The Rise and Fall of Kilmarnock

[@vamboroolz1612]

As with a few others in the comments, I was born and bred in Kilmarnock and as a lad saw the transformation and destruction between the town as it was in your video and the disaster it became. I well remember the old ‘Woolies’ with the record store and florists at the back, Grafftons, where my mother worked, the quality department store of Frasiers, Lauders the ironmongers, etc. I remember the transition of going down to the opening of the Foregate as a young boy. So, while you are looking through the old photographs in the video, some people actually physically remember much of what it portrays and feel the sadness of what it became. When they destroyed the town, they destroyed a wee bit of every person that lived there. Maybe that is why so many moved away. I am 57 and have spent more than half my life away from Killie.

[@davidmcbeth8456]

Remember it all very well and echo those sentiments. The 1970s destroyed Kilmarnock's fabric and drugs destroyed its people in due course

[@Nancy-wo2fn]

I was also born n bred in Kilmarnock n my it's changed x

[@Nancy-wo2fn]

I'm 40 and was born and bred in Kilmarnock I remember Woolworths too what a dramatic change it's had since I left when I was 16 n I'm almost 41 now x

[@alastairscollay3345]

I was back late last year and - despite warnings from family and friends - was shocked by how bad the town centre was.

[@craigmcgill4612]

A very honest and sincere video Av stayed in Kilmarnock my whole life (35years) and it’s so sad to see the state it’s in today. The high street is dead and bus station is unsafe to use because of the people that hang around in it and around it. A never seen Kilmarnock in its prime as you mentioned it was half a century ago they destroyed the town for the disgrace that is the Burns Mall, but Kilmarnock town once was a great place for young people to socialise and enjoy themselves. Unfortunately it’s been on a steady decline for 14/15 years now. Me personally I only got to experience a few years of a Kilmarnock town worth going to. Did you notice the ABC cinema is still boarded up? 1999 it shut and hasn’t been touched since

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Craig. The sad thing is that Kilmarnock is not alone in experiencing this decline.

[@Nancy-wo2fn]

Yeah I remember the nightclub up John finnie street all night pump station it was called I think a fire destroyed it then a huge tree was coming out it lol 😂x

[@alexandersunter4899]

Well Ed you’ve done it again. Presented your story of Kilmarnock in your own inimitable way. Love it.

[@bensinify]

I'm the new generation of Killie. Looking back at its history has been deeply upsetting. I only wish the future to be better for this town, because it isn't even mediocre.

[@mikidoo]

I visited Kilmarnock recently and couldn't believe the state of the Burns Mall and especially the bus station adjoining it. Total neglect and decay all around. The people of Kilmarnock deserve much better than this. As you point out, Ed, it's the same story all over Scotland. My next visit was to Ayr and that's had its heart ripped out by modern redevelopment and demolition as well.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks for your comment. In all fairness, I found the interior of the Burns Shopping Mall looking better than I imagined. That said, I could see several places where water would come in through the ceiling in wet weather. It's just the fact that they knocked down whole streets of stunning buildings.

[@ethanhill2012]

Mate I live in killy and sometimes its amazing and sometimes deprresing

[@theend9494]

This sounds so much like Greenock, absolutely devastated by incompetent town planners in the 1970's. I was back there in July, it is so sad to see what was one of the great industrial towns of Europe become a back water

[@MrNonsense1337]

Hate to bring this comment back from the dead by replying but as you said....Yeah it's really the entirety of Ayrshire or Scotland as a whole. Rips my heart out to know I will never see places like Ayr or Killie in their prime.

[@murphy1094]

​@@ethanhill2012its never amazing 😂😂 it's killie pal

[@johnhunter3277]

Great video as usual, Kilmarnock was such a great town to shop with as a boy as I loved the market and Lauders . Memories

[@kildogery]

This is one of the most dour videos I've ever watched on KZbin. Absolutely brilliant. New subscriber.

[@kildogery]

Appreciate you took that in the fun it was meant 😄 Seriously though, I just watched a load of your videos.

