Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 JANUARY 1874

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD

The School Board met yesterday in Ardeer Public School – Mr Gavin Fullarton, of Kerelaw, in the chair.

Mr James McLean, formerly rector of Pulteneytown Academy, Wick, was appointed master of Ardeer School.

The report of Committee on school fees was read out and adopted.

Mr Hugh McMaster was continued as master of Kyleshill (Public) School and his salary fixed at £100 per annum, with 10 per cent of the school fees in addition.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 JANUARY 1875

SEASONABLE GIFTS

Mrs Cruickshank has had much pleasure in distributing a large quantity of warm underclothing amongst the poor of Stevenston, the generous gifts of Mr Edmonstone, Hayocks, Lodge, and Miss Smith Neill.

Through the kindness of Mrs Cuninghame, Auchenharvie, and Mrs Howe, Hullerhirst, tea, sugar, and soup have also been distributed.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 JANUARY 1877

CONCERT

A concert for the benefit of the widow of JOHN HAZLET, who was killed in Lucknow Pit on 18th December, and of ROBERT McDONALD, who lost an arm by the same accident, was held in Ardeer School on Thursday evening – Mr McDonald, manager, Ardeer Colliery, in the chair.

There was a large array of amateur talent, and the music, both instrumental and vocal, was highly creditable. The Ardrossan Rifle Instrumental Band, and Mr Duff’s Stevenston Quadrille Band, sustained the orchestral department of the concert, and the principal vocalists were Messrs Kerr, Douglas, Davidson, Miller, Lee, and Misses McGeachan and Wilson. The choir, led by Mr Wyllie, also assisted.

There was a good attendance, and a considerable sum was realised.

[The Scottish Mining Website and the Glasgow Herald of 20 December, 1876, name the deceased as John Hyslop and John Hislop respectively, not John Hazlet.]

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 JANUARY 1877

STEVENSTON PAROCHIAL BOARD

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Parochial Board was held on Friday evening – Mr William Lockhart, Mayfield, in the chair.

A considerable number of pauper cases were disposed of, and the accounts were passed.

The Board afterwards met as Local Authority.

The Sanitary Committee gave an interim report, and intimated that they intended to commence their visitation in Saltcoats.

Attention was called to the state of the main sewer in Saltcoats at the point where it discharges into the harbour, a vessel brought into harbour by Mr Cuthbertson to be broken up, having been driven in by the tide, settled down on the sewer, breaking the pipes, and doing other damage.

The clerk was instructed to claim from Mr Cuthbertson the cost of damage done to the sewer.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 JANUARY 1873

MASS MEETING OF AYRSHIRE MINERS

Another mass meeting of Ayrshire miners was held in the Butter Market, Kilmarnock, yesterday. There was a large attendance. Mr John Ker, Annbank, was called to the chair.

Among reports received from the various districts was included: -

Stevenston – all idle.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 JANUARY 1914

PROPOSED NEW AYRSHIRE HIGHWAY

In connection with the proposal for the construction of a new road between Irvine and Stevenston, a plan of the projected highway has been prepared by Mr John B. Brodie, C.E., Glasgow.

At present the shortest roadway between the two towns is four and three-quarter miles long and possesses an abnormal number of sharp and awkward turns. The proposed new roadway will reduce the distance between the two towns for road users by one and a half miles, and in addition to this will relieve them the trouble of negotiating 10 or 11 corners.

The proposal is to form a modern highway which would leave this old road near Bartonholm, cut under the Glasgow and South-Western Railway at Bartonholm, and from a point near this cut across almost in a straight line to the east end of Stevenston. It would cross the river Garnock near the chlorine works, pass on the east side of these works, and though touching or almost touching the old road at Ardeer Mains, would cut off at once, continuing in its straight course to the east end of Stevenston.

To allow traffic to avoid the narrow and awkward streets of Stevenston it is also proposed to cut a circular road round the landward margin of that town and rejoin the main Ardrossan and Largs road between Stevenston and Saltcoats.

A liberal Government grant is expected for the project.

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GLASGOW HERALD
10 JANUARY 1902

DISASTER AT NOBEL’S - GREAT EXPLOSION OF NIRTO-GLYCERINE ONE MAN KILLED – HUT WRECKED - CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE IN NEIGHBOURING TOWNS

An alarming explosion occurred at the Ardeer Factory of the Nobel’s Explosives Company a few minutes after ten o’clock on Thursday night.

The inhabitants of the surrounding district, especially towards Irvine and Ayr, were suddenly aroused to the fact that something of an unusual nature had occurred by a loud noise, the shaking of houses, and the breaking of panes of glass.

It was at once supposed that some very serious explosion had occurred at the Ardeer Factory, and inquirers at once set off to discover that had taken place.

It was then ascertained that about 3000 lb. of nitro-glycerine, stored in one of the wooden huts dotted all over the ground, and separated from each other by high banks of sand, had exploded, and it was near the Irvine side of the works the effect of the concussion was felt more heavily in that direction.

