. The main room was a kitchen/living room. It had two wall cavities for beds. I used to sleep in one of these with my Grandmother. From the main room there was a short passageway to another bedroom. The bedroom window looked out on the railway line.
I have very similar memories as above. I remember that the toilet on the landing was shared by the two flats. The 'hole in wall' beds were either side of the fireplace and as a child were extremely comforting as the heat from the fire radiated through and retained by the curtain which was drawn across. Before falling asleep you could hear the conversation of the adults which was likewise reassuring. I likewise remember the outside washing area in the middle of the blocks. At the far end was a piece of waste ground with a very basic play area, one swing and swing rope.
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