The Burns Monument Centre in Kay Park, Kilmarnock, opened its doors to the public last Monday.

The centre, built around the iconic W.G Stevenson statue of Robert Burns, houses a state-of-the-art archive store, family and local history research room, a spectacular conference and ceremony suite and will also be the new venue for the Kilmarnock Registration Services.

Building began in March 2007 after fire devastated much of the Burns Monument in 2004.

The building work, carried out by Hunter & Clark has all been done to the very highest standard and has included an extensive restoration programme of the Burns statue and ornamental lions which have been part of the Kay Park’s landscape for many decades.

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Decorative pieces of stonework from the original monument which were salvaged from the fire have been embedded into the exterior wall of the new centre, creating an unusual and unique feature.

Other features include a new carving of a mouse, paying homage to Burns’s poem about the 'Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie.'

All interior and graphic design has been carried out by Glasgow-based company 3D8 and the result is a visually stunning, contemporary and user-friendly facility, with elements of Burns continuing throughout.

The Burns Monument Centre opens during the 2009 Homecoming Scotland celebrations which marks the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth and encourages ex-pats across the globe to return to their native land. The unique Family and Local History facility combined with the Registration Service and archive store offered at Burns Monument Centre means being able to retrace the footsteps of your ancestors can be done under one roof and will ensure Kilmarnock is placed firmly on the tourism map.

(GK/BMcC)