[@Vallgor]

I've yet to watch the video but as a person who has lived in Kilmarnock all my life, I grew up with pride for my townsfolk, the 90s and early 2000s memories felt like a warm ray of sun to me but not Kilmarnock town center is a void of grey vast empty buildings. This is such a history-rich town with people that love you unconditionally but the local government has killed us. We build a huge new fantastic college to support the whole of Ayrshire and i thought that would save us but sadly not. We used to be a semi-industry town with loads of local businesses but now the town center lays bare with just charity shops, takeaways, pound shops, and vape stores. We have 3 subway restaurants, 2 tescos, 2 duplicate chain restaurants for mid-range dining, 2 McDonalds, 3 gregs yet we lack so many traditional shops like hobby, craft, or artisan and event an argos... due to rent and electricity costs in the town being so inflated that only big business can afford them. This problem is not local to Kilmarnock either, this is the story across most of Scotland now sadly but fuck me the people are still brothers and sisters and i know we are still the same passionate proud folk deep inside we just need our chance to build our communities once more. I will not watch this video and learn of the "true" good time my grandmother talks of. Thank you for documenting our history Ed

[@EdExploresScotland]

I recommend a visit to West Kilbride as an example of how a town can turn itself around and becoming a great stop for visitors with many small shops.

[@BridiesMammaG]

I spent many an evening Sat outside the railway pub. I was a kid listening to them all singing the old rugged cross 😂. It was so beautiful in the surrounding countryside. Glad I got out tho. Thanks for this ❤

[@andyf3236]

I hate to say it, but I think modern Kilmarnock is indicitive of Scotland (and Britain's) decline in many ways. Sure, back in the past there may have been lower material comfort, but they seemed to posses somewhat more National and regional pride, as some of the architecture displays. Enjoyed the video, thanks.

[@alanmarshall6218]

I really 'enjoyed' the video as it covered the sad way so many places were changed in the name of progress probably awarding a few fat contracts on the way. Even popular suburban places like Milngavie had their hearts ripped out and precincts built. Ed you still made Kilmarnock a place to want to visit. This was very educational and I think younger folk will be surprised to see how our politicians can be a force for the worse as well as better when it comes to protecting our heritage. I have some ancestors who came from Kilmarnock and it was interesting to imagine what an important industirial place it was and what life must have been like there for them.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Alan. I hadn't considered Milngavie, but you're right.

[@colinriley123]

Beautifully shot and put together. Very moving.

[@eng9040]

Has anybody memories of Strawberry Bank market garden that was at Kay Park. The play area, and bowling green and beyond the hill was all a patchwork of fields and crops. I worked at Mr Fultons farm in the late 70s, the farmhouse buildings have been demolished and replaced with a few houses. I mention this because many of the folk from the town would come to the nursey/farm for transplant plants soils etc and it was a major feature of the area surrounding the wee lake. The fence around the main car park is genuine but the trees were not there in the 80s, the ground level was also about three feet down ,those sloping slabs on one side of the fence show something I cant explain, that would take some memories from the 60s I think. Great Video

[@thedeathcake]

Nice video. I was never really into history, but as I've gotten older it's fascinating to learn about the way things used to be. I think the problem is the money people are spending in their home towns, didn't seem to stay there or get reinvested. Wealth accumulation by individuals outside the country...

[@charlieemslie7708]

I moved to Kilmarnock 1971 and worked in the macfisheries shop Portland street,across from the old bus station.Portland street was a very busy street as it had several well known shops eg MCCOLLS,CITY BAKERIES,MCMURRAYS,SCOTTISH POWER,MASSEYS,HANNAHS ,MUNRO BUTCHERS,STEWARTS AND GREENLEES SHOE SHOPS,SEVERAL HAIRDRESSERS and many others,all thriving businesses. 1974 the bus station was closed and the street died. The council in their wisdom set up a 2 day a week open market in the old bus station selling virtually everything the local shops were doing but much cheaper as they did not have many overheads. THE END 🤔🤔🤔

[@williamwatson1312]

Ed I've got to agree with all you said about Kilmarnock. I was born & brought up through the 60's 70's & 80's, served my time in Smillie & Cuthbertsons, as you said the whole town was full of factories shops with most people in work. It was great going down the town into all the shops but sadly it' mostly gone. Not really a nice experience nowadays, Thanks to successive & todays councils who don't care or give a dam about the state of our once lovely town. All the do is allow more house building hang your heads in shame. Big thanks Ed for your video & talk.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks William. Have a great 2023.

