Prestwick, Scotland
| Prestwick | |
|---|---|
 Prestwick
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| Prestwick shown within South Ayrshire | |
| Population | 14,750 (2012) |
| OS grid reference | NS349255 |
| Civil parish |
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| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PRESTWICK |
| Postcode district | KA9 |
| Dialling code | 01292 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, about 30 miles (50 km) south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr on the Firth of Clyde coast, the centre of which is about 2 miles (3 km) south. It had a population of 14,901 at the 2011 census.
The town is served by Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which serves many European destinations as well as transatlantic and other international cargo flights.
The town was the first home of the Open Golf Championship, which was played on the Prestwick Old Course from 1860 to 1872.
Prestwick lies on the south-west coast of Scotland, approximately 30 miles (50 km) to the south west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is approximately 2 miles (3 km) south. To the north of Prestwick is the small village of Monkton.
Prestwick's name comes from the Old English for, priest's farm: preost meaning "priest" and wic meaning "farm". The town was originally an outlying farm of a religious house.George T. Flom suggested that the name was of Old Norse origin. In this case, it would mean "priest's bay".
From Robert the Bruce to James VI, King of Scots, numerous Kings have traversed the coastal walks in and around Prestwick and Troon. Bruce is reputed to have been cured of leprosy by the waters of the well at St Ninians church. The well still exists behind the church.
Although it has been a Burgh of Barony for over a thousand years, it was a village until the railway arrived in the 1840s and the middle class from Glasgow started to build large houses along the coast.
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