Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
25 AUGUST 1913

ARDEER GOLF CLUB

Competition for prizes presented by Mr William Reid –

1. R. M. Hunter;
2. J. L. Slaven; and,
3. John Stewart, D. B. McLean, and A. C. Hamilton.

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GLASGOW HERALD
25 AUGUST 1913

FOOTBALL

Result: - Stevenston United, 2; St. Mirren, 0 – Scottish Reserve League.

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GLASGOW HERALD
26 AUGUST 1954

EXPLOSION AT I.C.I. FACTORY

When an explosion occurred yesterday in the glycerine nitrating house at the I.C.I. explosives factory at Ardeer all the workers in the building affected were able to make their escape.

Two men, however, were slightly injured but were able to go home after treatment at the factory.

A fire preceded the explosion and the workers had been warned to keep clear.

The injured men were: -

James Neill, 4 Hillside Street, Stevenston, who was hurt about the face; and

William Farrell, 2 Burnbank Street, Stevenston, who suffered from shock.

An I.C.I. official said that the work at the factory would be interrupted only temporarily by the accident.

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GLASGOW HERALD
27 AUGUST 1918

UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL IN EXPLOSIVES FACTORY

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday, John Mathie, Sandbed Street, Kilmarnock, was sentenced by Sheriff Robertson to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour for having been under the influence of liquor in an explosives factory in North Ayrshire on 19th instant.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 AUGUST 1896

LIVELY MEETING OF STEVENSTON PARISH COUNCIL

Last night the monthly meeting was held in the Public School - Mr Hugh Thomson presiding.

The Clerk read a statement of the proceeds of the sale of the effects of a person who died in Saltcoats, who had been chargeable on the rates.

Mr McIntyre thought it was out of place for the Clerk to order the sale. He should have waited till a meeting of the Council, and the matter could be brought up.

The Clerk replied that he had consulted the Chairman.

Bailie Duncan said the deceased was much respected in Saltcoats, and the inspector should not have given the order to sell the effects.

Mr Mitchell - Was it not done in the usual way?

Bailie Duncan - Show me a case in point.

The Chairman - It was done at the request of a friend, and was regarded as the simplest way out of a difficulty.

Mr McIntyre said it was out of place to take such a step. The house might have been locked up till the question of the disposal of the furniture was considered. What were the Council there for?

The Chairman said that he did not know that the things were sold till it was mentioned at the meeting.

Bailie Duncan - It was a crying shame.

Mr Dunlop said there was a great deal of unnecessary talk about the matter. He would like to hear what the inspector had to say.

Mr Becket said the late inspector was in the habit of acting in the same way.

Bailie Duncan said this Council was different.

The Clerk said the Poor Law authorised him to sell the furniture. The daughter-in-law of the deceased wished the furniture sold.

Bailie Duncan wished his protest entered against the sale.

The Clerk declined to enter it.

Bailie Duncan - You refuse to do it?

Mr Mitchell - He is not bound legally to do it.

At this stage two or three members were on their feet to address the chair. Mr Smith thought the inspector had done his duty.

The Chairman said Bailie Duncan was making a personal matter of this case.

Bailie Duncan - No, sir.

The matter then dropped.

Bailie Duncan wrote out his reason for dissenting and handed the paper to the Clerk for entering in the minutes.

The Council afterwards proceeded to revise the roll of paupers.

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 AUGUST 1894

THE COAL STRIKE – STEVENSTON

For the relief of the miners on strike a dramatic entertainment was given at Saltcoats by the League of the Cross Society.

The sum of £7 will be handed over to the miners’ fund.

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GLASGOW HERALD
30 AUGUST 1956

ARDEER EXPLOSION – WORK CHEMIST KILLED

Mr John Williamson, (32), a chemist employed by I.C.I. Limited, at Ardeer Factory, Stevenston, died in an ambulance on his way to hospital yesterday after a works explosion.

There were four other men also in the building, but only one – Edwards Burns, (27), 166 High Road, Saltcoats – was seriously injured. Burns was taken to Kilmarnock Infirmary.

The factory workers did not even hear the blast.

Mr Williamson, married with two young daughters, belonged to Northwich, Cheshire, and after completing his National Service, graduated B.Sc., at St. Andrews University. His house was at 15 Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan.

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GLASGOW HERALD
30 AUGUST 1958

ARDEER FACTORY EXPLOSION

Workers at the Ardeer factory of Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, the largest industrial explosives factory in Britain, escaped serious injury yesterday when a violent explosion occurred in a magazine. Buildings over a radius of several miles were shaken by the blast.

A spokesman for the company said afterwards that the explosion took place in a magazine used for storing dry nitro-cotton. No one was in the magazine at the time and there were no serious casualties.

Some workers, it is understood, were struck by flying debris and glass, and a number of women employees went home suffering from shock.

Housewives gathered at the factory gates after the explosion fearing that there had been a disaster.

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GLASGOW HERALD
31 AUGUST 1876

STEVENSTON - DEATH OF MR FULLARTON OF KERELAW

We regret to record the death of Mr Gavin Fullarton of Kerelaw - a gentleman well-known throughout the County of Ayr.

Mr Fullarton, who died on Monday night at Kerelaw, was the youngest member of a family of ten, and was born in the parish of Dalry, where for many years his father was the highly-respected parish minister.

In early life he proceeded to Demerara, where he was distinguished by admirable business qualifications, and ultimately became the owner of three large sugar and coffee estates.

Returning to this country in 1841 he purchased the estate of Grange, which had been occupied by Colonel Hamilton till his death, and to this estate he restored its ancient name - that of Kerelaw. He took a great interest in the estate, and through the purchase of neighbouring properties greatly extended it. By all of his tenantry and his servants he was very highly esteemed as a just landlord and a kind master, and there are few landlords in the county who had less change either in tenants or servants.

So long as health permitted Mr Fullarton took an active interest in every public movement. He was for a long time chairman of the parochial board, and he was the first chairman of the school board. He was a member of the Church of Scotland, to which he was warmly attached, and as an elder in the church his kindly face was often seen in the Courts of the General Assembly.

In politics Mr Fullarton was a staunch Conservative, and acted as chairman of the Conservative Committee. He was a Justice of the Peace and a road trustee.

Fond of outdoor sports, the foxhounds of Lord Eglinton frequently met at his mansion, and the gentleman comprising the hunt were frequently the recipients of his hospitality.

Mr Fullarton, though in his 90th year, was possessed of an excellent constitution, and had only been confined to the house for a month prior to his decease. He will be greatly missed by all sections of the community, and his demise is very widely regretted.

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GLASGOW HERALD
31 AUGUST 1914

FOOTBALL – SCOTTISH RESERVE LEAGUE

Result: - Stevenston United, 4; Ayr United, 1.

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 SEPTEMBER 1913

FOOTBALL

Result: - Motherwell 3; Stevenston United, 3 – Reserve League.

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GLASGOW HERALD
2 SEPTEMBER 1873

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

A meeting was held yesterday – Mr Gavin Fullarton of Kerelaw in the chair.

The Returning Officer’s account for expenses of the School Board election, amounting to £18 15s 8d, was ordered to be paid.

The officer reported that he had been visiting the parents who had children of school age not at school, and that a large number of the children whose education had been previously neglected had been sent to school, but that their attendance was not yet as regular as could be desired.