Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 MAY 1882

BIRTH

ROXBURGH: At No. 2 Villa, Sandhill, Stevenston, on 8th instant, to Mrs. H. B. Roxburgh; a son.

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GLASGOW HERALD
10 MAY 1887

BIRTH

WYLLIE: At Mayfield, Stevenston, on the 9th instant, Mrs JOHN WYLLIE; a son.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 MAY 1884

TERRIBLE DYNAMITE EXPLOSION
TEN GIRLS KILLED AND FOUR INJURED AT ARDEER WORKS

A terrible dynamite explosion occurred yesterday morning at Ardeer works.

The dead were named as:

Annie Brannan, Ironworks Square, Ardeer,
Mary Brannan, sister of the above,
Maggie McAdam, Ironworks Square, Ardeer,
Rachel Allison, Kilwinning,
Elizabeth McCall, Station Square, Stevenston,
Isabella Longridge, Schoolwell, Stevenston.
M Haggerty, Townhead, Stevenston,
L Love, Schoolwell, Stevenston,
M. A. Peters, Townhead, Stevenston, and
M McAllister, Station Square, Stevenston.

The injured were named as:

Jessie Craig, Grange Road, Stevenston,
Rose Ann Murphy, Townhead, Stevenston,
Sarah Ann McKean, New Steet, Stevenston, and
Mary Banks, Boglemart Street, Stevenston.

GLASGOW HERALD
10 MAY 1884

THE EXPLOSION AT ARDEER WORKS

Colonel Ford, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Explosives for Scotland, was engaged yesterday inquiring into the circumstances attending the explosion which occurred on Thursday at Nobel’s Explosives Works at Ardeer. He was accompanied by Mr P. Stevenson, Procurator-Fiscal, Kilmarnock, and made a minute inspection of the works, and collected all such information as was likely to throw any light on the cause of the lamentable catastrophe.

The remains of the 10 young women who were killed were placed in coffins and removed early yesterday morning to their respective houses.

The funerals of most of the girls are fixed to take place today in Stevenston Cemetery.

On inquiry yesterday we learned that JESSIE CRAIG, who resides at Grange Road, Stevenston, is rather better. She was burned severely about the legs and arms.

SARAH ANN McKEAN, is the most seriously injured. She is burned severely about the face and body. She passed a very restless night; but her medical attendant, Doctor Wallace, considers that she showed slight improvement yesterday.

MARY MURPHY, living at Townhead, was only slightly injured, and was able to go home.

The accident has cast a gloom over the entire district, and the details still form the subject of general conversation.

[down south]

10th MAY 1972

MINISTER'S NEW CHARGE

The Rev Gordon Ferguson who belongs to Stevenston where he worked in the laboratory of ICI Ardeer factory before being ordained in the ministry, was inducted on Wednesday of last week ( 10th May 1972 )to his first charge, the Kirk of Holy Rood, Grangemouth.

In Stevenston Mr Ferguson was a member of Livingstone Church and since being ordained has been assistant minister at St Columba's Church, Largs.

He received a unanimous call to the Kirk of the Holy Rood, a new church which was previously a church extension charge, and where the interim moderator in the vacancy was the Rev Hugh Talman who was formerly minister of Mansefield Church, Kilwinning.

Attending the induction at Grangemouth were the Rev Iain Roy of Livingstone Church, the Rev W Stanley Carr, Largs St Columba's, and the Rev Alexander McLachlan who belongs to Saltcoats and is now minister of Renfrew North Church.

The introductory service on the first Sunday of Mr Ferguson's new ministry was conducted by the Rev Iain Roy.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 19th May 1972

Susan

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GLASGOW HERALD
11 MAY 1887

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD

This Board met on Monday night – Mr Donaldson presiding.

The report of the inspection of the Public School was read showing a grant of £389 12s. The percentage of passes was 97.9, which the Board considered to be highly satisfactory.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 MAY 1884

TERRIBLE DYNAMITE EXPLOSION
TEN GIRLS KILLED AND FOUR INJURED AT ARDEER WORKS

A terrible dynamite explosion occurred yesterday morning at Ardeer works.

