Lived in Bourtreehill from 74 till 88. I was five when we moved there and it was magical. Everything was new, pristine and booming. The beach, the Magnum. Fantastic! Tonnes of work and disposable income led to prosperous times. Then came along Thatcher. Decimated the industries. My old man worked for Volvo and he was reduced to three day work weeks and was considered one of the lucky ones. It just went downhill from there. Poverty breeds addiction, crime and violence. It's sad to see the main street so full of empty shops.
The To Let signs and the Pawnbroker shop right in the centre says a lot about the current situation. I lived there for a couple of years, Lived in Middleton Park, had many friends there in Boothill area, they are all still there and would never leave. Was a great place to work ( Tesco ), live and socialise. Maybe the architecture and the planning have failed but Irvine has some great people, visit it regular. Very fond memories from back in the 90's. Thanks for the video.
Hi Ed, I used to visit Irvine every Friday /Saturday in the mid 70’s to the Mid 80’s was at the opening of the Magnum leisure Centre and continued to visit ice skating or Swimming up until 1984 in its hey day sadly demolished now lots of fond memories. From mid 80 ‘s to late 80’s I was a regular At Amanda’s Disco in the Shopping centre and on a Saturday Afternoons The burns Tavern packed to doors and great atmosphere and memories Irvine back then was bustling lively a great place to be plenty employment Volvo trucks, hysters . Wilson Sporting Goods , Rockware Glass and Ayrshire Metals etc it’s quite sad to see it like this now I have fond Memories of it in its Hey day . Malcolm Kerr
10/10 great film. I'm born and raised in Irvine and agree 100% with everything you've said and so does the vast majority of irvinites. The housing they built was pretty good in my opinion but what they did to the town centre was unforgivable and don't get me started on the old bridge as there was plenty of space to build that mall nearby.
You don't speak for this Irvinite and I can already tell you're over 50, since all you people do is bitch about how the town used to be and never miss a moment to moan about the mall. You don't miss old Irvine. You miss your youth.
Stumbled across this as I was browsing UA-cam, really brings back some fond memories of my childhood. I was born in Irvine in 1969 and lived there till 1985. Though I've not lived there for many years, it remains a special part of my life.
I remember as a teenager in the 70s, Irvine was a must visit destination. In particular for the Magnum Centre. We had nothing like it in Glasgow. As usual Eddie, a top notch video, your old/new image transitions are great. Keep up the good work. 👍 👏👏👏
For some reason planners and councillors were obsessed with all things American. It's like having a B Grade American actor to spoil every British film in the 50s. It could be the paid junkets to the wide open sunny climes of the USA where concrete can look ok. The councilors and planners come back here and admire all those drawings and model forgetting Scotland has rain and small roads. They end damp smelly moss ridden hell holes in 10 years with constant expensive maintenance. Every town in central Scotland is blighted Dumbarton a prime example.
My parents moved from Millarston to Dalry when I was a toddler in 75. My Mum loved Irvine as she could park in the multi storey right outside tesco(boots now) and load everything into the boot without a soaking. We loved swimming in the Magnum while older relatives were indoor bowling or ice-skating. Fantastic memories and I still think the harbour side is a special place. It's a shame the Forum is closed now and Ruby's. Used to be a wee nightclub just inside Rivergate too, expect that'll be closed as well.
The huge 20 foot TV near santander, has just been turned off, for the last 5 years its been showing blinking dots , since it broke. So not only does it look an eyesore it wasted 5 years of electricty to show random dots
I think Irvine's just been awarded a hefty bundle of government money. Hopefully they'll use it wisely to sort out any number of major issues in the town.
I lived on the west coast 22 years, Beith-Ardrosson-Largs. I moved away in 2022 to get more sun and natural beauty here in Perthshire. The west coast has become so depressing!
Brilliant video. Ive discovered the cylce path running from kilwinning along bogside and the river irvine. It's glorious! And really gives you a sense of what irvine lost beacuse you're interrupted by backside of rivergate. Even the surrounding network of trails in the new town makes for lovely off rowd cycling
Thanks David. Definitely lots of cycling routes in that part of Scotland. Add the Scottish Maritime Museum down by the harbor in Irvine and you have the recipe for a great day out.
There is a little tower/castle in Girdle toll, Irvine which dates back to circa 1417, so that’s kinda cool. And knowing that I’ve been to all the places you’ve shown in this video compared to the past has really made me think about how beautiful and majestic it all could have been, although, I don’t mind some of the new places about town.
I was born in Irvine in '58 and I have a few photos of it in 1960 held in my grandma's arm as baby, the Eastern side of the river with elaborate Victorian West Rd Mure relief mission church in the backdrop of the photo looked ideal for walks, almost like a tree lined boulevard! After watching this video and looking back at my photos, Irvine's town planners missed a trick and could have enhanced Irvine. Instead of covering the river up with the shopping centre, they could have made a tourist destinantion rivalling Edinburgh. By utilising the river and making it a beautiful walk maximizing its Ox Bow. Copying Dutch river towns with different Scottish historical architectural frontages would be a great idea and transformation!
Hi Eddy, I agree with you about the terrible mess they made with that architecture. I think they may have been on “planet pot” in the 60s! They were not at all interested in the history or the facts about the town. I’ve seen many places that you’ve taken us that did a better job of blending in the new with the old. It makes me sad. 😢. Lynn in Naples 😊
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Irvine so quiet! I’ve been away from Ayrshire for 12 years, I can’t believe how run down it is now. The forum used to be a great wee place and now it’s sitting abandoned
Would be interesting to hear your impressions of Port Glasgow and Retail Park which has superceded to become focal point of activity. Having said that what there was of period admirable buildings like the now library were infiltrated in the 1970s and the town given a mongral apoearence. The volumes of traffic are relentless with little or no thought given to pedestrians who must negotiated intersecting traffic with no public crossings
Hi, dicovered your channel because You Tube thought I might be interested, I moved to east Kilbride about 3 years ago and got a job as a bus driver. One of my routes is the 11 from Kilmarnock to Adrossan via Irving so I thought Id take a look at this video. From my perspective Irvine is just a street with not a lot on it as Im not able to get off my bus and explore. This video has been great as far as Im concerned as its enabled me to see what Irvine really is like. One question for you though. I notice that a lot of the shops seem to be shut. How much do you think that is due to the impact of online shopping, and how do you think that has a knock on effect to the heart of the town. I imagine less shops equals less jobs, equals more poverty with less chance of climbing out of it. I shall now continue exploring your channel. Thank you for your time and effort on these masterpieces
Thanks for your question. I suspect it's a similar situation all over the country with online shopping having a huge impact on the High Street in towns and cities.