[@guss2099]

I only moved to East Ayrshire in early 2017 and had big hopes for the surrounding areas, but was quite sad to see the lack of care for the old buildings and the local history. Anything that has the name Burns to it is kept quiet ok, but anything else is just left to rot and this is very annoying because the local history is slowly forgotten and people lose their connections, their roots and the soul of the places just vanishes. I wished folk tried a bit harder to keep history alive, because when it dies, we all die a little bit too.😐

[@rickybaillie4222]

Just found your channel have watched the Irvine and Ayr ones so far, you have a very relaxing way of presenting and really informative.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks.

[@jadefalconmk1]

My late Mum once said that Kilmarnock Town Council managed to do what the Luftwaffe failed to do and ruined and levelled Kilmarnock. The railway station has a near permanent air of neglect to it, like so many other railway stations. There's practically none of the old industry left now, no BMK, no Johhnie Walker, no Massey Ferguson, no Shanks potteries, no Saxone etc.

[@simov8chevy]

Cracking video Ed, but I wouldn't be so quick to blame vandals for the fire at the Burns monument.

[@rjmacf0015]

Well done "Ed". As with a few others here I too recall the former central area, Duke street, Waterloo street etc which was truly vibrant until this "planning disaster" which occurred some years after I left for University in 1974. This term is a bit of a misnomer as it's was very unlikely to be the Town Planning Dept who suggested destroying the town (they simply address and summarise the submitted plans for the politically elected councillors) and more likely a consortium of developers who were responsible. Who they were would be interesting to know (never named?) and who were the responsible councillors who acquiesced in the process? Most locals alive at the time (I was a schoolboy) recall the towns industrial heritage with justified pride. I also recall William Ross the labour peer, longest served Secretary of State for Scotland (Baron Ross of Marnock) and automatically re-elected MP must have been involved in this process but who knows what he said? As we all can, those in responsible positions can make mistakes but perhaps these should be better recognised. On a brighter note having returned to Scotland after decades away, it may be that things have passed the worst in this Ayrshire town. No longer anything but a dormitory and scarred by an appalling set of ring roads, it is showing small signs of partial recovery. It of course has a long way to go to bear witness to Sir James Shaw (Lord Mayor of London whose statue at the original mercat Cross, seen in your clips, was removed!), Lord Boyd Orr and Sir Alexander Fleming (Nobel Laurates from the same school, the now relocated and largely diminished Kilmarnock Academy) and Andrew Fisher, firebrand fifth and seventh prime minister of Australia (albeit from Crosshouse now connected to Kilmarnock by another architectural eyesore the NADGH, having destroyed the pre-NHS Kilmarnock Infirmary). East Ayrshire Council has tried to preserve the records and history, held in the Dick Institute. Another fine building and definitely a place worth a visit for those who want to see beyond the superficial caricature of a shoddy tourist stop on the Burns trail.

[@koldfyre4505]

I was brought up here between the ages 3 and 16 First in Crookedholm then Hurlford, as a kid my gran worked the trampoline and crazy golf hut at Kay Park, so we always got free entry, the boats and everything was awesome, other highlights were the old baths with the wave machine, feeding the animals at The Dean park etc, sad to see the dump it is today, another good and informative vid though Ed, cheers 👍

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks.

[@scottjock]

Very enjoyable Ed. It was the same in most towns and cities. I now live near historic Bristol. The saying here is that the planning departments of the 70s did more harm and distruction than the Luftwaffe

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Scott.

[@JoJo82196]

Great video and you've captured the feeling held by most people in the town. I feel deeply saddened walking through it everyday, thinking of the prosperity it had at one time. I wish the buildings could be bought over by the council and made into homes instead of seeing them sink into greater disrepair. It shocks me how people don't have pride or care about their properties to maintain them. There's no quick fix but it has to start with greater investment in the town. I'm saddeded by the amount of buildings they knocked down but I heard some were very derilict.. there were little funds to restore them so the 'modern era' was born with the bulldozer. The current streets are going the same way unless something is done. 😢

[@234cheech]

the ppl who let this happinin the 60s 70s 80s need to be put in jail

[@TheSteveBoyd]

A version of my family's crest is displayed in the corner of the Kilmarnock Heritage Walk brochure. That's AMAZING! I had no idea. I have to make it there someday.

[@EdExploresScotland]

The Boyd family were quite prominent in Kilmarnock, known at various times as Baron, Lord or Earl of Kilmarnock. Their seat was Dean Castle in Kilmarnock. The Barony of Kilmarnock was granted to Sir Robert Boyd by King Robert the Bruce for his service as commander at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

[@alistairplenderleith7164]

Very well presented and factual video of Kilmarnock past and present, also very sad to see our old town from where it was to where it is now. Hopefully this will prompt someone in authority to start some initiatives to take some positive moves forward!!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thank you.