The dead were named as:

Annie Brannan, Ironworks Square, Ardeer,
Mary Brannan, sister of the above,
Maggie McAdam, Ironworks Square, Ardeer,
Rachel Allison, Kilwinning,
Elizabeth McCall, Station Square, Stevenston,
Isabella Longridge, Schoolwell, Stevenston.
M Haggerty, Townhead, Stevenston,
L Love, Schoolwell, Stevenston,
M. A. Peters, Townhead, Stevenston, and
M McAllister, Station Square, Stevenston.

The injured were named as:

Jessie Craig, Grange Road, Stevenston,
Rose Ann Murphy, Townhead, Stevenston,
Sarah Ann McKean, New Steet, Stevenston, and
Mary Banks, Boglemart Street, Stevenston.

GLASGOW HERALD
10 MAY 1884

THE EXPLOSION AT ARDEER WORKS

Colonel Ford, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Explosives for Scotland, was engaged yesterday inquiring into the circumstances attending the explosion which occurred on Thursday at Nobel’s Explosives Works at Ardeer. He was accompanied by Mr P. Stevenson, Procurator-Fiscal, Kilmarnock, and made a minute inspection of the works, and collected all such information as was likely to throw any light on the cause of the lamentable catastrophe.

The remains of the 10 young women who were killed were placed in coffins and removed early yesterday morning to their respective houses.

The funerals of most of the girls are fixed to take place today in Stevenston Cemetery.

On inquiry yesterday we learned that JESSIE CRAIG, who resides at Grange Road, Stevenston, is rather better. She was burned severely about the legs and arms.

SARAH ANN McKEAN, is the most seriously injured. She is burned severely about the face and body. She passed a very restless night; but her medical attendant, Doctor Wallace, considers that she showed slight improvement yesterday.

MARY MURPHY, living at Townhead, was only slightly injured, and was able to go home.

The accident has cast a gloom over the entire district, and the details still form the subject of general conversation.

GLASGOW HERALD
12 MAY 1884

THE DISASTER AT ARDEER DYNAMITE WORKS

The remains of the ten girls who lost their lives in connection with the explosion at Nobel’s Explosives Works at Ardeer were interred on Saturday.

Although the funerals did not all take place at the same hour they were of a public character, Stevenston, in which the majority of the deceased resided, not being a burgh, there was no Town Council or other authority to make arrangements. But even if there had been, the general expression of sorrow and sympathy could not have been more complete.

Business was entirely suspended during the greater part of the day, and despite the heavy, misty rain which fell for several hours, large numbers of the inhabitants of the village and people from the surrounding districts took part in the proceedings, while crowds of onlookers lined the streets as the funeral processions passed on their way to the several places of internment.

Six of the girls were buried in the new cemetery, and three in the churchyard surrounding the Parish Church, a nice looking Gothic building which stands on the summit of the acclivity on which Stevenston is built, and is a prominent landmark for many miles around.

The other girl RACHEL ALLISON was buried at Kilwinning, at which place she resided with her father, a miner, who, through infirmity, is unable to do much to support himself.

The first funeral was that of ISABELLA LONGRIDGE. At half-past one o’clock her remains were removed from the house of her mother, a widow living in Schoolwell Street, and interred in the new cemetery. As the cortege left the house the bell of the Parish Church began tolling, and was continued until the last of the interments had taken place at four o’clock.

The orphan girls MARTHA HAGGERTY and MARY ANN PETERS were likewise buried in the new cemetery and thither also were carried the bodies of MARY McADAM, ELIZABETH McALL, and MARTHA McALLISTER, the funerals of the two last mentioned taking place at three o’clock.

All the funerals were largely attended, but perhaps the one which excited the most attention was that of the sisters ANNIE and MARY BRANNAN, who were working in cartridge hut No. 7 when the explosion took place. They were laid in the old churchyard.

MARTHA McALLISTER was carried to her last resting place by several members of the United Presbyterian mission. A beautiful wreath of flowers was laid on her coffin, and it is intended to place on her grave a wreath of immortelles bearing the inscription “In Memory of Martha.”

While the first interment was taking place, the Rev. William Bergemann, Roman Catholic clergyman, Saltcoats, intimated that he had received a letter from Archbishop Eyre, expressing regret at the occurrence of the terrible disaster and his sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.