I'm originally from Kilwinning, and I can tell you, I remember the rivergate shopping centre as it was in the 1970's. (Inside the rivergate centre there used to be 2 water wheels that rarely worked) That Asda etc didn't exist then. I believe it was part of blue circle cement. The 2 new buildings I remember were Cunninghame house and the rivergate centre. Oddly enough, I now live 10mins from another new town, Livingston.
Great video ed, i go down to irvine to fish often , my late parents were engaged ( to be married) in irvine in 1940, when my father Got shore leave from the navy during ww2., its a crime what happened to irvine , with regards deplorable planning with the wretched new town.
This is where I live. I went to school here too. Changed a lot since then. The magnum was jumping back then with ice rink etc. About 3 good cafes, fresh good food too. Let that place go and built the eyesore "the portal" its a white elephant that place..where the old police station used to be. It is so crammed in there where it is the portal place. Some great bands used to go to the magnum center in Irvine too. Seen some good bands there like gerry and the pacemakers and the searchers etc. It is sad they let the magnum go. But yes seen photos of the old bridge. I agree its is sad to see how they rip the character and originality out of the place. Also those flats next to the mall are atm being knocked down they are more or less gone too. Thanks for an interesting video about the bleak town I live in 😂 I did enjoy it though. In agreement with everything you said about it too. It's actually changed quite a bit in my lifetime too. Where McDonald's is and marks and Spencer's there were no shops there when i was a kid. It is so disjointed and pretty exhausting if you want to use some shops in the mall then want to go to one of the shops there. Also they had farm foods in the mall for a long time now it is eben further than where tescos is. So far you really need a car. P.s my mum lives in Cumbernauld. The big mistake there is rhey added a new bit that place is even more disjointed than Irvine. I think it was voted the worse shopping center in scotland (cumbernauld) at one time. What they should have done with Cumberland shopping center is demolished the place and built one new shopping mal, rather than leaving it the way it was and building the new bit. I don't know who they get to plan these things out but they should get someone else 😂.
Many thanks. The link between Cumbernauld and Irvine is actually pretty strong because I think the same planners or architects were involved in the proposed design of both New Towns.
The Magnum was jumping like you say . Always mobbed at the weekends and outside too ( weather permitting), like you say many bands would play there at night too . Good times.
To destroy the lovely old James bridge was in itself .. a decision of monumental error ....only a few of those bridges are left ....Perth I think has kept their marbles intact ....to make matters worse ....the bridge was not demolished to make way for another road bridge ....it was to create shops ....when Irvine had plenty of space to develop shopping malls .. elsewhere near the old railway yards etc .
Great vid. I must admit, I’ve only ever been to Irvine once and that was a flying visit to Irvine. Your video has not encouraged me to return, even to Screwfix.
Hi Ed As an expat brought up in Kilwinning I visited from Australia last year and found both towns depressing what a terrible change brought on by the now defunct Development corporation. T found both Irvine and Kilwinning had lost so much character and individuality and spirit of hope over the many years since I emigrated. SO sad!!
Back in the 60s we almost emigrated to New Zealand. I suppose at that time countries like New Zealand and Australia were looking for skilled men, and my dad was certainly one of them. You wonder how different life would have been if we'd gone.
Other things the new town planners did a great job on are houses in places like Lawthorn. Inter linked with great cycle tracks. We would all agree about the Rivergate but Irvine has a lot to offer and works to Bridgegate have actually made a difference as has the restoration of key buildings like the Trinity church and towns house. Easy to look back and question but the planners at the time were creating employment. Shame the video didn’t feature some of the improvements in the last decade. Otherwise fairly balanced.
Gratz on almost 7k subscribers! I think architecture of the 60's was all flash with no substance. We got a lot of monstrosities in our area that have to be torn down now because they're large windowed, energy inefficient, eyesores to boot. I'm not against modernization but when art and craft are replaced with generic beige and concrete boxes when we have the tools to do lovely things that are more in tune with the feel and environment...does everything have to be done by grift or lowest bidder? "If there is some street or old shop in the market square, dock, factory or warehouse, barn or garden wall which you have passed often and taken for granted, do not expect to see it still there next week. Because it is not listed, because it is ‘of no historic interest', the bulldozers will be in and part of your background will have gone for ever. As I look through this book I think that it is not only the developer who is to blame for the rape of Britain but also the 'yes-man' who wants to be on good terms with his committee, the architect who is his own public relations officer. " John Benjaman 1975 (Forward from 'The R@pe of Britain" by Colin Amery)
I remember in 1974 I think, Stewarton was announced as a new town. Didn't happen but there's been a lot of housebuilding all the same. In Irvine's case a large tract of top quality land running inland along the River Irvine has been sprawled over with industrial estates and housing. For a country with so little high grade cultivable land , Scotland is remarkably uncaring about its loss.
I was brought up in Springburn before they started pulling it down. At least Irvine got a nice shopping centre , if ugly from outside, Springburn shopping centre on the other hand, well let’s just say that you’d have been unlikely to come out the other side with your camera un-nicked! 😂
There is more crossings than just the green bridge, there's 2 road bridges and 2 foot bridges. There's another Bridge story you should have included, the Bailey Bridge, a temporary bridge for 25 years, and tesco paid £1 million to get the new bridge open a week early 😅 There were 3 potenienal sites for the mall they thought this was the best. 😒 Everyone in irvine hates the mall, they demolished our beloved magum and kept this monstrosity. The council seem to do what they want and not give locals what they need. 😢
I grew up in Irvine in the 70’s/80’s and loved the town and its character. The new town elements were new and exciting, although I don’t think I was really aware of what a new town meant. It’s sad it’s deteriorated, particularly the high street where my father had the pharmacy. It’s easy to blame the 1960s planners on all of Irvine’s problems though, a big part of the problem is the lack of economic growth in the area.
