Ardrossan - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
6 JANUARY 1854

BIRTH

At Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan, on 30th ultimo, Mrs D. M. Lamont; a son.

[Pre-Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald.]

[George Ardrossan]

7 JANUARY

ARDROSSAN HARBOURMASTER RETIRES
Captain Frederick Stark, who has been harbourmaster at Ardrosssan since 1922, has retired. He is succeeded by Captain John Brock who was assistant harbourmaster. Captain Stark is a native of Leith where his grandfather was formerly harbourmaster.
The Scotsman, 7 January 1943

George

[Penny Tray]

VESSEL WRECKED
6 JANUARY 1957

THE VAILA

The naval trawler VAILA, previously called the ACACIA, built by Ardrossan Dockyard Limited for the Admiralty, London, and launched on the 7th of March, 1940, was wrecked at Loch Shell, Lewis, with the loss of five lives.

GLASGOW HERALD
7 JANUARY 1957

FIVE MEN DROWNED OFF LEWIS
FISHERY CRUISER SINKS AFTER HITTING ROCKS

Five men of an all- Scottish complement of 20 lost their lives yesterday when the Scottish fishery cruiser VAILA struck rocks at the mouth of Loch Shell, 11 miles south of Stornoway, Island of Lewis, and sank.

[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

GLASGOW HERALD
7 JANUARY 1889

NEW TWIN SCREW YACHT ORMEA

This splendid new yacht, built at Ardrossan to the order of Mr William Hutcheson, Rothesay, the rear-commodore of the Clyde Corinthian Yacht Club, from designs by Mr RF. Kent, will make her official trial trip on an early day. She is the first steel vessel built by the Ardrossan Shipbuilding Company.

[Penny Tray]

VESSEL TORPEDOED
7 JANUARY 1943

JURA

The naval trawler JURA, built by Ardrossan Dockyard Limited for the Admiralty, London, and launched on the 22nd of November 1941, was torpedoed in the western Mediterranean by U-Boat 371.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
8 JANUARY 1930

RETIREMENT

On the occasion of his retirement from South Beach Church, Saltcoats, the Rev. Charles Lamont, M.A., was presented with a wallet of notes and Mrs Lamont with a Westminster chiming clock.

Mr Lamont had for almost 32 years been minister of South Beach.

The presentation was made by ex-Provost Alexander S. Millar. Ex-Provost Fawcett, Ardrossan, presided.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
9 JANUARY 1877

STORM AND HIGH TIDES

Yesterday morning a fire was observed on Little Cumbrae, which was interpreted as a signal for a boat.

One was sent from Millport, and returned at 10 o’clock with three men, being the crew of the smack ARIES, of Rothesay, 80 tons, belonging to Mr Waugh, of that place. She was bound for Ardrossan on Saturday, and about 6.30 p.m., the east wind being terrific, with a heavy sea, she became quite unmanageable.

The night was pitch dark, but knowing by the sound of the breakers that they were close to land, the crew rang the bell and shouted. The rudder was now quite powerless, and the men with the greatest difficulty and danger got out of her and on to the small rock at the north-east corner of the Little Cumbrae. This rock, however, is detached from the island, and the unfortunate men saw no prospect but a speedy death, as the tide was coming in fast.


Happily the bell had been heard by Mr Neil, farmer on the island, who with great promptitude, came to their rescue with a boat and landed them on the island, where’re they remained till this morning.

The masts of the smack were seen above water on Sunday.

[Penny Tray]

VESSEL STRANDED
10 JANUARY 1970

THE EMPIRE ATOLL

The motor vessel EMPIRE ATOLL, later named HADRIAN COAST and ELDA, built by Ardrossan Dockyard Limited for Coast Lines Limited and launched on the 12th of July 1941, dragged anchor and stranded 2 miles east of Mehdiya, Morocco, while on a voyage from Ravenna, Italy, and Kenitra,
Morocco.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
10 JANUARY 1867

SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE TAYMOUTH CASTLE OF GLASGOW WITH ALL HANDS

In addition to the disasters reported yesterday as the result of Saturday night’s gale, it is now our painful duty to record another shipwreck, and in which Glasgow would seem to be immediately concerned.

Yesterday morning, as may be supposed, the loss of the FALCON was the engrossing topic in every circle, until it began to be whispered about that the fine new ship TAYMOUTH CASTLE had been cast away on the Irish Coast.

On inquiry it turned out that the rumour was only too well founded – that, in short, a large vessel had been lost, apparently with all hands, and that there seemed to be good reasons for identifying the ill-fated craft with Messrs Skinner & Company’s splendid liner.

The list of the crew that sailed in her as furnished by the owners included:-

JOHN FULLARTON, chief officer, Ardrossan, recently married.

The only passenger on board was a brother of Mr Fullarton, who was going out to get the benefit of the voyage.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
10 JANUARY 1867

THE BARQUE HILMA, OF ARDROSSAN

About three weeks ago the Finland barque HILMA, 797 tons, Captain Rothman, sailed from Ardrossan for St. Thomas, West Indies, with a cargo of coals.

In consequence of the boisterous weather the barque was forced to put into Lamlash Bay, where she lay till last week, and then proceeded.

On Saturday afternoon, when about 80 miles outside of Tuskar, she experienced the gale, and on Sunday when at its height, a tremendous sea broke upon here, sweeping her decks, carrying away all her boats, and smashing bulwarks and stanchions on both sides. All the sails she had set were blown away, besides other damage. The galley was washed after, but was secured before going overboard.

The master and three of the crew were severely injured. The mate was all but washed overboard. One of the crew had his right leg broken, while several others were more or less hurt.

On Sunday the barque was put about, and her course being shaped for the Clyde, she arrived at the Tail of the Bank yesterday.

[Hughie]

On Sunday the barque was put about, and her course being shaped for the Clyde, she arrived at the Tail of the Bank yesterday.

The tail of the bank was where the convoys used to gather during the WW2 before heading over the Atlantic to North America See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tail_of_the_Bank

[John Donnelly]

Here's one to make you chuckle.
When I lived in Newcastle, I had a friend who managed a travel agency.
He started his career in the 60's in Glasgow - with P&O (I think).
Part of his job was to conduct passengers from the terminal in Greenock out to the ships taking them to their destination. Passengers were ferried by small ships out to the liners.
One day, Ian was buttonholed by a wee wuman in great distress, who could not find her cabin.
She was greatly relieved to hear than this was only the ferry and she would be shown to her cabin once she was on board the liner anchored out in the firth.
I'm sure a few of you in OZ will remember these ferries.
JD.