Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Ayrshire

This page summarises the local government organisation of Ayrshire since 1890.

  • Ayrshire was one of Scotland's 34 traditional counties and was unaffected by the reorganisation to 33 counties in 1890. It remained an independent county until 1975.
  • In 1890 Ayrshire had the following burghs: Ayr (royal burgh), Irvine (royal burgh), Ardrossan, Cumnock & Holmhead, Darvel, Galston, Girvan, Kilmarnock, Kilwinning, Largs, Maybole, Newmilns & Greenholm, Saltcoats, Stewarton, Troon. Prestwick became a burgh in 1903 and Stevenston in 1952.
  • In 1975 there was major reorganisation as the counties were abolished and replaced by 12 Regions. Ayrshire was merged with Bute, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire , Renfrewshire and most of Argyll to form Strathclyde Region.
  • Beneath the region in a three-tier structure were 6 sub-regions, to some extent based on the old counties. These were: Argyll, Ayr, Dunbarton, Glasgow, Lanark, and Renfrew.
  • Most sub-regions were further divided into districts. Ayr was divided into 4 district councils: Cumnock & Doon Valley, Cunninghame, Kilmarnock & Loudoun, and Kyle & Carrick.
  • The Isle of Arran was transferred from the County of Bute to Cunninghame district.
  • In 1996 there was further reorganisation as the Regions and Districts were abolished and replaced by 32 unitary councils. Ayrshire was divided between three unitary councils: North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, and East Ayrshire. The name Strathclyde was retained for some bodies, such as the fire brigade.
  • North Ayrshire includes Ardrossan, Irvine, Kilwinning, Largs, the Isle of Arran.
  • South Ayrshire includes Ayr, Girvan, Prestwick, Troon.
  • Eaast Ayrshire includes Cumnock, Kilmarnock.
  • For a list of Ayrshire maps go to the Ayrshire page. For a full list of Scottish maps, return to the Scotland page
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    The Godfrey Edition / sales@alangodfreymaps.co.uk / 11 November 2016