Prestwick Then & Now

This collection of then & now images may well surprise you at the extent of change to a town you might not consider to have changed that much. Prestwick's history started in the 12th century, overshadowed for centuries by its neighbour Ayr and Irvine. The lack of harbour meant its only industry was agriculture until the opening of the Glenburn Colliery in 1911-1912. Perhaps best known as the place where the 'Open' came into being, Prestwick developed as a douce holiday resort once the railway came in Victorian times. The Town Council were still developing the resort in the early 1930s when they invested in the Bathing lake. Massively popular back in the day visitor numbers plummeted in the 1960s when foriegn travel became more affordable and the Bathing lake was a casualty.