[@ruggedscot69]

brought up in Kilmarnock, In its heyday it was a great town, Full of industry and plenty of decent jobs. Workers gainfully employed. the town had plenty of money. These days not so much. The shops retreating as not a lot of money being spent in them. its as they said if you dont use them you lose them.

[@eileanvm]

I can only sigh deeply at yet another architectural crime, commited by short-sighted town councillors. Lovely music though. Evoking the sadness and emotion that is in your voice as you speak at certain points. I always enjoy your videos, and especially like the accurate superimposing of images. Oh and what happened to the efficiency of train services? Another sad reflection of a society glued to their screens instead of their communities.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Eilean. I think I heard in the Press recently that a good bit of the shopping centre is to be demolished.

[@G4RY1159]

It's a Town that's eroding away and for the last 22 years steadily dissolving my very Soul, a train station with a ticket machine that On a good day works, if it isn't working you can always push open the door to the right of the machine and walk inside and read the sign behind the glass that reads - CLOSED! The funny thing is, in-between the ticket machine and the Ticket office door is a sign just about head height that informs you to have a ticket before boarding the train, must be Scotrail sense of humour. On the plus side, IF you need a Vape or Turkish barbers or your nails done Kilmarnock is the Town for You. Thanks Ed, as someone that stands on that platform most weeks also with a rucksack on his back destination East Kilbride changing at Pollokshaws West, I very much enjoyed you're Video, I always leave my house as dehydrated as possible, what with working open toilets being very scarce. Thankyou again fella.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. 👍

[@adorkableblonde7966]

Thank you for making these videos! Especially for those of us who's ancestors emigrated to the US and we wonder where it all started.... it's still so beautiful to Americans who are used to nothing but concrete and steel

[@bm563]

Great video plenty of nice food options in Kilmarnock just the retail side that’s lacking and a general nice tidy up of the place

[@gavinmillar7519]

Hell mend the developers and big stores that ripped the heart out of the towns. They deserve to go down but again the local folk have to share in the demise. Bring back the wee man.

[@ivanosikin1383]

demolish the burns mall and rebuild the old kilmarnock exactly as it was. That would be progress.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Absolutely, and an interesting idea that would not be impossible.

[@1964biggmark]

so correct about Scottish town centre "malls" , Greenock's Oak Mall typically like Kilmarnock's full of buckets and safety barriers ,saying that half of the Oak Mall empty ready for demolition ,these malls are falling apart due to the high rent and rates forcing shop owners to close sad days ,now we have the big out of town retail parks :(

[@johnrobbo26]

Brilliant video, count myself as a new subscriber to your channel Ed. We have only been in East Ayrshire since 2015, just up the road in Stewarton. This video is fascinating, what wonderful town centre Killie really did have - so sad to see it in such decline through bad planning. One thing I always find particularly jarring is the disconnect between the 'new town centre' and the Palace Theatre? Why did they decide to put a main road right between the two? Its just such badly designed town and reminds me very much of my hometown in England, Barrow-in-Furness which may start to see some regeneration with the resurgence of the shipyard.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers John.

[@SurRonJeremy]

Nice work

[@Westeross]

Thanks Eddy

[@louisejordan2713]

Good video, lovely voice , I seen photo of Kilmarnock before the mall

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Louise.

[@buskingkarma2503]

Interesting to see that there was down and outs hanging around the burns monument,,even in them times!👀 some things never change!😂👍

[@TheBill9999]

Loved it Ed.

[@josephinecameron6963]

Thanks Ed 👌

[@Urbexy]

Nicely put together video Edd. Kilmarnock is but a shadow of its former self. Kay Park is still a nice place to walk through although that fountain would have been quite a sight to behold. Tragic that it was lost. You briefly mentioned Greenock and its "mall" that place is a disgrace. Greenock and Kilmarnock seem to be doing everything within their power to make visiting less desirable. Ruining their town centres, extreme parking charges and next to nothing to do for outsiders. Here's my thought on your earlier rant... The driver who brings the train in should change the destination sign before leaving the train lol. Hope all is good.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. That fountain is a real loss. You can see a similarly decorative fountain in Fountain Gardens in Paisley. Absolutely stunning.

