Ayrshire Archives was formed as a result of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 and section 53, in particular, which states that local authorities are required to make 'proper arrangements for the preservation and management of records transferred to them or created by them; and to have due regard for any comments made by the Keeper of the Records of Scotland'.

In response to legislation, the three authorities in Ayrshire - East, North and South Ayrshire Councils - agreed to the joint funding of an Ayrshire-wide archives service which would serve the archival and records management needs of all three authorities on a peripatetic basis. As a result, Ayrshire Archives was established on 1 October 1996. Since that date the archives service has been concerned with the preservation and management of local government records, current or historic, inherited or created by the three Councils in Ayrshire.

Ayrshire Archives is based at the Ayrshire Archives Centre in Ayr, which was established in 1998 by South Ayrshire Council as its main repository for current and non-current records. The building conforms to professional archival standards as laid out in BS5454: Recommendations for the Storage and Exhibition of Archival Documents and the HMC's A Standard for Record Repositories. The Centre consists of four environmentally-controlled storage areas, a search room for up to 12 researchers, a conference room and staff offices.

Therefore, the Centre acts as both a repository for the current and historic records of South Ayrshire and a base for the many activities which Ayrshire Archives is involved in.

The prime function of Ayrshire Archives is to preserve and manage the evidential and historically important records produced by the three Councils and their predecessor bodies. As a result, the Centre holds a large number of official records which relate to the local government of Ayrshire from the 14th century to the present day. The Centre also holds a large number of private collections which include ecclesiastical records, family and estate papers, business records, and the records of societies and organisations.

As well as managing the county's historic records, Ayrshire Archives is responsible for the current records, regardless of media or form, which the local authorities produce in the course of their everyday business. It aims to ensure that records which are retained for legal reasons are kept only as long as is necessary, while those intended for administrative purposes are readily available. Records of historical importance are also identified and retained permanently as archives. As a result, Ayrshire Archives is involved in all aspects of records management such as surveying departments, drawing up retention schedules, storing and retrieving records for departments and appraisal. Records management provides organizations with real, measurable benefits and enables compliance with legislation. Records are responsibly stored in our record storage areas.

Holdings include the following:

Ayr County Council Records - Ayr County Council was established under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889 which reformed and streamlined local government in Scotland. Under the Act, the Council assumed the powers of the Commissioners of Supply, the Parochial Boards, County Road Trustees and the Justices of the Peace, which were administered by District Committees and Special District Committees. As a consequence the main responsibilities of the Council included education, rating and assessment, health and welfare, water and lighting, planning and roads. The surviving records consist of minutes, court books, accounts, electoral registers, valuation rolls, photographs, accounts, files and plans (1890-1975).

Burgh Records - as well as holding records which relate to rural administration, Ayrshire Archives holds a large number of archives relating to the activities of most of Ayrshire's burghs, such as Ayr, Troon, Maybole, Kilmarnock, Darvel, Cumnock, Girvan, Irvine, Saltcoats and Prestwick. These include charters, minutes, accounts, letter books, assessment books, correspondence and court books (1205-1975).

Commissioners of Supply and the Highway Authorities - the majority of official records in the Archives' care relate to the former Ayr County Council and the authorities which preceded the establishment of the County Council in 1890, such as the Commissioners of Supply. This particular body was responsible for the collection of land tax, the maintenance of roads and bridges, the suppression of vagrancy and various other duties. Their records consist mainly of minutes and cess rolls (1705-1929). Also important in county administration were the Highway Authorities, such as the Turnpike and Parish Road Trustees, who were responsible for highway construction and maintenance. Their records consist of minutes and accounts (1767-1883) and detail valuable information on road improvement during this period.

District Councils - most of the responsibilities of the Burghs were transferred to the new District Councils under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973. In Ayrshire this resulted in the creation of four District Councils, namely Kyle and Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Kilmarnock and Loudoun and Cunninghame (1975-1996). Ayrshire Archives has a full set of minutes for each Council (1975-1996).

HM Board of Customs and Excise Records - the deposit of the records of the Board of Customs and Excise at Ayrshire Archives has returned to the County what may be considered one of the finest sources for the minutiae of social and economic history at a local level prior to the establishment of the parochial boards in 1845.

Parish Records - Parish Records were also inherited by the County Council and survive for most parishes in Ayrshire. The records relate, principally, to the activities of the Parochial Boards (1845-1894) and the Parish Councils (1894-1929), which were concerned with the provision of poor relief and other responsibilities, such as cemetery administration and civil registration. Their records consist of board minutes, registers of applications for relief, inspectors' letter books and accounts (1845-1929). There are also a number of extant parish records relating to Cunninghame Combination Poorhouse (1854-1930), Maybole Combination Poorhouse (1865-1910) and the Kyle Union Poorhouse (1860-1977) and include registers of inmates, minutes, letter books, plans and accounts.

See also Dick Institute Library, Baird Institute Museum and History Centre, North Ayrshire Local History Library, Scottish and Local History Library, Ayr