Doors Open Day® visitor sites SKELMORLIE KILBIRNIE Skelmorlie Secret Bunker Stoneyholm Mill Lodge Dunlop Caledonia 1408 ground floor only Comprises visitor portacabin and Royal Observer Corps In centre of Kilbirnie Dunlop Village Hall, 48 Main Street underground monitoring post manned until 1991. The primary function was to Prominent Category B listed cotton mill complex established in 1831 and now on There are many myths, rumours and misconceptions about Freemasonry. Would monitor and report on the effects of a nuclear attack as part of an extensive chain the Buildings at Risk Register. In 1864 Dennyholm Mill took it over for flax you like to know more about its traditions, heritage and culture, and to see a Lodge throughout the United Kingdom. This is the only monitoring post fully restored spinning. Latterly used for the manufacture of fishing nets and twine by W & J set out as if for a Masonic Meeting? You are very welcome to have a tour of our in the West of Scotland for public access. Access by climbing down a 15ft vertical Knox Ltd, some areas still being used for this purpose. Local community group Lodge, and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee. Take time to meet some of the members, steel ladder. Warm clothing and sensible shoes required. has formed The Stoneyholm Mill Trust which, with NAC assistance, aims to have those questions answered and an opportunity to see what we are doing in Pre-booking essential due to restricted space. preserve and regenerate the mill for future generations. Visitors will be able to the community. Open Sunday 12 noon – 4 p.m. KA3 4AG Tel: 07513 504 115 to reserve a place. see inside the mill, hear what it was like to work there and help shape its future. Open Saturday and Sunday 12 noon – 6 p.m. PA17 5HF Activities include artisan craft fair, guided building tours, film screening, pop up STEWARTON coffee shop and children’s games. LARGS Open Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. KA25 7DZ Stewarton Museum Avenue Square Largs M useum Auld Kirk of Kilbirnie This small but very interesting museum on the first floor of the Townhouse, is the Kirkgate House, Manse Court, off Main Street Dalry Road result of many years’ hard work dedicated to the life of Stewarton – the Bonnet Largs Museum presents a fine collection of domestic artefacts, seaside souvenirs, First mentioned in 1127, with an almost unbroken list of incumbents since 1361. Toun, and its people with access to local family history. Children welcome if and photographs of old Largs and Australian connections; and archival material Tower built 1490; Aisle built 1597 and Crawford Gallery 1642 with its unique accompanied by an adult, so come and try our children’s Quiz. for researchers. Display includes Largs’ involvement in planning D Day during WWII. woodwork and Armorials. C S S Johnston added northern extension 1903-05. Open Saturday and Sunday 12 noon – 4 p.m. KA3 5AD NATIONAL BURNS Open Saturday and Sunday 1.30 – 4.30 p.m. KA30 8AW Superb windows by Guthrie & Wells, James Ballantine, Gordon Webster and Arthur MEMORIAL HOMES GALSTON Skelmorlie Aisle Spiers, and carved work make this one of the finest churches in Scotland. Sunday Mauchline Service 11 a.m. Within Auld Kirkyard, off Main Street, near Museum Loudoun Kirk (HLF) Open Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday 1 – 4 p.m. KA25 6HY 1636 Renaissance-style canopied tomb within mausoleum to Montgomerie family. On side road off A719, opposite Loudoun Castle Park Splendid painted barrel-vaulted timber ceiling. Owned by Historic Scotland. Sir entrance BEITH Thomas Makdougall Brisbane Mausoleum in Kirkyard. Recently restored 12th century Kirk. Partially restored by 3rd Marquess of Bute in Open Saturday and Sunday 1.30 – 4.30 p.m. KA30 8AW Former Townhouse 1898. Covenanters’ graves, including Thomas Fleming, ancestor to Sir Alexander Corner of The Strand and Eglinton Street. Fleming. The memorial to the tragic Lady Flora Hastings is prominent in the Clark Memorial Church Kirkyard. Preservation work supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Bath Street Classic Georgian building with attractive belfry, funded from public subscriptions and opened 1817. Ground floor reopened by Beith Cultural and Heritage Society Scotland and work with the Carved Stones of Scotland Association. Stewarded T G Abercrombie 1890-92. Impressive Early English Gothic in red sandstone. Rich 2011, as an Information and Heritage Centre. Exhibition: Beith town from 1911 by the Friends of Loudoun Kirk. interior with hammer beam roof, Willis organ, and outstanding stained glass by – 2017. Open Sunday 12 noon – 4 p.m. KA4 8PF Stephen Adam, David Gauld, Christopher Whall and Meikle & Son. Recent Open Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 – 4 p.m.; Sunday 2 – 4 p.m. KA15 1DT conservation work and interior changes. Barr Castle Open Saturday and Sunday 2 – 4 p.m. KA30 8BL Auld Kirk and Kirkyard Barr Street Beith Cross in town centre, 200 yards from Townhouse. Built by the Lockhart Family, who held the Barony of Galston, the Barr Castle St John’s Parish Church (formerly known as Lockhart’s Tower) is an old Norman Keep in the centre of town. Bath Street On site of original parish church. A church was built c.1590 with later 18th century extensions. The 1590 church was demolished early 19th century when a new Constructed of sandstone believed to be taken from the local Burn Anne, it stands Congregation dates from the Disruption of 1843. Building reconstructed late 19th approx. 