[4] Roman settlements have been found at the base of Loudoun Hill on Allanton Plain and visible at one point from the Windy Wizzen.

In 1876 lace making was introduced to the Irvine Valley by Alexander Morton,[7] and mills began to spring up in Darvel and nearby Newmilns.

The valley's products were exported throughout the world, with India providing a particularly large market for lace, muslin and madras.

The former Glasgow and South Western Railway branch line to Kilmarnock survived for much longer and was closed in 1964 as part of the Beeching Axe.

It has twelve small connected depressions spread over three of its sides, interpreted by some as simple 'scratch' marks,[11] alternatively these have been said to link the stone to astronomical observations and to the noon-day sun height at mid-summer.

[14] Although its original location is uncertain, John Woodburn's A History of Darvel (published 1967) noted that the Dagon Stone has stood in at least four different places in the town since the 19th century.

The Dagon Stone was initially recorded in 1752[13] as being located on East Main Street, at the junction with Ranoldcoup Road, where it is shown on 19th century maps.

In 1938 it was re-sited in the small park in Burn Road at the junction with West Main Street, near the spot where the SAS Memorial now stands.

[15] Documentation shows that prior to the 19th century, newlywed couples and their wedding parties marched around it for good luck, accompanied by a fiddler.

[17] The annual parade or "Prawd", originally held on old New Year's Day, headed by the village band used to walk sunwise round the Dagon stone as a mark of superstitious respect.

This begins with a parade through the town centre which ends at Morton Park, where the main event takes place.

[19] A speedway training track was built by local farmers (the Craig Brothers) on a coal bing (colliery spoil heap) near to the town in the early 1980s.

A team representing Darvel raced in the Scottish Junior League with fixtures staged at Blantyre, Edinburgh and Berwick.

Darvel F.C., a junior (semi-professional) team, based at Recreation Park, play in the West of Scotland Football League.