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The new winter lecture programme is on the Programme page.

There’s a wealth of information on this website about Ayrshire available to download as well as details of our talks and presentations, publications for sale and useful links.

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For the latest news see our Facebook Page click the link

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Our PayPal Buttons on the Join/Donate Page make it easy to join, renew membership and donate.

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Do Join Us
Consider making a donation
See the How to Join/Donate page

Benefits of membership include free copies of our publications as well as access to a range of social events and summer excursions. We are a registered charity, run by volunteers, and rely on membership and donations for financial support. Even if you are not yet a member you can still benefit from the resources available on this website, and also join us for our talks currently on Zoom. Please consider giving a donation to help us continue to promote the history and natural history of Ayrshire. People living here and abroad gain valuable information about this historic county. Please send a donation to our Treasurer at the address on our How To Join page. Thank you!

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The Society has over 170 members, mainly resident in Ayrshire but there are many members throughout Britain and the world. The membership also includes library and university bodies. The Society is one of the few which publishes regularly. At least one Monograph is usually issued each year, free to members, and on sale to the general public.
Meetings are held during the winter months in the Town Hall, Sandgate, Ayr. Members of the public are freely welcome to attend these meetings to see if they would like to become a member. In the summer months, trips are organised to various places of interest.

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Aims of the Society:  to …

• promote interest in archaeology, history, natural history with particular reference to Ayrshire
• encourage the study of these subjects and stimulate research
• promote the conservation of the heritage of Ayrshire
• publish regularly material relevant to the Society’s objectives
• co-operate with appropriate organisations

The Society is affiliated to the following organisations:

• Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies
• Council for Scottish Archaeology
• British Association for Local History
• Ayr Arts Guild

2021 Accounts: please click this link …

2022 Accounts: please click this link …

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History of the Society

The society’s origins go back to 1877. The AANHS was founded in 1947 to promote the study of Ayrshire history and natural history.

For the history of the society prior to the founding of the AANHS see AANHS Collections 1947-1949 Second Series Volume 1.

At the instigation of R W Cochran-Patrick of Woodside, a meeting was held in the County Buildings, Ayr on 19th October 1877 to consider the formation of an Archaeological Society for the counties of Ayr and Wigtown. This was the inception of the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Archaeological Association. The AWAA published descriptions, illustrated with plans or drawings of various prehistoric and mediaeval remains in the counties of Ayr and Wigtown; printed early charters, manuscripts, historical documents, ecclesiastical, municipal and parochial records and other material relating to the history, antiquities, topography and genealogy of the district. The first volume appeared in 1878. In 1885 the title of the society was changed to the Ayrshire and Galloway Archaeological Association to extend its scope to Kirkcudbright. This Association was wound up in 1897 at the 14th general meeting. In all, the Association published 18 volumes, including 2 at R Vans Agnew’s expense on Sir Patrick Waus.

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