I suspect it's the same story around the country, with many things - and certainly a lack of industry and employment - all coming together to create a spiral of decline.
Vistited Irvine twice in the last couple of years… first time, we parked on the Habour side of town, very cute little port, genteel, with a few new low key housings developments, all beautifully painted in soft pastel colours… Came away and said to a Scottish friend how nice it was… Second time we had to find a dispensing Chemist… so parked nearer to the… town… Oh my the most ugly shopping centre I’ve ever seen… a concrete behemoth… smothering the town, like a giant parasite sucking the life out off the old town… which again, despite needing care and investment (inexpensive render & paint for the best part), was lovely… Wouldn’t like to say it’s true in this case, but in England lots of Councillors got quietly rich building schemes like this with public funds. Come to Nottingham, see what happens when the shops finally desert these places. Great video.
They were tarting it up a few years back as many councils did by standard flagstone and sticking concrete trip hazards masquerading as seats and stupid sculptures. The have encased some of the brutalist concrete in glass it was worse and did have leaks as you said.
Enjoyed that , but was far more appealing to see then that mall , the high street is an absolute disgrace , I suppose we’re all to blame for that by using retail parks nowadays . Years ago we had Volvo buses , Ayrshire Metal Products and Hyster , sadly all gone . But you finished your film at a nice spot , the harbour area is definitely the icing on the cake for the town , no Magnum anymore but a lovely spot to walk in a nice day
From barmulloch but now living in cumbernauld yes the town centre is horrendous .but so much wildlife the cumbernauld glen is amazing you'd never know your in cumbernauld. History of the Fleming family lived in Fleming house now flats lots of history interest and history. Condorrat and the village are hundreds of years auld. I'd love to show you around
Getting too much money at once led to this, just like a lottery winner buying a boat. I lived in Irvine for many years and I quite liked it there, but I only went into the shopping centre to get to and from the station or to watch Irvine Vics.
loved rubys, had my 1st ;legal pint in there, loved the magnum, was alot better than glasgow, originally from Irvine, i stayed in broomlands, now that has changed looks weird now. everything had changed biggesst mistake was demolishing the magnum, n building a big heap of crap next to town house
Just to let you know that the old bridge was not destroyed, it was "dismantled" and sold. It still stands to this day over a river in Arizona, America.👍
Irvine pre millennium was an decent town with plenty of things to do especially the magnum. Unfortunately lack of investment and change in shopping habits, ie retail parks and now online have completely destroyed the shopping centre model. The pubs have died because of the public no longer frequent them in the same manner as too with nightclubs. The world is changing and with almost every change comes pain. Hopefully with Irvine being announced as one of the benefactors of a government leveling up grant something will happen for the good.
Irvine is not alone in this decline. The whole country is the same. Unless we start making things for ourselves instead of importing cheap goods there is no hope of an economic upturn. If we make the things we need we have an employed workforce with money to spend and the whole economy grows. Cheap goods from abroad is destroying us.
Irvine used to be a good place to shop there used to be something for everyone, sadly most shops are closed up Ruby Tuesdays has been derelict for years The Forum is closed and will never reopen, all there is now is the Rivergate Mall.
Not seen anyone else say this but the rivergate is a public right of way as I believe thay was part of the deal when taking the old bridge down. This probably helps to keep it well maintained. Bridgegate house used to look a lot worse before they revamped it in the early 2010s. But yeah most of the town centre is a dump
Id love to say about the wonderful memories of Irvine I have…. The only real ones are of deep fried pizza & the clubs in the early 80’s. I grew up in Pennyburn so that made Irvine Exotic lol. I moved away when I was 17 & only went back a few times…. The video reminds me of why I left….it still looks hideous & slum like.. We used to call the shopping centre “the mall” possibly thst was its name then
Hi Cameron. Yes, the harbourside is a nice area. I did in fact end in that area by the superb 1990s housing, but didn't include any shots of the water.
Horrifying. Although, that really long mall you mentioned doesn't look like a bad high street to me - have you been in the Kingdom Centre at Glenrothes, recently - or indeed Kirkcaldy High Street, or Leven? Perhaps the greater population in the west is keeping at least one shopping centre alive, whereas in Fife, the overall population has decreased by around 10% over the past 25 years, and there just isn't enough custom for all these towns, barely 7 miles apart. Mind you, Livingston has also grown at the expense of Bathgate, Borxburn and Falkirk - at least where High Street stores is concerned. Worst of all though, is Galashiels. Take the train or bus there, walk over the footbridge into the High Street, and describe what you see! Go on - I dare you. Its' story has a slightly happier ending, that's not a mall!
Growing up here was great, but it always was ugly as sin. to be fair, it's not much of an improvement but the glass box of bridgegate house is much nicer than the dated brown birck and white tile building that was there before it
It is a sad state of affairs when residents have taken to UTube to voice opinions having been ignored by local authorities including Riverclyde Homes who knowingly brought a disabled man to an isolated part of Port Glasgow where he must budget for taxis from his state pension as the roads are hostile, volumes of traffic high and appallingly layed out. Recalling a comment made when I came to view the flat five years ago it has now sunk in what was meant when referring to a box outside the blase Housing Officer described as for Carer use.
Hi Ed, I enjoyed your walk round Irvine, it does look a bit shabby in places, however the UK government have just announced a 20 million payment to North Ayrshire Council, 2 million per year over the next 10 years in an endeavour to help with the improvement of I believe Irvine town centre! Although I don't live in Irvine I normally go for my walks down at the Harbourside, one of my favourite spots. Regards Neil.
