Author’s lost villages talk
Ayr Rotary Club heard recently about Ayrshire lost villages.
Author and historian, Dane Love, went along to Ayr Rotary Club to throw some light on these largely forgotten communities.
Dane, who was brought up in Cumnock and now lives in a former village himself, took the members on a visual journey through these lost villages with names that are in many cases no longer recognised at all.
These settlements were frequently near to where work was to be found: for example, in coal mining, iron and steel working, textile manufacturing and farming.
As a result, they could lie in some of the most remote and inaccessible places. Many were established for occupation by estate workers, but others, such as railway workers’ cottages or rows, were built on land leased to the particular company for that purpose. When the work ran out these small villages effectively died.
Well- known lost communities include Glenbuck and Lethanhill, but there are almost 50 others, including Darnconner, Loudounkirk, Lethanhill, Gaswater Burnbrae, Commondyke, Craigbank, Alton and Benquat.
Dane has written a successful book entitled Ayrshire’s Lost Villages which helps to ensure that the story of these lost communities is not forgotten.
Details of the communities are described, as well as tales from the rows, accounts of struggles endured, and references to some famous sons.
Dr Jimmy Begg, himself a son of New Cumnock and respected author, acknowledged Dane’s vital work in keeping alive these places and people in their memory.