Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
2 MAY 1913

NORTH AYRSHIRE LICENSING COURT

Applications for new grocers’ certificates at Stevenston – the one at 5 Main Street and the other at 7 Main Street – were made respectively by Thomas Campbell, grocer, Stevenston, and Jean Wylie, grocer, Crosshill, Glasgow.

The application of Mrs Wylie was refused, but that of Mr Campbell was granted.

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GLASGOW HERALD
3 MAY 1880

FATAL ACCIDENT

On Saturday evening, about a quarter past 6 o'clock, as Mrs Lamont, wife of Mr Archibald Lamont, farmer, Dubbs, was walking home from Kilwinning she went upon the Ardrossan branch, near Dubbs Junction with a view to shorten the road. The passenger train, which leaves Kilwinning a few minutes past six, knocked her down.

The engineman stopped the train and conveyed Mrs Lamont home. Medical aid was procured and it was found that she had lost her left arm under the elbow, the left leg through the thigh, and the right leg under the knee. The injuries were so severe that the case was at once pronounced to be a hopeless one, and she died in about an hour after the accident occurred. The deceased was upward of 60 years of age.

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GLASGOW HERALD
4 MAY 1904

AYRSHIRE GENTLEMAN’S WILL

The will dated 10 September, 1894, of the late Mr Harry Robert Reid Robertson Cuninghame, of Auchenharvie, in the parish of Stevenston, Ayrshire, has been deposited in Register House, Edinburgh.

He nominated his brother, Cuninghame Glencairn Robertson Cuninghame, some time Captain in His Majesty’s 4th Regiment of Hussars, whom failing, his mother, Mrs Harriet Agnew or Cuninghame, to be his sole executor, and left and bequeathed to his brother, whom failing, his mother, the whole estate, heritable and movable, real and personal, that might pertain and be resting owing to him at the time of his decease.

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GLASGOW HERALD
5 MAY 1913

ARDROSSAN DOCKERS AND MESSRS NOBEL’S FACTORY WORKERS

On Saturday evening a meeting of Ardrossan Dockers and workers of Messrs Nobel’s factory was held in the Town Hall, Saltcoats, when Mr McLeish presided over an audience numbering over 700.

Captain Tupper, of Bristol, in addressing the meeting, referred to the statement being made by many people that there was going to be a general strike this year. He knew nothing about it, and had such a step been contemplated he would have been informed.

Mr Scott, Ardrossan, announced that another conference had been arranged with Nobel’s Company on the wages question on Tuesday, when it was the intention of the men’s representatives to adhere to their original demands.

The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution in favour of becoming affiliated with the Transport Workers’ Federation and of refusing to recognise any union not so affiliated.

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GLASGOW HERALD
5 MAY 1936

ARDEER EXPLOSIVES FACTORY MISHAP

Two men were fatally burned at the Ardeer factory of Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited, Stevenston, yesterday afternoon.

The following official statement was issued by the company: -

“The management of Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited regret an ignition occurred in a building at Ardeer Factory containing nitrocotton.

The fire that ensued was so rapid that the two men engaged in this building were unable to get clear before they suffered very severe burning injuries.

The names of the men are: -

John Rowan, 4 Gladstone Road, Saltcoats, and
James Montgomerie, 13 Ardeer Square, Stevenston.

After receiving attention at the factory they were removed to the Western Infirmary, Glasgow.”

Both men died shortly after admission to the infirmary.

Rowan is survived by his wife, and Montgomerie leaves a wife and a family of seven.

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GLASGOW HERALD
6 MAY 1825

BIRTH - HAMILTON

At his seat, near Exeter, on the morning of the 22nd ultimo, the Lady of Alexander Hamilton-Hamilton, Esquire, of the Retreat in Devonshire, and of Hullerhirst, in Ayrshire, of a daughter.

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GLASGOW HERALD
6 MAY 1910

NORTH AYRSHIRE LICENSING COURT

The adjourned sitting of the Licensing Court for North Ayrshire was held in Kilwinning yesterday – Mr W. D. Russell, Maulside, Dalry, in the chair.