The Plaque is almost a hunters trophy hung on the wall. The 1970's "dalliance" with Brutalist Architecture..... an honest description although it could very well be described as Intellectual Mediocrity..... has a shelf-life of less than 30 years while replacing buildings that are still relevant hundreds of years after and will be well into the future. Some lessons are learned/some not. The disgrace that was the Saint James Quarter with it's Brutalist/Soviet Era Architectural Mediocrity in Edinburgh has been replaced by a "updated" mediocrity with a "Swirl" (????) on top? The only thing missing is the cherry. Compare that "structure" to the Balmoral just footsteps away. Glass, Steel and Concrete and not a Creative Bone in the alleged architects. An "Old Town" in the current lack of talent/vision in the Architectural Community might be 30 years old. What would Frank Lloyd Wright think? Robert Adam? They'd both send these fools to where their talents would be best served..... "Would you like fries with that?"
I agree. These pointless eyesores are everywhere and some say it’s all part of the dumbing down plan to screw with our minds and degrade society. It’s the same psychological warfare that comes from the Tavistock Institute that brought the CV19 propaganda.
I just remember the old bridge was at school close by. Heard it was getting dangerous due to sandstone erosion and flooding? The mall was of it’s time too, which has passed. Good views of river from it with all that glass. Lived west coast all my life, it’s rainy, sodden and damp with councils desperately trying to ‘build’ their way out of it with schemes of new homes. Possibly lucrative to some. Never works. The latest abomination is the new housing scheme at the Harbour which is surely a danger zone for flooding, was a really pleasant place. Yes in the past a haven fir the Glasgow ‘overspill’. But worshipping the god of money has come back to bite us all. Low economy, damp homes and we’re all just watching tv and flood levels rising. Not really a fan of those proto Georgian faux flats either. Small windows prob dark, like a cardboard backdrop for a period tv series. Other countries throw crazy money at their infrastructure if they have a culture to protect. Only Edinburgh wins it all. Shame.
So, you can cross the Irvine River across a narrow footbridge. But how do cross if you are travelling in a vehicle of some sort? I acknowledge your reasoning that you can develop an area with modern buildings without them being in conflict with the heritage of bygone times. The old and the new doesn't need the interference of science fiction orientated gung -ho young architects who spent most of their college education reading comic books for a high. We have to treasure our past as we chart our course through the future. Thanks Ed.
kilwinning, irvine, saltcoats, stevenston, ardrosson have all became dead towns, big names and banks all shutting down and pulling out, jobs gone left right and centre
The loss of industry and jobs has seen a slow decline over decades to where we are now, with the whole country now on its knees, and every walk of society struggling to find enough money to function.
Modern business needs modern facilities use the old town as town living convert the older buildings into homes and create a new modern community times places peoples change you can’t live in the past
We are building crap unbelievable what they did in those days with less technology it’s embarrassing and they drive around in a Porsche they need a slap xx
I found this a rather poor opinion of the area. To complain about there only being one way to the town from the station was to go through the shopping centre was ridiculous when it replaced the main bridge. The one you walked over appeared many decades AFTER the shopping mall. Check your history. Also, to point at a building that is predominantly glass, from the high street, and call it a brutalist concrete building is just laughable.
@Ed Explores Scotland it’s been a few decades for me. I think you might/possibly make it look worse than it is, for society. I don’t know, hope your wrong. The 90’s society, probably worse. Remember.
Lived in Bourtreehill from 74 till 88. I was five when we moved there and it was magical. Everything was new, pristine and booming. The beach, the Magnum. Fantastic! Tonnes of work and disposable income led to prosperous times. Then came along Thatcher. Decimated the industries. My old man worked for Volvo and he was reduced to three day work weeks and was considered one of the lucky ones. It just went downhill from there. Poverty breeds addiction, crime and violence. It's sad to see the main street so full of empty shops.
You will also remember the UNIONS, striking workers,ruining industries prior to the Thatcher era,NO??🤫🤫
The To Let signs and the Pawnbroker shop right in the centre says a lot about the current situation. I lived there for a couple of years, Lived in Middleton Park, had many friends there in Boothill area, they are all still there and would never leave. Was a great place to work ( Tesco ), live and socialise. Maybe the architecture and the planning have failed but Irvine has some great people, visit it regular. Very fond memories from back in the 90's. Thanks for the video.
Hi Ed, I used to visit Irvine every Friday /Saturday in the mid 70’s to the Mid 80’s was at the opening of the Magnum leisure Centre and continued to visit ice skating or Swimming up until 1984 in its hey day sadly demolished now lots of fond memories. From mid 80 ‘s to late 80’s I was a regular At Amanda’s Disco in the Shopping centre and on a Saturday Afternoons The burns Tavern packed to doors and great atmosphere and memories Irvine back then was bustling lively a great place to be plenty employment Volvo trucks, hysters . Wilson Sporting Goods , Rockware Glass and Ayrshire Metals etc it’s quite sad to see it like this now I have fond Memories of it in its Hey day . Malcolm Kerr
10/10 great film. I'm born and raised in Irvine and agree 100% with everything you've said and so does the vast majority of irvinites. The housing they built was pretty good in my opinion but what they did to the town centre was unforgivable and don't get me started on the old bridge as there was plenty of space to build that mall nearby.
Thanks Marc.
You don't speak for this Irvinite and I can already tell you're over 50, since all you people do is bitch about how the town used to be and never miss a moment to moan about the mall. You don't miss old Irvine. You miss your youth.
Stumbled across this as I was browsing UA-cam, really brings back some fond memories of my childhood. I was born in Irvine in 1969 and lived there till 1985.
Though I've not lived there for many years, it remains a special part of my life.
I remember as a teenager in the 70s, Irvine was a must visit destination. In particular for the Magnum Centre. We had nothing like it in Glasgow. As usual Eddie, a top notch video, your old/new image transitions are great. Keep up the good work. 👍 👏👏👏
Many thanks Hugh.
The knocked the magnum down for more housing. Criminal.
It was a good place for us teens. Harbour arts centre had discos too. But now it’s too much to police I’d guess.
@@bawsack69The magnum was great, as you say, it's bloody criminal that they knocked it down.
For some reason planners and councillors were obsessed with all things American. It's like having a B Grade American actor to spoil every British film in the 50s. It could be the paid junkets to the wide open sunny climes of the USA where concrete can look ok. The councilors and planners come back here and admire all those drawings and model forgetting Scotland has rain and small roads. They end damp smelly moss ridden hell holes in 10 years with constant expensive maintenance. Every town in central Scotland is blighted Dumbarton a prime example.
