Spion Kop (Workmans Dwellings) King St. Ayr

[baz]

Hi, Does anyone have any photos of above that I can use?. I do have one which is attatched.
thank you.
baz.

[Agnes14]

I always knew this as The Spying Scope.   I don't think your spelling is correct!

[mikayla]

Hi,
The spelling is correct,I believe it was named after a battle or place from the boer war,my father in law had a friend who was brought up there,in fact I live a few hundred yards from where it was situated,
                               Regards Mikayla

[Agnes14]

Sorry, you could be right, I was brought up in Ayr and was told it was the Spying Scope and got it's name from the style of tenement - it was easy to 'spy' on what was going on.   Never thought of it having a 'proper' name to the address other than just King St.

[Gadget]

Any help:

'Spion Kop' (and other spellings) was an informal name bestowen on Craigmillar Buildings, King Street, Ayr, erected on from 1897 to provide 'healthy buildings for the working classes, at moderate rents'. [Information on Spion Kop and Craigmillar Buildings from Rob Close, The Street Names of Ayr, AANHS, Ayr, 2001.]

http://www.ayrshirehistory.org.uk/research_postings.htm


Gadget

[baz]

Sorry all for not replying, but just got back from holiday.

mikayla is correct.

No 10(arrowed), where I stayed. Spion Kop :- Informal name bestowed on Craigmillar Buildings, King Street, Ayr. Spion Kop was a hill near Ladysmith, South Africa, the site of a battle between the British and the Boers on 24 Jan 1900, from which the Boers emerged victorious. The name was very much in the news in early 1900, and became attached to these flats, for obscure reasons which may reflect the grim humour of life in Ayr’s poor northern suburbs.

Would still would be grateful for any more photos though.

baz.

[Glencoe]

Hi Baz,

Did you know the Kiltie family who lived there, they are my close relations and I've been wanting for quite some time to talk to anyone who lived there, or knew this family, or the Garrity's ( next door neighbours)

Glencoe

[baz]

Hi Glencoe,

Sorry, I cant help you there, and as I was only 4 years old when I left the Kop, I was too young to remember anything, and any relations that would have known are no longer with us.

baz.

[Glencoe]

Hi Baz,

Thanks for getting back to me, my relatives lived at 8 Craigmiller Buildings.  If you find any more photos of the place could you please let me know. 

Robert Kiltie WW 1 is named on the War Memorial in Wellington Square Ayr. Unfortunately his name is simply Kiltie R. could be Ronald, Reginald, Richard etc.
I only mention this "Lest We Forget"

Glencoe