An application by Thomas Granger, Main Street, Stevenston, for a public-house licence was granted, it being pointed out that certain repairs on the premises had been made.

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GLASGOW HERALD
7 MAY 1884

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

At the monthly meeting on Monday afternoon – Rev. John Grahame presiding – the question of school accommodation in the Saltcoats Part of the parish was again under consideration.

Mr McIsaac moved, “That a school be built in the Saltcoats portion of Stevenston parish, capable of accommodating 300 children.”

He pointed out that the recommendation of the Education Department to send all children above the third standard to Stevenston Public School was virtually making Kyleshill School an infant school. The distance to Stevenston was too great, and many of the children were not properly clad. Besides, Stevenston School could not accommodate the children. There were 350 children in the Saltcoats part of the parish. Stevenston School accommodates 750, and there were 690 on the roll, so that only 60 children could be taken there.

It was a matter of right and justice that a new school should be built at Saltcoats, as that part of the parish paid fully one-third of the rates, while they had only one-sixth of the school accommodation.

Mr Stewart, in seconding the motion, said within the last few years the question of school extension in the Saltcoats portion of the parish had changed. The ratepayers were desirous and had signed a petition, to have a new school placed in a convenient situation.

He submitted a statement to show that a school could be built to accommodate 300 at a cost of £1500 without any increase in the rate. It was expected there would be a surplus of £400, and the rest of the money required, estimated at £1000, could be borrowed. The cost of teaching staff, etc., in the new school would be about £331; income from the new school with average attendance of 250, £403, leaving a surplus.

Mr Gemmell moved that no new school be built as the Board had already met the requirement of the Education Act.

Mr Cumming, in seconding the motion, said they had at present sufficient school accommodation, and the ratepayers were heavily taxed already.

After a heated discussion Mr Gemmell’s motion against the building of a new school was declared carried.

A motion by Mr Cumming, that the Board meet with ratepayers and consider the question of school accommodation in the Saltcoats part of the parish, was lost by the casting vote of the chairman.

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GLASGOW HERALD
7 MAY 1935

KING GEORGE V JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS – STEVENSTON

At Stevenston the day was observed as a general holiday. The school children had previously been presented with a memento, and juvenile sports were held. A huge bonfire was lit at Ardeer wharf. A Jubilee dance took place at Ardeer Recreation Club.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 MAY 1886

STEVENSTON LIBERAL ASSOCIATION MEETING

At a meeting of the Stevenston Liberal Association, on Thursday evening, the following resolution was unanimously supported: -

“That this meeting expresses it entire approval of the endeavours made by Mr Gladstone and his Government to settle the Irish difficulty, and trusts that the bills before Parliament for that purpose may be read a second time.”

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 MAY 1882

STEVENSTON PARISH CHURCH RENOVATIONS

This fine church, which ranks among the largest in Ayrshire, being seated for 1100, has just been undergoing extensive renovations, and in consequence has been closed for several Sundays.

It was re-opened yesterday by special services, which were conducted forenoon and evening by the Rev. Dr. F. L. Robertson, Glasgow, the Rev. John F. Grahame, the pastor, officiating in the afternoon.

Since the induction of the Rev. Mr Grahame in May 1877, the congregation has considerably increased, and to his deep interest in the church the present renovations are entirely due.

It is satisfactory to know that the expenses attendant on the renovations have been fully met by subscriptions, and no debt will rest on the congregation in consequence.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 MAY 1959

WORKMAN AWARDED £3500 DAMAGES

An Ardrossan workman, who was seriously injured in an explosion at the Ardeer Factory of the Imperial Chemical Industries Limited in March 1954, was yesterday awarded £3500 damages by a jury sitting with Lord Guthrie in the Court of Session.

John Blake, (32), process worker, 14 Barrie Terrace, Ardrossan, who sued for £6000, suffered acid burns and lacerations of the face as well as injuries to his left shoulder, head, and foot, and is permanently disfigured.