Yes, Dumbarton's shopping centre is a pretty depressing looking eyesore.
Superb..well filmed and honest
My parents moved from Millarston to Dalry when I was a toddler in 75. My Mum loved Irvine as she could park in the multi storey right outside tesco(boots now) and load everything into the boot without a soaking.
We loved swimming in the Magnum while older relatives were indoor bowling or ice-skating.
Fantastic memories and I still think the harbour side is a special place. It's a shame the Forum is closed now and Ruby's. Used to be a wee nightclub just inside Rivergate too, expect that'll be closed as well.
The huge 20 foot TV near santander, has just been turned off, for the last 5 years its been showing blinking dots , since it broke. So not only does it look an eyesore it wasted 5 years of electricty to show random dots
I think Irvine's just been awarded a hefty bundle of government money. Hopefully they'll use it wisely to sort out any number of major issues in the town.
I lived on the west coast 22 years, Beith-Ardrosson-Largs. I moved away in 2022 to get more sun and natural beauty here in Perthshire. The west coast has become so depressing!
Brilliant video.
Ive discovered the cylce path running from kilwinning along bogside and the river irvine.
It's glorious! And really gives you a sense of what irvine lost beacuse you're interrupted by backside of rivergate. Even the surrounding network of trails in the new town makes for lovely off rowd cycling
Thanks David. Definitely lots of cycling routes in that part of Scotland. Add the Scottish Maritime Museum down by the harbor in Irvine and you have the recipe for a great day out.
There is a little tower/castle in Girdle toll, Irvine which dates back to circa 1417, so that’s kinda cool. And knowing that I’ve been to all the places you’ve shown in this video compared to the past has really made me think about how beautiful and majestic it all could have been, although, I don’t mind some of the new places about town.
Wish I could’ve went back in time to experience it all.
A nice vid Ed- Let's hope future planners for all our towns are in your audience.
Nice one
Cheers Roger.
I was born in Irvine in '58 and I have a few photos of it in 1960 held in my grandma's arm as baby, the Eastern side of the river with elaborate Victorian West Rd Mure relief mission church in the backdrop of the photo looked ideal for walks, almost like a tree lined boulevard! After watching this video and looking back at my photos, Irvine's town planners missed a trick and could have enhanced Irvine. Instead of covering the river up with the shopping centre, they could have made a tourist destinantion rivalling Edinburgh. By utilising the river and making it a beautiful walk maximizing its Ox Bow. Copying Dutch river towns with different Scottish historical architectural frontages would be a great idea and transformation!
Hi Eddy, I agree with you about the terrible mess they made with that architecture. I think they may have been on “planet pot” in the 60s! They were not at all interested in the history or the facts about the town. I’ve seen many places that you’ve taken us that did a better job of blending in the new with the old. It makes me sad.
😢. Lynn in Naples 😊
Cheers Lynn.
Excellent, an interesting and well balanced video. Thank you
Many thanks Mark.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Irvine so quiet! I’ve been away from Ayrshire for 12 years, I can’t believe how run down it is now. The forum used to be a great wee place and now it’s sitting abandoned
I grew up in this town but eventually moved to Ireland with my family aged 14…. This brings back some good memories
Would be interesting to hear your impressions of Port Glasgow and Retail Park which has superceded to become focal point of activity. Having said that what there was of period admirable buildings like the now library were infiltrated in the 1970s and the town given a mongral apoearence. The volumes of traffic are relentless with little or no thought given to pedestrians who must negotiated intersecting traffic with no public crossings
Hi, dicovered your channel because You Tube thought I might be interested, I moved to east Kilbride about 3 years ago and got a job as a bus driver. One of my routes is the 11 from Kilmarnock to Adrossan via Irving so I thought Id take a look at this video. From my perspective Irvine is just a street with not a lot on it as Im not able to get off my bus and explore. This video has been great as far as Im concerned as its enabled me to see what Irvine really is like.
One question for you though. I notice that a lot of the shops seem to be shut. How much do you think that is due to the impact of online shopping, and how do you think that has a knock on effect to the heart of the town. I imagine less shops equals less jobs, equals more poverty with less chance of climbing out of it.
I shall now continue exploring your channel. Thank you for your time and effort on these masterpieces
Thanks for your question. I suspect it's a similar situation all over the country with online shopping having a huge impact on the High Street in towns and cities.
Excellent Ed, such a shame we've lost so many old buildings...I wonder how many of these "new buildings" will be around in a hundred years time
Ayr is in the process of being destroyed by ‘renewal’
Ed once again a very informative and enjoyable video. Loved the spaceship 😂
Cheers George.
I'm originally from Kilwinning, and I can tell you, I remember the rivergate shopping centre as it was in the 1970's. (Inside the rivergate centre there used to be 2 water wheels that rarely worked) That Asda etc didn't exist then. I believe it was part of blue circle cement. The 2 new buildings I remember were Cunninghame house and the rivergate centre. Oddly enough, I now live 10mins from another new town, Livingston.
Great video ed, i go down to irvine to fish often , my late parents were engaged ( to be married) in irvine in 1940, when my father Got shore leave from the navy during ww2., its a crime what happened to irvine , with regards deplorable planning with the wretched new town.
Spoke to you in the train station waiting room. Good to have met you!
Hi James. Good to have met you too. The waiting room with whiteboards for radiators!
Hey there! 👋 Irvine's new town plans in the '70s had big dreams, but the reality looks quite different now. 😬
This is where I live. I went to school here too. Changed a lot since then. The magnum was jumping back then with ice rink etc. About 3 good cafes, fresh good food too. Let that place go and built the eyesore "the portal" its a white elephant that place..where the old police station used to be. It is so crammed in there where it is the portal place. Some great bands used to go to the magnum center in Irvine too. Seen some good bands there like gerry and the pacemakers and the searchers etc. It is sad they let the magnum go.
But yes seen photos of the old bridge. I agree its is sad to see how they rip the character and originality out of the place. Also those flats next to the mall are atm being knocked down they are more or less gone too. Thanks for an interesting video about the bleak town I live in 😂 I did enjoy it though. In agreement with everything you said about it too. It's actually changed quite a bit in my lifetime too. Where McDonald's is and marks and Spencer's there were no shops there when i was a kid. It is so disjointed and pretty exhausting if you want to use some shops in the mall then want to go to one of the shops there. Also they had farm foods in the mall for a long time now it is eben further than where tescos is. So far you really need a car.
