Old Images of Kilmarnock, Scotland

Glimpse history through old images of Kilmarnock, in East Ayrshire, Scotland.

Dean Castle

Dean Castle, the stronghold for the Boyd family, was built sometime around 1350 A.D.

It was traditionally known as Kilmarnock Castle, until its name changed to Dean Castle in about 1700 A.D. The Dean is the term for a wooded glen, so the new name reflected the setting around the historic fortress.

The image from 1858 shows a ruined structure without a roof. Visitors today can enjoy the redeveloped castle, which was used as “Beaufort Castle” in the TV series “Outlander”.

old image of Dean Castle Kilmarnoch 1858 — Old image of Dean Castle and the Town of Kilmarnock, from “A History of Kilmarnock, from an early period to the present time; including biographical notices, etc” (1858) – British Library/Flikr

Old photo of Dean Castle at Kilmarnock, taken sometime between 1890 and 1905. Part of the Detroit Publishing Company catalogue of 1905, now held by the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Collection

The Cross, Kilmarnock

This old photochrom was taken sometime between 1890 and 1905.

There’s so much activity going on at The Cross that day, and the local businesses are nicely captured, that I’ve added three closeups for a better view too.

old photo of the Cross in Kilmarnock c.1900 — Old photochrom of The Cross in Kilmarnock, taken sometime around the early 20th Century. Part of the Detroit Photographic Company catalogue of 1905, held by the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Burns Monument

Kilmarnock’s commemoration to the world famous Scottish poet Robert Burns was completed in 1879.

It is located on an elevated position in Kay Park, to the east of the town centre.

old illustration of the Burns Monument in Kilmarnock — Old illustration of the Burns Monument in Kilmarnock, printed in the Harper’s Bazar on November 8, 1879, now held by the New York Public Library

old picture of Burns's Monument Kilmarnock 1880 — Burns’s Monument Kilmarnock, from “The History of Kilmarnock … Fourth edition, revised and enlarged” (1880) – British Library/Flikr

old photo of Burns Monument Kilmarnock c1900 — Old photo of Burns Monument in Kilmarnock, taken sometime between 1890 and 1905. Part of the Detroit Publishing Company catalogue of 1905, now held by the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Collection

Old Maps of Kilmarnock

Charting Kilmarnock’s rapid growth over a century, the 1880 publication “History of Kilmarnock” included a historic map of the town from 1783, and then a contemporary one from 1880.

I’ve added a close up of the area around the Cross from both of these maps.