Kilmarnock Cross facts for kids
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Kilmarnock Cross is a busy public square in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. It's a central spot where people meet and different streets come together. Back in 1875, a writer named Archibald R Adamson said it was "most spacious" and unique. He noted that seven streets branched off from it.
In the middle of the Cross, there used to be a marble statue of Sir James Shaw. He started from a simple background and became the Lord Mayor of London. This was a very important job, like being the main leader of the city of London.
The seven streets that met at the Cross were Portland Street, Fore Street, Regent Street, Duke Street, Waterloo Street, King Street, and Bank Street. There was also Croft Street nearby. Because of a lot of cars and buses, the town changed the Cross in the 1970s. All traffic was stopped, making it a safer place for people to walk.
Statues at Kilmarnock Cross
The statue of Sir James Shaw stood at Kilmarnock Cross from 1848 until 1929. It was then moved to London Road in the town. Today, you can find other statues in Kilmarnock. On King Street, there are statues that show where water flows underground.
Now that Kilmarnock Cross is free of traffic, a new statue has been placed there. This statue honors two important people: Robert Burns, a famous Scottish poet, and John Wilson, who printed Burns' first book of poems.
Exploring King Street
King Street first opened in 1804. It stretches from Kilmarnock Cross, crosses over the Kilmarnock Water river, and continues to the junction with Titchfield Street. Many of the old buildings on King Street were taken down in the 1970s. This included the Town House and King Street Church. New, modern shops with flat roofs were built in their place.
Exploring Portland Street
Portland Street opened around 1805, not long after King Street. In 1924, a bus service began in Kilmarnock. The old tram service, which used to carry people around town, closed in 1926 because buses were now available.
The first bus station was set up on Portland Street in 1924. It served the town for many years until it was closed and demolished in the 1970s. A market used to operate inside the old bus station. After the building was taken down, the market continued to run from the same spot. A new bus station was built during the town's redevelopment, and it is still there today. Portland Street itself has been completely rebuilt with new, modern buildings. These buildings now house shops, a bingo hall, and a large pub.