P.s my mum lives in Cumbernauld.
The big mistake there is rhey added a new bit that place is even more disjointed than Irvine. I think it was voted the worse shopping center in scotland (cumbernauld) at one time. What they should have done with Cumberland shopping center is demolished the place and built one new shopping mal, rather than leaving it the way it was and building the new bit. I don't know who they get to plan these things out but they should get someone else 😂.
Many thanks. The link between Cumbernauld and Irvine is actually pretty strong because I think the same planners or architects were involved in the proposed design of both New Towns.
@@EdExploresScotland I am not surprised at it being rhe same planners as both are so disjointed and both are horrendous :)
The Magnum was jumping like you say . Always mobbed at the weekends and outside too ( weather permitting), like you say many bands would play there at night too . Good times.
To destroy the lovely old James bridge was in itself .. a decision of monumental error ....only a few of those bridges are left ....Perth I think has kept their marbles intact ....to make matters worse ....the bridge was not demolished to make way for another road bridge ....it was to create shops ....when Irvine had plenty of space to develop shopping malls .. elsewhere near the old railway yards etc .
Yes, the bridge was a sore one that I couldn't quite understand.
Great vid. I must admit, I’ve only ever been to Irvine once and that was a flying visit to Irvine. Your video has not encouraged me to return, even to Screwfix.
The Scottish Maritime Museum is down by the harbour area. Always worth a visit.
Hi Ed
As an expat brought up in Kilwinning I visited from Australia last year and found both towns depressing what a terrible change brought on by the now defunct Development corporation.
T found both Irvine and Kilwinning had lost so much character and individuality and spirit of hope over the many years since I emigrated.
SO sad!!
Back in the 60s we almost emigrated to New Zealand. I suppose at that time countries like New Zealand and Australia were looking for skilled men, and my dad was certainly one of them. You wonder how different life would have been if we'd gone.
Other things the new town planners did a great job on are houses in places like Lawthorn. Inter linked with great cycle tracks. We would all agree about the Rivergate but Irvine has a lot to offer and works to Bridgegate have actually made a difference as has the restoration of key buildings like the Trinity church and towns house. Easy to look back and question but the planners at the time were creating employment. Shame the video didn’t feature some of the improvements in the last decade. Otherwise fairly balanced.
Gratz on almost 7k subscribers! I think architecture of the 60's was all flash with no substance. We got a lot of monstrosities in our area that have to be torn down now because they're large windowed, energy inefficient, eyesores to boot. I'm not against modernization but when art and craft are replaced with generic beige and concrete boxes when we have the tools to do lovely things that are more in tune with the feel and environment...does everything have to be done by grift or lowest bidder?
"If there is some street or old shop in the market square, dock, factory or warehouse, barn or garden wall which you have passed often and taken for granted, do not expect to see it still there next week. Because it is not listed, because it is ‘of no historic interest', the bulldozers will be in and part of your background will have gone for ever. As I look through this book I think that it is not only the developer who is to blame for the rape of Britain but also the 'yes-man' who wants to be on good terms with his committee, the architect who is his own public relations officer. " John Benjaman 1975 (Forward from 'The R@pe of Britain" by Colin Amery)
Sounds interesting. I'll check it out. 👍
Great video Ed.
Like yourself, I am not a great lover of shopping centres. No character whatsoever and all the same.
I remember in 1974 I think, Stewarton was announced as a new town. Didn't happen but there's been a lot of housebuilding all the same. In Irvine's case a large tract of top quality land running inland along the River Irvine has been sprawled over with industrial estates and housing. For a country with so little high grade cultivable land , Scotland is remarkably uncaring about its loss.
I was brought up in Springburn before they started pulling it down. At least Irvine got a nice shopping centre , if ugly from outside, Springburn shopping centre on the other hand, well let’s just say that you’d have been unlikely to come out the other side with your camera un-nicked!
😂
Springburn's been decimated by roads, and I'm sure other factors. Not much of it left.
There is more crossings than just the green bridge, there's 2 road bridges and 2 foot bridges.
There's another Bridge story you should have included, the Bailey Bridge, a temporary bridge for 25 years, and tesco paid £1 million to get the new bridge open a week early 😅
There were 3 potenienal sites for the mall they thought this was the best. 😒
Everyone in irvine hates the mall, they demolished our beloved magum and kept this monstrosity.
The council seem to do what they want and not give locals what they need. 😢
Excellent video! .....you should look at Kilmarnock and see if any sense can be made of what the town planners were thinking there.
Many thanks. Check out my Kilmarnock video: ua-cam.com/video/hNbRggTiRq0/v-deo.html
I grew up in Irvine in the 70’s/80’s and loved the town and its character. The new town elements were new and exciting, although I don’t think I was really aware of what a new town meant. It’s sad it’s deteriorated, particularly the high street where my father had the pharmacy. It’s easy to blame the 1960s planners on all of Irvine’s problems though, a big part of the problem is the lack of economic growth in the area.
I suspect it's the same story around the country, with many things - and certainly a lack of industry and employment - all coming together to create a spiral of decline.
Vistited Irvine twice in the last couple of years…
first time, we parked on the Habour side of town, very cute little port, genteel, with a few new low key housings developments, all beautifully painted in soft pastel colours…
Came away and said to a Scottish friend how nice it was…
Second time we had to find a dispensing Chemist… so parked nearer to the… town…
Oh my the most ugly shopping centre I’ve ever seen… a concrete behemoth… smothering the town, like a giant parasite sucking the life out off the old town… which again, despite needing care and investment (inexpensive render & paint for the best part), was lovely…
Wouldn’t like to say it’s true in this case, but in England lots of Councillors got quietly rich building schemes like this with public funds.
Come to Nottingham, see what happens when the shops finally desert these places.
Great video.
Cheers Peter.
