Ardrossan - On This Day In History

Published stories from each town's past.
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Richard

Re: Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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The following reports all appeared in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald on this day.

(12th January 1894):
JUBILEE OF ARDROSSAN FREE CHURCH
We beg to call attention to the advertisement in our columns announcing the above celebration.
This interesting occasion in the history of Ardrossan Free Church is to be signalised on Thursday evening in the
church and is open to the public. We are sure many in the district will avail themselves of the opportunity of
hearing the distinguished preachers whose names are upon the programme. Dr.Stalker's reputation as a popular
writer and as an influential city preacher is now very widely extended and it is well-known that he has achieved
conspicuous successes as a platform speaker. Professor Lindsay has had his share of work in addressing great
gatherings throughout the country during the jubilee year and has accomplished it with great distinction.
Dr.Addis, Edinburgh, is a pre-disruption minister whose reminiscences derive a special interest from the fact
that a relative of Dr.Chaimers was, for many years, an elder in his congregation. The Irvine Presbytery is well
represented by the Reverend Messrs Connell, Macaulay and Landsborough. Mr.H.B.Fullerton's excellent choir will
also contribute to the programme. The evening begins at 7pm in order to end conveniently for those from a
distance. The special Sunday services will be conducted by the Reverend Dr.Melville, Edinburgh, one of the
leading ecclesiastics and one of the ablest preachers in the church.

(12th January 1894):
ENTERTAINMENT IN ARDROSSAN
On Saturday night, a private rehearsal of Blue Beard was given by several ladies and gentlemen at Lauriston
Lodge, Ardrossan. Several recitations were also given. At the close, a silver collection was made for the poor
of the town, the sum realised being £2.

(12th January 1900):
TALK ON SOUTH AFRICA IN ARDROSSAN FREE CHURCH HALL
Dr.Carrick Allan speaks on South Africa in Ardrossan Free Church Hall on Wednesday evening when lime-light
views will be exhibited.

(12th January 1900):
ARDROSSAN CYCLING CLUB DANCE
The Ardrossan Cycling Club dance comes off tonight. It is going to be a great success.
Nothing has been left undone to make it so. In next week's issue, in this column, we may give our decision as to
who was the Belle - provided that the question is at all possible of settlement - and the palm awarded within
that period.

In the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald of the 19th January 1900 - the following poem was printed:
BELLE OF THE ARDROSSAN CYCLING CLUB DANCE
The Cycle Ball passed off very successfully and the Belle was - well...
She might have been in white or pink
She might have been in blue
And sometimes one would almost think
The yellow had it too
Perhaps the dream in lovely cream
Was easily the Belle
But leave this most perplexing theme
One really could not tell

source of all the above info: http://www.ardrossanfootballclubs.net (non-football stories)
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Re: Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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12 JANUARY 1963

British Railways advise passengers travelling from Glasgow to Ardrossan with the intention of joining the 11.30 p.m. Isle of Man sailing on 12 July 1963 that they will need train control tickets in addition to their rail ticket.

[This revives memories of a time when the Harbour was thriving with Douglas/Belfast and Brodick passenger vessels throughout the summer, necessitating the strict control of persons using Ardrossan bound trains. Embarkation tickets were also required for the boats during the same busy periods.

It wasn't unusual either for Ardrossan families to visit the Harbour to see away the midnight sailing to the Isle of Man on Glasgow Fair Friday. Free entertainment :lol: .

This was also the peak period for local boys to earn cash by 'carrying cases', usually from Princes Street to the gangplanks of the individual boats.

