Well because their is really nothing to talk about from a news point of view, and the fact that im flat out working this week. I thought id follow up my Glasgow blog with one which is more close to home, Ayr. This small town situated on the Firth of Clyde, is where i spent the longest period in Scotland, 8 years in total doesnt sound too long, but because i moved around the country so much, this town became the place that i consider my true home.
The town of Ayr began really in 1197, when a castle was built besides the mouth of the river Ayr. Shortly after King William the Lion of Scotland declared Ayr as a royal burgh. One of the first legends about Ayr was that at the end of the 13th century, the English invite some of Scotlands most prominent men to a meeting in Ayr. Where they captured them, and had them hung. Typical sneaky English fuckwits! But the story doesnt end there, because after hearing of this treachory, William Wallace set fires to the barns where the English soldiers were garrisoned, and burnt them all alive. Running from the remaining soldiers, it is said that he leapt over the river Ayr to escape, though in some places the river is 50 meters wide, so im guessing he actually ran across the ford which was there, but it makes a nice story about the event.
During the middle-ages, Ayr continued to flourish with a busy port and textile industry. At one point it boasted the richest port in Scotland. With the wool trade booming during the highland clearances. All this was well and good, but like most towns in Scotland, Ayr was hit by the 100year plague, which took its toll on the busy town. In the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell built a fortress in Ayr, though in doing so, destroyed most of the oldest building ( St. Johns church) in the process. In return he gave the town money to rebuild a new parish on the banks of the river, named the Auld Kirk. Which is a beautiful place to visit, but proberably could of been better planned, As the river has eroded parts of the grave yard, and almost everytime i visited the place, i could find some piece of human bone. I started
collecting them, untill i thought to myself that having a collection of dead peoples remains under my bed was not the best idea. Since ghosts scare the fuck out of me! Another fact about Ayr is that is the home of the oldest school in Scotland, Ayr Academy which was founded in 1233. This is something ive only recently came across while ive been doing my research into the South West Scotlands history, as a bit of fun really, i dont know why. I must lead a very boring life really!
Modern Ayr is the hub of South West Scotland. It has a reputation of a posh town, which is really not so true. Any venture into the town centre on a friday night would dismiss this view. Yes, Ayr, like Glasgow, has its plague of neds "running the schemes". Though unlike Glasgow there isnt a feeling of constant danger. Business is flourishing due to the wealthy people who relocate there. Summer is a really special time in Ayr, where tourists flock from around the world to see its history, and of course, how long could i wait to mention Scotlands national Bard(poet). Robert Burns was born on a farm just south of Ayr, born 1759, in a village called Alloway. This is now a rich suburb of Ayr. People from outside Ayr tend to look down on the town, and i cant blame them, around Ayr are rich hills full of coal, where many working class towns and villages founded Ayr's wealthy businessmen. From Ayr beach, you can look across the sea to see views of Arran, Cumbria, Bute and Kintyre. Many a drunken teenage night i spent drink vodka or getting stoned on the beach. Great memories of friends mucking about, football on the old racecourse, and of course swimming naked in the sea every new years eve! The last thing i will add to this blog is this... AYR AYR SUPER AYR, SUPER AYR UNITED!
2 comments:
I finally got down to reading it and I must say it is very good. It reads smoothly and is interesting. You are really good with words, Dave. :)
thanks for your comments, nice to know some people make an effort to read more of my journalistc postings. thought after the scotland part 1 it may be a while untill i write something like them again. i have alot to say about my home country, but next few postings will be about my expiences now rather than in the past. keep up the reading, you never know what my next rant will be:):D:P
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