Ardrossan - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

That was the site of Brent Chemical works in the 50s, 60s and maybe even 70s. Hughie and one or two others will remember the distinctive smell that constantly emitted from the premises.

[Richard]

19th January.
In the early 1900s there was a concerted effort, by the then Canadian government, to encourage a certain
type of emigrant into Canada. City dweller types used to working an 8 hour day, and not a minute more, were
not needed or wanted. They were looking for good working class people to help populate certain parts of
Canada, work the land and build the railways to help with the national debt. People with the "pioneering spirit".
City dweller types were seen as a burden and would only add to Canada's problems by overpopulating the cities.
Scots, among others, were seen as the ideal type of people for this purpose, being seen as inherently nomadic.
As a part of this concentrated effort, advertisements appeared in the various Scottish media outlets.
Advertisements such as the one which appeared in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, on this day in 1900.

news3.jpg (33.22 KiB) Viewed 7368 times

[George Ardrossan]

19 JANUARY

Ardrossan Town Station re-opened on 19 January 1987 as part of the electrification programme. It had been closed since 1 January 1968 and lay derelict for some time. It was originally opened as Ardrossan Station in 1831 and renamed Ardrossan Town Station on 2 March 1953. The photo below was taken on 21 April 2005.


George

[Meg]

That was the site of Brent Chemical works in the 50s, 60s and maybe even 70s. Hughie and one or two others will remember the distinctive smell that constantly emitted from the premises.

I remember PT, especially coming out the library and going up the shell brae to meet my dad coming from work at 4.30.

Meg

[Hughie]

I remember the smell too, PT - Brents was just about opposite the entrance to the Caley Coalree from what I remember.

[George Ardrossan]

20 JANUARY 1900

SALTCOATS AND ARDROSSAN MASONIC LODGE
Lodge Saltcoats and Ardrossan Royal Arch number 320 Masonic raised three candidates to the sublime on Friday evening (20 January 1900). Brother Edward Aird, past master, officiated at a most impressive rendering of this, the most impressive of all minor Masonic degrees. The brethern afterwards spent a pleasant hour in harmony with Brother Stewart, DM.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 26 January 1900

George

[Penny Tray]

20 JANUARY 1900

Brother Edward Aird, past master, officiated.....

Presumably this would be the retailer referred to in Patrick O'Connor's 'DOWN THE BATH ROCKS' - VIZ. "I'm still wearing my first pair of long trousers. Grey flannels from Eddie Airds."

[Penny Tray]

21 JANUARY 1851

"Today at 2 o'clock will be remembered in the busy and pleasant little burgh of Ardrossan, as the day that witnessed the launch of the largest sailing vessel hitherto constructed in Scotland - a proud memorial of the industrialial skill, energy and enterprise of the builders, Messrs. Barr and Shearer. The new ship is one of the finest, as well as the largest specimens of naval architecture produced by the above firm. As she glided into her future element, a salute was fired from several vessels in the harbour, and the crowd hailed the new ship's union with Old Father Neptune by raising a hearty and prolonged cheer.

The name of 'Anna Dorothea', in honour of one of the owners daughters, was bestowed upon the vessel by Miss Cockerell, who performed the pleasant task in a truly graceful manner."

[George Ardrossan]

21 JANUARY 1898

IRISH WIT AND HUMOUR
A lecture on the subject is announced to be delivered on Friday evening next (21 January 1898) by Father Charles O'Malley of Old Cumnock. This lecture is one which Reverend Charles O'Malley has had to repeatedly to deliver in his own neighbourhood. In many of the large English towns and cities, as well as in many of the great centres in our own country, it has been listened to by thousands of delighted hearers. From to the first to the last word, there is not a dull sentence in it. Father O'Malley does not belong to the weeping school of philosopher and the man or woman who does not enjoy his Irish Wit And Humour, is in a bad way. In addition to lecturing, Father O'Malley will sing several typical Irish songs, his programme, including some favourites as Father O'Flynn, Terence's Farewell and Molly Bawn. We anticipate that the accommodation of the Town Hall will be taxed to its utmost.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 14 January 1898

IRISH WIT AND HUMOUR
We have pleasure in reproducing a likeness of the much esteemed and popular clergyman who ministers to an attached flock in Cumnock and district. Father O'Malley (shown above) has troops of friends among all denominations due to the kindliness of his disposition and his readiness to assist in every good work. Tonight, Friday (21 January 1898), he delivers his well-known lecture on Irish Wit And Humour before an Ardrossan audience.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 21 January 1898

George

[George Ardrossan]

22 JANUARY 1879

On 22 January 1879, Ardrossan Seafield Football Club had a general meeting. The minutes are shown below along with photos of the minute book from which they were taken.

