The Village of Killearn, Scotland

The All Killearn Archive

The Killearn Community Futures Company was formed in 2003 as a mechanism for advancing the Killearn Community Action plan. The company is intended to be an umbrella organisation for more focussed "Project Groups" with specific areas of responsibility within the community. Initially four Project Groups were set up :-

The Old School

To work on the development of the former Nursery School building and site as a community resource

The Kingdom

To work on the maintenance of the 0.5 hectare site between The Oaks, Chestnut Crescent and Lampson Road as a path and community woodland.

The Playpark

To work towards the regenerate the Playpark with new equipment and landscaping.

The Footpaths Project

To work towards formally establishing footpaths (including some suitable for disabled access) in the area, produce a footpaths map of the village, and aid the Core Paths Project within Killearn.

It was envisaged that some groups would be dissolved when their work was complete and others would be formed as new projects were established.

Killearn Heritage

Though Killearn is the largest village in the area it has no heritage group while other smaller local communities have groups under various names. A number of residents have come together to start an additional Project Group, now named the "All Killearn Archive" to safeguard the heritage of the village and parish.

There were a number of reasons for this :-

• Many enquires are received, mainly through the internet, regarding family history or the history of the parish. It would be useful to draw together relevant historical documents to facilitate research.
• Residents have artifacts, records or photographs from Killearn's past which it would be of value to collect in one place and preserve (or copy, photograph and catalogue).
• People have memories of life in the area which should be conserved.
• Life today is tomorrow's history. A record will be of real interest to people in the future.
• People would like to learn more about the history of the area and understand why modern Killearn is the way it is.

Drop in Day

A "Drop in Day" was held on Saturday 14th April 2007 in the Village Hall. The hall was open from 10 to 12 noon and from 2 to 4 pm. Everyone was invited to come along during the day to discuss the work being undertaken. A number of long term residents of Killearn received personal invitations.

Visitors started to appear as soon as the doors opened and many were still there 2 hours later! The time from 12 noon to 2:00pm was intended to be a break for those looking after the exhibits and recording information. However, visitors remained throughout the period and the hall never closed!

Members were busy interviewing visitors and copying photographs they brought along. So much was received that there was insufficient time to record all the information. We were grateful to those who allowed their photographs and written material to be retained for copying later. This took three days the following week! We would also like to thank those who donated material to the Archive.

If you have items of historical interest which are no longer required they would be most welcome to the Archive. Material can be passed on to any of the Archive members for safe storage and cataloguing. In addition we would like to copy any photographs, pictures, maps or written historical material to add to the Archive. Members can arrange home visits to record material so that it does not have to leave the owner's presence.