Prestwick
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 55°29′44″N 4°36′51″W / 55.495551°N 4.614160°W
| Prestwick | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Preastabhaig | |
  Prestwick shown within Scotland |
|
| Population | 14,934[1] (2001 census) est. 14,680[2] (2006) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Council area | South Ayrshire |
| Lieutenancy area | Ayrshire and Arran |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PRESTWICK |
| Postcode district | KA9 |
| Dialling code | 01292 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| European Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Central Ayrshire |
| Scottish Parliament | Ayr |
| List of places: UK • Scotland | |
Prestwick is a town located in South Ayrshire on the south west coast of Scotland, approximately 30 miles (48 km) to the south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is approximately 2 miles (3 km) south.
Prestwick Airport is continually growing[citation needed] and serves many European destinations as well as Transatlantic and International cargo flights. The town is renowned for being the home of Open golf. The world's first Open golf Championship was played at the Prestwick Old Course in 1860 and the first twelve Open Championships were played there until 1872 (the Championship was not played in 1871). The town also hosts two other golf courses, St. Nicholas and St. Cuthberts. St. Nicholas is a traditional links course on the southern half of the town.
Contents |
[edit] Name
Prestwick's name comes from Old English, priest's farm — preost meaning "priest" and wic meaning "farm". The town was originally an outlying farm of a religious house. Incidentally, to the north of Prestwick is the small village of Monkton.
[edit] Transport
[edit] Aviation
Prestwick has been at the centre of Scotland's aviation industry since the 1930s[citation needed]. Though a period of sharp decline through the 1980s and 1990s saw Prestwick Airport lose its status as Scotland's transatlantic gateway, it is once again a rapidly growing international airport that caters to a number of low-cost airlines, including Ryanair and Wizz Air. In addition, BAE Systems, Goodrich Corporation, Spirit AeroSystems and GE Aircraft Engines have maintenance/manufacturing facilities adjacent to the airfield. Ryanair also has maintenance facilities at Prestwick.
Prestwick is also home to a Royal Navy Air Station, more popularly known as HMS Gannet, where Sea King search and rescue helicopters are stationed. Although the US Air Force no longer has a base at the airport, Prestwick continues to handle a large number of US military flights. It was at this airport that Elvis Presley set foot in the UK for the only time, when his US Army transport aircraft stopped for refuelling en route from Germany in 1960. In July 2005, Prestwick airport served as the main transport hub for visiting world leaders attending the G8 conference in Gleneagles.
As well as the airport, Prestwick is home to one of the cornerstones of the UK air traffic control system, with both the Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre, (controlling 70% of UK airspace), and Prestwick Oceanic Area Control Centre, (Shanwick Oceanic Control - responsible for air traffic over the eastern half of the North Atlantic), located jointly at the NATS owned 'Scottish and Oceanic Area Control Centre'.
[edit] Railway
Prestwick is located on the Ayrshire Coast Line between Glasgow Central and Ayr. The town is served by two trains per hour that call at both Prestwick Town and Prestwick Airport stations. Glasgow is approximately 50 minutes from Prestwick by rail. The line continues notionally farther south to Stranraer on the Wigtownshire coast, but a change at Ayr is usually required.
[edit] Road
Prestwick lies on the A79 road which runs directly through the town, but is normally reached via the main A77 trunk road between Glasgow and Stranraer, or the A78 Ayrshire coastal route to Largs and Greenock.
[edit] History
[edit] Prestwick Old Parish Church
The remains of the old parish church are located near Prestwick railway station. Thought to have originally been built in the 12th century[3], the small church building is now a ruin, and is surrounded by an ancient graveyard. Andrew Strath, "Keeper of the Green" at Prestwick Golf Club in the 1860s, is buried in the cemetery.[4]
[edit] Neighborhoods
Prestwick is firmly split into two main areas by the high street running down the middle of the town. In the east is where most of the population live[citation needed]. This is also where there is a mixture of council & Private housing. The main neighborhoods in the east end are Shawfarm, Marchburn, Glenburn, Powmill, Kingcase, Kings Meadow and St.Cuthberts.
However, the smaller of the two sides is more carefully split into neighborhoods. The coastal area of the town is more upmarket and this is where the neighbourhoods of Maryborough Road and Marina Road can be found.
[edit] Seafront
Prestwick has a 1 mile long esplanade running parallel to the Firth of Clyde. It is a refreshing walk and has two kiddies' playgrounds where you can assure your children will have fun. At the north end Kids Play, an indoor activity centre, can be found next to the large play-area earlier being a large swimming pool. Also running parallel to the esplanade is a line on large houses overlooking Arran. Only three of these houses though are privately owned. These being Maranatha, Dunalistair and Gracefield. The seafront stands through rough storms and gales and still has good water quality. The seafront overlooks Prestwick Bay, created by the nearby Pow Burn.
[edit] Education
Prestwick has four schools, three primary and one secondary, one of which is a denominational school, serving Prestwick and north of Prestwick. The schools are:
- Prestwick Academy
- Glenburn Primary
- Kingcase Primary
- St. Ninian's Primary - denominational Primary
- Heathfield Primary - Officially in Ayr, on border of Prestwick and Ayr.
Prestwick Academy is the catchment secondary school for all the schools above. St. Ninians pupils can go to Queen Margaret Academy or Prestwick Academy. The primary schools in the outlying villages of Monkton and Symington also 'feed' the secondary school, along with Heathfield primary.
[edit] History
From Robert the Bruce to James VI, King of Scots, numerous Kings have traversed the coastal walks in and around Prestwick[citation needed] and Troon. Bruce is reputed to have been cured of leprosy by the waters of the well at St Ninians church. The well exists today behind the present St Ninians Church.
[edit] Town twinning
Prestwick is twinned with
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Comparative Population Profile: Prestwick Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online. 2001-04-29. http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=prestwick&mainLevel=Locality. Retrieved on 2008-08-31.
- ^ http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data
- ^ Sign at the entrance of the ruin of the old church of St Nicholas
- ^ Sign about Andrew Strath at the old church