[@kieranlennon4473]

I also can’t believe I’m in that video I’m the one with the black leather jacket about 20 minutes into the video. I’ll accept the claim to fame 😂😂😂

[@gavinmillar7519]

Stirling built a shopping centre in the middle of the town but slightly kept the original main shopping street. That said, the town was stripped of most family firms thereafter, my father's business included. It's concrete back end is the ugly face of Stirling visitors can't fail to miss.

[@EdExploresScotland]

I always thought any visitor arriving in Stirling via either the bus station or train station must think they're arriving by the back door.

[@mitchmad64]

HI ED JUST NOTICED YOU DO THE MUSIC FOR THIS VIDEO. WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO U PLAY.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Jim. Guitar's my main instrument. All other sounds, with the exception of occasional vocals, are midi on Cubase Elements software.

[@mitchmad64]

Maybe get a wee jam. Ken the blues Ed.

[@ledon26656]

Hello Ed. First time viewer of your channel and absolutely loved your video. I am from Kilmarnock originally and am very interested in the history of the town, so this was of particular interest to me. I collect all the historical images of Kilmarnock I can and am always looking for new ones. I have a very extensive collection (in the thousands) and have done some deep research on the internet, but I have never seen the incredible pictures of the Cross at 18:34 or King Street at 20:43 . It would be such a treat if you could send me copies of these or direct me where to get them. Would that be possible? Regardless, thanks for the video Ed.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Liam. Many thanks for your question. Both of these images are photographs dating to the 1860s and 70s by James Valentine. For such early photography the images are very sharp. They can be found in the National Galleries Scotland website ( www.nationalgalleries.org/ ). Just do a search for 'Kilmarnock' and click on 'Full Artwork Results'. There are two pages that include these two photographs and other images of Kilmarnock.

[@stewartwforbes]

I’d always thought the ‘close’ mentioned was the ‘Lady Stair Close’. I used it as a shortcut when a wee boy. It was where the First Edition was printed.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Stewart. John Wilson, the printer of Burns First Edition of poems did have his printing press in Star Inn Close off Waterloo Street in Kilmarnock. Lady Stair's Close is a close in Edinburgh where for a short spell Robert Burns stayed.

[@celticminstrel8252]

Perhaps the names of those responsible for the destruction of Kilmarnock should be published, it's fair to say the damage is done but it would be interesting to see those responsible.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Absolutely. It was probably par for the course at the time, and those responsible would probably have felt it was the right decision at that time in order to bring Kilmarnock into the modern age. To be honest, I don't blame them. Sometimes it's just the way things go.

[@celticminstrel8252]

@@EdExploresScotland I spent my early years living in the old Gilmour St. (sandstone tenements) and attended Bentinck primary school, I moved away from the town two or three years before the destruction. Maybe we see the past through rose tinted glasses but the Kilmarnock I visit now is a crumbling shell of what once was. I enjoyed your video though.

[@davidstevenson5787]

I'm from Kilmarnock born and bread and yes it is a sad shadow of its former self it's had the heart ripped from it loosing all of its industries as so many of Scotland's towns have. All the more reason to take control of our future and make places like Kilmarnock great again Kilmarnock has been dealt a bad hand and doesn't deserve any disrespect it is not all bad. Some of its people are a sad symptom of its bad luck and bad government.

[@alistairplenderleith7164]

Take control of our future? By that do you mean change our current Scottish government? I would certainly agree with you on that that one, I have never seen a crowd of no marks like we have in Holyrood including the Ayrshire born First Minister. I would say that much of the current mess is down to SNPEE, they were totally inactive when Walkers closed with the loss of 700+ jobs. Very sad to see the decay that is occurring in my old town.

[@gaz9957]

@@alistairplenderleith7164 Change to a Unionist puppet government? No, thanks. I think we can aim a bit higher than - as your own put it - a glorified "branch manager".

[@jimbrown4456]

@@alistairplenderleith7164 oh they put in millions for the redevelopment of the Johnny Walker site and promises of replacing the lost jobs. We got a college that moved from another part of town and another building that rents space businesses.

[@colinmcmillan2642]

The SNP had nothing to do with the destruction of the old town centre - the blame for that lies purely with labour I’m afraid.

[@frederickbowdler8169]

The mall was made fifty years ago and it needs a refresh and more trees . shopping in the rain is one alternative.The British Scots engy

[@charlesmair26]

Architectural and Cultural vandalism...

