The Baird Institute

John Baird was born in 1813, at Lugar Street, Cumnock, where his father David kept the Tup Inn. When his father died, John Baird inherited a considerable amount of property in Lugar Street.

He died on 27 July 1888 in his 76th year and is buried at the old cemetery. In his will, John Baird made a bequest that his estate be used to provide a public building in Cumnock which would contain a museum, recreation and reading rooms on the land owned by him in Lugar Street, known as Baird’s Place. The Baird Institute was opened on 2 March 1891, providing a great improvement to the cultural and recreational facilities of Cumnock. The building was designed by Robert Samson Ingram of Kilmarnock, the son of John Baird’s early instructor in engineering drawing. The building is in the Scottish Baronial style of architecture standing about 30 feet back from Lugar Street. It is constructed from pink sandstone quarried at Auchinleck.

Originally, the building contained: a museum, reading room, billiards room, cloakroom, toilets, keeper’s house in the basement and was maintained by trustees appointed in John Baird’s will. All rooms were illuminated by gas lighting. Each contained an Irish white marble fireplace with the exception of the billiards room which contained a magnificent Italian black and gold marble fireplace.
In November 1993, the building re-opened as the Baird Institute, History Centre and Museum. From April 1996 the Baird Institute became the responsibility of East Ayrshire Council. The Baird Institute contains a wide range of resources which relate to the history of East Ayrshire – archives, family history material, books, maps, microfilm, museum collections, newspapers and photographs. The Keir Hardie Room and art or historical exhibitions can be viewed throughout the year at the Baird Institute.2009

In 2009 the Baird Institute opened again after major refurbishment and is now an Arts and Museum venue with displays of local material and a programme of exhibitions. It is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11 till 5 and can be contacted at 01290 427084 during these hours.

John Baird’s house, boarded up, can be seen to the right of the front door.

Cumnock Action Plan with Cumnock History Group . Plaques funded by 9CC

cumnockhistorygroup.org