Today we started off Mary-Ann's search for her ancestors by going to Dalmellington which was a rather depressed and uncared for place - rubbish in the river and graffiti round the graveyard. Eventually by asking in the Pharmacy we found the location of the Museum - someone had ripped the sign off! Once we got there and went in the lady in charge was most helpful and keen to help. From there we went walked up to where the old smithies were
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| Smithy 1 |
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| Smithy 2 |
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| Smithy 3 |
and then to the old graveyard and had look for Stevensons and McGills. There were some but not ours!
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| Old Dalmellington graveyard |
The 6 mile road to Straiton was single laned, unfenced and dissected by cattle grids. The horned, black faced sheep wandered at will, taking their time to move off the road when the car approached.
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| Black-faced sheep country |
Straiton is an attractive looking little heritage village - the houses all looked cared for with small flower gardens at their footpath frontages. We had morning tea at the little cafe there "The Buck".
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| The Buck cafe |
When we had finished, Mary-Ann asked about the information centre. The owner, Dorothy, said that there wasn't one, but then proceeded to take an interest in Mary-Ann's questions and became extremely helpful with photos and email addresses! She pointed us in the direction of the old smithy
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| Straiton smithy |
and the houses in the High Street
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| House 9 or ... |
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| ... House 9 |
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| Straiton High Street |
as well as the old Toll house, all places which may have been occupied by the Stevenson ancestors.
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| Toll house |
From there we travelled back to Alloway and Robert Burns country. The museum was impressive as was the cafe.
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| Burns Museum wall |
We ordered "Haggis and neeps" for lunch. After a few minutes wait the manager realised that our order had been overlooked and chased it up. A waiter then came to apologise for the delay and offered us free drinks. When lunch did arrive it was great!
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| Haggis & neeps |
After lunch we walked up to the cottage where Robbie Burns was born...flagstone floors in the family areas and cobbles in the middle rooms where the cows and chickens resided.
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| Burns' birthplace |
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| A Mary-Ann sized door |
Tutor, John Murdoch's report card on Robbie.
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| Who's the teacher? |
Became acquainted with the "Moosie" in passing...
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| The moosie |
...to the Alloway kirk from "Tam o' Shanter".
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| Alloway Kirk |
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| Alloway headstone |
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| Alloway Kirk |
We got lost trying to get back to Ayr and Morrison's to buy something for tea.
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