Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
20 DECEMBER 1876

FATAL ACCIDENT

A fatal accident occurred in the Lucknow Pit of Ardeer Colliery on Monday evening, by the fall of a portion of roof of the main road while the men were engaged repairing and cutting it, by which one man, JOHN HISLOP, miner, Ardeer Square, Stevenston, aged 36 years, lost his life.

Robert McDonald had his arm so severely injured that it had to be cut off close by the shoulder, and JOHN BELL received two cuts on the top of his head, but is not dangerously hurt.

Hislop has left a wife and three children, and McDonald has also a wife and young family.

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GLASGOW HERALD
21 DECEMBER 1956

COURT OF SESSION - £10,000 DAMAGES FOR YOUTH - INJURED AT WORK

Thomas Scott Williams, aged 18, 21 Clark Crescent, Stevenston, was awarded £10,000 damages by a jury in the Court of Session yesterday for injuries resulting from paralysis of his left arm and leg, sustained when he fell from a stair at the Imperial Chemical Industry's Factory at Ardeer, Ayrshire, on December 8, 1954. He sued I.C.I., Ltd., for £25,000.

He averred that while employed by them he was instructed to carry parcels of laundry up an external wooden stair to the sewing room of the factory. He had reached a wooden platform at the top when he slipped and fell about 16 feet.

He blamed the defenders for failing to provide a guard rail round the wooden platform or to maintain a reasonably safe access to the sewing room.

The defenders admitted liability, but contested the action on the ground that the sum sued was excessive.

The pursuer, helped by the court macer, and leaning heavily on a walking stick, entered the witness box and told the Court that after he slipped on the stair he remembered nothing else, not even being in hospital. Asked by counsel how he spent his time, he said he played cards, listened to the wireless, and watched television.
The jury, who sat with Lord Walker, were unanimous.

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 DECEMBER 1891

BODY FOUND IN A QUARRY

The body of a man was found floating in Stevenston Quarry yesterday morning.

The quarry is disused and full of water, and the body appeared to have been there for three or four weeks.

The man appears to be about 40 years of age, with dark brown whiskers. He had no coat, vest, or boots on. His trousers are dark tweed with a coin pocket.

The body has not been identified.

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 DECEMBER 1848

VESSELS ASHORE

On Sunday morning two boats were discovered at day-break ashore on the beach between Saltcoats and Irvine Bar, near to Stevenston Burn, both of which were drawn up to a place of safety. The boats appear to have received little damage. One of them without a name, the other is marked, “COMMERCE of Belfast, Robert Brown.” Nothing whatever was found in the boats.

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 DECEMBER 1876

STEVENSTON – UNEMPLOYED WEAVERS

For a considerable time the weaving trade in this locality has been very dull, and a number of families are believed to be in a destitute state in consequence.

Yesterday a meeting was held for the purpose of devising means for the relief of destitution – Doctor Howe of Hullerhirst in the chair.

It was thought advisable to provide work for the unemployed, if that could be done; but in consideration that the destitution in some cases was very pressing, and some time would elapse before suitable work could be found, it was agreed to raise a fund by subscription for relief of the present distress, and to make further inquiries as to work.

Mr Charles Smith was appointed treasurer to the fund.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 DECEMBER 1894

THE STORM - STEVENSTON

The gale was of exceptional severity.

At Nobel’s Explosive Works a chimney stalk 120 ft. high fell with a crash, damaging an engine which was lying outside ready to be put in its place. A brick house for generating electric light which was being erected was partially blown down. Three or four sheds had their corrugated roofs carried away, slates were blown from the roofs of buildings in the works, telephone wires were knocked down, and telegraph communications within the post office was interrupted. Windows were broken by flying slates, and window frames damaged.

At the foundry of Messrs Maurice, Donne & Morice (Limited) the roof of a large building known as the steel furnace shed was blown off, and part of the brick walls knocked down. The sand shed was also unroofed, and the iron roof carried right on to the Glasgow & South-Western Railway, where it lay an interruption to traffic till it was removed.

Part of the barricade of Stevenston Thistle Football Club was levelled, and a chimney at Ardeer Store fell damaging the roof.

In the cemetery some tombstones were levelled by the wind.

Thatched houses in the town suffered severely, being almost entirely stripped.

The streets were covered with broken slates, chimney cans, and thatch.

The Parish Church, from its exposed position, caught the full force of the blast, and its roof in some places was stripped of slates, besides having the glass front of the clock broken.

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GLASGOW HERALD
25 DECEMBER 1888

ASSAULT AND BREACH OF THE PEACE

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday THOMAS BENNETT, Brusher, Quay Street, Saltcoats, pled guilty to Breach of the Peace at Stevenston on the 23rd instant, and assaulting Constable Ross while taking him into custody, as also assaulting Hugh McCredie, labourer, who gave the constable assistance.

He was fined in £3, with the alternative of 30 days imprisonment.

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GLASGOW HERALD
26 DECEMBER 1823

DEATH

At Ardeer, on the 20th instant, Catherine, only daughter of Patrick Warner, Esquire, of Ardeer.

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GLASGOW HERALD
26 DECEMBER 1893

CHRISTMAS

Stevenston:
Parcels were very numerous at the post office, nearly double the quantity of last year falling to be dealt with, and letters also showed an increase. The post office staff successfully coped with this additional work, and got through it in good time.

At the Parish Church there was a musical service on Christmas Eve. The Rev. R. J. Kyd officiated.

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GLASGOW HERALD
27 DECEMBER 1894

PARISH CHURCH BAZAAR

The total sum realised by the bazaar in aid of the organ fund of Stevenston Parish Church, held at Saltcoats Town Hall, was £650. This is £50 more than was asked for, and a quantity of goods remain for disposal.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
28 DECEMBER 1918

Died on service, Private JAMES MURDOCH, Service No. S/17086, 6th Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – born at Denny; resident of and enlisted at Stevenston.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
28 DECEMBER 1915

Died on service, Private GEORGE GIBSON, (19), Service No. 43420, 9th Battalion Cameronians – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – born at Stevenston; enlisted at Hamilton.