Yes leaky roofs do exist in Rivergate. I worked there for a couple o months. High rents i am afraid are the next norm from new owners
Very interesting. I took my kids from Inverkip to the Magnum Centre. I regret not paying attention to the beautiful fennels and closes.
There are certainly many nice interesting old bits of Irvine worth exploring.
They were tarting it up a few years back as many councils did by standard flagstone and sticking concrete trip hazards masquerading as seats and stupid sculptures. The have encased some of the brutalist concrete in glass it was worse and did have leaks as you said.
Kilmarnock added small head sculptures poking up out of the ground as street art, and I've always thought that they too were potential trip hazards.
Harbourside is the only part that's still got some character. How do you make a shopping centre worse? Add in a Spoons pub in all its soulless glory 🙈
Enjoyed that , but was far more appealing to see then that mall , the high street is an absolute disgrace , I suppose we’re all to blame for that by using retail parks nowadays .
Years ago we had Volvo buses , Ayrshire Metal Products and Hyster , sadly all gone .
But you finished your film at a nice spot , the harbour area is definitely the icing on the cake for the town , no Magnum anymore but a lovely spot to walk in a nice day
Yes, it just goes to show that we can still build nice things, and mere houses at that.
@@EdExploresScotland absolutely
Jesus, the Rivergate (and Forum) really is a carbuncle from that view.
I'm from Irvine shopping mall is an eyesore that cut the town in two killed local independent retail .
it's horrible to look at
From barmulloch but now living in cumbernauld yes the town centre is horrendous .but so much wildlife the cumbernauld glen is amazing you'd never know your in cumbernauld. History of the Fleming family lived in Fleming house now flats lots of history interest and history. Condorrat and the village are hundreds of years auld. I'd love to show you around
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday's
Getting too much money at once led to this, just like a lottery winner buying a boat. I lived in Irvine for many years and I quite liked it there, but I only went into the shopping centre to get to and from the station or to watch Irvine Vics.
Irvine has gone downhill so much in the last few years it's unbelievable.
must admit Irvine one place we avoid when in Ayrshire
The Scottish Maritime Museum is in the harbour area. Always worth a visit.
Only went to the Magnum...even that's gone!
loved rubys, had my 1st ;legal pint in there, loved the magnum, was alot better than glasgow, originally from Irvine, i stayed in broomlands, now that has changed looks weird now. everything had changed biggesst mistake was demolishing the magnum, n building a big heap of crap next to town house
Used to work in the tesco,was a tough job. Agree it's staggeringly ugly centre.
Just to let you know that the old bridge was not destroyed, it was "dismantled" and sold. It still stands to this day over a river in Arizona, America.👍
Thanks for that Mark. I didn't know. If we demolish the shopping centre can we get it back?
Irvine pre millennium was an decent town with plenty of things to do especially the magnum.
Unfortunately lack of investment and change in shopping habits, ie retail parks and now online have completely destroyed the shopping centre model.
The pubs have died because of the public no longer frequent them in the same manner as too with
nightclubs.
The world is changing and with almost every change comes pain.
Hopefully with Irvine being announced as one of the benefactors of a government leveling up grant something will happen for the good.
I remember the Forum being a bustling place in the 90s
@@bawsack69 the owners refused to contribute to the refurbishment of the area and was left in the dumpster
My fondest memories are of Irvine the way it once was. Not the eyesore it is today.
Irvine is not alone in this decline. The whole country is the same. Unless we start making things for ourselves instead of importing cheap goods there is no hope of an economic upturn. If we make the things we need we have an employed workforce with money to spend and the whole economy grows. Cheap goods from abroad is destroying us.
@@EdExploresScotland I know, there are towns everywhere going down the same road. It's sad
Irvine used to be a good place to shop there used to be something for everyone, sadly most shops are closed up Ruby Tuesdays has been derelict for years The Forum is closed and will never reopen, all there is now is the Rivergate Mall.
It's a sad picture that can probably be seen in most towns not just in Scotland, but around the UK.
Not seen anyone else say this but the rivergate is a public right of way as I believe thay was part of the deal when taking the old bridge down. This probably helps to keep it well maintained. Bridgegate house used to look a lot worse before they revamped it in the early 2010s. But yeah most of the town centre is a dump
That's a good point about the right of way. Cheers Aidan.
Id love to say about the wonderful memories of Irvine I have…. The only real ones are of deep fried pizza & the clubs in the early 80’s. I grew up in Pennyburn so that made Irvine Exotic lol. I moved away when I was 17 & only went back a few times…. The video reminds me of why I left….it still looks hideous & slum like.. We used to call the shopping centre “the mall” possibly thst was its name then
The problem is that irvine is not on the main transport links, which is not ideal for manufacturing industries.
The planners just felt driven to do something but had limited budgets and weak architectural leadership, lack of leadership.
Unless I missed it, you didn't show the harbourside which is one of the nicest parts of Irvine.
Hi Cameron. Yes, the harbourside is a nice area. I did in fact end in that area by the superb 1990s housing, but didn't include any shots of the water.
What a dump. No other words needed.😢
Town planning hasn't changed much through the years. Because Irvine was pretty much what you see today across the river belonged to dundonald parish .
When you’ve seen one shopping centre you’ve seen THE MALL🙀🙀😹
Horrifying. Although, that really long mall you mentioned doesn't look like a bad high street to me - have you been in the Kingdom Centre at Glenrothes, recently - or indeed Kirkcaldy High Street, or Leven? Perhaps the greater population in the west is keeping at least one shopping centre alive, whereas in Fife, the overall population has decreased by around 10% over the past 25 years, and there just isn't enough custom for all these towns, barely 7 miles apart. Mind you, Livingston has also grown at the expense of Bathgate, Borxburn and Falkirk - at least where High Street stores is concerned. Worst of all though, is Galashiels. Take the train or bus there, walk over the footbridge into the High Street, and describe what you see! Go on - I dare you. Its' story has a slightly happier ending, that's not a mall!
