# Maybole

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Maybole
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Maybole.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybole
> Source revision: 1344825132
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Town in South Ayrshire, Scotland

Human settlement in Scotland

Maybole Maybole from the Cemetery Brae Maybole Location within South Ayrshire Population 4,580 (2020)[1] OS grid reference NS301100 • Edinburgh 71 mi (114 km) • London 325 mi (523 km) Council area South Ayrshire Lieutenancy area Ayrshire and Arran Country Scotland Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town MAYBOLE Postcode district KA19 Dialling code 01655 Police Scotland Fire Scottish Ambulance Scottish UK Parliament Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Scottish Parliament Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley List of places UK Scotland 55°21′18″N 4°40′48″W / 55.3551°N 4.68°W / 55.3551; -4.68

**Maybole** is a town and former [burgh of barony](/source/Burgh_of_barony) and police burgh in [South Ayrshire](/source/South_Ayrshire), Scotland. It had an estimated population of 4,580 in 2020.[1] It is situated 9 miles (14 km) south of Ayr and 50 miles (80 km) southwest of [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow) by the [Glasgow and South Western Railway](/source/Glasgow_and_South_Western_Railway). The town is bypassed by the [A77](/source/A77_road).

## History

St Cuthbert's in 1789

There are no written records or mention of the town and district until the [twelfth century](/source/12th_century) although the area was indeed mentioned by the [Romans](/source/Roman_Empire) during their [occupation of South Scotland](/source/Scotland_during_the_Roman_Empire). The inhabitants were then known as the [Damnii](/source/Damnonii).[2]

Maybole has Middle Ages roots, receiving a charter from [Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick](/source/Donnchadh%2C_Earl_of_Carrick) in 1193. In 1516 it was made a [burgh of regality](/source/Burgh_of_regality), although for generations it remained under the suzerainty of the [Clan Kennedy](/source/Clan_Kennedy), afterwards [Earls of Cassillis](/source/Earl_of_Cassillis) and (later) [Marquesses of Ailsa](/source/Marquess_of_Ailsa), the most powerful family in Ayrshire. The [Marquess of Ailsa](/source/Archibald_Angus_Charles_Kennedy%2C_8th_Marquess_of_Ailsa) lived at Cassillis House, just outside Maybole until its sale in 2007.[3] In the late seventeenth century, a census recorded Maybole was home to 28 "lords and landowners with estates in Carrick and beyond."[4]

In former times, Maybole was the capital of the district of [Carrick, Scotland](/source/Carrick%2C_Scotland), and for long its characteristic feature was the family mansions of the barons of Carrick. [Maybole Castle](/source/Maybole_Castle), a former seat of the Earls of Cassillis, dates to 1560 and still remains, although aspects of the castle are viewed as "of concern".[5] The public buildings include the town-hall, the Ashgrove and the Lumsden fresh-air fortnightly homes, and the Maybole combination poorhouse.[6]

Maybole is a short distance from the birthplace of [Robert Burns](/source/Robert_Burns), the Scots national poet. Burns's mother was a Maybole resident, Agnes Brown.[7]

In the nineteenth century, Maybole became a centre of boot and shoe manufacturing.

[Margaret McMurray](/source/Margaret_McMurray) (??-1760), one of the last native speakers of a [Lowland](/source/Scottish_Lowlands) dialect of [Scottish Gaelic](/source/Scottish_Gaelic), is recorded to have lived at Cultezron (not to be confused with nearby Culzean), a farm on the outskirts of Maybole.

## Notable landmarks

[Maybole Town Hall](/source/Maybole_Town_Hall)

The disused Maybole Parish Church

- The ancestral seat of the Marquesses of Ailsa is [Culzean Castle](/source/Culzean_Castle), now run by [The National Trust for Scotland](/source/National_Trust_for_Scotland) and located 4 miles (6 kilometres) west from Maybole. This dates from 1777; it stands on a basaltic cliff, beneath which are the Coves of Culzean, once the retreat of outlaws and a resort of the fairies.

- [Maybole Town Hall](/source/Maybole_Town_Hall) incorporates a tower which dates back to the 16th century.[8]

- Cassillis Castle, near Maybole, is a category A 14th century castle with 17th century and 19th century baronial extensions.

- A primary rail service is at [Maybole railway station](/source/Maybole_railway_station). Set up in 1860.

