Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock is a busy town in Ayrshire with many fine attractive buildings and a long history dating back more than a thousand years. Kilmarnock’s landmark is a fine statue in the centre of the town commemorating the poet Robert Burns and his printer, John Wilson, who printed the first edition of Burns poems nearby. Other striking pieces of street art are dotted around the town centre.

The tall tower of the Laigh Kirk near the town’s centre has been attached to no less than three different churches, the first built in the 1600s, and the second in 1750 until tragedy struck on 18 October 1801 when falling plasterwork caused a stampede and 29 people were killed in the crush. The church was demolished and a replacement built in 1802, which stands to this day. To prevent a repeat of the tragedy the new church was built with no fewer than thirteen exits.