Kilmarnock Cross

The Cross

In Rambles Around Kilmarnock (1875) Archibald R Adamson wrote "Kilmarnock Cross is most spacious, although of a most peculiar form, having no less than seven streets branching off it. In the centre stands a marble statue of Sir James Shaw, who rose from a humble position to that of Lord Mayor of London". [ [http://www.electricscotland.com/hiStory/kilmarnock/part1c1.htm Ramble Round Kilmarnock - Chapter 1 ] ]

The seven streets (in clockwise order starting from the north) were Portland Street, the Foregate, Regent Street, Duke Street, Waterloo Street, King Street and Bank Street, and just north of Bank Street, but opening more on to Portland Street than the Cross itself, Croft Street. The Cross looks completely different now. The heavy traffic in the town led to the redevelopments which saw all traffic through this area of the town being stopped completely.A complete redevelopment of the town in the 1970s saw some of the streets demolished, including Duke Street, Regent Street and Waterloo Street. The statue of Jimmy Shaw was at the Cross from 1848 - 1929, when it was removed and placed at London Road. Shops were built along the line of the Foregate, the Burns Shopping Mall and the Bus Station and Multi-storey Car Park replaced the Regent Street area. Some of these shops are built over the top of the Kilmarnock Water, along the line of Waterloo Street. In the town today there are statues placed on King Street to signify where the water runs under the streets. Another statue has been placed at the Cross now that it is free of traffic. The statue is of Robert Burns and John Wilson. King Street opened in 1804. King Street runs from the Cross over the Kilmarnock Water and on to the junction with Titchfield Street.Many of the fine buildings which were in King Street were demolished during the redevelopments in the 70's. These fine buildings were replaced by the characterless flat roofed shops which stand in their place today.Another two casualties of the redevelopments were the Town House and the King Street Church. These were also demolished at this time.

Portland Street

Portland Street opened about 1805, not long after the opening of King Street. In 1924 a bus service started operating in Kilmarnock, the tram service which had served the town closed in 1926, as it was no longer needed. In 1924 the bus station was established in Portland Street, this continued to serve the town until it was close and later demolished in the 70's. A market operated from within the old bus station, and after the demolition continued to operate from the site there. A new bus station was built during the redevelopment and this is where it remains.

Portland Street had been completely demolished and rebuilt with new modern buildings which have become shops, a bingo hall and a super pub.

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