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Symington
Symington maps
Historic maps of Symington and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Symington maps
Symington photos
We have no photos of Symington, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Dundonald| Kilmarnock| Irvine| Kilmaurs| Stair
Symington area books
Displaying 1 of 2 books about Symington and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Symington
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Symington.
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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
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
Fishing at Craufurdland Lake.
I was born in Armour Street in Kilmarnock in 1959. Around 1963 we moved to Onthank. I went to Onthank School. My friend Bryce Herbert and I from about the age of 10 onwards used to go to Craufurdland Lake to fish for Perch and Pike. On Saturday mornings we would knock on the door of the castle in the picture. An upstairs window would open and we would shout up asking for permission to fish in the Lake. If "Mr Craufurdland" as we imagined he was called said yes, off we went. If no, we walked home again. The Lake was and is a magical place for me although now it is a trout fishery and all of the beautiful lilies and reeds are gone.
Hogmanay in Kilmarnock
Sometime in December of 1953 I was posted to Preswick Airport from London Airport, being a motor cycle Constable with what was then the Ministry of Civil Aviation Constabulary, for a tour of duty of one month, the police motor cycle, a 350cc Matchless was shipped from London by train.
It had been reported that cars were mistaking the single runway for the main road to Glasgow, however during my tour I didn't come across any such incident, although it was bloody cold riding a motor cycle eight hours a day.
But the fondest memories of that time I have are first-footing on new year's eve with three pretty Scottish girls in Kilmarnock, being a tall, dark, stranger I was pushed into various homes with a piece of bread in one hand and a piece of coal in the other, giving the promise of food and warmth for the year, all new to me being an Englishman.
As I seem to recall this lasted for two... Read more
Killie
My memories have a date range from 1958 to date. Although I was born in Irvine due to my mother needing urgent medical assistance I was brought up in a town that I grew to love and found easy to defend against anyone who barracked it.
I lived with my mother and father originally in Paxton Street which looked onto the bleechy (childrens' play area) which backed onto the cemetary of the St. Andrews Church.
Like my Dad, I went to nearby Bentink Primary School and during lunch time would go to my Gran's in Richardland Road which had a great view of the woollen mill and the comings and goings around that area.
In 1959 we moved to the new housing estate at Bellfield where I lived for 25 yrs.
Throughout my time in Killie I represented the town's local swimming club - like my mother, father and younger brother did. Like my younger brother I also played rugby for the rugby club and also... Read more
