Ardrossan - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
27 NOVEMBER 1877

TRADE REPORT

The following are the shipments of pig iron from Ardrossan Harbour for the week ending Saturday: -

Coastwise, 1213 tons; Foreign, 355 tons; Total, 1568 tons.

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GLASGOW HERALD
27 NOVEMBER 1905

STRANDING OF S.S. ARAUCANIA

Judgment was issued on Saturday in the Board of Trade inquiry into the circumstances attending the stranding of the Liverpool registered and Glasgow owned steamer ARAUCANIA near Ardrossan on October 25.

The Court found that serious damage to the ARAUCANIA was caused by the default of John Cook, master of the vessel, in not sooner taking measures to properly anchor the steamer after the engines stopped.

Taking into consideration, however, that he was influenced by the promise of the chief engineer to have the engines ready in twenty minutes, and that he was thus led to believe that a start would be made in time to prevent stranding, the Court, while severely censuring him, refrained from dealing with his certificate.

The Court found John Chisholm, chief engineer, in grave default for having stopped the engines when the vessel was in a dangerous position, instead of shutting off the defective feed pump, and suspended his certificate for a period of three months from date.

None of the other officers were in default.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 NOVEMBER 1873

ARDROSSAN GRAIN MARKET

The market was well attended on Thursday. Of 86 bolls wheat offered 34 sold at 29s, and 44 at 28s. There were 36 quarters oats at market, which remained unsold. There were 8 bolls oatmeal exposed, which sold at 30s.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 NOVEMBER 1876

ARDROSSAN READING ROOM

The members of the Reading Room held their annual meeting yesterday in the room – Provost Barr presiding.

Mr Cook, secretary and treasurer, submitted a statement of the accounts for the year, which were examined and found correct, showing a balance of £2 to the good.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 NOVEMBER 1916

APPOINTMENT OF WATER MANAGER

Mr James Duncan, burgh surveyor, Ardrossan, has been appointed water manager for the burgh in room of the late Mr Anderson. He will hold both offices.

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 NOVEMBER 1875

TRADE REPORT

The shipments of pig iron at Ardrossan Harbour for the week ending Saturday were: -

Foreign, 100 tons; Coastwise, 1025 tons; Total, 1125 tons.

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 NOVEMBER 1877

SHIPPING CASUALTIES

Milford, November 28 – The HARE, ketch, Captain Brand, from Ardrossan, has put in here with loss of mainbeam and mainsail split. The J.R.H., Captain Wells, from Ardrossan for Plymouth, has also put in with bulwarks damaged.

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 NOVEMBER 1878

ARDROSSAN GRAIN MARKET

There was a good attendance at market on Thursday. Dealers were anxious to purchase and a few samples were shown. Farmers were not disposed to sell, with the expectation of better prices.

The only quotation for wheat was a lot at 21s. Nine or ten bolls of Irish beans sold at 20s.

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GLASGOW HERALD
30 NOVEMBER 1872

DEATH

At 10 Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan, on the morning of the 28th instant, George Thomson, Esquire, late of Woodend, Kilmarnock.

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GLASGOW HERALD
30 NOVEMBER 1874

IRVINE SMALL DEBT COURT – SHERIFF ROBINSON PRESIDING -
ACTION ON ACCOUNT OF WRONGFUL DISMISSAL FROM SERVICE

This was an action raised at the instance of ELIZABETH PLUE, Saltcoats, against John Picken, photographer, Ardrossan.

It appeared that complainant had been engaged from May to November as a domestic servant, but was dismissed on 22nd October on account (as it appeared from the witnesses) of refusing to comply with her mistress’ requests.

Pursuer alleged that about the month of July she had missed £3 and some rings from her chest, a circumstance which she did not mention to anyone till seven weeks thereafter. She afterwards discovered that her mistress was possessed of a key which exactly fitted her chest.

She received payment for her service up to the time of her dismissal, £5 4s.

Taking a general view of the case his Lordship held that the vague insinuation of theft had been made with the intention of prejudicing defender and his wife, and, as Mrs Picken had repeatedly warned purser that if she would not attend to her work when told (she had stated she would do so when it suited her) she would be dismissed, he decided that there had been no unjustifiable dismissal.

