Auld Ayr

St John's Tower

St John's Tower is a remarkable feature in Ayr, but probably more so because hardly anyone knows about it!

I discovered it myself only after years of passing by it and not bothering about it, thinking it had just been an old church from the Victorian times.

I was astonished to discover the tower is actually a survivor from the 15th century!

The tower was one of the later additions to the original kirk of Ayr, first established around 1300. It was in this old kirk (although new then of course) that the nobility and Parliament of Scotland officially passed the crown to Robert The Bruce at a specially convened meeting.

From here Cromwell established himself and commanded most of Scotland, building for his troops a garrison, much of the walls of which remain extant.

It is a shame that the rest of what is reputed to have been as most magnificent church was demolished, but still astonishing to find such an ancient tower intact and looking better able to withstand the future than many modern structures!