Growing up here was great, but it always was ugly as sin. to be fair, it's not much of an improvement but the glass box of bridgegate house is much nicer than the dated brown birck and white tile building that was there before it
It is a sad state of affairs when residents have taken to UTube to voice opinions having been ignored by local authorities including Riverclyde Homes who knowingly brought a disabled man to an isolated part of Port Glasgow where he must budget for taxis from his state pension as the roads are hostile, volumes of traffic high and appallingly layed out. Recalling a comment made when I came to view the flat five years ago it has now sunk in what was meant when referring to a box outside the blase Housing Officer described as for Carer use.
Hi Ed, I enjoyed your walk round Irvine, it does look a bit shabby in places, however the UK government have just announced a 20 million payment to North Ayrshire Council, 2 million per year over the next 10 years in an endeavour to help with the improvement of I believe Irvine town centre! Although I don't live in Irvine I normally go for my walks down at the Harbourside, one of my favourite spots. Regards Neil.
North Ayrshire Coucil are a disgrace. Corrupt to the core.
The Plaque is almost a hunters trophy hung on the wall. The 1970's "dalliance" with Brutalist Architecture..... an honest description although it could very well be described as Intellectual Mediocrity..... has a shelf-life of less than 30 years while replacing buildings that are still relevant hundreds of years after and will be well into the future. Some lessons are learned/some not. The disgrace that was the Saint James Quarter with it's Brutalist/Soviet Era Architectural Mediocrity in Edinburgh has been replaced by a "updated" mediocrity with a "Swirl" (????) on top? The only thing missing is the cherry. Compare that "structure" to the Balmoral just footsteps away. Glass, Steel and Concrete and not a Creative Bone in the alleged architects.
An "Old Town" in the current lack of talent/vision in the Architectural Community might be 30 years old. What would Frank Lloyd Wright think? Robert Adam? They'd both send these fools to where their talents would be best served..... "Would you like fries with that?"
Irvine .....the town that councils destroyed!!
I agree. These pointless eyesores are everywhere and some say it’s all part of the dumbing down plan to screw with our minds and degrade society. It’s the same psychological warfare that comes from the Tavistock Institute that brought the CV19 propaganda.
Irvine is simply the most recent town planning disaster - it won't be the last.
There are empty shops in the Rivergate Shopping Mall.
North Ayrshire Largs and Irvine Council. The other towns (especially kilwinning) get nothing.
I just remember the old bridge was at school close by. Heard it was getting dangerous due to sandstone erosion and flooding? The mall was of it’s time too, which has passed. Good views of river from it with all that glass. Lived west coast all my life, it’s rainy, sodden and damp with councils desperately trying to ‘build’ their way out of it with schemes of new homes. Possibly lucrative to some. Never works. The latest abomination is the new housing scheme at the Harbour which is surely a danger zone for flooding, was a really pleasant place. Yes in the past a haven fir the Glasgow ‘overspill’. But worshipping the god of money has come back to bite us all. Low economy, damp homes and we’re all just watching tv and flood levels rising. Not really a fan of those proto Georgian faux flats either. Small windows prob dark, like a cardboard backdrop for a period tv series. Other countries throw crazy money at their infrastructure if they have a culture to protect. Only Edinburgh wins it all. Shame.
I used to have to visit Irvine hospital for work nearly every day, 1980s, and i rarely visited the town centre, not attractive.
Apart from Prestwick & Troon who's towns are still decent, every other Ayrshire town has went to the dogs 🫣
Do Ayr Train Station next please
Here you go Kevin...
ua-cam.com/video/mjslsQKSrZQ/v-deo.html
So, you can cross the Irvine River across a narrow footbridge. But how do cross if you are travelling in a vehicle of some sort?
I acknowledge your reasoning that you can develop an area with modern buildings without them being in conflict with the
heritage of bygone times. The old and the new doesn't need the interference of science fiction orientated gung -ho young
architects who spent most of their college education reading comic books for a high. We have to treasure our past as we
chart our course through the future. Thanks Ed.
Cheers John. You got me wondering there, and had to check a map. From a vehicle point of view, routes over the river are via the A737 or the A71.
kilwinning, irvine, saltcoats, stevenston, ardrosson have all became dead towns, big names and banks all shutting down and pulling out, jobs gone left right and centre
The loss of industry and jobs has seen a slow decline over decades to where we are now, with the whole country now on its knees, and every walk of society struggling to find enough money to function.
Modern business needs modern facilities use the old town as town living convert the older buildings into homes and create a new modern community times places peoples change you can’t live in the past
You've made a good comment Andrew. Some punctuation would make it even better.
Why don,t towns just put a roof over their high street?
Had to go here a few weeks ago - what a dump - looks totally run down and a lot of To Let or lease signs - looks run down and depressed !
Like a lot of Main or High streets in towns and cities all over the UK.
Its not brutalist, which is concrete , resembling multilevel car parks but not so nice.
We are building crap unbelievable what they did in those days with less technology it’s embarrassing and they drive around in a Porsche they need a slap xx
No sorry it isn’t the last, just look at the quality of councillors and planners we have. It’s disaster after disaster with all town centres.
Thats all there us in Irvine, the shopping centre
The harbour houses were built in the early 2000s
The bus station in cumbernauld town centre looks like soviet russia
❤❤❤
same architecture is found in belfast
The only good thing about Irvine is the beach and Gro cafe.
The Scottish Maritime Museum's in the harbour area, and always worth a visit.
Glasgow has built thousands of boxes (flats ) over the past 3 years .. why ?
I'm inclined to think it's mostly student accommodation.
@@EdExploresScotland if you go up the barras you will see dozens of new blocks .
Are we expecting an influx of 10,000 students ?
Probably.
Flats for foriegners
@@PamelaD963our replacements
Dae Saltcoats
Bring a jacket
I found this a rather poor opinion of the area. To complain about there only being one way to the town from the station was to go through the shopping centre was ridiculous when it replaced the main bridge. The one you walked over appeared many decades AFTER the shopping mall. Check your history. Also, to point at a building that is predominantly glass, from the high street, and call it a brutalist concrete building is just laughable.
And you didn’t even see the likes of bourtreehill
@Ed Explores Scotland it’s been a few decades for me. I think you might/possibly make it look worse than it is, for society. I don’t know, hope your wrong.
The 90’s society, probably worse. Remember.
Or Retail Park seating
They destroyed cambuslang as well place still looks half bull dozed