Ardrossan - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
24 AUGUST 1918

ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO REMOVE FIREARMS TO IRELAND

An indictment has been served on eight persons – four men and four women – who were arrested on July 12 at Ardrossan Harbour on a charge of contravening Defence of the Realm Regulation 18 or the Explosive Substances Act, Section 4.

The accused are Michael Callaghan, Michael Gallacher, William Fullarton, Mary Fullarton, Charles Hilley, Bridget Healey, Rose Ann Healy, and Chrissie Little.

It is alleged that the accused, who were in possession of permits to Ireland attempted to remove firearms, ammunition, and explosive substances from Great Britain to Ireland without a permit from the competent naval or military authority.

They will appear before the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh at September 10.

[Penny Tray]

LAUNCH AT ARDROSSAN
25 AUGUST 1865

The wooden sailing schooner VOLUNTEER – 96 feet in length, 22 feet in breadth, and 11 feet in depth – built by Barclay & Shearer, Ardrossan, for Thomas Deakin, Runcorn, was launched on the above date.

[Further details of this vessel are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... =VOLUNTEER

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
25 AUGUST 1848

VESSEL ASHORE AT ARDROSSAN

About ten o’clock on the evening of Friday, the schooner BANGOR CASTLE, of and from Belfast, on taking Ardrossan harbour, went ashore near Burnfoot, a mile and a half north of the town.

The wind was south-south-east; and the casualty may be attributed to the craft having lost all her sails, and to the crew being unacquainted with the locality.

If the weather proves favourable it is thought the schooner will be got off without damage.

The crew were saved.

[Penny Tray]

LAUNCH AT ARDROSSAN
25 AUGUST 1892

The steel screw steamer LOVART – 145 feet in length, 26 feet in breadth, and 9 feet in depth – built by Ardrossan Shipbuilding Company Limited for Lovart Steamship Company (Love & Stewart, Bo’ness) was launched on the above date.

[Further details of this vessel are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... sel=LOVART

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
26 AUGUST 1922

NEW LIVERPOOL STEAMER

The Ardrossan Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company launched yesterday the steamer, PENRITH CASTLE, which they have built for Messrs James Chambers and Company, Liverpool (the Lancashire Shipping Company), for the Havana, Galvaston, and London general trade.

The vessel, which is 5800 tons deadweight, is 350 feet in length, 50 feet in breadth, and of the poop, bridge and forecastle type.

Triple expansion engines and boilers will be supplied by Messrs John G Kincaid, Greenock.

The designed speed is 11 knots.

[Further details and one photograph of this vessel, later named DJURDJURA, are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... ITH+CASTLE

[Penny Tray]

LAUNCH AT ARDROSSAN
27 AUGUST 1869

The wooden sailing schooner LOANGO – 87 feet in length, 20 feet in breadth, and 10 feet in depth – built by Barr & Shearer, Ardrossan, for Peter Brash, Leith, was launched on the above date.

[Further details and a photograph of this vessel are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... sel=LOANGO

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
27 AUGUST 1953

NEW MINESWEEPER

The inshore minesweeper H.M.S. BUCKLESHAM, built for the Admiralty by Ardrossan Dockyard Limited was launched yesterday, the naming ceremony being performed by Mrs. F. G. Patterson, wife of the assistant warship superintendent, Scottish area.

The first of two similar craft on order from the Ardrossan yard, the new vessel is of the same class as H.M.S. COBHAM, launched earlier this year at Fairlie. She is designed to operate in shallow waters and embodies novel features, the outcome of lessons learned during and since the last war.

Her machinery, by Davey, Paxman and Company Limited, Colchester, will be installed in a few days’ time.

Speaking at a luncheon held later, Mr. Randal G. Kincaid, chairman of the building company, said the new vessel was 100 feet long and had been built of aluminium alloy framing, planked with mahogany.

Mr. J. C. Colman, managing director of the Ardrossan Dockyard Limited spoke of the handicap of the steel shortage and said:- “If we had steel delivered in the way we want it we would get on splendidly.”

[A photograph of this vessel is contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... BUCKLESHAM

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
27 AUGUST 1917

Killed in action, Private JOHN McKIRDY, (32), 16th Battalion Welsh Regiment – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – husband of Mary Conn McKirdy, 12 Seton Street, Ardrossan, and son of Mrs. Margaret McKirdy, 37 Manse Street, Saltcoats, and the late Robert McKirdy.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
28 AUGUST 1888

YACHT BUILDING AT ARDROSSAN

Yesterday Messrs Aitken and Mansell launched from their building yard at Ardrossan the first vessel built of steel in that port.

