Alloway
Encyclopedia
Alloway is best known as the birthplace of Robert Burns
, and as where he set his poem "Tam o' Shanter"
.
The former village and surrounding area was incorporated into the former Royal Burgh of Ayr in 1935 and the extended village
is now a suburb
of Ayr
on the River Doon
, in Scotland
. In the heart of the village lies the birthplace of Robert Burns, known as 'Burns Cottage' and the adjacent museum. Here are original manuscripts in the poet's own hand. There is a nineteenth century memorial to Burns designed by Thomas Hamilton
at the foot of the village next to the church. The ruined Alloway Kirk
, or Auld Kirk, and the old bridge over the River Doon
are featured in the poem "Tam O'Shanter". Both are tourist attractions of the village. Robert Burns' father, William Burns, is buried in the Auld Kirk. At night, green lights are illuminated over the Auld Kirk, adding to its ghostly appearance.
In addition to Burns Cottage and museum, the National Trust for Scotland
has established a new purpose built Burns Heritage Centre in Alloway.
and a series of granite carvings by Ronald Rae
. The second, Belleisle Park, houses a golf course, walled garden, Camelia House, and playground.
Alloway is served by a primary school, library, post office and general store, church, pharmacy and gift shop.
is located in Alloway on the former Robertson's Field and has played host to a number of Scotland Cricket Internationals, as well as being the home of Ayr Cricket Club, founded in 1859, since 1996, when they moved across the road from the original Cambusdoon ground. Ayr Cricket Club had moved from the Dam Park to the original Cambusdoon ground in 1935, and was their home for 60 years until sold for housing in 1995. The original cricket ground, which hosted two first-class matches (Scotland v Ireland in 1958 and 1974), was developed on the grounds of the former Cambusdoon Estate, once owned by 19th Century Iron and Coal magnate, James Baird. Baird's original Cambusdoon House, now a ruin, was converted to a boys' preparatory school in the late 1920s, and the rest of the estate surrounding the cricket ground was developed for housing in the late 1930s. The former England cricket captain mike Denness grew up in one of these houses, on Shanter Way, which adjoined the cricket ground.
Ayr Hockey Club also play out of the Cambusdoon ground, on a purpose-built floodlit astroturf pitch, which is also used for 5-a-side and 11-a-side football. There is also a bowling green, with the Cricket Club, Hockey Club and Bowling Club under the umbrella Cambusdoon Sports Club title.
Also in Alloway is Millbrae, the home of Ayr Rugby Club,since 1964. It is located behind the Monument and gardens.
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
, and as where he set his poem "Tam o' Shanter"
Tam o' Shanter (Burns poem)
"Tam o' Shanter" is a poem written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1790. Many consider it to be one of the best examples of the narrative poem in modern European literature....
.
The former village and surrounding area was incorporated into the former Royal Burgh of Ayr in 1935 and the extended village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
is now a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
on the River Doon
River Doon
The River Doon is a river in South Ayrshire, Scotland. The river flows 23 miles from Loch Doon, joining the Firth of Clyde just south of Ayr. Its course is generally north-westerly, passing near to the town of Dalmellington, and through the villages of Patna, Dalrymple, and Alloway, birthplace...
, in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. In the heart of the village lies the birthplace of Robert Burns, known as 'Burns Cottage' and the adjacent museum. Here are original manuscripts in the poet's own hand. There is a nineteenth century memorial to Burns designed by Thomas Hamilton
Thomas Hamilton (architect)
Thomas Hamilton was a Scottish architect, based in Edinburgh. Born in Glasgow, his works include: the Dean Orphan Hospital, now the Dean Gallery; the Royal High School on the Calton Hill, long considered as home for the Scottish Parliament; Bedlam Theatre; the George IV Bridge, which spans the...
at the foot of the village next to the church. The ruined Alloway Kirk
Alloway Kirk
The old Alloway Kirk is a ruin in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland , celebrated as the scene of the witches' dance in the poem Tam o' Shanter by Robert Burns....
, or Auld Kirk, and the old bridge over the River Doon
River Doon
The River Doon is a river in South Ayrshire, Scotland. The river flows 23 miles from Loch Doon, joining the Firth of Clyde just south of Ayr. Its course is generally north-westerly, passing near to the town of Dalmellington, and through the villages of Patna, Dalrymple, and Alloway, birthplace...
are featured in the poem "Tam O'Shanter". Both are tourist attractions of the village. Robert Burns' father, William Burns, is buried in the Auld Kirk. At night, green lights are illuminated over the Auld Kirk, adding to its ghostly appearance.
In addition to Burns Cottage and museum, the National Trust for Scotland
National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland describes itself as the conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to...
has established a new purpose built Burns Heritage Centre in Alloway.
Public Parks
There are two main parks in Alloway. The first, Rozelle, hosts Ayr Flower Show each summer and has an art gallery which holds various exhibitions throughout the year. It also has an interesting permanent sculpture collection which include a Henry MooreHenry Moore
Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
and a series of granite carvings by Ronald Rae
Ronald Rae
Ronald Rae is a British sculptor born in Ayr, Scotland, in 1946. Works, by hand, in granite. His largest work to date is the 20 tonne Lion of Scotland. Solo exhibitions include Regents Park, London and Holyrood Park, Edinburgh...
. The second, Belleisle Park, houses a golf course, walled garden, Camelia House, and playground.
Alloway is served by a primary school, library, post office and general store, church, pharmacy and gift shop.
Sport
Cambusdoon New GroundCambusdoon New Ground
Cambusdoon New Ground is a cricket ground located in Ayr, Scotland. It is the home of Ayr Cricket Club, and hosted three One Day International in August 2006 as part of the European Cricket Championship tournament. It also hosted two one day matches in 2010 for the Scottish Team against Afghanistan...
is located in Alloway on the former Robertson's Field and has played host to a number of Scotland Cricket Internationals, as well as being the home of Ayr Cricket Club, founded in 1859, since 1996, when they moved across the road from the original Cambusdoon ground. Ayr Cricket Club had moved from the Dam Park to the original Cambusdoon ground in 1935, and was their home for 60 years until sold for housing in 1995. The original cricket ground, which hosted two first-class matches (Scotland v Ireland in 1958 and 1974), was developed on the grounds of the former Cambusdoon Estate, once owned by 19th Century Iron and Coal magnate, James Baird. Baird's original Cambusdoon House, now a ruin, was converted to a boys' preparatory school in the late 1920s, and the rest of the estate surrounding the cricket ground was developed for housing in the late 1930s. The former England cricket captain mike Denness grew up in one of these houses, on Shanter Way, which adjoined the cricket ground.
Ayr Hockey Club also play out of the Cambusdoon ground, on a purpose-built floodlit astroturf pitch, which is also used for 5-a-side and 11-a-side football. There is also a bowling green, with the Cricket Club, Hockey Club and Bowling Club under the umbrella Cambusdoon Sports Club title.
Also in Alloway is Millbrae, the home of Ayr Rugby Club,since 1964. It is located behind the Monument and gardens.
External links
- About Ayr - About Ayr, South Ayrshire Council website information about Ayr
- South Ayrshire Council - South Ayrshire Council's website contains comprehensive information about the services provided by the Council