Cambusdoon a half century on
Old school and mansion’s history recalled
A famous piece of Ayr history is being remembered this summer after it closed its doors 50 years ago.
Cambusdoon House, on Greenfield Avenue just next to the Burns’ Cottage in Alloway, was shut in 1967.
It was built in 1853 as a mansion for wealthy businessman, philanthropist and MP James Baird. The house remained privately owned until 1926, when it was sold to the Rev Harry Horton and converted into the Cambusdoon Preparatory School for Boys.
The school had some famous pupils too - ex Rangers owner Sir David Murray attended for a while, along with Duncan Coulthard, dad of retired F1 driver David.
The school was in service until 1967, and the school and its grounds were sold to Ayr Town Council in 1968, with a number of options explored for possible future use.
The council took over the house and used it as a storage space for furniture when a hurricane hit in the same year.
But when the full extent of damage to the building from the elements was known, it was demolished.
The original plan was to turn it into a nursing home for the elderly but it was deemed to be too much and too expensive for that.
A ruin was left for people to visit and remember the house - but again this was thought to be too unsafe so it was further destroyed.
Ayr cricket club plied their trade at the original Cambusdoon before moving across the road.
All that remains of the original house now is a stone archway where the old front door used to be.
Robert Knox, 63, is the son of the school’s last groundsman and still lives in the former gardener’s cottage on the site at Alloway.
On the house, Robert said: “I don’t think many people will know much about Cambusdoon House, and I am happy to help those who are interested.
“My father was in charge of looking after the grounds surrounding the house so he saw plenty of peculiar things.
“And he told me all about what he saw so this got me interested in studying more about it.
“I have had visitors from all round the world come to my door asking me about the archway and they are usually astonished when they I tell them of the history on the house.
“This is the sort of thing that gets interest from people outwith Ayrshire so I hope that continues.”
In 2013 an information board which commemorates the school was erected to inform people of the history involving Cambusdoon.
Robert made a suggestion to MP Bill Grant that the school might be commemorated.
Bill Grant said: “Unknown to us, another resident Brian Williamson was researching the mysterious stone archway he walked past as a child.
“He wondered what it was and how a building containing such a grand archway could simply vanish.
“Brian’s extensive research put him in touch with Robert and myself, along with ex- pupil, David Paterson who now lives in Thurso, who had established an internet forum for Old Cambusdonians.” The idea of marking the history of Cambusdoon House and school, with an information board, was born.
Brian Williamson led on historical research, as well as design, build and installation of the board, which stands proudly in front of the stone arch.