Among those present at the funerals were the Rev. John Grahame, Stevenston Parish Church; Rev. Joseph Forrest, Stevenston Free Church; Rev. William Bergemann, Saltcoats; Mr Hamilton, U.P. missionary; Mr Thomas Kirkhope, procurator-fiscal, Ardrossan; Mr George McRoberts, manager; Mr Findlay, assistant manager; and a large number of the employees of Nobel’s Explosives Works.

The girl SARAH ANN McKEAN, who sustained such a severe shock by the explosion, still lies at her parent’s house, New Street, Stevenston, in a critical condition.

JESSIE CRAIG, Grange Road, Stevenston, although not in a dangerous state, is undergoing great pain from the burns she received.

Doctor Wallace is in constant attendance on the sufferers.

The other two girls, ROSE ANN MURPHY and MARY BANKS, who so miraculously escaped from huts 5 and 6, are recovering from their injuries.

On Saturday morning Colonel Ford, one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Explosives, resumed investigation into the cause of the accident. These are necessarily being conducted in private, and the result will not be made public until his report has been submitted to Government.

On Friday, after going over the scene of the explosion, he subjected the manager and a number other employees at the works to a searching examination.

Among the men re-examined were THOMAS LYONS, the foreman of the squad of girls who were engaged making dynamite cartridges at the time of the disaster. Lyons, it may be remembered, visited the workers half an hour before the explosion.

The other men recalled were those whose duty it was to supply the cartridge-makers with the loose dynamite, and to take it away when moulded into shape.

It is understood that Colonel Ford is making careful inquiry regarding the condition of the explosive when it left the shed in which it was finally manipulated before passing on to the cartridge huts, and also as to its state when being manufactured into cartridges.

Nothing has yet been done by way of repairing the structural damage caused by the explosion. Indeed it may be some days before anything is begun in this direction, as it was stated on Saturday that Colonel Ford had not completed his inquiry.

Meanwhile the police are precognoscing witnesses with the view of framing a report of the occurrence for the information of the Procurator-Fiscal of Ayrshire.

On Saturday morning a few labourers were engaged at the works carrying on some urgent operations, but in the afternoon the factory was closed and the operatives, as already mentioned, attended the funerals of the victims of the disaster.

It was stated in Stevenston on Saturday that several of the girls who were employed in the works had resigned their situations.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 MAY 1879

THEFT OF A WATCH

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday, SAMUEL MARSHALL, a hammerman, residing at Townhead, Stevenston, pleaded guilty to the theft of a silver watch from the shop of Mr John Robertson, watchmaker, in Dockhead Street, Saltcoats, on the 3rd instant, and was sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 MAY 1884

TERRIBLE DYNAMITE EXPLOSION
TEN GIRLS KILLED AND FOUR INJURED AT ARDEER WORKS

A terrible dynamite explosion occurred yesterday morning at Ardeer works.

The dead were named as:

Annie Brannan, Ironworks Square, Ardeer,
Mary Brannan, sister of the above,
Maggie McAdam, Ironworks Square, Ardeer,
Rachel Allison, Kilwinning,
Elizabeth McCall, Station Square, Stevenston,
Isabella Longridge, Schoolwell, Stevenston.
M Haggerty, Townhead, Stevenston,
L Love, Schoolwell, Stevenston,
M. A. Peters, Townhead, Stevenston, and
M McAllister, Station Square, Stevenston.

The injured were named as:

Jessie Craig, Grange Road, Stevenston,
Rose Ann Murphy, Townhead, Stevenston,
Sarah Ann McKean, New Steet, Stevenston, and
Mary Banks, Boglemart Street, Stevenston.

GLASGOW HERALD
10 MAY 1884

THE EXPLOSION AT ARDEER WORKS

Colonel Ford, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Explosives for Scotland, was engaged yesterday inquiring into the circumstances attending the explosion which occurred on Thursday at Nobel’s Explosives Works at Ardeer. He was accompanied by Mr P. Stevenson, Procurator-Fiscal, Kilmarnock, and made a minute inspection of the works, and collected all such information as was likely to throw any light on the cause of the lamentable catastrophe.

