Ayrshire Archives

Ayrshire Archives is the local authority archive service for South Ayrshire Council, East Ayrshire Council and North Ayrshire Council.

It is free to make an appointment and visit our search room. To find out more take a look at our Visting Us page.

The Ayrshire Archives Service was established in 1996 by the three Ayrshire councils to preserve and make accessible Ayrshire’s documentary heritage. The archive service looks after and provides access to records of historical importance belonging to the three local authorities and their predecessors, as well as private records that relate to the historical development of Ayrshire and Arran.

Ayrshire Archives covers the whole of Ayrshire including the Cumbraes and Arran and our collections are located throughout the county.

The oldest record we hold is the Burgh Charter for the Town of Ayr, dated 1205, and signed by William the Lion, King of Scotland. 

Map

You might also like...

Ayr
Display of a victorian room.

The Heritage Hub

Are you interested in finding out more about Auld Ayr’s history? The brand-new ‘Ayr Through the Ages – The Heritage...
Ayr
Exterior of stone townhouse dating to the early 16th century.

Loudoun Hall

Loudoun Hall was built around 1513 by James Tait, a wealthy burgess of Ayr. It’s one of the earliest examples...
Alloway
Burns cottage

Burns Cottage

Alloway is the birthplace of internationally renowned poet Robert Burns and a trip here would not be complete without a visit to...
Ayr
Red and black cannon

Ayr Citadel

Ayr Citadel was built in 1657 on the command of Oliver Cromwell, after the English Civil War and the abolition...
Tarbolton
Outside the Bachelor’s Club

Bachelors' Club

**Please note this location has seasonal opening hours.** The Bachelors’ Club is situated on Sandgate Street in the farming village...
Kirkoswald
Statues of Tam o Shanter and Souter Johnnie

Souter Johnnie's Cottage

Souter Johnnies’s cottage is now in the care of The National Trust for Scotland, and is packed with artefacts from...
Copyright © 2024 Destination South Ayrshire. Provided by South Ayrshire Council.