The Lost Villages

An Oral History of Miners' Rows and Deindustrialisation in East Ayrshire, Scotland.

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Voices from the Villages

Here you will find some extracts from the villagers and descendants of the mining communities.

For more extracts please check out our SoundCloud page here

Sam Purdie gives a great account of village life in Glenuck in the these audio clips.


Sam Purdie Pic credit Steve MacDougall / DCT Media

Alice Wallace tells us about the experiences of women in the village of Benwhat here

Portrait of a woman
Alice Wallace

Harry Kennedy recalls his childhood in the village of Burnton and his work as a miner in Pennyvennie mine and others. Here

Man and woman looking at photos on wall
Harry Kennedy at the Lost Villages exhibition opening
Sam Purdie Pic credit Steve MacDougall / DCT Media

Portrait of a woman
Alice Wallace

Alice Wallace tells us about the experiences of women in the village of Benwhat here

Group of people listening to a man talk
Harry Kennedy
Photo: David Gordon for EAC

Harry Kennedy recalls his childhood in the village of Burnton and his work as a miner in Pennyvennie mine and others. Here