Girvan's Story

About the Project

Girvan's Story is a community-led regeneration project, currently in a development stage, which has been awarded funding of £230,000 from Historic Environment Scotland, National Heritage Lottery Fund and South Ayrshire Council.

The funding will be used to develop a detailed bid for the Project which aims to improve several of Girvan's landmark buildings while delivering a programme of traditional skills training and heritage activities.

If we are successful in our bid then around £5m would be spent on the project over five years. Other benefits could include a small grants scheme to support owners with the cost of shopfront improvements and building repairs.

Progress to Date

Work completed to date includes a review of the conservation area. Community members participated in an online questionnaire and supported an amendment to the conservation area boundary. The next step of developing a conservation area management plan is being completed by local firm ARPL architects who have also completed a study of the building materials used in Girvan's historic buildings.

O'Donnell Brown Architects are managing a Design Team to complete survey work and develop repair plans for our priority projects. This work involves consultation with building users and has been informed by business plans that are also in development.

A traditional skills audit was completed to understand the skills gaps in the area and identify opportunities to partner with local organisations to provide training for young people. This information combined will help to inform our programme of traditional skills training.

Consultants Ice Cream Architecture have engaged with a range of groups and individuals to gather ideas on what heritage and traditional skills activities the community would like to see happen in Girvan. Taster activities delivered to date include a traditional skills & heritage careers engagement session and a traditional roofing skills workshop at Girvan Academy.    

A limited number of tickets are now available for the following activities:

Girvan's Story: Heritage inspired stained glass

Friday 23rd May 2025

Explore the history of Girvan's shopfronts with an introduction to stained glass techniques and materials.  Help to create a new heritage inspired artwork on the day.

Girvan's Story: Introduction to blacksmithing

Wed May 21st at 09:30 or 14:30 at Morrells Forge in Maidens

Join us for an exciting, hands-on event where you'll learn all about traditional metalwork at a working forge. This practical workshop will introduce you to a range of skills including forging and shaping metal by hand. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to learn from an experienced blacksmith. This event is open to all Girvan locals, whether you're a tradesperson looking to try out new skills, a school-leaver or career-changer considering an apprenticeship or just a keen craft enthusiast. See you there!

Please note, because numbers are limited, we require details of your connection to Girvan and interest in traditional skills to allocate spaces for this activity. We will confirm your place in advance of the sessions and will keep a waiting list in case of any cancellations or additional places. If you book a place and later find you are unable to attend, please let us know so we can reallocate your ticket.

Girvan's Story: Heritage Inspired Mural Workshop

Wed May 14th 2025 from 09:30 to 16:30 at 89 Dalrymple Street in Girvan

Join us for an exciting event for all ages. You'll have the opportunity to get creative and share your ideas for designing two murals for Girvan's newest public park.

This is an all day drop-in event and you do not require a ticket to attend, but if you wish to book a place here you will receive event reminders and help us get a rough idea of numbers. This event will be held outdoors and is open to all.

Book your space at any of these events.

Other upcoming activities and events include:

We will also be partnering with Girvan Arts Festival to realise an exciting community arts and heritage interpretation project, and with a local artist to explore the design of a new mural with the help of children and adults from across Girvan.

*Places at all of these events are free but limited

Other ways to get involved

Drop into Girvan library and complete one of our postcards to share stories and ideas for the project.

For further information contact the Project Officer by e-mailing girvansstory@south-ayrshire.gov.uk 

Girvan Academy Media Project

Last year we approached Girvan Academy and asked them to support the Girvan's Story project by producing a short documentary that would capture Girvan's built heritage as well as people's perceptions of the town and their hopes for its future.

With support from The Iris, the pupils took on a variety of roles in the production and worked hard to involve lots of people from the local community. 

This documentary will support Girvan's Story by giving us a greater understanding of the improvements people would like to see and has also given us a benchmark for delivering those improvements (subject to funding).

Thank you to SURF, The William Grant Foundation & The Girvan Town Team for supporting this project and to The Iris and staff and pupils of Girvan Academy for its production.