Kirkmichael lies 3 miles (5 km) east of Maybole and started life as the focus of a well populated rural parish served by its church. Today it is a largely white harled small village set amid the rolling hills of South Ayrshire, a 10-mile (16 km) drive south of central Ayr.
Its origins date back to the 13th century when John de Gemmelstoun founded a church beside the Dyrock Burn here, which he dedicated to St. Michael. For much of its early life the village was called Kirkmichael of Gemilston, after its founder, but the name was eventually simplified.
The village church dates back to 1787 and is a fairly typical T-plan design intended to provide a large number of seats within a fairly small space, all exposed to the full force of the preacher's oratory.
The surrounding churchyard reflects its much greater age, though the attractive lich gate leading to it only dates back to 1702, according to the inscription on its bell. The lich gate was intended to accommodate mourners at funerals.
Kirkmichael focuses on two intersecting streets, largely occupied by white cottages built for hand-weavers in the 1790s. The most unusual building is the red stone McCosh Hall in Patna Road. This serves as the village hall and in 1898 was gifted to the village by James McCosh, President of Princeton University, whose family came from this part of Ayrshire. At the junction of Patna Road and Straiton Road lies the white-painted Kirkmichael Arms, a long one-storey village inn.
It has a pub, a restaurant and one post office.
Kirkmichael House on the south west side of the village is a Scottish baronial mansion dating from the 17th century. It was originally the home of the noble Kennedy family, before becoming a miners' welfare home and a boarding school.[4]
Notable peopleEdit
John McCosh, army surgeon and photographer, the earliest war photographer whose name is known.
John Willet, engineer. Attended the village primary school.
Guitar festivalEdit
Kirkmichael was the venue for the Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival. From 1999 until 2005 (except 2004, when the event was not held) for three days in May, Kirkmichael became Scotland's guitar village[5][6] and played host to thousands of music lovers from around the world. They came together for a weekend catering to all musical tastes from folk to flamenco and jazz to rock and roll.
IndustryEdit
The mining industry that dominated much of South Ayrshire left Kirkmichael unscathed. The same cannot be said for many of those employed in the industry, and it is a mark of the village's attractive location and environment that in the early 20th century the large Kirkmichael House, to the south of the village, was converted into a miners' welfare home, while another was opened near Cloncaird Castle to the south east. Both closed in the 1950s.
ReferencesEdit
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2005.
^"Life on a grand scale in Ayrshire". Herald Scotland.
^"Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival". Glasgow Herald. 29 May 2001. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
^"Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival". The Scotsman. 6 June 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
External linksEdit
Media related to Kirkmichael, South Ayrshire at Wikimedia Commons
Kirkmichael Village Website
The Kirkmichael Churchyard, Covenanters, Landowners and VC holders.
October 26, 2023
kirkmichael, south, ayrshire, kirkmichael, gaelic, cille, mhìcheil, church, michael, village, south, ayrshire, scotland, located, between, patna, maybole, straiton, also, civil, parish, 1991, population, kirkmichaelscottish, gaelic, cille, mhìcheilkirkmichaell. Kirkmichael Gaelic Cille Mhicheil the church of St Michael 1 is a village in South Ayrshire Scotland located between Patna Maybole and Straiton It was also a civil parish 2 In 1991 it had a population of 647 3 KirkmichaelScottish Gaelic Cille MhicheilKirkmichaelLocation within South AyrshireOS grid referenceNS343089Council areaSouth AyrshireLieutenancy areaAyrshire and ArranCountryScotlandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townMAYBOLEPostcode districtKA19PoliceScotlandFireScottishAmbulanceScottishUK ParliamentAyr Carrick and CumnockScottish ParliamentCarrick Cumnock and Doon ValleyList of places UK Scotland 55 20 46 N 4 36 54 W 55 346 N 4 615 W 55 346 4 615Kirkmichael Community Hall South AyrshireKirkmichael Parish Church South Ayrshire Contents 1 The village 1 1 Notable people 2 Guitar festival 3 Industry 4 References 5 External linksThe village EditKirkmichael lies 3 miles 5 km east of Maybole and started life as the focus of a well populated rural parish served by its church Today it is a largely white harled small village set amid the rolling hills of South Ayrshire a 10 mile 16 km drive south of central Ayr Its origins date back to the 13th century when John de Gemmelstoun founded a church beside the Dyrock Burn here which he dedicated to St Michael For much of its early life the village was called Kirkmichael of Gemilston after its founder but the name was eventually simplified The village church dates back to 1787 and is a fairly typical T plan design intended to provide a large number of seats within a fairly small space all exposed to the full force of the preacher s oratory The surrounding churchyard reflects its much greater age though the attractive lich gate leading to it only dates back to 1702 according to the inscription on its bell The lich gate was intended to accommodate mourners at funerals Kirkmichael focuses on two intersecting streets largely occupied by white cottages built for hand weavers in the 1790s The most unusual building is the red stone McCosh Hall in Patna Road This serves as the village hall and in 1898 was gifted to the village by James McCosh President of Princeton University whose family came from this part of Ayrshire At the junction of Patna Road and Straiton Road lies the white painted Kirkmichael Arms a long one storey village inn It has a pub a restaurant and one post office Kirkmichael House on the south west side of the village is a Scottish baronial mansion dating from the 17th century It was originally the home of the noble Kennedy family before becoming a miners welfare home and a boarding school 4 Notable people Edit John McCosh army surgeon and photographer the earliest war photographer whose name is known Samuel McGaw recipient of the Victoria Cross John Willet engineer Attended the village primary school Guitar festival EditKirkmichael was the venue for the Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival From 1999 until 2005 except 2004 when the event was not held for three days in May Kirkmichael became Scotland s guitar village 5 6 and played host to thousands of music lovers from around the world They came together for a weekend catering to all musical tastes from folk to flamenco and jazz to rock and roll Industry EditThe mining industry that dominated much of South Ayrshire left Kirkmichael unscathed The same cannot be said for many of those employed in the industry and it is a mark of the village s attractive location and environment that in the early 20th century the large Kirkmichael House to the south of the village was converted into a miners welfare home while another was opened near Cloncaird Castle to the south east Both closed in the 1950s References Edit Gaidhlig Scottish Gaelic Local Studies Vol 21 Baideanach Srath Spe Narann amp Braighean Mharr Badenoch Strathspey Nairn amp Braes of Mar Author Kurt C Duwe 1st Edition January 2005 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 1 November 2005 The Imperial gazetteer of Scotland Vol II GORDON ZETLAND by Rev John Marius Wilson pp 262 263 https archive org stream imperialgazettee02wilsuoft page 262 mode 1up Kirkmichael Details Gazetteer for Scotland Retrieved 14 May 2022 Life on a grand scale in Ayrshire Herald Scotland Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival Glasgow Herald 29 May 2001 Retrieved 23 December 2019 Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival The Scotsman 6 June 2005 Retrieved 23 December 2019 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Kirkmichael South Ayrshire at Wikimedia Commons Kirkmichael Village Website Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival The Kirkmichael Churchyard Covenanters Landowners and VC holders Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kirkmichael South Ayrshire amp oldid 1087846281, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
