Montgomery Street (or The Halfway), Fullarton, Ayrshire

            Prior to 1883 Montgomery Street was known as 'The Halfway'. This street was the main street of the once distinct Burgh of Barony of Fullarton (achieved Burgh Status in 1707) which belonged to Dundonald Parish. In 1771 James Montgomery (the Christian Poet and Hymn writer) was born at number 26 The Halfway.  In 1881 the Royal Burgh of Irvine's boundaries were extended across the River Irvine to take in Fullarton. Until the second half of the 20th century this was the most populated part of the town.

In 1966 the Royal Burgh of Irvine, Burgh of Kilwinning and the villages of Springside, Dreghorn, Girdle Toll, Bourtreehill, Perceton and Broomlands became part of Irvine New Town. Irvine New Town was probably unusual in that it was built around two well established towns and villages which have significant history behind them. (Dreghorn village presently holds the record for being the oldest continually inhabited village in Britain in that evidence of habitation going back 5,000 years have been found.) New Town status ended in 1996. 

Part of the New Town plans involved developing shopping facilities which would serve a target population of 116,000 by 1986. (The population goal was not achieved as by 1984 the population of the New Town stood at 57,150). A new shopping centre, railway station, two office complexes and a Marina were planned in 4 phases. The Marina at the Harbour was to be linked to the town centre by a Monorail that would have run from the breakwater to the Cross at the heart of the old town.

In 1973 and 1974 they largely demolished Fullarton between the River Irvine and the Railway line. The north side of Bridgegate and Sadler's Corner at the Cross were demolished from 1972. The old Bridge closed to traffic on 10th June 1973 and demolished shortly afterwards. This clearance work was to make the ground ready for Phases 1 and 2 of the Shopping Centre, Bridgegate House and Cunninghame House. Cunninghame House opened in 1974. Phase 1 of the Mall and Bridgegate House Offices were opened in October 1975.

However, Phase 2 (between the end of the Mall as originally opened and the railway station) was quickly shelved because of the economic situation of the 1970's. Phase 2 would have covered this part of Montgomery Street. For years after 1973 they simply left the tarmac of the roads, streetlights and pavements in place in this part of the town. So it was still possible to walk the street and roughly make out where a particular house had stood.

In the 1990's they seem to have accepted that Phase 2 would not be built. This is when they finished off the Shopping Centre by building a more attractive Atrium entrance to the Mall to replace the strange trolley ramp structure that had greeted you when entering from the Fullarton side. The site has now been covered by an ASDA and block paved car parking. It is unfortunate that Phase 2 had not been put on hold earlier ~ it might not have been necessary to flatten all of what you see here.

Phase 3 - a new railway station has never been built. Phase 4 - which would have taken the Shopping Centre down the surviving undemolished half of Montgomery Street and Harbour Street to connect up to the Magnum (opened in 1976) will presumably never be built.

Taken on: January 1, 1890

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Sets appears in: • Ayrshire (Siorrachd Àir) • Cunninghame, Ayrshire more » • Royal Burgh of Irvine, Ayrshire • Most Interesting « less

Groups appears in: • VINTAGE SCOTLAND - EPHEMERA. • Irvine UK more » • A Brief History Of Scotland « less

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