Only one man was engaged at work in the hut at the time of the occurrence, and he is missing, the belief being that he has been blown to pieces, and that his remains may be found among the debris, or at some distance from the scene of the explosion.

As might easily be supposed the hut itself has disappeared, only a few fragments showing the place where it stood. The high sandbanks fortunately confined the effects, so that none of the other huts in the immediate neighbourhood have been injured.

The manager, Mr Lundholm, was instantly on the spot, and under his direction all operations necessary for the safety of the remaining portion of the works and for the discovery of the missing man were at once set agoing.

In Ardrossan only the noise of the explosion was heard, but no damage was done. Of course, a good deal of excitement was manifested until the exact nature of the occurrence had been discovered. The intimation that the damage had been confined to one hut allayed the excitement and restored confidence.

Doctor Wallace, of Saltcoats, and Doctor Angus, of Stevenston, were early on the scene of the accident.

The name of the man who was killed is JOHN HOWIE, who resided in New Square, Stevenston. He was married, about 40 years of age, no family.

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GLASGOW HERALD
11 JANUARY 1866

STRIKES IN AYRSHIRE AMONG THE MINERS

For some time past considerable dissatisfaction has existed among the miners of the Stevenston Collieries belonging to Merry & Cunninghame, at the rate of their wages they have paid, only 4s 6d per day, while in the county of Lanark the rate is 5s.

The men of the Stevenston works, at the time of the New Year holidays, made a demand of the 6d in advance; this being refused, they moved about the works till Tuesday when they all removed their tools.

At a great meeting yesterday, it was agreed that they should not return to their work till the demand was conceded.

Many of the men have already left the Stevenston works to find work in other places.

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 JANUARY 1901

RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR STEVENSTON

Yesterday evening the 5.15 p.m. Glasgow & South-Western train from Ardrossan to Kilmarnock met with an accident a short distance from Stevenston Station.

It came into collision with a waggon and the engine and tender were thrown off the line. The waggon was smashed. None of the passengers were injured.

It appears that five empty waggons were being shunted, when one of them left the rails at the lye, and lay near the down line blocking it. The passenger train had just left the station, and there was no time to stop it. Fortunately the train was not travelling at much speed, as it had only passed the end of the platform, when about 100 yards on it came in contact with the waggon, which was lying near the down line. The waggon was turned completely over by the force of the collision and badly smashed. It was empty at the time. The train was running tender first, and the tender was thrown off the line. The engine was partially off, the driving wheels remaining on the line.

The rails were all twisted and the permanent way injured. Workmen are busy repairing the damage. Both lines were blocked, and traffic had to be worked through a siding. There was some delay in consequence.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 JANUARY 1888

ALLEGED DESTRUCTION OF LETTERS BY POST RUNNERS

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday JOHN REID, a weaver, residing in Main Street, Stevenston, was examined on a charge of having, while employed as a rural messenger in connection with the post office of that parish, on the 2nd instant, destroyed a number of letters, circulars, etc.

It is stated that he burned them in order to save himself the trouble of delivering them to the parties to whom they were addressed.

He was committed to prison for further examination.

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GLASGOW HERALD
14 JANUARY 1885

ACCIDENT AT NOBEL’S WORKS

About seven o’clock yesterday morning MARY LONGRIDGE, who is employed at Nobel’s Factory, Ardeer, was involved in an accident. She was working at a machine which is protected by a guard. The machine had stuck, and in order to see what was wrong she opened the guard.

Unfortunately, her arm was caught by the teeth of the machine, dragged in, and taken off at the elbow.

Immediate assistance was rendered and Dr. Wallace was promptly in attendance.

She was afterwards removed home.

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GLASGOW HERALD
15 JANUARY 1909

SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT STEVENSTON - DRIVER KILLED AND THREE MEN INJURED

Yesterday morning shortly before seven o’clock a collision took place on the Glasgow & South-Western Railway about 300 yards east of Stevenston Station.

A workmen’s train, which leaves Ardrossan at 6.25 for Stevenston, had discharged its passengers and gone to the points to change to the other line to get back to Ardrossan. While it was stationary a mineral train also from Ardrossan crashed into it. The mineral train was travelling at a fair speed, drawn by a light pilot engine going tender first, and when it struck the passenger engine the tender tilted over, broke the cab, and crushed ROBERT WILSON, the driver against a wheel of his engine and killed him.

The fireman THOMAS BELL, was also injured on the head, shoulder, and leg, but managed to walk to the station.

The two guards, JAMES STEWART and JOHN SCOTT, on the mineral train were also injured.

On the passenger train the driver, the fireman, and guard escaped injury but suffered from shock.

During the day large numbers of people visited the scene of the collision watching the removal of the damaged engine.

Shortly before 9 a.m. the first train got through, and before noon both lines were worked.

The following is the list of casualties: -

KILLED

ROBERT WILSON, 36, engine driver, 209 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan.

INJURED

THOMAS BELL, fireman, Winton Street, Ardrossan – dislocated left shoulder and leg bruised.
JAMES STEWART, guard, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan – cut on face, which had to be stitched.
JOHN SCOTT, guard, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan – leg injured.