Dreghorn is a relatively small parish in terms of area. It lies east of Irvine and west of Kilmarnock, centred around the cross-roads village of Dreghorn. Dreghorn grew considerably in the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th century, but the coal mining and brick making industries have now vanished. Latterly Dreghorn has become involved in the residential development of Irvine New Town.
Dreghorn has an octagonal church, built around the 1780's with a needle spire.Within the church, windows by Gordon Webster and Susan Bradbury. Across from the church is the Dunlop Memorial Hall which contains a mural of road transportation and commemorates John Boyd Dunlop who lived in Dreghorn and patented the pneumatic tyre (car tires) in 1888.
History is very strong the area. Both William Wallace and Robert the Bruce are closely linked with Ayrshire which played a large part in establishing an independent Scotland. There are also a large number of castles and fine country houses in Ayrshire and many of the ancient churches and abbeys were scenes of extreme strife during the reformation. |
