Parks and Activities South Ayrshire

Historic Places - The Low Green, Ayr

This area of open space is all that remains of Ayr Burgh's Common Lands, which were granted by Royal Charter to the Burgh in the 14th century.

The green has, for the most part, been used for sports and games. In the 16th century men used the area for various pastimes, while in 1870 an area was laid out for ladies to play croquet. From 1872-1875 the Ayr Thistle and the Ayr Academy Football Clubs utilised the area. However due to the damage to the turf the council prohibited football matches.

By the mid 1800's the potential of the Low Green as a tourist attraction was identified by the Burgh Council and in the 1880's improvements were made. In 1881 the sea wall was built and the first part of the Esplanade was built.

The original sea wall of 1881 was washed away the following year and had to be rebuilt, but this did not stop the first part of the Esplanade being laid. In 1892 a public fountain was presented to the town by James Steven and erected on the green while in c.1887 a bandstand was installed where it remained until 1951-2.

During the First World War the Royal Flying Corps were given permission to use the Low Green as a landing strip, though in 1916 they moved to the Racecourse.

Map of The Low Green