The focal point of this part of our web guide is the town of Prestwick, Scotland.
Prestwick is a coastal town on the Firth of Clyde in South Ayrshire. It abuts the larger town of Ayr to the south and the village of Monkton to the north. Glasgow is about thirty miles north-east.
The area of Prestwick has been inhabited for more than a thousand years. Its name originated in an Old English term for "priest's farm," indicating its origins as an outlying farm of a religious house.
The town was a Free Burgh of Barony for more than six hundred years before James VI renewed its charter in 1600. This charter confirmed Prestwick's status as one of Scotland's oldest baronial burghs.
While agriculture was a significant factor in Prestwick's early economy, its strategic coastal location soon made it a hub for fishing, trade, and commerce. Its proximity to the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran furthered its maritime activities, including shipbuilding.
Still, Prestwick remained a village until the railway arrived in the 1840s. The railway brought middle-class residents from Glasgow and spurred the development of large houses along the coast.
Today, Prestwick's economy is heavily influenced by its proximity to Glasgow and its status as a transportation hub.
Opening in the 1930s, Glasgow Prestwick Airport is a gateway for passenger and cargo flights, significantly contributing to the local economy. Tourism is also vital, with visitors drawn to Prestwick's beauty, historic architecture, and literary heritage.
There is a movement to rename the airport for the poet Robert Burns. Some people don't like the idea of it being named for Glasgow, given that it is located in Prestwick, more than thirty miles from Glasgow.
The nearby Prestwick Golf Club attracts golfers from around the world to Prestwick. It is a classic links course, designed in 1851, with some holes running along railway tracks on the eastern side of the course. The River Pow (Pow Burn) flows through the golf club's property, forming a natural obstacle, and several dunes are in the centre of the course. The Open Championship originated at Prestwick Golf Club and was played there twenty-four times between 1860 and 1925.
In recent years, the Prestwick History Group has been instrumental in preserving and promoting the town's history and heritage. The town is home to several historically and architecturally significant structures.
Dating back to the 12th century, the Old Kirk is a national monument, although the small church building is now a ruin, surrounded by an ancient graveyard.
Constructed in 1837, Prestwick Burgh Hall (Prestwick Freeman's Hall) served as the meeting place of Prestwick Burgh Council until the late 1930s, when Ayrshire County Council acquired it to use for district offices. Built in the Gothic Revival style, it is a Category B-listed building.
The Shaw Tower is an 18th-century structure just east of Prestwick, overlooking the airport. It is said to have been built in 1775 to allow the then-laird of Shaw, an avid falconer, to watch his falcons hunt from an elevated vantage point. Standing about fifty feet, it is a Category B-listed building.
Prestwick is home to one secondary and three primary schools, one of which is a denominational school. These are Prestwick Academy, Glenburn Primary School, Kingcase Primary School, and St. Ninian's Primary School. Heathfield Primary School is on the border of Prestwick and Ayr, serving both communities, but considered to be in Ayr.
This category is appropriate for governmental offices, businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, museums, libraries, art galleries, entertainment venues, organisations, sports and recreational programmes and facilities, attractions, and events in Prestwick.
Recommended Resources
Ekotect is an architectural design studio based in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. This profile provides an introduction to the business's director, a description of the design process and its approach to architecture, from concept design to planning permission, building control, dialogue, collaborative design, design options, 3D modeling, VR walkthrough, a full set of drawings, pre-planning advice, and the application process. Contact data is included on the site.
https://www.ekotect.com/
Friends of the Broadway Prestwick
The organisation was created with the goal of reopening the Broadway as an independent cinema, multi-use venue, and inter-generational community hub. The Broadway Cinema opened on April 29, 1935, and was an important part of the Prestwick, Scotland community for decades. By 1966, it was no longer showing films. Although there was a brief revival in the mid-1970s it lasted for only 10 months, closing in 1976. Opportunities for memberships, volunteering, and support are discussed.
https://www.friendsofthebroadwayprestwick.com/
Founded in the 1920s by David McIntyre and the Duke of Hamilton, the first aviators to fly over Mount Everest, the airport was used by the Royal Air Force as a military base during World War II, and began offering transatlantic flights in the 1950s. Today, the airport is owned by the Scottish government, and is the heart of the country's aerospace industry. Its history, services, technical information, flights, destinations, and airport facilities are discussed.
