National Transport Trust Red Wheel at Troon

The latest National Transport Trust Red Wheel Heritage Site was unveiled at Troon on 19th December. KDHG President Gary Torbett and Troon born and bred Olympian Brian Whittle MSP undertook the honours overseen by John Yellowlees, Honorary Railway Ambassador for ScotRail.

A healthy group of just under 20 attended the brief ceremony and enjoyed light refreshments in the Harbour Bar on whose wall the plaque is mounted. From the site you can see over the harbour and appreciate its size before walking down past the marina to the area still actively used by the fishing fleet and some cargo vessels. The Arran ferry will decant to Troon for 2 years from June 2023 which makes the recognition of this site quite timely.

The plaque reads; 'TROON HARBOUR - Opened in 1812 as the terminus of the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway - a coal carrying plateway that was the first in Scotland to use steam locomotives and to carry passengers.'

The Red Wheel which was unveiled at Kilmarnock station on November 2021 reads; ' KILMARNOCK & TROON RAILWAY - Opened 1812 as a horse drawn, 4ft gauge plateway - the first in Scotland to carry passengers. Converted 1846 to a contemporary railway'

Both ends of this historically important railway are now commemorated in some style. 

More information on Red Wheels can be found HERE and on the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway HERE

Thanks to all members of KDHG who contributed to this project, as well as those who contributed via article on Facebook and LinkedIn. Thanks to the Mortons at The Harbour Bar who kindly agreed to have the plaque on their wall and for seeing to the installation as well as provision of refreshments.

 

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2023

Merry Christmas to all our members and friends. Hopefully 2023 will be a happy and peaceful time for you and your families. 

The Rise and Fall of Kilmarnock by Eddy Burns

 An interesting video has appeared in the Ed Explores Scotland series on YouTube in which Eddy Burns travels to Kilmarnock - not too happy with Scotrail- and offers some thoughts on the 1970s redevelopment of the town centre, a topic we will explore on our first talk on 6th October. Grab a coffee and have a watch (link below). Hopefully it will inspire you to come along to our meeting !

The Rise and Fall of Kilmarnock

HM Queen Elizabeth II

Kilmarnock & District History Group is saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8th September 2022. 

As historians we have a sense of loss but, at the same time, a feeling of change as one era moves to another. To many of us The Queen has been the only Monarch we have known and her reign of 70 years must surely have seen more advancement in technology, science, medicine than any other. A truly remarkable period to reflect upon. 

We will watch this and next week's historic moments unfold before like no other generation has been able to witness and we will all have our own particular memories of The Queen and her family to remember at this sad time.  May she rest in peace.

God Save The King

2022-23 Talks

 Please note that we have finalised our talks for 2022-23 - apart from some exact titles- and details can be found HERE . Meetings will take place on a Thursday evening this session

We will meet at Ayrshire College, Hill Street Kilmarnock except Thursday 20 October when we will meet in the Laigh Kirk.

Notice of 2022 AGM

 Members will have received an e-mail today advising if the agenda for our forthcoming AGM at 7.30pn on 22 March 2022.

Please direct any queries to Gary Torbett

Talk scheduled for 25th January will go ahead

 We are pleased to advise that our talk on the history of Kilwinning Abbey will go ahead thisTuesday at 7.30pm in Kay Park Church hall, London Road, Kilmarnock

Cancellation of talk - Tuesday 11th January 2022

 Unfortunately we have had to cancel our talk on Tuesday 11th January. We hope to reschedule this in due course.