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In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Girvan like this:
Girvan, seaport town and par., Ayrshire, at mouth of Water of Girvan, 21½ miles SW. of Ayr, 45 NE. of Portpatrick, and 62 SW. of Glasgow by rail -- par., 14,580 ac., pop. 5480; town, pop. 4505; P.O., T.O., 5 Banks. Market-day, Monday. Girvan has beautiful environs and excellent facilities for sea-bathing, and it attracts many summer visitors. ...
The harbour has been much improved of late years, and the exports of coal, chiefly to Belfast, are considerable. Handloom weaving (mainly of coarse cotton fabrics) is still carried on, though to a much less extent than formerly; but the winter herring fishery is now the principal industry.
Girvan is now part of SOUTH AYRSHIRE Council. Click here for graphs and data of how SOUTH AYRSHIRE has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Girvan itself, go to Statistics.
How to reference this page:
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Girvan, in South Ayrshire and Ayrshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/16861
Date accessed: 08th April 2026
Click here for more detailed advice on finding places within A Vision of Britain through Time, and maybe some references to other places called "Girvan".