The remains of the 10 young women who were killed were placed in coffins and removed early yesterday morning to their respective houses.

The funerals of most of the girls are fixed to take place today in Stevenston Cemetery.

On inquiry yesterday we learned that JESSIE CRAIG, who resides at Grange Road, Stevenston, is rather better. She was burned severely about the legs and arms.

SARAH ANN McKEAN, is the most seriously injured. She is burned severely about the face and body. She passed a very restless night; but her medical attendant, Doctor Wallace, considers that she showed slight improvement yesterday.

MARY MURPHY, living at Townhead, was only slightly injured, and was able to go home.

The accident has cast a gloom over the entire district, and the details still form the subject of general conversation.

GLASGOW HERALD
12 MAY 1884

THE DISASTER AT ARDEER DYNAMITE WORKS

The remains of the ten girls who lost their lives in connection with the explosion at Nobel’s Explosives Works at Ardeer were interred on Saturday.

Although the funerals did not all take place at the same hour they were of a public character, Stevenston, in which the majority of the deceased resided, not being a burgh, there was no Town Council or other authority to make arrangements. But even if there had been, the general expression of sorrow and sympathy could not have been more complete.

Business was entirely suspended during the greater part of the day, and despite the heavy, misty rain which fell for several hours, large numbers of the inhabitants of the village and people from the surrounding districts took part in the proceedings, while crowds of onlookers lined the streets as the funeral processions passed on their way to the several places of internment.

Six of the girls were buried in the new cemetery, and three in the churchyard surrounding the Parish Church, a nice looking Gothic building which stands on the summit of the acclivity on which Stevenston is built, and is a prominent landmark for many miles around.

The other girl RACHEL ALLISON was buried at Kilwinning, at which place she resided with her father, a miner, who, through infirmity, is unable to do much to support himself.

The first funeral was that of ISABELLA LONGRIDGE. At half-past one o’clock her remains were removed from the house of her mother, a widow living in Schoolwell Street, and interred in the new cemetery. As the cortege left the house the bell of the Parish Church began tolling, and was continued until the last of the interments had taken place at four o’clock.

The orphan girls MARTHA HAGGERTY and MARY ANN PETERS were likewise buried in the new cemetery and thither also were carried the bodies of MARY McADAM, ELIZABETH McALL, and MARTHA McALLISTER, the funerals of the two last mentioned taking place at three o’clock.

All the funerals were largely attended, but perhaps the one which excited the most attention was that of the sisters ANNIE and MARY BRANNAN, who were working in cartridge hut No. 7 when the explosion took place. They were laid in the old churchyard.

MARTHA McALLISTER was carried to her last resting place by several members of the United Presbyterian mission. A beautiful wreath of flowers was laid on her coffin, and it is intended to place on her grave a wreath of immortelles bearing the inscription “In Memory of Martha.”

While the first interment was taking place, the Rev. William Bergemann, Roman Catholic clergyman, Saltcoats, intimated that he had received a letter from Archbishop Eyre, expressing regret at the occurrence of the terrible disaster and his sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.

Among those present at the funerals were the Rev. John Grahame, Stevenston Parish Church; Rev. Joseph Forrest, Stevenston Free Church; Rev. William Bergemann, Saltcoats; Mr Hamilton, U.P. missionary; Mr Thomas Kirkhope, procurator-fiscal, Ardrossan; Mr George McRoberts, manager; Mr Findlay, assistant manager; and a large number of the employees of Nobel’s Explosives Works.

The girl SARAH ANN McKEAN, who sustained such a severe shock by the explosion, still lies at her parent’s house, New Street, Stevenston, in a critical condition.

JESSIE CRAIG, Grange Road, Stevenston, although not in a dangerous state, is undergoing great pain from the burns she received.

Doctor Wallace is in constant attendance on the sufferers.

The other two girls, ROSE ANN MURPHY and MARY BANKS, who so miraculously escaped from huts 5 and 6, are recovering from their injuries.

On Saturday morning Colonel Ford, one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Explosives, resumed investigation into the cause of the accident. These are necessarily being conducted in private, and the result will not be made public until his report has been submitted to Government.