Happy days!]
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
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12 JANUARY 1901

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 0 - AUCHENHARVIE ELEVEN 5
The Auchenharvie Eleven paid a visit to Ardrossan on Saturday (12 January 1901) and engaged the Winton Rovers in a friendly. We selected to play against the wind in the first half and after twenty minutes had passed, we opened the scoring. The Ardrossan lads, on the other hand, failed to find an opening and as Auchenharvie failed to augment their score, only one goal separated the teams at the change of ends. The second half started in favour of Auchenharvie and in the opening minute, they raised their total to two goals and seven minutes later, a third was registered. This was good business for the visitors but these reverses seemed to take the heart out of the homesters for afterwards their forwards were completely out of it. Auchenharvie now had matters pretty much their own way and before hostilities ceased, no less than eight goals in all were scored by them, three of which were disallowed. The game this ended in favour of Auchenharvie by five to nil. The pick of the winners was Sanders, the left back who played a capital game while his partner Stirrat was not far behind him. Logan was the best half and the forwards all played well, Harris being in fine shooting form, having no less that three of the five goals to his credit.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 18 January 1901
This report appeared under the heading Notes From Heather Park. Heather Park was the home ground of the Auchenharvie Eleven and the reporter was probably a committee member which might explain phrases such as 'We selected to play against the wind'.

George
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13 January 1897

GENERAL RAILWAY WORKERS' UNION - ARDROSSAN BRANCH
An open meeting of railway workers of all grades was held in the Assembly Hall, Bute Place, Ardrossan on Sunday 13 January at 6 pm. There was a large attendance. Mr Robert Johnstone occupied the chair and delivered a lecture on Poverty - Its Cause and Cure which was listened to with rapt attention throughout and was much appreciated by all those who were present. Mr John Sampson, organising secretary of the union, next addressed the meeting dealing with the progress and extension of the union and the benefit it had attained for railwaymen and counselling those present to at once fall into line with their fellow trade unionist of Ardrossan. At the close of the meeting, nine new members joined the branch.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 19 February 1897


George
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14 JANUARY

SALTCOATS FISHERMEN CRITICISE ARDROSSAN LIFEBOAT MEN
While the Ardrossan lifeboat was out on inspection last Saturday (14 January 1899), one or two Saltcoats fishermen, waiting her return, made the time pass pleasantly and agreeably by subjecting boat crew, coxswain and committee to a raking criticism.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 20 January 1899

INTER-DEBATE ON THE HOUSE OF LORDS
On Monday evening (14 January 1901), in the Temperance Hotel, Saltcoats, an inter-debate took place between the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Literary Societies. Mr H M Murdoch, vice-president of the Saltcoats Society, occupied the chair and there was a good attendance of the members of both Societies.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 18 January 1901


George
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Re: Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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15th January.
The following report appeared in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald on this day in 1960 (page 5):
Foam Extinguishers
"Damage was caused to wiring installations and the paint on the outside of a 40 gallon tank containing
paraffin was also alight. Using foam extinguishers, the firemen put out the flames and the danger of the
paraffin catching fire was averted. The "Weather Reporter" (269 tons) is one of four weather ships operated
by the Air Ministry. She came to the port after a spell of duty off the Irish coast.
Another weather ship, the "Weather Observer", berthed at the harbour on Tuesday".


That report gives us the ideal excuse to take a look at the history of Ardrossan Fire Brigade - even though
the "Firemen" referred to in the report were probably ship or harbour employees, but the following article
contributed by George McGrattan is dated January 1938, therefore it seems appropriate.
History of Ardrossan Fire Brigade:
http://www.threetowners.com/ardrossan-1 ... e-brigade/
Manually Operated Ardrossan Burgh Fire Engine:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nayesterdays/5552234603/
The History of Scottish Fire Brigades - RO3 Ardrossan:
http://www.graemekirkwood.co.uk/SFB/D04.htm
Please note: There are countless discussions throughout this site that give mention to various topics
concerning Ardrossan Fire Station and/or personnel. They can be easily accessed using the sites search
facility, near the top of this page. Also, a simple search on the internet will reveal many more images
of the various models of old manually operated fire fighting appliances - and I don't mean buckets.
:)
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15 JANUARY 1898

