An education exhibit detailing the lost villages in East Ayrshire has opened in Cumnock.

On display at the town's Baird Institute, the exhibition documents the memories and experiences of the miners and their families.

The ‘lost villages’ refer to the ‘miners’ row villages’ in the East Ayrshire villages of Benquhat (Benwhat), Commondyke, Burnfoothill, Glenbuck, Lethanhill and Darnconner, in Ayrshire’s coalfield landscape. 

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As a result of the exhaustion of mineral sources, de-industrialisation, depopulation and opencast mining, the villages no longer exist. 

However, the memories of the people for whom the villages were home, lives on. 

The exhibition documents the memories and experiences of the miners and their families through photographs, quotes, documents, maps, oral history, film and objects.

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The Lost Villages is an oral history project by the Scottish Oral History Centre at the University of Strathclyde, and is part of the Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership.

It will be on display until Saturday, May 4.

The Baird Institute is open Thursday from 12.30pm-4.40pm and 5-8pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-4pm.