Prestwick Town Centre Tour

Prestwick - Memories

Dave Stewart second jottings:

"With the Red Lion public house on your left, you are facing south looking down Main Street.

The first shop you come to is Girdwoods the baker, where a large sliced loaf would cost 8d ( that's old money). Moving on past the haberdashery shop you then came to Coopers the grocers. You knew you were approaching Coopers because of the strong aroma of freshly ground coffee wafting along Main Street.Coopers offered butter, lard, tea, all manor of things sold loose by weight.

A little further along and you came to the first chemists, Stevenson and Son, second generation. James Stevenson (Jimmy) to his friends lived in Burnside Gardens. Stevensons was the very first shop to sell Lucozade. This came about due to Dr. McKechnie telling Jimmy Stevenson that he was recommending it to his patients, as it contained glucose and would aid recovery. The cost of a bottle of Lucozade was 2/6p with 3p refunded on the returned bottle.

Past Robertsons the newsagent, and on to Hackets the ironmonger. Here you could buy anything from a sink plug to a wheelbarrow.

Past Carrolls Bakery, past the dentist to the Doctors surgery and on to Stuartie Woods the second chemist.

Then you arrived at the shop everyone went into, Woolworths. Known in the Woolworth business as 694 Prestwick. Due to the fact that this was the 694th store the company opened. (My father was the manager in the early 50's)

Then on to Greigs and Picken the butchers. Sawdust all over the floor and more red meat than you have ever seen. You wanted sausages, and you waited whilst they made them for you. Now that's personal service.

Almost at the southern end of Main Street now as you come to Veitches. Bob Veitch ran this outfitters which included all the school uniforms for the local schools. In the days when children wore school uniforms.

Crossing over to the other side of the road, now you are facing North. One of the first shops you come to is the Model shop. Here you could buy plastic kits of aircraft and ships. Airfix model aircraft costing as little as two shillings.

Then the Broadway cinema. Saturday morning cowboy films starring Roy Rogers, Cisco Kid, Hopalong Cassidy, to name just a few. Enjoyed by many youngsters for just 6p.

Passing Gardiners you come to the corner of Kyle St. Home of the second cinema known to the locals as the "Bug Hut" only ever visited by me on school trips to the cinema, then home and straight into the bath.

Back on Main St. and up to the South Church. Where the cubs used to meet and on occasion the 45th Ayrshire scouts whose leader was Jimmy Hunter. More about them later.

On past Struthers the newsagent to the Police Station. Home During working hours to Sgt. Archibald. A big man in every sense of the word. This man demanded and got respect from the people of Prestwick. You felt safe when he was around.

On to Morton's Sports shop full of golf equipment and flippers for swimming.

Then to Muscadini's fish and chip shop. Here you could taste the finest chips ever made (my opinion) He claims his success was down to the Italian oil he used. I can well believe it. A bag of chips cost just 2p, just enough for an 8 year old.
During the second world war Muscadini's suffered from anti Italian feelings having his windows broken on many occasions.

Crossing over now with the gardens, the bank and the Post Office on your left you find your self back opposite the Red Lion. The final stopping place for a young lad was Togs Cafe. With one window displaying the various chocolate delights to be found inside. The other window displaying some of the medals and cups they had won for the locally famous ice cream.
Inside I went, one ice cream price 2p and one bar of Cadburys Chocolate price 1p.

Then a short walk along Kirk St. and into Burnside Gardens, just long enough to allow me to finish my treats from Togs.

I have only remembered the shops on Main St. that were important to me as a wee lad of eight. I am sure there are many more not mentioned. After 47 years you can't remember them all.

Dave can be contacted at DSte300844@aol.com.