ARDEER RANGERS 1 - ARDROSSAN CASTLEHILL ATHLETIC 0
The Castlehill Athletic travelled to Stevenston on Saturday (15 January 1898) to play their return match with Ardeer Rangers on Warner Park. In the first half, the homesters were pretty much confined to their own territory but the shooting of the visitors was decidedly 'oph', many easy chances being thrown away. Half-time found both teams equal with no goals scored. The second half was more evenly contested although, just at the finish, the Rangers managed to find an opening and scored the only goal of the match thus winning by one goal to nothing. Throughout the game, play was of a very ragged description and the result is by no means a true index of the play. Tomorrow, the Athletic try conclusions with a Saltcoats select team on Montfod Field. An interesting game may be expected as it is understood that the select team will include several of the late Saltcoats Victoria players. Would it be possible - and we think it would - to raise in the district a senior team to fill the place of 'the late Saltcoats Victoria'? It would be somewhat unusual to have a junior team inaugurating a senior one but the idea, it will be apparent, is quite a feasible one and we would venture to commend its consideration to the officials of the Castlehill Athletic club. There is no lack of football talent in the locality and it is unfortunate that the want of a proper field has hitherto provided a barrier to the organisation of a representative senior eleven. The Castlehill lads have a field and a very serviceable clubhouse also. The financial part of the matter is not such a difficulty as it may at first appear. The players would not require payment. At least, we are of the opinion that first-class footballers will be found in the neighbourhood - as in the ranks of the Athletic - who are willing to play the game for its own sake. The Castlehill Athletic club has done more for athletics generally in the district than is at present apparent and we hope to hear of a senior eleven by next season. The club, we think, might with advantage direct attention to other branches of athletics rather than confine itself to football.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 21 January 1898

Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston are all mentioned in this report.

George
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16 JANUARY 1879

LAUNCHED FROM THE INCHES
We are glad to notice that in these days of dull trade, there seems to be no dearth of work in the shipbuilding yard of Mr Archibald Boyd who, on Thursday week (16 January 1879) launched a fishing smack for the Irish fishing from his 'wee yard' on The Inches (shown below in 2003), the dimensions being length of keel - 27 feet. Also launched on Tuesday last (21 January 1879) for the coasting trade, a cargo smack, with dimensions: keel - 46 feet; beam - 16 feet; depth - 7 feet. She was named the Maggie Kerr. The vessels Mr Boyd puts out are known to be good, trig seaboats and he is making for himself a name among the coasters.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 25 January 1879

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17 JANUARY 1894

ARDROSSAN YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
A special meeting of the Ardrossan Young Women's Christian Association was held on Tuesday evening (16 January 1894) in the Mission Hall, 90 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan to which members of the Saltcoats branch were invited. A programme of sacred music by the members with an address by Miss West-Watson filled up a pleasant and profitable evening. Miss West-Watson's subject was the Christian calling, its nature, aims, etc and her remarks were listened to by an attentive and appreciative audience. A pleasant evening was spent in the same hall on Wednesday (17 January 1894), the occasion being a social meeting of the monitors and a few children attending the children's Sabbath morning service. Recitations, hymns and addresses followed the tea. An interesting feature of the evening was the distribution of prizes to children for repetition of texts, attendance and proficiency.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 19 January 1894

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18 JANUARY 2010

On 18 January 2010, the demolition of the buildings in the top photo began. Two weeks later, the scene looked as shown in the lower photo. Cunninghame Housing Association acquired the site in Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan from Clydeport in April 2007. The buildings were demolished by Reigart Contracts to accommodate fifty-three houses which have not yet started being built.
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Richard

Re: Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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George:
For the benefit of those who may not know, myself included, can you tell us what these "Clydeport" buildings
were used for ? Were they offices, storage facilities.....can anyone remember ?
:?
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Richard

It was a wee 'industrial estate' and just before closure was occupied by several firms including William Blades, joiners and builders; Marina Trade Centre; J McEvoy and Sons, engineering services; SWC Car Wash and Zebra Signs and Graphics.

These firms would not have been the original occupants. Perhaps some members can remember who were.

You can have a 'virtual tour' of the area by visiting http://www.ArdrossanPhotographs.net then selecting Cunninghame Housing Association Montgomerie Street Development in the left frame. There are forty-five pictures of the site before and after demolition.

George
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