Glasgow Vennel

This important thoroughfare road was originally known as Smiddy or Smithy Bar. By the middle of the 1700s Glasgow Vennel was part of the main road from Irvine Harbour to Glasgow and played a key part in the transportation of good by carters. By taking their loads along the Vennel, carters were able to avoid paying the toll on Irvine Bridge.
The vennels cobbles are famous however due to their connection with Robert Burns, who came to Irvine in 1781 to learn the flax trade. The work was carried out in a small thatched house at the back of No. 10 Glasgow Vennel, which is at the rear of the low stone building seen here on the right. It was in here that Robert worked up to 12 hours a day at the benches, drawing the bundles of rough flax through the heckles as the fibre of the flax plant had to be separated from the stalk and prepared for spinning.
The road is currently undergoing preservation work.