Barrhill, South Ayrshire

Barrhill Scottish Gaelic: Am Barr Scots: Baurhill
Barrhill Location within South Ayrshire
Population	400
OS grid reference	NX2382
• Edinburgh	85 mi (137 km)
• London	314 mi (505 km)
Council area	South Ayrshire
Lieutenancy area	Ayrshire and Arran
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Girvan
Postcode district	KA26
Dialling code	01465
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Scottish Parliament	Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
List of places UK Scotland 55°06′12″N 4°46′12″W / 55.103246°N 4.770126°W / 55.103246; -4.770126

Barrhill (Scots: Baurhill)^[1] is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland with a population of approximately 400 in 2001.^[2] and 250 in 2019^[3]. "Barrhill" is defined by the area covered by Barrhill Community Council.

While the surrounding area is predominantly agricultural land, the main local employer is Barr Construction. Local amenities include a village store and a Public House, "The Crosswater". It has been closed since 2018 for refurbishment. It was formerly known as "The Trout Inn",^[4] and previously "The Commercial Hotel". On Main Street, at the beginning of the village is Barrhill Bowling Club, affectionately known to locals as "The BBC" in years gone by.

The Crosswater (a tributary of the River Stinchar – not to be confused with the Cross Water of Luce, flows through the village. A village vote in 2022 changed the name of the community-owned pub to "The Crosswater" in 2022.

Barrhill became a biosphere community^[5] in 2022.

Barrhill Primary School serves the local population, providing education for 5–11 year olds. In the 2006/7 academic year it had a roll of 34 pupils.

Barrhill Community Interest Company is a signatory with the windfarms Mark Hill and Kilgallioch on behalf of the residents of the Barrhill Council area. Because of this there community of Barrhill council area became entitled to receive sums of money from the farms for a period of 25 years, beginning around 2009. The funds must be used to the benefit of the community, they currently also allow for a winter benefit payment to all residents and access to funding for education and training including driving lessons. Access to the funds for individuals or relevant groups is administered via Foundation Scotland.

Barrhill Development Trust, a charity registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Register, holds the community facilities in trust for the residents of Barrhill including the memorial hall, pub, bowling green and play park.

Kildonan House is an impressive early 20th century mansion and former convent school, located slightly north of Barrhill. Originally constructed as the home of Euan Wallace MP.^[6]

Barrhill lies on the A714 roa d between Girvan and Newton Stewart. In addition, Barrhill railway station, on the Glasgow South Western Line is approximately 1⁄2 mile (800 metres) southwest of the village. This station featured in The Five Red Herrings, a 1931 Lord Peter Wimsey detective novel by Dorothy L. Sayers.^{[citation needed]}

In 1665, by the side of Cross Water in Barrhill, John Murchie and Daniel Mieklewrick were found by soldiers to be in possession of Bibles and assumed to be Covenanters and shot to death. They were buried on the spot, and a memorial was built, known as "The Martyrs' Tomb".^[7]

"The Martyrs' Tomb Walk" is now a popular scenic walk which follows the banks of Cross Water for 600 metres (650 yards) from the bridge in the village centre to the tomb itself.^{[citation needed]}

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barrhill, South Ayrshire.