Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 DECEMBER 1874

ARDROSSAN SCHOOL BOARD

The monthly meeting was held on Thursday – Mr. John Emslie presiding.

The committee minutes showed that the estimated cost of new schools for Saltcoats and Ardrossan was £2800, and that each school was to afford accommodation for 500 children.

A letter from Lord Eglinton’s commissioner intimated that he was willing to feu the ground of No. 3 School to the board, and the matter was delayed for a month.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 DECEMBER 1893

BIRTH

FLEMING: At the Eglinton Arms Hotel, Ardrossan, on the 10th instant, the wife of William Fleming; a son.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 DECEMBER 1893

MUNICIPAL MEETING – ARDROSSAN

The monthly meeting was held in the Town Clerk’s Chambers on Monday evening – Provost Young in the chair.

A letter was read from the Clerk to the Commissioners of Saltcoats stating that at a meeting of that body, held on the 13th ultimo, “it was agreed to continue negotiations with the burgh of Ardrossan with a view to acquiring and extending the hospital.”

These negotiations were set on foot in January of 1891, when the two Commissions, purchased the hospital from the Parochial Board, but owing to differences of opinion which arose as to management the whole question was regarded as being open, and further complications arose through the burgh of Saltcoats desiring that the accessible area should be enlarged and a portion of the county outwith the boundaries of the two burghs included.

At Monday evening’s meeting it was agreed to arrange for a meeting with the Saltcoats Commissioners at an early date to bring negotiation to a head.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 DECEMBER 1898

DEATH

THOMSON: At 7 Bute Place, Ardrossan, on the 11th instant, John Thomson, L.E.D., aged 84 years, for over 40 years a faithful servant of the Glasgow & South-Western Railway Company.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 DECEMBER 1898

BIRTH

KERR: At 175 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, on the 11th instant, the wife of Captain John Kerr; a son.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 DECEMBER 1899

MUNICIPAL MEETING – ARDROSSAN

Provost Young presiding.

The town clerk read a petition from residents in Eglinton Street, Caledonia Road, and North Crescent for the removal of a wooden erection in the first named street, on the ground that it was a nest of vermin and a nuisance to the locality.

Bailie Smith explained that the place was used by him as a stable, and after a long discussion it was agreed to have the erection discontinued as a stable.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 DECEMBER 1899

OVERLOADING A SHIP

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday – before Sheriff Hall – THOMAS ROSE DYCE BARBOUR, Fonthill Road, Aberdeen, master of the steamship CAIRO, was charged with having, between 22nd and 29th November, allowed his ship to be so loaded as to submerge the line in connection with the disc indicating the maximum load-line for winter, on a voyage from Povena, Spain, and the port of Ardrossan, contrary to the Merchant Shipping Act and the regulations of the Board of Trade.

He pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr. Wyllie (of Messrs McLay, Murray & Spens), Glasgow.

Evidence for the prosecution showed that according to measurements taken at Ardrossan, the load-line was submerged to a mean average of 7½ inches, and this indicated, taking the coal consumpt of the voyage into account, that the extent of the submersion at Povena would be 9½ inches, representing the ship to be overloaded by 190 tons, and giving an increased cargo freight of £77.

For the defence it was stated that every precaution had been exercised in the loading of the ship, and that the captain and the mate had sailed round the ship in a small boat for nearly an hour, in order to see that it was not being overloaded. Owing to a heavy swell it had been difficult for them to determine their proper cargo accurately, but they honestly believed that they had kept within the mark.

It was also explained that the overloading was to some extent accounted for by water in the tanks, which could not be emptied in consequence of the ship going low at the stern.

It appeared that the captain on arrival at Ardrossan had gone to the Customs House, and explained his difficulty.

The Sheriff said he was sorry he had no alternative but to convict, and he imposed the maximum penalty of £100, or 30 days’ imprisonment.

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GLASGOW HERALD
14 DECEMBER 1893

A MISSING ARDROSSAN BARQUE

Grave apprehension is felt in Ardrossan regarding the barque KIRKCONNEL of that port.

At the end of September she sailed from Irvine to Plymouth, and thence to Fowey, where she took in a cargo of clay. The last letter received was from Penzance.

It is feared that the KIRKCONNEL was caught in the recent gale and failed to weather it.

The KIRKCONNEL was built in 1855, and was owned by the Messrs McFee, Ardrossan, one of whom, Captain John McPhee, sailed as master of the barque on the last voyage.

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GLASGOW HERALD
14 DECEMBER 1894

MUNICIPAL MEETING - ARDROSSAN

Provost Young presiding.

The Glasgow & South-Western Railway Company having previously made application for a further supply of water, amounting to 30,000 gallons per day, the Works Committee, who had in the interval had the matter under consideration, recommended that the supply be provided from Parkhouse reservoir in the first instance, and thereafter, if necessary, from Whitlees.

An official letter from the railway company declared the Parkhouse water to be entirely unsatisfactory. It was stated that the railway company’s engineer was entirely in favour of taking the supply from the Irvine Corporation, and that if the Commissioners of Ardrossan remained unwilling to grant the supply from the Whitlees and Mill Glen reservoirs the railway company would close with Irvine at once.

Provost Young stated that the consumpt of the town amounted to 240,000 gallons per day, which was exactly the quantity which could be passed through the filters at the other reservoirs.

Mr. Kirkhope moved, and Mr. Barrie seconded, that the Commissioners agree to the terms of the railway company.

As against a motion for the adoption of the report this amendment was carried, and it was left to the Water Committee to arrange for a meeting with the company’s engineer as to details.

The erection of an additional filter is in contemplation.

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GLASGOW HERALD
15 DECEMBER 1870

THE STRANDED BRIG IRIS

This vessel, which went ashore on the rocks near Ballantrae on the Ayrshire coast several weeks ago, has been got off, and was towed to Ardrossan on Monday by the Clyde Shipping Company’s steamer FLYING METEOR. Messrs Barr & Shearer are entitled to much credit for the efforts they have put forth in order to take the brig off where she was stranded.

The vessel was purchased by Mr. Boyd, Ardrossan, after she went ashore.

It is stated that she is bilged on one side. She will now be docked for repairs.

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GLASGOW HERALD
15 DECEMBER 1875

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY – ARDROSSAN

A few months ago a number of gentlemen in town formed an orchestral society, and they have already made considerable progress. The first concert of the society took place on Monday evening in the Town Hall, and there was a large turn-out of the public, the hall being completely filled.

The programme embraced a choice variety of pieces from the works of Boieldieu, Nicholson, Berbiguier, Auber, Rivieri, &c., and all of them were accomplished with great taste and skill, reflecting much credit on Mr. J. M. Kay, the energetic conductor.

The principal performers were Messrs Gillies, accompanist; A. Leckie, principal violin; and A. S. Kay, Glasgow, violinist.

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CLYDESHIPS
15 DECEMBER 1884

THE RED DEER

The wooden sailing vessel RED DEER, launched at Ardrossan, on 5 June, 1863, by Barr & Shearer, is reported condemned by decree of the U.S. District Court, Florida, and sold by the Marshal of that court to unknown buyer at Pensacola.