[@caroldave4037]

Nowt like a good winge and pics of the past.....another gudn ed...😉😉😉👍

[@EdExploresScotland]

👍

[@alanevans9604]

They are busy building on green belt land all over England these days, the population is growing faster than they can build.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Absolutely. And, given the dire employment scenario, you do have to wonder who on earth can afford all these houses.

[@andyf3236]

Those house's aren't for the native Brits, unfortunately.

[@duneideann9241]

Another great blog. Most of these malls and all the current big ones in Scotland are owned by companies in offshore Tax havens 😩. Things need to change

[@margaretm1067]

It is a huge pity that so many towns have not followed the example of Glasgow in keeping the facade of the building and developing the inside. I assume it all comes down to cost. Red and blonde sandstone can fairly easily be cleaned.

[@EdExploresScotland]

It's a good point. You may find my more recent video about Newhaven interesting.

[@kfcspike2578]

Good video, but the ScotRail rant at the start went on a bit too long

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks. I felt it was relevant given that I was opening the video in a station, but other viewers have said the same, so perhaps it was indeed lengthy and out of place. Something for me to think on. Thanks again.

[@robertwright4651]

Great video Ed Kilmarnock is another town to fall victim like many others in Scotland such a shame we see it more often shops up and down the high St closed for sale or to let sad times the hustle and bustle all gone

[@reb0118]

With regard to your opening "rant" about the railways you raise some very good points. However, ask yourself this where were the traincrew prior to their arrival at your train? Like any other industry traincrew rostering is done on a "just in time" basis. The turnaround time may be just five minutes between arriving from one train to departing on another. That is what the system deems acceptable and tbf neither a private nor government operator is willing to spend the money to build resilience back into the diagrams.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks for your comment. You make a fair point.

[@mikefl1557]

Do they still make the Kilmarnock pies there?

[@EdExploresScotland]

They certainly do.

[@darrenwithers3628]

I used to make them in the WW Wales factory. Unfortunately for that reason I have never eaten one. Could tell a few horror stories that would put you off pies for life.

[@johnmull59]

Revthe intro, I think Scot Rail need to look at the meaning of the word 'service'!!?

[@EdExploresScotland]

Absolutely.

[@stuartd4151]

Your view of everything is spot on. As an American and with lineage from the area I think? [Dunlap] I believe that we have to go back and stop patronizing these big box stores. Corporations. Yes it will cost us more to start but it will be worth the outcome. Maybe I’m not making any sense?

[@frankhynd885]

Scottish municipal elites for generations were small men of limited ability with big jobs and sizable budgets who made a mess of our redeveloped small towns and big cities. When you compare the beauty of redeveloped towns in Germany, Switzerland and Holland, it really shows the incompetence and lack of vision of our municipal leaders, who should be ashamed of their squalid town planning efforts.

[@delboyz67]

One question, why film on a Sunday morning at 11 am when the shops, Pubs and most places don't open till 12 or after. Tends to make our town look worse than it is.

[@EdExploresScotland]

That's a fair question Derek. Filming at that time (and I can't actually remember when I was filming) wasn't done for any reason that might make Kilmarnock look bad or worse than normal. I suspect my prime consideration was to film when it was quieter so as to both get peace and quiet to do so, but perhaps also to be allowed the room to compose certain shots and get full images of streets and buildings, or something like that.

[@cappaslangmurderer]

Well that cheered me right up.

[@thomaslindh9971]

It's so sad. Can't stand watching. A lot of cities in Sweden was demolished in the same way.

[@Emmmmmmmmeo]

i live in kilmarnock

[@bobbyborland6922]

It's very easy to criticise and condemn our forebears for decisions made in the past. It is regrettable that much of the old town centre was demolished, but, like so many other towns in the UK, people wanted modernisation, and the town planners of the day gave the people what they wanted. Unfortunately, some of the buildings havent stood the test of time. As for the economic health of the town centre, people would rather drive out of town, or to Silverburn for free parking, rather than pay a couple of quid, or, God forbid, walk into the town. Thennthere are the multitudes who shop on-line, lest they miss an episode of Love Island. It interesting and quite sad to see how Kilmarnock, (like so many other towns) has changed, but instead of unrelentingly whinging on about it and pointing fingers, accept the changes and make the best of it.

