Prestwick
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Prestwick | |
|---|---|
| Preastabhaig (Gaelic) | |
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| OS grid reference: | NS345255 |
| Population: | 15,478 (2001 Census) |
| Council area: | South Ayrshire |
| Constituent country: | Scotland |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Police force: | Strathclyde Police |
| Lieutenancy area: | Ayrshire and Arran |
| Former county: | Ayrshire |
| Post town: | PRESTWICK |
| Postal: | KA9 |
| Telephone: | 01292 |
| Scottish Parliament: | Ayr |
| UK Parliament: | Central Ayrshire |
| European Parliament: | Scotland |
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Prestwick is a town located in South Ayrshire on the central west coast of Scotland, approximately 30 miles to the south-west of Glasgow. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 15,478. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is approximately 2 miles south.
As well as being famous for being an aviation town, Prestwick 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.
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[edit] Transport
[edit] Aviation
Prestwick has been at the centre of Scotland's aviation industry since the 1930s. 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. It also is a principal hub for air freight, with Polar Air Cargo operating a fleet of Boeing 747 cargo aircraft from its Prestwick base. In addition, BAE Systems, Goodrich Corporation, Spirit AeroSystems and GE Aircraft Engines have maintenance/manufacturing facilities adjacent to the airfield. Ryanair and Polar Air Cargo also have 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 first and only time, when his US Army transport aircraft stopped for refuelling en route from Germany in 1960. In July 2005, Prestick airport served as the main transport hub for visiting world leaders attending the G8 conference in Gleneagles.
As well as the airport, Prestwick is one of the cornerstones of the UK air traffic control system, controlling 70% of UK airspace. This is in addition to being one half of the Shanwick Oceanic Control centre, which oversees all North Atlantic air traffic on the European side.
[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 usually a change at Ayr is 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 andGreenock.
[edit] Education
Prestwick has four schools, 3 primary and 1 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, in 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] Many Kings passed through Prestwick
From Bruce to James VI of Scotland, numerous Kings have traversed the coastal walks in and around Prestwick and Troon. King Robert (the) 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. Travelling to the north for example, from Ayr, William the Lionheart may have embarked on the shortest journey along the coast, through Prestwick and Monkton and on to Irvine and Kilwinning.
Many Kings passed through Prestwick From Bruce to James VI of Scotland, numerous Kings have traversed the coastal walks in and around Prestwick and Troon. King Robert (the) 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. Travelling to the north for example, from Ayr, William the Lionheart may have embarked on the shortest journey along the coast, through Prestwick and Monkton and on to Irvine and Kilwinning.
Most famously the town was home to the legendary figure of 'The Gigolo with the Bloody Face'. This colourful and capricious character was born George Paton, a lowly squire. As an adult however he developed into the Don Juan of his day. Known and feared by all the town's womenfolk it has been suggested that he enjoyed carnal relations with 9 of every 10 women in the county, often several at a time. The Gigolo was also at the centre of the notorious Black Widow affair when he became embroiled in a tempestuous and potentially fatal affair with a local femme fatale. He of the bloody face survived however and seen out his days in one of the town's most upmarket hostelries regaling all with his bawdy tales.
On March 3rd, 1960, a rather modern king arrived at Prestwick Airport. Elvis Presley, whose name is possibly derived from Prestwick, landed only once on British soil and this short visit has become a local legend for all Ayrshire Presley fans.
The name Presley (or Prestley, Priestly or Pressley) literally means "Priest Lee". Prestwick in Old Norse ("Viking") literally means - "Priest Town" and/or "Priest Bay". Lee is still used across Scotland and was the term given to a clearing within a woodland or a type of field (with intermittent trees) enclosure in southern Scotland.
[edit] Town twinning
Prestwick is twinned with
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