https://www.glasgowprestwick.com/
Prestwick is an 11-18 non-denominational secondary school in Prestwick, South Ayrshire in Scotland, and is operated by the South Ayrshire Council. The Academy was opened in 1902 as a primary school with one building. The school was expanded in 1910 and 1913, with a major expansion in the 1960s to accommodate secondary pupils, and rebuilt in 2009. Its enrolment policies, uniform policies, departments, and contacts are presented on the Academy's official website.
https://prestwick.sayr.sch.uk/
Prestwick Aerospace is Scotland's aerospace hub and emerging space cluster. Located in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, it is a center for maintenance, repair, and overhaul, aerostructures, and design engineering. It is also home to several large aerospace companies, including BAE Systems, Spirit AeroSystems, GE Caledonian, Collins Aerospace, and others listed on the website. Media information, news, career opportunities, partnerships, and key contacts are included.
https://www.prestwickaerospace.com/
Situated on the south-west coast of Scotland, Glasgow Prestwick Airport has been an operational airfield for nearly a hundred years. With long runways and ample parking, Prestwick Aviation operates Scotland's busiest FBO, accommodating all types of aircraft, large and small. All services are provided in-house and can be arranged through a single point of contact, providing customers with more flexibility than many other locations. An airfield map and contacts are posted.
https://prestwickaviationservices.com/
Prestwick Aviation Tours offers guided walking tours around the perimeter of Prestwick Airport, providing a unique opportunity to explore the history of aviation at Prestwick, dating back to 1913. The 1.5-hour, 2-mile walking tour, guided by knowledgeable staff, covers sections of the perimeter and showcases the airfield's evolution from the early days to the present. Bookings are available for scheduled dates, and private tours may also be arranged. Contacts are posted.
https://prestwickaviationtours.com/
Founded in the Red Lion Inn in 1851, with the 13th Earl of Eglinton elected as first Captain. The newly formed Club purchased two cottages opposite the tavern, one to serve as a clubhouse while the other was gifted to the Club's Keeper of the Green, Old Tom Morris. The Club's history, its clubhouse, course, and visitor information are highlighted, along with its pro shop, dining facilities, flora and fauna, and Number 17, private accommodations within walking distance of the first tee.
https://www.prestwickgc.co.uk/
Built in 1879, Prestwick South Parish Church is a historic church on Main Street in South Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, and part of the Church of Scotland. The Category B listed building was designed by James A. Morris, and features Gothic forms with elegant spires and corner finials. Its location, service schedules, an introduction to the current minister, and the history of the building and congregation is set forth on the site, along with office hours and contacts.
https://prestwicksouth.wordpress.com/
In business since 1850, the Red Lion is an important historical building in Ayrshire. Recently refurbished to create a contemporary village pub atmosphere, it serves bistro food and includes a lively bar area and beer garden. The establishment's history is published on the site, along with menus, addresses, directions, telephone numbers, email addresses, and opening times. Other resources include gift vouchers, special offers, prices, notices, and online bookings.
http://redlionprestwick.co.uk/
ScotSpace is the Scottish Space Corporation, dedicated to advancing the country's space sector. ScotSpace works to harness the potential of space exploration and technology to benefit the nation, collaborating with various stakeholders, including space companies, academic institutions, and government bodies, to drive progress within the UK space sector. Its mission is to provide operational design and support for commercial spce transportation services at Scottish airports.
https://scotspace.scot/
The self-catering apartment accommodation is within Prestwick Holiday Park, an established, owner-occupied holiday park. The structure was built in 1895, and the self-catering accommodation is made up of the North Wing and the South Wing. The North Wing sleeps up to six with two double bedrooms and a twin bedroom, while the South Wing sleeps four with a twin bedroom and a double bedroom. There is also an artist's cottage. Contacts are posted on the website.
https://www.standrewshouseprestwick.com/
St. Nicholas is part of the Church of Scotland, a Reformed Presbyterian Church. Its services are traditional, incorporating hymns, prayers, Scripture readings, choir anthems, and a focus on preaching the Bible. They last an hour or so, with a children's talk included in the early part of the service. The church's history is outlined here in Prestwick, Scotland, along with church news, service schedules, address, telephone number, office hours, and an online contact form.
http://www.stnicholasprestwick.org.uk/
