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Loans
Loans maps
Historic maps of Loans and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Loans maps
Loans photos
We have no photos of Loans, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Dundonald| Irvine| Kilmarnock| Kilmaurs| Stair
Loans area books
Displaying 1 of 2 books about Loans and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Loans
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Ayrshire memories
What Happend to Barassie ?
I remember my childhood, going to the chippy and playing on the beach, everyone was nice and happy. I still live in Barassie but now all I think of is how dull it has become with new buildings everywhere (some better than others ). My grandparents have lived in Troon/Barassie now for nearly 40 years and say things have never been the same, it has gone from bad to worse. It might seem as though I am going on a bit, there are however some good things that come out of Barassie. The chippy is very good with fresh fish and lovely chips. The beach is good for a family day out with many ice-cream vans about. I also remember meeting the person I love most here, he has lived here all his life too and he agrees that there is much to be done to better the place a bit.
Smugglers Inn, Troon
Hi, I remember the Smugglers Inn on Portland Street when it was owned by Harry Scoffin, what a character, he had a large handlebar moustache like Jimmy Edwards. For those who can remember him, he came from Plockton, he had a tape of 'God Save the Queen' which he used to stick on and all the longhairs including me had to stand to attention or he said you were out the the door. Nobody tested him, he was a big bloke, but good natured all the same. The pub looked like a museum with guns and swords on the walls, they dont have atmospheres like that any more, all these restrictions nowadays. Happy memories. Bye for now, Colin
An American in Barassie
I lived at 51 Becah Road, Barassie, Troon. My step-father was in the U.S. Air Force and stationed at Prestwiick. I remember the gentleman who lived on the ground floor of our house. His name I think was George Mullin. We lived on the top floor. He and I used to go for long walks on the beach and the golf course. I can remember taking tea and having ices. He was a marvelous man. I believe he was an artist. I finally find the exact address of the hosue. I only had an old damaged photo. Thanks to the Ayrshire Post and Lisa, I was able to get a current photo and the address. I would like to find out if the name is current for the time period we lived there and also when he died. I believe his wife was at a boarding school as a teacher and his son went to the same school. I remember he was home every so often but not much. Anything... Read more
Good Old Days at Symington Primary School
My name is Agnes Mawhinney, my fondness memory is going to the old primary school on Symington Road North with my brother Arthur. The class rooms were big with big high ceilings, the toilets were outside across the playground and you had to hold on till playtime to go to the toliet. Playtime was the best time because you were able to skip with your pals and the boys played tag. I remember when the nit nurse would come in to check our heads and the dreaded brown envelope we had to take home to our parents if we had any nits. The nurse also came into give us our jabs and I remember dreading my turn. On sports days we had potato spoon races on the playing field. One person I remember is a boy called Alan Love. Then we moved to the new primary school on Brewland Road in Symington. The scool was just built and in the spring the class planted bulbs in the garden. I made... Read more
Crossing The Moor
My secondary education was completed after spending 4 years at Irvine Royal Academy. The school was broken into two buildings known as the old school (pictured) and the new school in Kilwinning Road. Classes were conducted between both buildings and often meant crossing the moor to and from either building. This was fine and considered a great timewaster in good weather but was a pain in pouring rain and ice & snow etc.
The old school was a beautiful building which was loaded with character and that also included some of the teachers who could be characters in their own right, the older of whom wore the black robes and generally carried a belt for discipline, although I never saw one used. The classes were split following the results from the 11+ exam and we were taught according to capabilities. I loved it.
I loved the old building, the character, and the learning (although the exams were a bit stressful). However we survived and although that... Read more
Irvine Royal Academy
In relation to Margaret's memory of 'crossing the moor', we did the same! I have various memories of gym periods in embarrassing shorts, running around on 'the moor', with the boys from the 'new' Ravenspark School (now Irvine) passing us and whistling etc. Heather C. and Joan R. were my pals -I've used my own name here - maybe someone remembers? The old building was lovely, I loved the 'lecture room', seen top left of the pic, huge windows onto the moor. Yes, teachers with flowing black robes. I bumped into Mr. Rab McGarry (Art) a few years back, loved art, (got my degree just recently!). Mr. McGarry was so cool, he seemed surprised when I told him we thought he was cool - proves he MUST have been! Did we really see Gallagher and Lyle at Ravenspark in 1970-71-just after school bell, walked in still with uniforms on - organised - (remember head teach telling us not to miss the bus)! Met Jean McKee in London... Read more
29 Seagate, Irvine
Hi, my name is Colin, I live in Lowestoft, Suffolk. The picture you have of 29 Seagate, Irvine is part of the building we lived in, the part you see was used as a workshop when we lived there, he did upholstery. We had no electricity, gas only. I loved to see the part in your picture, it brings back memories. We used to take our accumulator up to the High Street to a bicycle shop to be charged up for the radio, near there Willie Kilmarnock had a toy shop, they didn't have any children, they were such nice people, I don't suppose they are still alive, they used to give me toys that were damaged. I remember Mcnab the plumber's son, he had a large train set which went up and down the back garden, being young I had never seen one that size before. There were some cold winters in them days when the river froze over. I was going to Loudon Street School at that time.... Read more