- 2 miles (3 kilometres) to the south-west are the ruins of [Crossraguel](/source/Crossraguel) (from *Crois Riaghail* meaning 'Cross of St Regulus' ) Abbey, founded about 1240.

- *Our Lady and St Cuthbert Catholic Church* in Maybole was opened in 1878 and it was largely funded by Catholic convert [Margaret Radclyffe Livingstone Eyre (born Kennedy)](/source/Margaret_Radclyffe_Livingstone_Eyre).[9] A Scottish Episcopal congregation was established in 1847 to serve the English and Irish weavers in the area, and the present St. Oswald's Church was completed in 1883.

- In the early 20th century, Maybole added a Baptist church. This was admitted to the Baptist Union in 1901 and appointed its first full minister in 1919, a year after the Great War finished.[10]

- Kirkoswald, where [Robert Burns](/source/Robert_Burns) spent his seventeenth year, learning land-surveying, lies a little farther west. In the parish churchyard lie the real people who inspired two of Burns's fictitious characters Douglas Graham ([Tam o' Shanter](/source/Tam_o'_Shanter_(Burns_poem))) and [John Davidson](/source/John_Davidson_(poet)).

- Farther south are the ruins of [Turnberry Castle](/source/Turnberry_Castle), where [Robert the Bruce](/source/Robert_the_Bruce) is said to have been born. A few miles to the north of Culzean are the ruins of [Dunure Castle](/source/Dunure_Castle), an ancient stronghold of the Kennedys.

Housing on the site of the old St Cuthbert's shoe factory

The head of the old Maybole Cross in the gardens of Maybole Castle. The cross bears the coats of arms of the Kennedy family of Cassillis and has a rare Moon dial on one face.

## Education

The town has three primary schools: Cairn Primary, Gardenrose Primary and St Cuthberts Primary.

The secondary school for Maybole is [Carrick Academy](/source/Carrick_Academy) (a school of Rugby).

## Sports

The local football club, [Maybole Juniors F.C.](/source/Maybole_Juniors_F.C.), play at Ladywell Stadium. They are members of the [West of Scotland Football League](/source/West_of_Scotland_Football_League).

## Notable cultural references

The lyrics of [The Waterboys](/source/The_Waterboys)' "[Glastonbury Song](/source/Glastonbury_Song)" include: "I dreamed myself from the sultry plains, To the old green square back in old Maybole ..."

## Notable residents

- Sir [Gilbert Blane](/source/Gilbert_Blane) (1749–1834), 18th–century physician and Royal Navy reformer.

- [Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae](/source/Bernard_Fergusson%2C_Baron_Ballantrae) (1911–1980), part of the Fergusson family, and Governor-General of New Zealand, 1962–67.

- [Robert MacBryde](/source/Robert_MacBryde) (1913–1966), a well-known painter of the 'Modern' school of art and theatre designer.

- [John Loudon McAdam](/source/John_Loudon_McAdam) (1756–1836), Scottish engineer and roadbuilder of the eighteenth century.

- [Norris McWhirter](/source/Norris_McWhirter) (1925–2004), founder of the *Guinness Book of World Records*, is descended from the McWhirters of Maybole.[7]

- [Sir William Montgomery-Cuninghame](/source/Sir_William_Montgomery-Cuninghame%2C_9th_Baronet) (1834–1897), recipient of the [Victoria Cross](/source/Victoria_Cross) in 1854 during the Crimean War

- [Rev R Guy Ramsay](/source/R_Guy_Ramsay) (1895–1976), Scottish Baptist minister and President of the [Baptist Union of Scotland](/source/Baptist_Union_of_Scotland), 1948–49.

- [Thomas Ramsay](/source/Thomas_Ramsay_(Scottish_Baptist)) (1857–1934), first pastor of [Maybole Baptist Church](/source/Maybole_Baptist_Church), 1901–19, and President of the [Baptist Union of Scotland](/source/Baptist_Union_of_Scotland), 1921–22.

- Rev Dr [William King Tweedie](/source/William_King_Tweedie) (1803–1863), Scottish historian, biographer and minister of the [Free Church of Scotland](/source/Free_Church_of_Scotland_(1843%E2%80%931900)).

