GIRVAN'S Stumpy Tower will reach its 190th milestone in May.

Built in the first half of the 19th C, 'Auld Stump, as it is sometimes referred, occupied its key position in the town centre. It served this purpose until the 1870s when a new jail and police station were built.

David Young, who volunteers at the tower, said: "We took it over 15 years ago and it used to be used as the lifeboat station. For about 10-12 years it was an education facility."

Stumpy re-opened to the public about two years ago and refurbishment was completed in May last year.

It features Girvan's history on the ground level and mannequins portraying prison life in the 19th Century.

They organise school visits, and tours with cubs, scouts and guides. Stumpy will turn 190 on May, 7 but nothing has been set in stone yet about how the organisation will celebrate.

Those who have visited have learnt that the old bricks used were 30 times larger than modern ones.

15 people were squeezed into a cell but nor separated into men, women and children. Only the wealthy were kept separate upstairs and could pay someone to stay in their cell overnight while they went home to sleep.

They had to be back at Stumpy in the morning.

David concluded: "We want something with the local reenactment groups and to have a future with them.

"This is a building that should be celebrated."