Ardrossan - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
20 MARCH 1911

OLD QUARRY SITE AT NORTH CRESCENT, ARDROSSAN

A movement has been started in Ardrossan to enhance the amenity of the northern district of the town by laying out a bowling green on the site of the old quarry behind the North Crescent.

The promoters have been in communication with the representatives of the Earl of Eglinton, to whom the ground belongs, and the ground is now offered for a nominal annual payment so long as it is used for the purpose suggested.

[meekan]

I have a vague recollection of a conversation regarding a quarry around North Crescent area, but never heard of a bowling green there. Presumably it never came to pass, any comments about this?

[Penny Tray]

Meekan,

Old maps show sandstone quarries between the Toll Store and Paisley Street, and on the site you and I would understand to be the Coal Ree, both of which at that time would have precious little between them and North Crescent. And I would have to agree that the construction of the bowling green never transpired.

[meekan]

PT
I often wondered what the land opposite the Tap Shop and the old turntable was laid out for. Up from the bungalows on the way to North crescent?

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
21 MARCH 1862

SHIPPING CASUALTY

Liverpool, March 20 – The sloop JANET, from Liverpool for Ardrossan, with a large cargo of salt, is reported to have sunk near Thornby light-ship; one man lost; remainder of crew landed here by a gig boat.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
21 MARCH 1867

SHIPPING CASUALTY

Falmouth, March 18 – The ILMATAR, Broman, from Ardrossan to Genoa, came out of dock on the 16th, and has sustained further damage alongside the breakwater.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
21 MARCH 1868

SHOPBREAKING AND ROBBERY

Between Thursday night and yesterday morning two shops, situated next door to each other, were broken into in Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, the burglars forcing up the back windows.

It is surmised that the thieves were not altogether strangers to the premises, as they had to encounter a good watch dog in one of the shops which gave no sign of their presence.

One of the windows was protected by iron stanchions, and two of these were bent to admit the depredators.

In one case they only secured a few coppers, the proprietor having removed most of his cash the previous night; while in the other case a cash-box was forced open and 30s thus secured. A further sum of money in a different compartment of the same box escaped their notice.

No trace has yet been got of the guilty parties, but the police are making the necessary investigations, and we hope the depredators may soon be brought to justice.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
21 MARCH 1868

ARDROSSAN COURSING CLUB

The meet took place on Thursday at Sharphill, and a large concourse of spectators were present. The weather fortunately was excellent. Hares were very scarce, but there were some excellent trials.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
21 MARCH 1870

COUNTRY HOUSE TO LET

Ardrossan – to let, furnished villa of Castlecraigs, containing 3 public rooms, 7 bedrooms, bath room, and servants’ accommodation. The offices consist of stable, coach house, byre, &c., and the gardens are large and productive, with well-stocked greenhouse and vinery.

May be seen any day, and for further particulars apply to Alexander Fullerton, Ferguslie Place, Paisley.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
22 MARCH 1852

EMIGRATION TO CANADA – A REGULAR TRADER

At Ardrossan for Quebec and Montreal, the well-known fast sailing barque SPRINGHILL, 348 tons register, 520 tons burthen, Captain Ellicott, will be pointedly despatched on Saturday 10th April.

This favourite vessel presents a most desirable opportunity for passengers, having 7 feet height between decks, completely ventilated, and commanded by an experienced master, who is well-known in the Canadian trade.

Three quarts water daily; 10½ lbs. bread, biscuit, flour, oatmeal, or rice; ½lb. molasses; and 2 oz. tea per week, allowed to each statute adult.

Should the vessel not proceed to Montreal, passengers will be forwarded thence per steamer at ship’s expense.

For freight or passage apply to John & Robert Young, 107 Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
22 MARCH 1858

ARDROSSAN – INSUFFICIENCY OF “WATER TIGHT” BULKHEADS

The steamer DUKE OF ARGYLL, which was brought into this port on Tuesday last, is another striking instance of the insufficiency of water-tight bulkheads in iron vessels, as they are at present constructed, under the inspection of Lloyd’s surveyors, and approved by the surveyors appointed by the Board of Trade.

The damage at first sustained, and the hole in the bottom, which filled the fore compartment, was very small indeed; and had the bulkheads or divisions between it and the other compartments been water-tight, the vessel would have floated at high water. There was not, however, a single tight bulkhead (out of four) in the vessel, and the whole of the compartments gradually filled, which caused her to sink in deep water.

The cost of raising and repairing the vessel must amount to a considerable sum, and this has been caused by the insufficiency of the bulkheads. The loss of the property, however, is of minor importance compared to the risk to life from such a state of matters.

It is a well-known fact to all who have anything to do with stranded or sunk vessels constructed of iron, that the bulkheads are utterly useless for the purpose of forming water-tight compartments, and are positively injurious so far as the strength is concerned, for when an iron vessels parts it is almost invariably close to a bulkhead.

If the Board of Trade are aware of these facts (and that they are so can scarcely be doubted), it is difficult to account for their apathy in the matter.

The officer appointed by the Board to inspect passenger vessels has positive rules and regulations to guide him; it therefore follows that the rules are defective or the officers careless.

If the Government is carless or incompetent there is the greater reason for the public to move, and a vigorous agitation is evidently necessary to bring about a radical change in the construction and surveying of passenger steamers.

It is certain that a majority of the iron steamers lost on the coast, and which involves a fearful destruction of property and terrible loss of life, are lost in consequence of the defective nature of their bulkheads. It is also notorious that some vessels are saved owing to their bulkheads being properly constructed, although the number is very small.

Under these circumstances blame must rest somewhere, and the sooner it is laid on the right shoulders the better. Nothing but agitation will put an end to the evil, and it is certainly a fit and proper subject to be taken up by the public.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
22 MARCH 1911

LAUNCH AT ARDROSSAN

The Ardrossan Shipbuilding Company launched on Saturday the steamer SKERV which they have built of Messrs Paton and Hendry, Glasgow, for their coasting trade. She will be engined by Messrs Miller and MacFie, Glasgow.