Carrick History Society
Comman Eachdraidh Charraige
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in response to the closures of the Maybole Historical Society and Girvan Historical Society. It was felt that a Carrick-wide historical society was needed because the histories of each village and town were so interlinked. Please enjoy browsing our website and consider joining us as a member or, if intending visiting the area, prepare yourself with prior knowledge of our rich heritage that will make your visit more enjoyable.
Simon is an avid historian and history student who is fascinated by the history of his local area. He founded the Carrick History Society by launching a Facebook page in November 2021 and this led to the construction of this website. Simon’s particular historical interests are Maritime History, The History of the Kennedy family and Social History. Simon is keen to utilise new ways of bringing history to life by using new technologies such as augmented reality. Having lived in Maybole all his life he has a great love for his local area and its potential to be part of Carrick’s economy through heritage tourism.
Campbell Wilson MA(Hons), MSc, PhD is a historian, currently living in Maybole. His long-term research interests are the history of energy, environmentalism and technology. His doctoral thesis focused on the UK Wave Energy Programme (1974-1988). More recently Campbell has developed an interest in the historiography of Carrick and the ‘tramping literature’ of the Ayrshire and Galloway region, and representations of history, landscape and place.
Colin, from Ballantrae, has extensively and thoroughly researched the history of the McIlwraith family name in collaboration with his co-author, and very distant relation, Duncan van Reijswoud in Australia. The research of course did not just focus on the McIlwraith name (and its many variants) but compiled valuable information on properties held by various branches of the family name, some of which no longer apprear on modern maps.
James Brown MSc, FSA Scot, is an independent historical researcher focussed on the historical architecture as well as the social and cultural history of south-west Scotland and its application to heritage tourism. Prior to that he had ‘front-of-house’ tourism experience at Historic Scotland as monument steward at Crossraguel Abbey and with the Friends of Dundonald Castle as manager of the castle visitor centre. James is part-owner of Baltersan, a 16th c. tower-house near Maybole.
Alison Martin BSc Hons, was initially drawn to the proportions of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s architecture during her student days in Glasgow. Several years later while living on America’s West Coast, she was intrigued to find echoes of her fellow Scot’s work in the distinctive style of the California Bungalow. This sparked her interest in the American Arts & Crafts Movement and its acknowledgement of Mackintosh as one of its key influences. On returning home to the Maybole area she was intrigued to find that once again, she was following in the footsteps of Mackintosh. Elements of his sketches of Maybole Castle, Balterson and the Collegiate Church can be glimpsed in his design for the Glasgow School of Art.
Michael Ansell is retired and lives in the foothills of the Rhinns of Kells, Glenkens. He undertakes research into place and field-names, particularly those of Galloway and Carrick.
