Auchinleck
Auchinleck is a small town in East Ayrshire. Its main reason for existence was coal mining from the 1800’s right through the late twentieth century.
Historically, the village was the home of the 8th Earl of Auchenleck, His fine manor house dating from 1760 still stands today and is a fine example of the architecture of the time. The town grew in a linear fashion along its main street and the population soared with the demand for coal. The population was 1214 in 1800, by 1901 it was 6605. Newer settlements grew away from the original core. Industry was an important part of the town until the 1980s. In 1983 High House mine closed under Margaret Thatcher’s 'reform' of the Coal Industry and later in 1989 Barony Mine also closed. Other industry such as Curries soft drinks Factory also closed at this time.
Auchinleck has never recovered from these losses and is now victim to many poverty related problems. The population is now 3450.