IMPORTANT DECISION IN REFERENCE TO THE LEVYING OF TOLLS

This action, which has been pending for some time, was raised at the instance of David Reid, tacksman, of Williamfield Toll Bar and weighing machine, Irvine, against Peter Barclay & Son, shipbuilders, Ardrossan, for the sum of 14s, being toll dues incurred at said toll bar and weighing machine on a load of wood weighing 60 cwt. (on two carts), the property of the defenders, and drawn by two horses, in terms of section 34, paragraph 2, of the Ayrshire Road Act, being part of printed table of fees affixed to said toll gar, of which the following is a copy: -

“For every horse or other beast of draught drawing any waggon, wain, van, caravan, cart or other wheeled carriage not on springs, which, with the loading thereof, shall amount to 34 cwt., treble the tolls and duties leviable in respect of the horses, oxen, or other beast of draught drawing the same description of carriage, and also an additional halfpenny per mile upon every such horse, ox, or other beast of draught for every cwt. above the said 34 cwt.”

For the defenders, it was contended that the heavy toll duty was imposed for the purpose of preventing undue pressure upon the roads, but where the load was distributed over two carts this undue pressure did not result, and although joined by the materials, the two carts were to be considered as two separate loads. The maximum of 34 cwt. was not therefore arrived at, and the toll-keeper was only entitled to toll upon two carts.

The pursuer’s agent referred to the section of the Act above quoted, and maintained, while admitting that the practice in the district had not been in accordance with it, that it not ought to be allowed to overrule the plain words of the Act. There was one weight being conveyed which did not account of division, and practically the means of conveyance was one cart.

In pronouncing interlocutor, the Sheriff referred to a similar case decided by the Sheriff at Stirling in October, 1831,in favour of the toll-keeper, and concurred in the arguments by pursuer’s agent that it was one load, the two carts being conjoined for security, and the question merely one of calculation, which was admitted to be correct.

At the same time he considered 14s an exceptionally high rate to be charged, and would have been pleased to have seen that matter in the ordinary Court.

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GLASGOW HERALD
30 NOVEMBER 1874

GENERAL SHIPPING ITEM

Douglas, November 27 – The coal, per E. C. WHITE, from Ardrossan to Lisbon, wrecked near Laxey, has been sold for 10s in full.

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GLASGOW HERALD
30 NOVEMBER 1875

OPENING OF THE NEW EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT ARDROSSAN

This new church, which is situated mid-way between Ardrossan and Saltcoats, was open for public worship on Sunday by the Right. Rev. Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway, accompanied by the Rev. George Hemming, M.A., Oxon, Rector of Thundersley and Little Parndon, Essex, as his chaplain, and the morning service was conducted by the curate in charge of the congregation, the Rev. George Lakeman, M.A., F.C.D. The Bishop preached an excellent sermon from Matthew xviii, 20.

In the afternoon there was confirmation service, at which seven received the rite.

The Rev. George Lakeman, the pastor of the church, preached in the evening.

At all the diets there was a large attendance, the morning worshippers including the Earl and Countess of Eglinton, and not a few, especially in the evening, could not obtain accommodation.

The services throughout were of a most impressive and interesting character.

A collection was made on behalf of the building fund, which realised nearly £90.

The church is seated for about 300, and the intended extension will, when completed, bring the sittings up to about 500.

Internally the church looks remarkably well. In the interior of the chancel the most prominent object is the communion table, of solid oak, covered with crimson silk velvet, the frontal being ornamental with sacred monogram and cross in gold. There are two fine Glastonbury chairs, a beautiful carved credence bracket and polished brass corona.

At the north end of the steps of the chancel is placed the pulpit of Caen stone, designed by Mr D. Thomson, architect of the church, and executed by Mr Grassby, architectural carver. It is placed on a circular pedestal, with a rich moulding above. The body of the pulpit is cylindrical, presenting three circles, each enclosing a quatrefoil.

In the central quatrefoil is a beautiful carved floriated cross; on the quatrefoil on the south side is displayed the sacred monogram “I.H.S.”; and on the northern quatrefoil a Constantine’s cross.

Above and below the quatrefoils in bas-relief is also carved, in medieval letters, the text, “Be ye doors of the World, and not hearers only.” Above the text is a circlet of grape and vine leaves, surmounted by rich moulding.

A carved eagle lectern in oak is placed in front of the chancel steps, and at the south end of the steps is a carved prayer desk, also in oak.

At the west end of the church is the baptismal font, of Caen stone, finely carved with flowers, leaves, and sacred monogram.

The communion service, of solid silver, is the gift of a clergyman of the Church of England, who has for many years taken a deep interest in the progress of Episcopacy and who acted as the Bishop’s chaplain at the opening services.

The organ, which possesses a fine tone, was built by Mr J. McKay, organist of the church.