Kilwinning

History

Kilwinning dates back to the 8th century. The [https://web.archive.org/web/20110128112852/http://www.irvinebay.co.uk/our-changing-bay/35_community_archaeology_project_kilwinning Kilwinning Community Archaeology Project] carried out a dig in Kilwinning Abbey in 2010, which revealed much about the life of the people in the area during the medieval period. According to John Hay, once the headmaster of the parish school in Kilwinning, "North Ayrshire has a history of religion stretching back to the very beginning of missionary enterprise in Scotland. The Celtic Christians or Culdees of the period of St Columba and St Mungo found here, in this part of Scotland, a fertile field for the propagation of the faith. Kilmarnock, Kilbride, Kilbirnie, are all, like Kilwinning, verbal evidence of the existence of 'Cillean' or cells of the Culdee or Celtic Church." The original town was situated at the Bridgend and Corsehill while the other bank of the river was the site of the abbey, its outbuildings, orchards, doocot, etc. The parish was in the ownership of Kelso Abbey from about 1140. Abbot Adam's Bridge, was constructed in mediaeval times with much of the original structure standing today. The bridge was widened in 1859. After the dissolution of the monasteries, Kilwinning passed to the Earl of Eglinton. The Abbey church had been partly destroyed during the Reformation and a new parish church built in 1775. Lord Eglinton restored the Abbey church tower in 1789 and then replaced it in 1814.

Most-observed species

• Herring Gull

  Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763 · Aves
  19,908
• Western Jackdaw

  Coloeus monedula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  18,350
• Rook

  Corvus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  15,513
• Carrion Crow

  Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  13,917
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  13,100
• Lesser Black-backed Gull

  Larus fuscus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  10,803
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  10,314
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  9,959

Most recent

• M 3.1 — 2021-11-16
  18 km NW of Lochgilphead, United Kingdom
• M 2.5 — 2018-08-30
  1 km ENE of Gourock, United Kingdom
• M 2.6 — 2017-11-01
  2 km NNW of Tarbert, United Kingdom
• M 3.6 — 2006-12-26
  2 km NW of Dumfries, United Kingdom
• M 2.5 — 2005-12-31
  3 km WSW of Auchterarder, United Kingdom
• M 2.5 — 2003-06-20
  12 km NNW of Balfron, United Kingdom