North Ayrshire Museums Service
North Ayrshire Museums Service aims to provide an essential educational and cultural resource for the community of North Ayrshire. North Ayrshire Museums Service has three museums:
North Ayrshire Heritage Centre, Manse Street
Saltcoats, KA21 5AA
Opening hours are Monday-Friday 9.30 -1.00, 2.00 - 5.00, and Saturday 10.00 - 1.00, 2.00 - 5.00.
Entry is free.
Objects on display include local social domestic and industrial objects, medieval carvings and a temporary exhibition that changes every three to six months. The current temporary exhibition is Saints, Monks and Knights (PDF 1.25Kb) photography exhibition which complements the recently published book of the same title.
The Centre also incorporates the Local and Family History Centre, previously located at the Vennel in Irvine.
Museum of the Cumbraes, Garrison House
Millport, KA28 0DG
For opening hours, contact North Ayrshire Heritage Centre on 01294 464174
Entry is free.
Representing the life and times of the islands of Great and Little Cumbrae, the museum displays include: the Goldie ethnography collection, diaries from the Mary Ann Wodrow collection, Bronze age artefacts and early carved stones unique to the islands.
Kilwinning Abbey Tower, Main Street
Kilwinning, KA13 6AY
Opening hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday 1.00pm-3.00pm from Mid May to Mid September
Also open by appointment - for further information, please contact North Ayrshire Heritage Centre on 01294 464174
Kilwinning Abbey Tower was built in 1816 in the ruin of the town's 12th century abbey. The heritage centre displays the fascinating history of the abbey and the town of Kilwinning. there is a display of poetry by the world renowned Robert Service and, in June, the world's oldest archery competition, the Papingo Shoot, takes place.
For further information, take a look at our Museums Service leaflet (PDF 361Kb).