[@kildogery]

Such a shame. I was born there in the 80s and it's only got worse since.

[@markhickey3647]

Interesting video Ed. I’m only in the town 15 years and I’ve seen a demise. Thought at first it was a video more to do with complaining about scotrail. Where is it you are from out of interest.?

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Mark. I'm always keen to get a good moan in somewhere. I'm Glasgow-based.

[@Airwolf106]

In the 1970s Kilmarnock was an industrial town on a Friday the factory's would empty and the pubs were filled. Now I don't recognise that town. its a dump.

[@steffinotrom7350]

Glass half full kinda guy? But aye, it's grim. The brutalist architecture is the smallest issue.

[@jamesmason8944]

But remember the glass half full guy is not thinking about purchasing the next round.

[@ianmiller6158]

We moved from Glasgow to Killie when we were married in 1969 and loved the town centre. I hated the redevelopment as it was just following a common trend without regard to historical or architectural values. Now town centres are dead as we currently see them and need a new purpose that could have been provided all along in the original form. Kilmarnock still has much to offer that was mentioned but not shown (Dean Castle and park, Dick Institute etc.) plus others such as John Finnie Street and John Dickie Street which contain many fine examples of Victorian architecture.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Ian. You're absolutely right. Every town has good stuff for those prepared to look. And Kilmarnock is no different in that respect.

[@SensibleCentrist]

Demographics are Destiny and the place is looking like Bangladesh 🇧🇩 now, absolute state of the town.

[@carlmitchell9958]

Architects and town planners across the uk, should hang their heads in shame.

[@Ilkleyscot]

It’s the councillors who excepted there plans ,not par for the course ideas that were in vogue for the time

[@colingill8270]

A place I have never been. Sad to hear about the shopping center and how all the auld building have been demolished for it

[@regtait553]

Same happening now in Ayr !!!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Could probably say the same about many towns and cities in Scotland.

[@ukbloke5740]

Excellent video. I too feel the sense of loss more and more as I get older when it comes to how these places have been vandalised, like building for consumerism is antithetical to building for life. I'm no commie but I understand how runaway capitalism is ultimately genocidal although I do support the idea of the free market. Confusing isn't it? Just one thing I noticed which I found quite intriguing is: 27:34 - Why is his middle button undone? It's clearly deliberate. Has this something to do with Freemasonry?

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. I'm not sure about the button thing. Maybe someone else can answer that?

[@johnmontgomery9149]

What the hell has the faults of Scotrail got to do with a story about Kilmarnock. Get on with the videos.

[@EdExploresScotland]

That's a reasonable comment, John. I suppose when you reach a certain age moaning becomes a bit like peeing, in that you should never pass up an opportunity to do one. That said, I was starting the video with a small bit about the history of the railway in Kilmarnock, so I felt the moan wasn't entirely out of place.

[@Ilkleyscot]

I was proud to be born and bred in Kilmarnock and my grandfather was involved with KFC ,but sadly he must have turned in his grave in the 70s ,unfortunately Kilmarnock suffered from having labour dimwitted councillors who decided to destroy our lovely buildings and heritage such as Burns printing works could have preserved some of the shop fronts as they did in Ayr ,but no ! We now have a concrete jungle with drug addicts roaming at night probably they were imposed on us with the advent of the Glasgow overfill . Which the good folk of Kilmarnock have to endure. On a brighter side we still have the Dick institute certainly not in the town centre ( not the Dean as stated in the video )the Laigh Kirk in Bank st though we have those German cobbles ( at great expense ) and good for ruining ladies shoes and pseudo welders etc ,appearing out of the ground at an attempt at Killie culture. If you look hard you can still find a few gems? The video shows up the disaster we now have ,and that’s the honest truth,has fitting music though.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Stuart. I got the museum name mixed up with the castle; the Dick Institute right enough, and well worth a visit. As you say, there are always gems to be found if you look.

[@user-ht9jw5mo4s]

The problem is the SNP’s appalling attempts to create their models of life. They have failed Scotland. Whoever is managing the road and railway brief (there has probably been a few) are more interested in lining their pockets.

[@freeforester1717]

Depressingly dismal

[@justinjoyit13]

If you're back pack is not staying where you want it- maybe take it off before your camera monologue. You are clearly shoogling it every five seconds.

[@EdExploresScotland]

I'm just a shoogler. It's nothing but an indication that I'm struggling trying to remember what to say.