Kilmarnock, Scotland

From Freepedia

Kilmarnock is a burgh in the county of Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 40,000. It is roughly between Glasgow and Ayr.

The name comes from the Gaelic cille "church" and the name of Saint Marnoch or Mernoc who is also remembered in the name of Portmarnock in Ireland. It is believed said by some that the saint founded a church there in 322. There are 12 Church of Scotland congregations in the town, plus other denominations. In 2005 the Rev David W. Lacy, minister of the town's Henderson Church, was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Kilmarnock's traditional industries were carpets (manufactured by BMK) and other textiles, as well as making locomotives (Andrew Barclay and Sons) and valves (Glenfield and Kennedy). The Glasgow and South Western Railway also set up their works here, producing nearly 400 locomotives by the time it was absorbed by the LMS in 1923. Some work continued but heavy repairs were sent to St Rollox. Locomotive repairs finished in 1952 and the works closed in 1959.

The carpets manufactured in Kilmarnock were internationally known for their quality and intricacy. Many locations around the world chose to install BMK carpets. RMS Titanic was carpeted using carpets manufactured by BMK. Primarily due to a move by UK consumers towards laminated and hard-wood flooring, carpet-making finally ceased in Kilmarnock in early 2005, but locomotives are still made by Hunslett-Barclay and Glenfield and Kennedy is still in operation. It has a prison, HM Prison Kilmarnock, and a football club named Kilmarnock F.C., the oldest professional club in Scotland. It is also home to Johnnie Walker's Scotch whisky.

The first collection of work by Scottish poet Robert Burns, Poems, chiefly in the Scottish dialect was published here in 1786. This edition of his work is known as the Kilmarnock Edition. Another master of the written word, and from Kilmarnock, is William McIlvanney. He was born in 1936 in Kilmarnock. [[1]]

In the Castle of Kilmarnock, Dean Castle [2], there is a famous exhibition of ancient music instruments.