Saltcoats - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 JANUARY 1872

MARRIAGE

At Raise Street, Saltcoats, on the 11th instant, by the Rev. D. E. McNab, John Crawford, shipmaster, to Agnes, third daughter of John Stirrat, Esquire, Birkhead.

[brian f]

GLASGOW HERALD
10 JANUARY 1939

SALTCOATS BUS DRIVER FINED - TWO KILLED WHEN VEHICLE SWERVED

A fine of £12 or 40 days imprisonment was imposed by Sheriff Martin Laing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday on MICHAEL JOSEPH CUNNINGHAM, (21), Bus Driver, Maythorn, Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats.

After a trial lasting all day Cunningham was convicted of having on September 11 1938, in Canal Street and Guthrie Road, Saltcoats, driven a motor bus recklessly, whereby it collided with and damaged a motor car, mounted the pavement in Guthrie Road, and collided with and knocked down Margaret Patton Christie or Ferguson, 98 Boglemart Street, Stevenston, who was wheeling a perambulator on the pavement, and John Dorrian, (9), 74 Canal Street, Saltcoats, who were so severely injured that Dorrian died the same day in Kilmarnock Infirmary and Mrs Ferguson died in the same Infirmary on September 28.

From evidence given it appeared that accused while driving a bus in Canal Street, was passing a stationary bus when he was confronted with a small car reversing out of a garage. To avoid a collision he swerved and tried to cut into Guthrie Road, knocked down the woman and the boy, and struck the wall.

Cunningham denied travelling at an excessive speed, and stated that the car appeared so suddenly that he had no time to do anything but try to avoid an accident by swerving into Guthrie Road.

Sheriff Martin Laing also endorsed Cunningham's driving licence and disqualified him from driving until he passed a driving test.

That must have been a terrible tragedy. I dont understand (Sheriff Martin Laing also endorsed Cunningham's driving licence and disqualified him from driving until he passed a driving test)

[/quote]

Brian,

Later in the year, in addition to the penalty imposed in the Criminal Court, Mr Cunningham was ordered, in the Court of Session, to pay Mr Ferguson £1000 damages.

That's a lot of money for a bus driver to pay.

Value of £1,000 from 1930 to 2022
£1,000 in 1930 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £69,645.93 today

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 JANUARY 1871

HOUSEBREAKING AND EXTENSIVE THEFT

A most daring case of housebreaking, accompanied by the abstraction of much valuable property, took place in the premises occupied by Mr THOMAS BYRNE, Pawnbroker and Merchant, Dockhead Street, Saltcoats.

The depredation was discovered by Miss Byrne on opening the shop yesterday morning, everything being in disorder.

On examination, it was found that the place had been broken into by thieves, and everything valuable, in the shape of watches, jewellery, etc., carried away. The burglars effected an entrance by a back window, which unfortunately was unprotected by stanchions.

The plunder, consisting of about 90 gold and silver watches, gold guards, gold chains, brooches, ear and finger rings, is estimated at £400. Nothing but jewellery appears to have been touched.

The police on being apprised of the affair, took active steps to discover the guilty parties.

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
January 14, 1949

Saltcoats Needs Golf Course, Committee Told
The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Golf Course is divided into two parts by the High Road which runs between Ardrossan and Saltcoats. The course, which was reduced to 11 holes by the war (the remaining seven suffering a gallant fate and being dug for victory) was due to be written off altogether at the end of 1948, but Saltcoats Town Council, proprietors of the upper part of the course, have agreed to allow members to use the holes in this part until the ground is actually required.

On Tuesday, the Education Committee, meeting at Ayr, learned that Saltcoats Town Council had asked them to allow members the temporary use of the lower part of the course (which includes the Club House). They also learned, how. ever, that their General Purposes Sub-Committee had turned the proposition down, as they want to use the ground as soon as possible to provide playing fields for schools in the district

Enough Ground For Three Fields.
Provost James Reid, of Saltcoats, was not letting it go at that, however. He asked the Education Committee to delay the matter. There was, he told the committee, a field on the Saltcoats side of the golf course that could be utilised at once for playing fields. There was enough ground there for three playing fields. He moved that the matter be remitted back, and suggested that the best thing would be for a deputation from the committee to see the lay-out. If they did so they might agree to a delay.