On Friday, after going over the scene of the explosion, he subjected the manager and a number other employees at the works to a searching examination.

Among the men re-examined were THOMAS LYONS, the foreman of the squad of girls who were engaged making dynamite cartridges at the time of the disaster. Lyons, it may be remembered, visited the workers half an hour before the explosion.

The other men recalled were those whose duty it was to supply the cartridge-makers with the loose dynamite, and to take it away when moulded into shape.

It is understood that Colonel Ford is making careful inquiry regarding the condition of the explosive when it left the shed in which it was finally manipulated before passing on to the cartridge huts, and also as to its state when being manufactured into cartridges.

Nothing has yet been done by way of repairing the structural damage caused by the explosion. Indeed it may be some days before anything is begun in this direction, as it was stated on Saturday that Colonel Ford had not completed his inquiry.

Meanwhile the police are precognoscing witnesses with the view of framing a report of the occurrence for the information of the Procurator-Fiscal of Ayrshire.

On Saturday morning a few labourers were engaged at the works carrying on some urgent operations, but in the afternoon the factory was closed and the operatives, as already mentioned, attended the funerals of the victims of the disaster.

It was stated in Stevenston on Saturday that several of the girls who were employed in the works had resigned their situations.

GLASGOW HERALD
14 MAY 1884

THE EXPLOSION AT ARDEER DYNAMITE WORKS

Colonel Ford, H.M. Inspector of Explosives, was again engaged yesterday in carrying on the inquiry as to the cause of the explosion.

The young woman JESSIE CRAIG, who escaped from the No. 8 hut, is still suffering a good deal of pain from the severe burns she received. She states that the first thing she remembers was the window of the hut being blown in. She looked round, and almost immediately the place was in flames. The girl McCALL (who was burned to death) threw her arms round Craig’s neck and said – “Oh Jessie, where will we run to?” Then she felt the poor girl’s arms slipping from her neck. She heard ISABELLA LONGRIDGE (who worked in the same hut, and was burned to death) crying out – “Oh Jessie.” After that she remembers nothing further till she was rising from the ground, having tripped over the board in the bottom of the door when rushing from the hut. One of the workmen caught her about 100 yards away.

ROSE ANN MURPHY was in No. 6 hut and was burned but not seriously. She was able to get up on Monday, but was not so well yesterday. After the hut took fire she cried out to one of her companions, but got no answer. She was partially covered with the ruins of the hut. Lying against her side was the machine for making dynamite cartridges, with the dynamite burning. She cannot explain how she got out. Thinking it better to be away from the hill she rushed towards the shore, past No. 5 hut, where the girl McKean was standing in the flames outside the door crying out.

Yesterday SARAH ANN McKEAN, the most severely injured of the young women was still in a low state, but hopes are entertained of her ultimate recovery.

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GLASGOW HERALD
16 MAY 1888

DEATH

MALCOLM: At Shore Road Cottages, Stevenston, on the 14th instant, ALEXANDER MALCOLM, lately of Glasgow.

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GLASGOW HERALD
17 MAY 1926

FOOTBALL
WESTERN JUNIOR CUP FINAL
Played at Ardrossan

Ardeer Thistle, 5; Kilwinning Rangers, 1.

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GLASGOW HERALD
17 MAY 1920

DROWNING

On Saturday afternoon JAMES SIMPSON, (5), son of Robert Simpson, Moorpark Cottages, Stevenston, was drowned in the flooded area between Saltcoats and Stevenston.

Along with some other small boys he had gone to fish for minnows, and fell into the pool, and before assistance had arrived he had sunk.

The body was afterwards recovered by some young men who dived into the pool.

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GLASGOW HERALD
18 MAY 1888

STEVENSTON LIBERAL ASSOCIATION

The following office-bearers have been elected:- President, Mr Charles Smith; Vice-presidents, Mr Matthew Cunningham; Mr C. Gibson; Mr A. Pennel; secretary and treasurer, Mr John Gibson; delegates to the Kilmarnock conference, Messrs A. W. Roy; A. Wilson; Alexander Reid, junior; Robert Cowan; in addition to office bearers.