The Fort area of Ayr is located in the Ayr West ward of the town and is named after Cromwell’s Fort or Oliver’s Fort as it was also known – a hexagonal building erected by Oliver Cromwell in the mid-1600’s. The fort itself was built within the walls of the old Ayr Citadel and was one of five Citadels built by Cromwell to try to control the Scots.
The area comprises a mix of residential and commercial buildings including the town’s Leisure Centre – itself named The Citadel – and incorporates the main part of what would be known as the town centre of Ayr. The boundaries of Fort are highlighted in the map provided designated by the blue/black lines.
Historically the area was a site for commerce and trade, including a wool factory, lime kilns, a sawmill and at one time even a brewery - Montgomerieston Brewery which was named after the Montgomerie family (the Earls of Eglinton) and indeed the name Montogmerieston is also a historical name once used for the Fort area. The area was also famous for its bustling town centre and thriving shops and various shopping arcades. Also found within the Fort area is the town’s main railway station Ayr Central and the County Buildings, home to the local County Court and headquarters of South Ayrshire Council.
As with any seaport, fishing was once a major industry in Ayr, and with its pier and its proximity to the southern bank of the River Ayr, the Fort area would have been heavily involved in that trade with a fish market also once a prominent feature. Remnants of the town’s fishing past include a memorial in the form of a once active but now decommissioned fishing vessel The Watchful which is located in the slipway in the South Harbour and the statue of John the Fisherman located at Fish Cross. Sadly, a lack of maintenance and upkeep means The Watchful is now in a sorry state of repair and seems likely to be removed in the foreseeable future.
The Fort area is no longer an industrial hub, and as with most areas there has been a significant decline in the town centre with many retailers – both large and small – leaving the area. Over the last 20-30 years, the area has seen a number of new apartment blocks erected along the seafront which have proved popular with residents and newcomers alike, although in recent times they are also proving popular with entrepreneurial landlords looking to capitalise on the short term let potential of these properties. This has led to a number issues as more and more of these apartments have been used for Short Term Lets (STL) with the demographic of those letting and the nature of their use leading to social and security issues for permanent residents. To find out more about the work being undertaken to tackle the STL issues, click here.
Among other prominent landmarks in the Fort area is St John’s Tower which is the last remnant of St John the Baptist’s Church and is located between the current Eginton Terrace and Bruce Crescent. Although not formally mentioned in documents until 1233, the church is thought to date back to the later 12th century, and it is said that a tunnel once ran between St John’s Tower and Greenan Castle. Fort also includes The Low Green, approximately 45 acres of land roughly a quarter of a mile south west of the town centre, which is all that remains of the common land granted when King William the Lion made Ayr a Royal Burgh and Market Town in 1205. The land is known as a common good asset and is held and managed by South Ayrshire Council for the good of the community as a whole. Another notable landmark in Fort is Loudon Hall which is the town’s oldest dwellinghouse which was built in the early 1500’s.
