Saltcoats - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
7 APRIL 1870

SACRILEGE – SALTCOATS

A miner from Stevenston, named Samuel McKnight, who described himself as a Protestant, exhibited his antipathy to Roman Catholicism in a rather novel fashion on the morning of Sunday last.

He entered the vestibule of the Roman Catholic Chapel, just before the service commenced, with the evident intention of mingling with the worshippers. He seemed to linger for a little at the “plate,” and as it was supposed the want of a coin might induce this feeling, he was invited to enter without the aid of an offering. He at once, however, dropped an offering into the receptacle, but had no sooner done so than he raised the plate from off its pedestal, and unceremoniously tossed its contents on the ground outside the door.

His peculiar conduct, as a matter of course, created not a little commotion, which tended to disturb the congregation, and the police were summoned, who at once took the over-zealous Protestant into custody.

For this offence he was brought up at a special J.P. Court on Tuesday – J. G. Halkett, Esquire, presiding – and having pleaded guilty, was sentenced to ten days’ imprisonment.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 APRIL 1842

SINGULAR FACT

We have this morning been favoured with sight of a small piece of timber, taken from near the centre of the trunk of a tree, measuring two feet in diameter, lately cut down on the estate of R. Cunningham, Esquire, Seabank, Saltcoats, containing two nails firmly embedded in the solid substance of the wood.

The nails are not in the least rusted, presenting quite a new appearance; are supposed to be about an inch and a half in length; their form, however, as far as can be observed, is different from those manufactured at the present day.

From an examination of the woody circles in the trunk, we find the tree to be upwards of one-hundred and fifty years of age: it is therefore probable that, at an early period of its growth, these nails must have been inserted for the purpose of attaching cords, or for some other domestic purpose, as the tree flourished within a short distance of the mansion-house of Seabank.

This curious circumstance affords another illustration of the now well understood fact of the growth of trees, by an annual formation of woody circles immediately beneath the bark, by which means foreign bodies introduced into the substance of a tree during the period of its growth, become gradually embodied in the substance of the timber.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 APRIL 1848

SOUP KITCHEN AT SALTCOATS

Owing to the very bad condition of the hand-loom weaving and sewed muslin trades, which are the support of a very numerous class of the inhabitants here, as well as the poverty of many aged and others, a soup kitchen was established by influential and active persons, close on the new year, 6 January, towards the assistance of the distressed.

Since then, on an average, 160 quarts of good broth, accompanied with some little flesh meat, have been regularly daily distributed at 1d per quart – less than two-thirds of the cost. The munificence of several heritors and private individuals has kept the establishment going.

Charity was manifested not only in the giving of funds directly to the committee, but also in the purchasing of tickets, given by the donors to those they themselves considered deserving.

The Earl of Eglinton and Winton gave, at several times, very handsome gifts of venison, which proved not only seasonable but agreeable.

Others freely tendered abundant supplies of choice vegetables.

The reason of asking money for soup was to preserve the independence of spirit which many possess in honest poverty, that they would take an article cheap, but would not take it gratis.

Nourishing food is allowed by all medical men to be good preventative for infectious disease. When the kitchen commenced there were a food many cases of typhus fever in the low part of the town. Now there is none.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 APRIL 1853

DEATH - ANDERSON

At Raise Street, Saltcoats, on the 2nd instant, Mr Robert Anderson, tanner.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 APRIL 1912

ARDROSSAN AND SALTCOATS GOLF CLUB – MONTHLY COMPETITION

Stewart Medal – Hugh Wylie, (8) 84; George McGregor, (7) 84; William Ness, (8) 84; R. H. Watt, (14) 85.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1852

MARRIAGE – McCALLUM and FRASER

At 122 South Portland Street, Glasgow, on the 6th instant, by the Rev. John Bryce, Saltcoats, Mr D. McCallum, merchant, Manchester, to Anne, eldest daughter of the late Mr Peter Fraser, Paisley.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1855

DEATH - FERGUSON

At Saltcoats, on the 6th instant, Elizabeth Gray Knox, aged 60 years, relict of Mr Alexander Ferguson.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1856

MARRIAGE – FERGUSON and AITKEN

At Saltcoats, on the 7th instant, by the Rev. Mr Giffen, Mr Robert Ferguson, of the ship THOMAS FIELDING, to Jean, fourth daughter of James Aitken, Esquire.

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GLASGOW HERALD
10 APRIL 1946

SALTCOATS HOUSING PROGRESS

Saltcoats Town Council are erecting 26 houses in Kinnier Road, and tenders have been accepted at agreed prices with local tradesmen for the erection of 38 houses in Adams Avenue.

The Department of Health have approved estimates for roads and sewers for 80 additional houses in the New England scheme.

The Council hope that the negotiations for agreement to acquire a site for the erection of 100 houses by the Scottish Special Housing Association will be concluded within a few days.

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
April 11, 1952

School Gets Church Bell
The bell of Old Ardrossan Parish Church, Saltcoats, has been erected for use at Saltcoats J.S. School.
Ayrshire Education Committee have made themselves responsible for its safe keeping.

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GLASGOW HERALD
11 APRIL 1856

BIRTH - LECKIE

At Saltcoats, on the 9th instant, Mrs William Leckie; a son.

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GLASGOW HERALD
11 APRIL 1863

ASSAULT

On Thursday, before the Sheriff, James Brown, carpenter, Saltcoats, was charged with assaulting to the effusion of blood, Isabella Lockhart or Herdman, wife of Robert Herdman, baker, Saltcoats, on 14th March, and, having admitted the offence, was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.