Directions needed

[AngieB]

Hi  I am going to New Cumnock on 23rd Sept and want to visit the Old Kirkyard can any one give me directions please. I shall be travelling to New Cumnock by train. Thanks

[DonHugo]

If no-one gives you directions here then I suggest you contact the Tourist Info Office at Kilmarnock or Ayr.

Or simply Google "new cumnock" kirkyard

DonHugo

[sporran]

Hello Angie,


I am not local to New Cumnock, but I was there last week.

Turn right out of the station and head south towards the centre on the A76 main road.  After just over half a mile, the road turns sharp left, but take the right fork (B741).  After a few yards up a short hill, there is a left turn (Afton Road) marked "Cemetery" and "Burns Memorial".  Follow this residential street for another half mile in a southerly direction and the cemeteries are just after the brow of the hill.

The new cemetery is first with the old one adjacent.  There are lots of paths in both but there will be some walking on grass to read stones.  Both places are very well looked after and almost all stones are legible.

If you are ever in Old Cumnock, the Baird Institute has books of memorial inscriptions up to 1918.

We did not stop to eat or shop in New Cumnock but there did not appear to be much in the way of facilities.


Regards,

John

[rarebreed]

Hi Angie - a bit late I know but must tell you that the two cemetries up Afton are both "new" even though one is the old and one is the new! The OLD cemetry is actually behind the chinese takeaway on the main road. Not visible from the road. I THINK that it was the cemetry up until about 1929. Best Regards - Stuart

[sporran]

Hello Stuart,


thanks for the update: it will certainly help me when I am in the area again.  As I recall, I looked around the village and found an old church but not the old graveyard.  Now that I know where to look (if the Chinese takeaway stays in business), I shall search for more of my relatives.

Sorry if I misled anyone: a local told us where the cemetery was but he was apparently unaware of the proper "old" cemetery.


Regards,

John

[rarebreed]

Hi Sporran- you might appreciate this...     http://members.tripod.com/bob_newcumnock/auldkirk/surnameshome.html
          ... remember that a lot of names are missing as the stones have long gone ---- but at least you get an idea of what you are looking for. Regards - Stuart p.s. links on left of the page has surnames - incredibly good but sadly not Christian names.

[sporran]

Hello rarebreed,


thanks: I did appreciate that, and I think that there will be others who appreciate the information and the effort that went into providing it.


Regards,

John

[rarebreed]

You are very welcome - I found it a couple of years ago and forgot about it. A terrific resource not well known about. I would guess that you have been on New Cumnock Now and Then. Best regards - Stuart