Ayr
Ayr, Royal Burgh since the early
thirteenth century, situated at the mouth of the River Ayr, on the outer
Firth of Clyde, is an attractive costal resort with a fishing harbour
and fine beaches. The county town of Ayrshire, with a population of
around 45,000, Ayr is now the administrative centre for South Ayrshire
Council. One of four towns competing recently for city status, Ayr lost out to Stirling. To
the north lies Prestwick, with its international airport, and, to the
south, Alloway, birthplace of Scottish poet Robert Burns, who described
Ayr as a "toon that nane surpasses for honest men and bonny lasses".
The Tam o' Shanter Inn in Ayr high Street
houses the Burns Museum. The map below shows the
features of the town, its streets and houses as they were in the middle
of last century. Click on a selected area of the map to see an
enlargement.
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