## Twin towns

- [Belœil](/source/Beloeil%2C_Belgium), Belgium

- [Crosne](/source/Crosne%2C_Essonne), France

- [Schotten](/source/Schotten), Germany

- [Arco, Trentino](/source/Arco%2C_Trentino), Italy

## See also

- [Minishant](/source/Minishant)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto1_1-1) ["Population estimates for settlements and localities in Scotland: mid-2020"](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/population-estimates-for-settlements-and-localities-in-scotland-mid-2020/). [National Records of Scotland](/source/National_Records_of_Scotland). 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["First Facts"](http://www.maybole.org/history/books/carricks%20capital/chapter1.htm). *www.maybole.org*. Retrieved 3 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "Party-loving Scots laird drops dead in Florida toilet hours before he is due to be guest at Highland Games", *Daily Record*, by Stephen Houston, 22 January 2015, [https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/party-loving-scots-laird-drops-dead-5021460](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/party-loving-scots-laird-drops-dead-5021460)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Maybole Visitor Guide - Accommodation, Things To Do & More"](https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/maybole-p242701). *visitscotland.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Maybole Castle, High Street, Maybole | Buildings at Risk Register"](http://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/details/911348). *buildingsatrisk.org.uk*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Maybole Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland"](https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/maybole/maybole/). *undiscoveredscotland.co.uk*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_7-1) ["Notables"](https://www.maybole.org/notables/notables1.htm). *maybole.org*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Historic Environment Scotland](/source/Historic_Environment_Scotland). ["Town Hall, High Street, Maybole (LB37708)"](https://www.trove.scot/designation/LB37708). Retrieved 6 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Mitchell, Rosemary (2004). ["Eyre, Margaret Radclyffe-Livingstone- \[née Lady Margaret Kennedy\], styled countess of Newburgh (1800–1889), philanthropist"](https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-45582). *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/45582](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F45582). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-861412-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-861412-8). Retrieved 13 December 2020. (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Baptist Church of Maybole History"](https://www.maybole.org/community/churches/BaptistChurch/history.htm). *maybole.org*.

### Sources

- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain): [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). "[Maybole](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Maybole)". *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 931.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Maybole](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Maybole).

- [Maybole Home Page](http://www.maybole.org/)

- [About Maybole](http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/about/maybole/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120220002839/http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/about/maybole/) 20 February 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Its page in the Gazetteer for Scotland](http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townfirst480.html)

v t e Carrick Settlements Former burghs Ballantrae Girvan Maybole Others Auchencrosh Balkissock Bargany Barr Colmonell Crosshill Dailly Drumshang Dunure Greenan Kirkmichael Kirkoswald Lendalfoot Maidens Minishant Old Dailly Patna Pinmore Pinwherry Smyrton Straiton Administration National subdivisions Ayrshire and Arran lieutenancy area Carrick earldom Kyle and Carrick local government district Sheriffdom and County of Ayr South Ayrshire Council area Parliamentary seats (Scotland) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Parliamentary seats (UK) Ayrshire (1708–1868) South Ayrshire (1868–1983) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (1983–2005) Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (2005–) Culture Gaelic in Carrick and Galloway Sawney Bean Geography Islands Ailsa Craig Lochs Craigdow Loch Loch Bradan Loch Doon Loch Dornal Loch Finloch Loch Goosey Loch Spaig Loch Spallander Loch Spouts Rivers River Doon River Stinchar Water of App Water of Girvan Water of Tig History Heritage sites Blairquhan Castle Carleton Castle Crossraguel Abbey Culzean Castle Dinvin Motte Dunduff Castle Dunure Castle Glenapp Castle Greenan Castle Kirkoswald Parish Church Knockdolian Maybole Castle Maybole Collegiate Church Penkill Castle Turnberry Castle People Abbots of Crossraguel Clan Kennedy Earls or mormaers of Carrick Marquesses of Ailsa and their predecessors Sport Girvan F.C. Maybole Juniors F.C. Turnberry golf course Transport Railway lines Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Maybole and Girvan Railway Railway stations Barrhill railway station Girvan railway station Maybole railway station Roads A77 A714

v t e Settlements in South Ayrshire Towns Ayr Girvan Maybole Prestwick Troon Villages, hamlets and suburbs Alloway Annbank Ballantrae Barassie Barr Barrhill Belmont Colmonell Coodham Coylton Craigie Crosshill Dailly Doonfoot Dundonald Dunure Failford Heathfield Joppa Kincaidston Kirkmichael Kirkoswald Lendalfoot Loans Maidens Minishant Monkton Mossblown Old Dailly Pinmore Pinwherry Seafield Straiton Symington Tarbolton Turnberry See also: List of places in South Ayrshire

Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States Israel Other Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Maybole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybole) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybole?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.