The Irvine that was!

This photo was taken by George McMaster. This view is taken from the steeple of Irvine Old Parish Church: in the foreground are the villas and houses which reached down towards the River Irvine from Kirkgate; the Water Bridge is in the middle of the frame, with the WIlson Fullarton Church and Waterside curving round along the west bank of the River; in front of the Wilson Fullarton are the shops and pubs of Central Fullarton; and the houses and tenements of Friars Croft, New Street and Church Street beyond. At the top of the picture you can see the River Irvine as it doubles back on itself, to join with the estuary of the River Garnock in Scotland's Ancient Atlantic Gateway - Irvine Harbour. The Ardeer Peninsula, home of one of Alfred Nobel's first dynamite factories, lies at the top of the photograph.

This image is taken from George McMaster's Collection.

This photo was taken from George McMaster's Collection.

This photo was taken from George McMaster's Collection.

This photo was taken from George McMaster's Collection. It is very difficult to date this photo, although it is safe to assume that it is probably before the 1930s, due to the lack of traffic). This scene is unrecognisable today, were you to stand on the same spot as upon which this photo was taken, you would not believe that you were in the same town. The buildings to left were replaced by 5 blocks of flats, those to the right were replaced by shops and flats, set back from the road by several feet (with a new a grassed area with trees and a new road between Fullarton Street and this development): www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Fullarton+St/@55.612063,-4.67...