The Poor House served the Maybole, Barr, Dailly, Girvan, Kirkmichael and Kirkoswald parishes, and was constructed in 1863. Before 1845, poor relief in Scotland was said to be insufficient and uncertain, lacking provision for the sick poor which was left mostly to private charity. Poor Law at the time was no more than a system of licensed begging and church alms, and the dreadful poverty present in towns led to public outcry desperate for Poor Law reform. In 1845 the Poor Law (Scotland) Amendment Act was passed. As a result of the reform, the Maybole poorhouse was constructed and could house 48 inmates. The facility was closed after the First World War and it became home to other services and clubs including Maybole’s Dead End Club up until the mid-1990s. Memories from local residents include visiting the health centre and community clubs on the site. The main buildings were demolished c2000. Two one-storey buildings remain.