Old Photograph Montgomery Castle Tarbolton Scotland

Old photograph of Montgomery Castle by Tarbolton in South Ayrshire, Scotland. This impressive mansion houses was built to replace the original Castle of Montgomery, which was referred to by the poet Robert Burns as to where Mary Campbell, Highland Mary, worked in the 1770s. The house served as a hotel for some time before being destroyed by fire in 1970.



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Old Photograph Munition War Workers Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of munition war workers in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1911 it is calculated that fewer than 6000 women were employed in the heavy industries of Clydeside. By the end of the First World War 31,500 women were working in the munitions industry alone.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Batchelors Club Tarbolton Scotland

Old photograph of the Batchelors Club in Tarbolton in South Ayrshire, Scotland. The upstairs room of this thatched roofed building was the largest in Tarbolton and was used for a number of social events. It was probably the first rural debating society in Scotland and the prototype for many Burns Clubs throughout the world over. On 11 November 1780 a debating club was founded by young men from Tarbolton parish, inspired by one that was established in Ayr, by Robert Burns, Gilbert Burns, Hugh Reid, Alexander Brown, Thomas Wright, William McGavin and Walter Mitchell. Robert Burns was unanimously elected president for the first meeting, held in the property of John Richard, used as an ale house. David Sillar, who lived nearby, was added to the list of founders in May 1781, followed by Matthew Paterson, James Paterson, and John Orr in 1782. The Club continued in operation for some years after Burns left the district. Robert Burns also attended dancing lessons in here 1779, was initiated into Freemasonry here in 1781.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Willie's Mill Tarbolton Scotland

Old photograph of Willie's Mill by Tarbolton in South Ayrshire, Scotland. Willie, of the mill at Tarbolton, was a friend of Robert Burns. Burns is said to have hidden Jean Armour at the Mill when she fell pregnant out of wedlock.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Regal Revels Saltcoats Scotland

Old photograph of the Regal Revels entertainment group at La Scala in Saltcoats, Scotland. Harry Kemp introduced a series of concert parties during the 1922 summer season at the La Scala cinema in Saltcoats. This proved to be the first of the renowned Kemp Summer Shows which ran at venues up and down the Ayrshire Coast. Kemp also invested heavily in Saltcoats' cinemas, with the Regal and La Scala cinemas in Saltcoats remaining in Kemp family ownership after Harry's death in 1972. Amongst the many performers who featured in Kemp's shows at the Beach Pavillion was Dave Willis, born 1895, died 1973, a Scottish comedian and actor well-known for his music hall performances in 1930s and 1940s. Willis also made two films for Welwyn Studios, co-starring with Patricia Kirkwood. Built on the site of the old Minstrel Stance, the Beach Pavilion was constructed to house summer shows. The Beach Pavilion, built as part of the Lido Complex, was also used a cartographic centre during World War II.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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