Ardrossan - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
27 MARCH 1912

CIRCUIT COURT AT AYR

Lord Mackenzie presided at a Circuit Court at Ayr yesterday. There was only one case for trial.

James O’Neill, a well-dressed man, was charged with having on February 5 or 6, at Montgomerie Pier, Ardrossan, stole a purse and 23s from the person of a Glasgow woman.

Accused, who at the time of the commission of the offence was a convict on licence, was convicted and sentenced to five years’ penal servitude.

Commenting on O’Neill’s bad record, the Judge said he was unable to see why the accused had not been charged with being a habitual criminal.

[George Ardrossan]

John Alexander Goodwin was the first Winton Rovers player to play for the Scottish Junior national team when he represented his country against England in front of a crowd of 20000 at Firhill Park, Glasgow on 1 April 1911. He made two other international appearances, scoring in a 2-0 win against Ireland at Cappielow Park, Greenock on 6 March 1912 and again scoring when Scotland beat Wales 2-1 on 19 October 1912 at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Just over a week after earning his third cap, he signed for Kilmarnock on 28 October 1912.

George

[George Ardrossan]

I have just learned that John Goodwin was born on 19 May 1893 at 2 WINTON STREET, Ardrossan, 220 yards or two pitch lengths from WINTON PARK where he played for WINTON ROVERS.

George

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
28 MARCH 1864

PECULIAR CASE OF THEFT

On Wednesday last, while a daughter of the Rev. Mr Finlay, Free Church minister of West Kilbride, was passing through the village, she dropped a purse containing two sovereigns. It was picked up by a woman, but a biscuit van driver from Greenock, named Allan, who saw her doing so, claimed the purse as his, and after obtaining it, drove off to Ardrossan.

The loss having been announced, the woman told her story, and Allan was apprehended by the Kilbride policeman in Ardrossan the same afternoon.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Summary Court on Saturday, he pleaded guilty to the theft, and was sentenced to twenty days’ imprisonment.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
29 MARCH 1847

ONE OF THE POOR IRISH

One of Friday morning’s early trains from Ardrossan saw a poor, emaciated, tattered and miserable-looking representative of the “finest pisantry in the world” set down in the terminus of the Ayrshire Railway Company. He had not forgotten to bring with him a bundle of what seemed to be filthy rags, but which he dignified with the appellation of his bed.

On landing on this side of St. George’s Channel, he stuck himself and his boy, bundle and all, upon one of the railway carriages, and on landing in Glasgow considered himself safe by declaring his utter inability to pay; satisfied that they could not take the ride out of him again, whatever else they might attempt, he held the railway authorities in supreme contempt.

They, however, resolved to make what they could of him, and laid an embargo upon his bundle (which, however, unpromising, might stimulate him to some exertion), and they seemingly had calculated in the right direction.

Searching his person had been found and declared unproductive labour, and he was suffered to depart minus his luggage; but after repeated endeavours to persuade his opponents to give it up, and going away, he at last, having exhausted his utmost eloquence, cooly proceeded to untie a dirty ragged neckcloth from off his neck, and from the hidden folds of its innermost recesses he drew forth a glittering store of sovereigns amounting in all to about twenty, one of which he handed to the clerk, who deducted half-a-crown from it and gave him back his change and his dearly beloved bundle, with which he trudged off grudgingly, yet not displeased.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
29 MARCH 1911

FREE GAS COOKERS FOR ARDROSSAN

The Town Council of Ardrossan has decided to supply free gas cookers to all householders in the burgh who wish to have them.

This step has been taken with a view to increasing the consumption of gas and ultimately to cheapen the illuminant, the price being at present 4s 4¼d per 100 cubic feet.

Under the auspices of the Council an exhibition is being held in the Assembly Hall, and practical demonstrations of the working are given every afternoon and evening.

On Monday an illustrated lecture on the manufacture and uses of coal gas was given by Mr J. D. Keiller, the Corporation gas manager.

Councillor I. T. Fawcett presided in the absence of Provost Chrystie.

A large number of ratepayers have already intimated their willingness to make use of the gas cookers.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
29 MARCH 1911

STEAMER TRAFFIC BETWEEN ARDROSSAN AND ARRAN

On Saturday the Glasgow & South-Western Railway Company take over control for the season of the steamer traffic between Ardrossan and Arran.

An arrangement has now been come to between the railway companies and the Harbour Company, and the passenger pier dues will not be charged after Friday.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
29 MARCH 1912

COAL DISCOVERED AT ARDROSSAN

An outcrop of coal has been discovered at the Inches, Ardrossan, the seam being about nine inches in thickness.

Yesterday fully 100 people were engaged in digging, and the seam was opened up for a length of over 50 yards. A good many dockers are employing their time at the work. Several tons of coal have been procured, and some of it had been sold at 1s 6d per bag. The quality is said to be fairly good.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
30 MARCH 1855

SHIPPING CASUALTIES

Fleetwood March, 22 – The PIONEER, from Ardrossan, which put in yesterday, sailed this day for Poulton, but has since put back. The BARBARA, Wilson, from Ardrossan, which got on shore yesterday, still remains, although part of her cargo has been unloaded.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
30 MARCH 1910

RETIREMENT

Mr J. R. Smith, salesman and shipping agent, Ardrossan, who is well known and respected in the West of Scotland, retires in May owing to indifferent health, after 43 years connection with the Glengarnock Company.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
31 MARCH 1845

AYRSHIRE FOX-HOUNDS

The Ayrshire Fox-Hounds meet at Ardrossan on Thursday, 3rd April.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
31 MARCH 1869

A STEAMER ACCIDENT – FIRST REPORT

Early on Tuesday morning an accident happened to the COUNTESS OF EGLINTON, Captain Kinnear, while she approached Ardrossan Harbour.

Mistaking, it is said, a light in the town for the harbour light, the steamer went on to Campbell’s Rock, situated beyond the Battery Point. She settled down in a somewhat awkward position, the centre of her keel resting on the rock, while the fore and aft portions remain clear.

In these circumstances it is natural to expect the steamer will be more or less strained.

She had several passengers on board when the accident occurred, but as the morning was calm there was no great cause for alarm, and they were brought safely ashore.

Workmen at once set to work to discharge the cargo, and the steamer was floated off in the course of the afternoon.

A STEAMER ACCIDENT – SECOND REPORT

The screw steamer COUNTESS OF EGLINTON, Kinnear master, from Belfast to this port with a general cargo and passengers, got on Campbell Rock, about half a mile to the southward of the entrance to Ardrossan Harbour, about three o’clock yesterday morning, but with the aid of men and material from Messrs Barr & Shearer’s shipbuilding yard, and the harbour tug boat, she was got off about two o’clock in the afternoon, and is now safe in the harbour.