Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1864

CONCEALMENT OF PREGNANCY

The Circuit Court for the shires of Ayr and Wigtown, opened in Ayr yesterday – the Hon. Lord Ardmillan presiding.

Martha Reid was charged with concealment of pregnancy, in so far as, on 4th September, 1863, in or near the house in Boglemart Street, Stevenston, occupied by Hugh Thomson, joiner, she brought forth a child; and the said child was afterwards found dead in an old pit, known as the Holm Pit or Deep Shank, in or near Stevenston; or the said child has since the birth thereof been and is amissing.

Pannel pleaded not guilty, and the case went to trial, but after the examination of the two witnesses for the prosecution the prosecutor withdrew the charge against the prisoner, in consequence of her being subject to epileptic fits, and having been seized with two while in court.

The jury accordingly returned a verdict of not guilty.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1913

THE ARDEER EXPLOSION

At a meeting of Irvine Town Council last night – Provost Borland presiding – Police Superintendent Happell, in a report which was submitted, stated that a great deal of damage was done in the burgh by the explosion at Ardeer on March 10.

As far as could be learned the following was the result: -

vestibule doors broken, 39;
stained glass windows, 15;
large plate-glass windows, 73;
ordinary plate-glass windows, 242;
large panes ordinary window glass, 412; and
small panes, 1000.

There had, the report continued, also been considerable damage to plaster of ceilings and walls of houses and to doors and window frames.

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EVENING TIMES
9 APRIL 1959

SMOKE ALARM – THEN WIDOW FOUND DEAD

An elderly widow was found dead in a smoke-filled room at Stevenston today. She was Mrs Margaret Bell, who lived alone at 54 Caledonian Road.

Neighbours became alarmed when they saw smoke coming from the house and saw that the curtain had not been opened.

When Ardrossan Fire Brigade was summoned they found the flooring smouldering round the fireplace and the woman was lying dead in the middle of the floor.

Artificial respiration was applied by the firemen but she did not respond. The body had not been burned and the cause of death is being investigated, but it is understood that there are no suspicious circumstances.

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GLASGOW HERALD
10 APRIL 1902

IBROX PARK DISASTER

The death-roll due to the Ibrox Park disaster is now 22.

Dr. McGregor, Superintendent of the Victoria Infirmary, supplied a list of patients whose condition is still considered serious.

It includes: -

John Thomson, Fullarton Cottage, Dynamite Road, Stevenston - fracture of ribs, leg, and injury to lung.

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GLASGOW HERALD
11 APRIL 1892

EXPLOSION OF HYDROGEN GAS

On Friday afternoon William Lockerbie, a plumber in the employment of Mr John Johnston, Slater and Plumber, Irvine, sustained serious injuries at the new chemical works on the Ardeer Sands.

He was engaged soldering the joint of a 12-inch pipe in which, it appears, a quantity of hydrogen gas had accumulated. When the gas ignited the pipe burst with a report like that of a cannon, and Lockerbie turned a complete somersault.

He was so fortunate in not being dropped into a large tank of acid which was close-by, but he was severely burned on the face and arms, and bruised and shaken all over the body.

Dr. Wilson attended to his injuries.

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 APRIL 1909

ALARMING FIRE AT STEVENSTON

On Friday night about ten o’clock an alarming outbreak of fire occurred at Stevenston, a two-storey block of houses and shops at the corner of Warner Place and Carment Drive being totally destroyed.

The fire was first observed in the premises of Miss Jane Ferguson, milliner, and in a few minutes the part in Warner Place was burning fiercely. At the rear of this portion a joiner’s workshop, constructed of wood on pillars, caught fire, and carried the flames right to the portion in Carment Drive, and in a comparatively short interval the entire block was burning.

Telephone messages were despatched to Nobel’s Factory and Saltcoats for the fire extinguishing apparatus, and the hoses of two private firms were attached to the water hydrants to control the flames and prevent them from spreading.

The property burned is in a populous district, and the inmates of the adjoining tenements were thrown into a state of excitement and were busily engaged removing their furniture and belongings to places of safety.

The roof of a neighbouring house became ignited, but the flames were extinguished before much damage was done.

In the block destroyed there were seven shops and eight dwelling-houses, but only four of the shops and two of the houses were tenanted.

The whole of the property, with the exception of the furnishings in a hairdresser’s shop, are insured.

The loss is estimated at from £1600 to £2000.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 APRIL 1916

FATAL ACCIDENT

A fatal accident occurred at the West Pit, Ardeer Colliery, near Saltcoats, yesterday forenoon.

David Kilpatrick, an unmanned miner, was caught by a hutch and sustain such injuries to his head that he died shortly afterwards.

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GLASGOW HERALD
14 APRIL 1967

EXPLOSION AT ARDEER FACTORY

Mr Alan Rayney, aged 26, of 19 Pirnmill Road, Saltcoats, was injured yesterday in an explosion at the silicone plant of the I.C.I. factory at Ardeer. He was struck by flying bricks and debris and knocked unconscious. He suffered a broken leg and injuries to his face and body. After being taken to Kilmarnock Infirmary he was transferred to Ayr County Hospital.

Two other men injured at the same time were: -

Hugh Knox, aged 57, of 21 Central Avenue, Ardrossan, and
William Tinsley, aged 43, of 8 Mossgiel Place, Stevenston.

Fire units from Ardrossan and Irvine were called to the factory to help Ardeer’s own firemen tackle the fire which followed the explosion. The fire was quickly brought under control.

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GLASGOW HERALD
15 APRIL 1938

STEVENSTON RAILWAY SHUNTER KILLED

John McCormack, a young married man employed as a shunter at Ardeer Factory, Stevenston, was killed at his work yesterday. He was engaged in shunting operations when he was struck down by a waggon.

McCormack, who resided in Moorpark Road West, Stevenston, is survived by his wife and three young children.

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GLASGOW HERALD
16 APRIL 1869

MARRIAGE – SMITH and CRUICKSHANKS

At Stevenston Manse, Ayrshire, on the 14th instant, by the Rev. Alexander King, of West Kilbride, the Rev. James Smith, B.D., of Newhills, Aberdeenshire, to Christian Catherine, only daughter of the Rev. James Cruickshanks, Stevenston.

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GLASGOW HERALD
17 APRIL 1848

HAND LOOM WEAVING IN AYRSHIRE

In Saltcoats and Stevenston this trade still continues in a very depressed state; and the prospects instead of appearing brighter, are becoming more gloomy.

Manufacturers have given notice to discontinue more hands. We never saw such a flatness at this period of the year. The anticipations formed that there would have been a revival of the spring trade at the end of last month, turned out a disappointment – probably partly owing to the present disturbed state in Europe.

A number of Balsarine webs came, which excited some hope; but they were only for a short time.

The weavers on average, are only earning from 5s to 7s per week, even when fully employed. It is feared no great amendment will take place until August, when the Fall trade comes in – the summer months being generally the dullest season in this branch of manufacture.

In Saltcoats, where there are from 380 to 400 weavers, a number are going idle for a few days at a time; but none in the meantime are permanently unemployed.

In Stevenston, where there are from 200 to 300, the one-half will only be employed by manufacturers, the remainder are engaged either wat webs purchased from funds raised in the parish and town for the purpose or out-door work.

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GLASGOW HERALD
17 APRIL 1911

THE CONSERVATIVE HALL AT STEVENSTON

The Conservative Hall at Stevenston, having become too small for meetings and public gatherings, it has been decided to enlarge the building so as to provide sitting accommodation for 750 persons.