Venue Details

  • Contact Details

    3 Lugar Street
    Cumnock
    KA18 1AD

    Enquiries:

    Call 01290 427084
    BairdInstitute@Eastayrshireleisure.com

    For School Or Groups:

    BairdInstitute@Eastayrshireleisure.com

  • Opening Hours

    • Sunday: CLOSED
    • Monday: CLOSED
    • Tuesday: CLOSED
    • Wednesday: CLOSED
    • Thursday: 12.30pm – 4.40pm & 5pm – 8.00pm
    • Friday: 10.00am-4.00pm
    • Saturday: 10.00am-4.00pm
  • Facilities

    • Wheelchair Access
    • Disabled Toilet Facilities
    • Car parking nearby
    • Toilets

Baird Institute

The Baird Institute lies in the centre of the town of Cumnock and was opened in March 1891 to provide leisure facilities for local people and included a museum, billiard room and reading rooms.

Today it holds collections of Mauchline Ware of world importance complemented by many items of Cumnock Pottery as well as a wide range of resources which relate to the history of Cumnock and the Doon Valley area – museum collections, archives, photographs, audio visual materials, books, maps and newspapers. One room is also dedicated to James Keir Hardie, founder of the Labour Party and contains many of his personal belongings.

Combine this with a continually changing programme of contemporary art exhibitions and a range of events and workshops taking place throughout the year and a visit to the Baird Institute will be worthwhile, whatever your interest.

The funding for the erection of the Baird came from John Baird who, in his will, bequeathed money for a public building in Cumnock. The building was designed by Mr Robert Ingram of Kilmarnock and was opened in March 1891 and is in the Scottish Baronial style, constructed from local Mauchline and Auchinleck pink sandstone. All rooms were illuminated with gas lighting, each with Irish white marble fireplaces except for the one in the Billiards Room which was made from Italian black and gold marble.

School groups and groups are welcome by appointment.

Admission Free.

Venue Details

  • Contact Details

    3 Lugar Street
    Cumnock
    KA18 1AD

    Enquiries:

    Call 01290 427084
    BairdInstitute@Eastayrshireleisure.com

    For School Or Groups:

    BairdInstitute@Eastayrshireleisure.com

  • Opening Hours

    • Sunday: CLOSED
    • Monday: CLOSED
    • Tuesday: CLOSED
    • Wednesday: CLOSED
    • Thursday: 12.30pm – 4.40pm & 5pm – 8.00pm
    • Friday: 10.00am-4.00pm
    • Saturday: 10.00am-4.00pm
  • Facilities

    • Wheelchair Access
    • Disabled Toilet Facilities
    • Car parking nearby
    • Toilets