The vessel fortunately happened to be a steel yacht, the “ORMEA,” of 304 tons, built for William Hutcheson, rear commodore of the Clyde Corinthian Club, and the builders have been quite successful in launching a yacht which, in some respects will out-class other steam yachts in the Clyde.

The ORMEA has been designed for a yacht that will make Atlantic voyages with due regularity, and, in accordance with the wish of the owner has power and the requisite appurtenances for towing in a calm the sailing fleet of the Clyde Corinthian Club, if that should be necessary.

The ORMEA is 148 feet in length, 22 feet beam, and 13 feet draught. She was launched most successfully, and glided into one of the numerous docks Ardrossan is about to be furnished with without the slightest surge. Indeed, the first sea the ORMEA plunges into will pitch her about more than her launching did.

The vessels around were decked with flags, and the seafaring population showed her how much they were interested in the new departure of the shipbuilders by clambering out of the windows and skylights to enjoy the sight.

The yacht had not got her engines on board, and was consequently light, which showed her handsome bow and eliptic stern to advantage. The carvings and ornamental scrolls were in particular good taste.

In the cabin fittings the various woods need have been bird’s eye maple, Hungarian ash, American elm, tulip wood, and thuya wood. The combination is exceptionally successful, and the cabins of Mr. and Mrs. Hutcheson are hardly equalled in the Clyde for the fine taste displayed.

After the launch the builders entertained the visitors to lunch, when Mr. Mansell proposed the health of Mr. and Mrs. Hutcheson. Mr. Hutcheson replied, and remarked that Lloyd’s agent was the most difficult party he had had to deal with.

Mr. Mansell gave the health of Miss Taylor, who had so cleverly named the yacht to which her father replied in a few and eloquent words.

“The Strangers,” proposed by the Chairman, drew from Sir William Wedderburn a witty and brilliant reply.

Mr. Kent, the designer of the ORMEA, had an opportunity of replying to the hearty compliments paid to him.

In reply to the toast of “The Royal Navy Volunteers,” Lieutenant Dawson assured those present that with the further organisation of the service he represented such visits as R.M.S. Spider had paid them would be impossible.

[Further details of this vessel are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... ssel=ORMEA

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
29 AUGUST 1919

NEW STEAMER

The Ardrossan Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company Limited have launched the cargo steamer PENTLAND FIRTH for the Ferrum Steamship Company, Newcastle-on-Tyne (Messrs G. T. Gillie and Company, Glasgow, managing owners).

The length of the vessel is 181 feet 9 inches, the breadth moulded 28 feet, and the depth moulded to main deck 12 feet 6 inches.

Engines will be supplied by Messrs William Beardmore and Company Limited, Coatbridge.

Miss C. H. Smith performed the naming ceremony.

[Two photographs of this vessel are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... LAND+FIRTH

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
30 AUGUST 1920

RETIRAL

At a meeting of the members of the Ayrshire Constabulary in Ardrossan, Sergeant Berry, on his retirement after 34 years’ service, was presented with a gold watch for himself and a gold and pearl pendant for Mrs. Berry.

The presentation was made by Inspector McIlwrick.

Sergeant Berry while in the army took part in the expedition for the relief of General Gordon and in the defeat of Osman Digna.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
31 AUGUST 1872

ARDROSSAN PAROCHIAL BOARD

This Board held its statutory half-yearly meeting in the Saltcoats Town Hall on Thursday evening – Mr. Ingram presiding.

The roll of paupers having been revised and adjusted, it appeared that 165 names were on the roll, with 64 male and 86 female dependents.

Mr. Fullerton moved than an assessment be imposed for the relief of the poor and expense of management to realise the gross sum of £1900, which would be classified the same as the last two years, namely:-

On minerals, 8d; and on all other classes, 4d, 8d, and 1s.

Mr. Fullerton remarked that each of the paupers had this year cost the Board the sum of £10 10s.

He also moved that, for registration purposes, they assess the whole parish to the extent of £56 – ¼d on owners and ½d on occupiers.

Both motions were agreed to.

It was also agreed to adopt the suggestion of the Public Health Committee to make the assessment so that about £100 be realised and that it be as under:-

On owners, 1d; on occupiers, first class, ½d; second class, 1d; third class, 1½ d.

Mr. Ingram was unanimously re-elected chairman.