Education Committee Convener, Mr T. Paterson, Ayr, did not agree with the course suggested by Provost Reid. The Committee had agreed some time ago that this ground was to be available for recreational purposes, and he would be reluctant to see the matter going back to committee.

"We want to keep the golf course going as long as possible" said Police-Judge C. Shore, Saltcoats, supporting his provost "We are a seaside resort, and there's no seaside resort in the west coast that has not a golf course." He suggested that the County Council could let members of the course have a portion of the ground on a year to year basis.

Mr Paterson continued to oppose this course, but on a vote the provost's remit back was carried by 13-10.

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GLASGOW HERALD
14 JANUARY 1879

BIRTH

BRYCE: At Bayview Cottage, Saltcoats, on the 13th instant, the wife of Captain Thomas Bryce; a son.

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GLASGOW HERALD
14 JANUARY 1895

SALTCOATS – COTTAGE BURNED DOWN

On Saturday afternoon a detached dwelling-house on the north side of Ardrossan Road, near the Glasgow & South-Western Railway was discovered to be on fire. The tenant, Mrs Alexander, had gone out of town in the afternoon, and about four o’clock smoke was seen coming from the east gable of the house where fire spread with great rapidity, being fanned by a brisk east wind, and soon the roof was ablaze.

An entrance was effected to the lower apartments, and some of the furniture removed. The greater part, however, burned.

The fire unfortunately reached the ground floor, and the building was gutted.

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GLASGOW HERALD
15 JANUARY 1891

FUNERAL OF MR JOHN THOMSON

Yesterday the funeral of Mr John Thomson took place from his residence in Quay Street, Saltcoats, to the Parish churchyard.

A large number of Free Gardeners attended, Mr Thomson being one of the oldest officials and members.

The Free Gardeners, headed by R. L. Alpine, Grand Master, walked in front, then came the coffin followed by a large number of residents.

All the shops along the route were closed, and the town bell was tolled.

Rev. J. D. Taylor offered up prayer at the grave.

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GLASGOW HERALD
16 JANUARY 1941

NEW SALTCOATS CHURCH SITE

At a meeting of the Presbytery of Ardrossan the Church of Scotland Home Mission and Church Extension Committee intimated that the agents for the proprietor of ground at Border Farm, Saltcoats, were willing to sell a site at Border cross-roads for the erection of a church, and had stated their terms.

The committee had agreed to accept the offer and terms.

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GLASGOW HERALD
17 JANUARY 1863

SCOTCH BANKRUPT – EXAMINATION

Captain JAMES McFEE, shipowner and proprietor, Hamilton Street, Saltcoats, to be examined within the Chambers of Sheriff Bell, Court House, Glasgow, 23rd January, at twelve o’clock.

Creditors to meet within the Counting House of Robert Hope Robertson, accountant, 58 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, 3rd February, at twelve o’clock.

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GLASGOW HERALD
17 JANUARY 1863

DEATH

At Ellesland, New Zealand, on the 18th September, Clementine Burns, wife off E. J. Elles, Esquire, formerly of Saltcoats, Ayrshire.

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GLASGOW HERALD
19 JANUARY 1876

SALTCOATS E.U. CHURCH

The members of this congregation, who have for several years been without a pastor, held their annual soiree on Monday night – Mr Donaldson, stationmaster, in the chair.

There was a large attendance.

The Chairman made a few remarks, in the course of which he congratulated the members on the steady progress they had made during the bygone year, and expressed a hope that a settled pastor would soon be amongst them.

Addresses were subsequently delivered by the Revs. R. W. R. Trenwith, Kilwinning; Fergus Ferguson, Glasgow; Alexander Cross, Ardrossan; and James Davidson, Tillicoultry.

The musical part of the programme was ably sustained by the church choir and the Rev. Trenwith, the latter of whom sang several solos with accompaniment, which was greatly appreciated.

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GLASGOW HERALD
18 JANUARY 1873

SALTCOATS GRAIN AND MEAL MARKET

There was a thin attendance at the market on Thursday. There was 133 bolls of wheat exposed, of which 49 sold at 17s 6d, and 35 at 15s 6d; average 16s 7d – 10 bolls of oatmeal exposed, which sold at 19s 6d. There were 20 bolls beans offered, of which 16 sold at 24s.