Tour Scotland photographs and videos from my tours of Scotland. Photography and videography, both old and new, from beautiful Scotland, Scottish castles, seascapes, rivers, islands, landscapes, standing stones, lochs and glens.
Tour Scotland Video Of Old Photographs Of Pinwherry
Tour Scotland video of old photographs of Pinwherry, Ayrshire, Scotland. The name Pinwherry and the many place names in the district are Gaelic or an ancient form of Gaelic and describe the characteristics of the countryside. Pinwherry itself means The hill in the hollow, surrounded by hills, where the waters meet; these waters being the Stinchar and the Duisk. The now ruined Pinwherry castle was a Kennedy property, and the builder of the castle is believed to have been John Kennedy of Banquarrie. In 1648 the property came into the hands of John, Earl of Carrick, and later into the possession of the Pollock family. Pinwherry railway station was an intermediate station on the Glasgow, Ayr, Girvan, Stranraer main line of the former Glasgow and South Western Railway. It was opened by the Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway on 5 October 1877. It closed on 7 February 1882, reopened on 16 February 1882, closed again on 12 April 1886, reopened again on 14 June 1886, and finally closed on 6 September 1965. The line itself remains open to regular passenger traffic. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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Tour Scotland Video Of Old Photographs Of Glengarnock
Tour Scotland video of old photographs of Glengarnock in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The River Garnock flows through the village, but the name Glen Garnock applies to the ravine at Glengarnock Castle two miles to the north. The village is in the Garnock Valley area and is approximately 18.5 miles away from Glasgow. The main employment in the village came, historically, from the steelworks which existed on the shores of nearby Kilbirnie Loch. During the course of its life, the Iron Works there were owned by Merry and Cunninghame, Colvilles, and British Steel, finally closing in the early nineteen eighties. One of the first libraries in North Ayrshire was formed by Mr William Rabey who opened a Reading room at the Steel Works. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.
Tour Scotland Video Of Old Photographs Of Cumnock
Tour Scotland video of old photographs of Cumnock in East Ayrshire, Scotland. The town sits at the confluence of the Glaisnock Water and the Lugar Water. It is believed that a place of worship has existed in Cumnock's Square for over 1,100 years, though the earliest records begin in about 1275. The patron saint of Cumnock is Saint Conval. King James IV created the Burgh of Cumnock. This Scottish town housed many miners, and also served as the market town for the other, smaller towns in the district, like Auchinleck, Lugar, Muirkirk, New Cumnock and Ochiltree. The father of the Labour Party, James Keir Hardie, lived in the town for a large part of his life, and a statue to him sits outside the town hall. William Wallace allegedly spent three months in this area in 1296, according to the poem, The Wallace, by Blind Harry. Cumnock is also in the heart of Robert Burns country.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.
Tour Scotland Video Of Old Photographs Of Dalmellington
Tour Scotland video of old photographs of Dalmellington, Ayrshire, Scotland. Eighteenth century Dalmellington was a small rural village with some 500 inhabitants, but the modern way of life was already taking shape. Good quality coal was being produced from surface workings and sent down the turnpike road to Galloway. The town grew after Watt`s engine had made deeper mine workings feasible, and the completion of the railway in 1858. Apart from the coal mining, there were 8,000 sheep and 800 black cattle on the hills, and plans were afoot for the spinning and weaving of wool. These plans resulted in two woollen mills which flourished for a time in the following century. The two mills employed about 30 people between them. The yarn from the largest was disposed of wholly to the Kilmarnock carpet manufacturers until the proprietor of the mill added a carpet factory with eight looms constantly at work. The yarn spun in the second mill was also manufactured on the spot, into blankets, into plaid, packing cloth. There were also about 40 weavers working from home. Although by the 20th Century mining was the dominant industry, workers had to travel to outlying areas. Eight pits producing around 124,000 tons a year were operating in the 1940s. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.
Tour Scotland Video Of Old Photographs Of Galston
Tour Scotland video of old photographs of Galston, East Ayrshire, Scotland. Tour Ayr and Kilmarnock. The town stands on the Ayrshire Road from New Cumnock to Glasgow by the Mearns Moor. John Goldie, miscellaneous writer, was born in the parish of Galston in 1717 ; he moved to Kilmarnock, where he carried on the business of cabinetmaker, subsequently of wine merchant. He is author of a volume entitled Essays on Various Subjects, humorously known as Goldie’s Bible, and is held in grateful memory as a friend of Robert Burns. He died in 1809. The 17th century Presbyterians were against burials taking place within churches. In 1609 John Schaw of Sornbeg decided to bury his recently-deceased wife within Galston Church. He entered the kirk with a party of armed men and proceeded to break up flagstones and dig a grave where he interred his wife's body. He was fined £20 for this action and promised never to attempt this act again. Handball was popular in these parts during the 19th century and Galston was the site of the most important competition, held on the Saturday of the Glasgow Fair. Cessnock castle by Galston, dates from around the 15th Century. The Duke of Portland had it restored by 1900 and is now a private house. After her defeat at the battle of Langside, Mary Queen of Scots is reputed to have taken refuge there. Other visitors of note include the reformist preacher John Knox and the poet Robert Burns. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.
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