100ft and features vaulted ceilings on the ground and first floors. The top century in French Romanesque style by Archibald J Grahame, his only monument, church was built up the hill. Part of the 18th century extensions and belfry were retained with the burial ground, which contains some original gravestones. floor holds a fascinating museum filled with historic artefacts and photographs recently renovated. Fine stained glass by Douglas Strachan. Service 10 a.m. of Galston and Freemasonry. 2019 marks its 125th anniversary as the home of Open Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. KA30 8BL Plaque marks links with Rev John Witherspoon, a signatory to the US Declaration of Independence, and Parish Minister in Beith 1745 – 57. Lodge St Peter. Great family day out. Open Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 – 4 p.m.; Sunday 2 – 4 p.m. KA15 1DT Open Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday 12 noon – 4 p.m. KA4 8HU NEWMILNS MILLPORT Owl Cote Beith Parish Church and Hall The Portland Field Studies Council 2-4 Cross Street Marine Parade Built 1807-10 to replace the Auld Kirk Recently refurbished category B listed building at the centre of the town. Galston Visit the Robertson Aquarium and Museum, learn about what can be found under and extended 1885. Gothic T-plan with prominent tall five-stage tower. Interior Community Development Trust will host a display of local history and Burnawn the water of the Clyde, learn about the history of marine biology in Millport, take woodwork of note by craftsmen employed in former local furniture industry. Agate in The Portland. Open Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. KA4 8AL a tour of the aquarium and watch the animals getting fed and try your hand at Imposing organ, stained glass by Gordon Webster, and items from former Trinity rock climbing. Church. Refreshments available within the church, also exhibition from the Open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. KA28 0EG archives and audio visual display of views from the tower and other parts of Beith. NEWMILNS Service 11 a.m. Major renovation of the church tower and changes in the interior The Owl Cote have been completed since the 2018 Doors Open Day. The Wedge Middlefield Farm, near Darvel TV mast public road 50 Stuart Street Exhibition: History of churches in Beith and current activities. 12.15 Short Guided The World’s narrowest house, a tiny two-storey dwelling built between two shops. Walk to Auld Kirk. Traditional style round tower built 2008/10 to provide nest site for wild barn owls. Home base of the Cumbrae Contemporary Poetry Society, a place to sit, converse Open Saturday 10.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday 12.30 – 3.30 p.m. KA15 1EY Inner core re-uses recycled bricks from former lace factory. Displays of Industrial and write or read poetry. It is the home of Frances and Gandalf the literary cat. Heritage includes old bottles, Ayrshire bricks, local archaeology, geology and Look in for a chat, this is my home. You are invited to read or write contemporary Spier’s Old School Grounds ecology. Clay building blocks from local Victorian water culvert. Narrow approach poems. Readings if required. On B706 Beith to Dunlop road – parking in grounds, roads. Open Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. KA16 9LS Open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. KA28 0AG enter by second entrance in Barmill Road south east from junction with A737 Beith Bypass DARVEL FAIRLIE Site of locally endowed advanced school designed by James Sellars, opened 1888 Private Telephone Museum and demolished in 1984. The landscaped grounds were laid out by the Earl of 1 Burn Road, near the Turf Hotel Fairlie Parish Church Eglinton’s head gardener. Since 2010, grounds sensitively restored by Friends of Main Road Spiers/Spiers Trust/North Ayrshire Council partnership. The restored Coronation Private museum containing unique display of telephone memorabilia dating from Built as a Chapel of Ease in 1834, and extended in 1883 by J J Stephenson. Superb garden dating from 1953 was formally reopened in 2013.