MINUTES OF MEETING OF ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD FOOTBALL CLUB
Monthly fees to be collected on first Monday of every month and all members to be present at meeting.
W Baird proposed that all arrears be paid up on or before first Monday of February, seconded by J Allison.
J Dick proposed that H Provan be re-elected president. H Finn seconded amendment. Moved that H Provan be vice-president for current year instead of president, unanimously agreed to.
Proposed by J Grier and seconded by R Glen that H Finn be elected captain of first eleven and agreed to.
R Carson proposed that R Glen, the present captain, be elected vice-captain for ensuing year, no amendment.
R Glen proposed that W Thomson be elected as captain of second eleven, agreed to.
J Grier proposed R Barbour as vice-captain of second eleven, seconded by J Mearns and carried.
W Niels proposed that J Welsh be re-elected secretary, seconded by A McNeil and unanimously agreed to.
W Thomson proposed that G Carrick be elected treasurer, seconded by J Mearns and agreed to.
Members of Committee proposed, viz, John Barbour, J Mearns and H Deacon.
R Glen proposed that all members of Committee have the same say in club, seconded by J Dick and carried.
R Glen proposed that all members of Committee be on field to keep clear of strangers and men to lift gate money.
Proposed by R Carson and seconded by W Baird that gate money be continued to be collected, carried.
Proposed by A McNeil that if any members be proposed that they pay entry money on the spot.
Proposed by R Glen that 2/- be charged for entry money on 1 April, agreed to.
Proposed by R Glen that entry money be 2/6 per month thereafter, carried.
Office Bearers - Vice President, Hugh Provan; Captain, Harry Flinn; Vice Captain, Robert Glen; Captain of Second Eleven, William Thomson; Vice-Captain of Second Eleven, Robert Barbour; Secretary, John Welsh; Treasurer, George Carrick, Committee of Management, W Deacon, J Barbour and J Mearns.
Minutes of General Meeting of Ardrossan Seafield Football Club, Andrew's Temperance Hotel, 22 January 1879






George

[George Ardrossan]

23 JANUARY 1897

In the late 1890s, there was an entertainment group called the Ardrossan Amateur Snowflake Minstrels who performed in the style of the Black and White Minstrels. Some members decided to form a football team and on 23 January 1897, the Ardrossan Snowflake Minstrels Football Club played its first reported match. The report below is from the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald of 29 January 1897.

ARDROSSAN CASTLEHILL ATHLETIC 2 - ARDROSSAN SNOWFLAKE MINSTRELS 4
Another defeat has to be chronicled against the Ardrossan Castlehill Athletic, the Snowflake Minstrels beating them last Saturday (23 January 1897) by four goals to two. At one time, it was expected that the Saltcoats Brewery Eleven would have been the guests of the Athletic but owing to the Breweryites having a cup-tie to play at Largs, they cried off. A good number of spectators turned out to see the game, though one or two of these would have been much better outside the field, as the language they used to some of the players was not of the choicest description. The game started briskly on the hard ground, the Minstrel boys showing their opponents clean heels and ere the game was long in progress, they captured the Athletic's citadel being the first goal of the match. Shortly after this success on a high drooping shot being sent in, another point fell to the visitors, the Athletic custodian being under the impression that the sphere would go safely over the horizontal bar. The Athletics were now two goals in arrears but in the succeeding play, they managed to lessen the gap which separated the teams and before half-time was announced, they cried quits with their opponents, two goals each. After the usual breather, the game was resumed with the Athletics bombarding the Minstrels' goal for a short time but the visitors' keeper proved a big obstacle in the way of success and, do as they liked, the Athletics could not find an opening. Beaten back empty-handed, the Minstrels instituted a combined run on the part of their right wing and capped the effort with a third goal to which they added a fourth immediately afterwards. From this to the finish, the game was very evenly contested and no further scoring occurred and the Athletics found themselves defeated by four goals to two. The game was contested on most friendly terms and the Athletics expressed the hope that it won't be long till the Snowflake Minstrels again appear at Montfod. We understand the Athletics will try conclusions with the Kilwinning Abbeygate on Saturday first (30 January 1897) at Montfod and as the Abbies are a pretty fair lot of juniors, the Athletics may depend on getting hard trot.

The game was played at Montfod Park on the North Shore, now the site of the Rowan Tree Restaurant (shown below in 2010) and previously The Little Chef. In the late 1890s Montfod was spelt without an 'e' at the end.


George

[Richard]

24th January 1874.
A letter from a concerned local, to the editor of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, was published as follows:
LETTER TO THE EDITOR - DARK STREETS
Would you kindly inform me who is responsible for the lighting of the streets of Ardrossan?
On Sunday night, there was not a lamp lighted in the Crescent or Princes Street and only a solitary one in
Glasgow Street. While passing along Princes Street about ten o'clock, I found a respectable man groping
about in the dark trying to find his hat which had been blown off but which, owing to the darkness,
he could not find. Now, Sir, this is not the first time such a thing has happened in our town this winter and
it says a great deal for the conduct of a seafaring town that it has not been attended with very serious
consequences. I think the attention of the-powers-that-be should be called to this matter.
I am, Sir,
Yours most respectively,
A Householder
Princes Street, Ardrossan, c1910