Our latest exhibition ‘Bound by the Sea’ is now on display at our Heritage Centre in Saltcoats. The exhibition explores how the Three Towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston each developed their own distinct identity whilst remaining closely tied through the Merchant Navy. And also how these seemingly modest towns launched shipping empires and produced generations of brave Merchant Navy …
Archibald Clark Manuel Has Been Added to the Stories Section
Archibald Clark Manuel was born in Perthshire in 1901 then moved to Ardrossan in 1920 to work for the Glasgow and South-Western Railway. In multiple spells living in the town, he would become deeply involved in the fabric of the area, both politically and socially. Later in his life, he was elected to the Town Council, serving for 15 years …
Major General Sir Charles Mathew Has Been Added to the Stories Section
Major General Sir Charles Mathew was born in Ireland and was a distinguished British Army General who served in multiple campaigns throughout Africa and in the First World War. He had a strong connection to Kilbirnie in North Ayrshire. He lived at Place House in Kilbirnie, he was part of the unveiling of Kilbirnie War Memorial in 1922 and he …
Alexander Young Malcomson Has Been Added to the Stories Section
Did you know a man from Dalry, Alexander Young Malcomson, played a role in the foundation of the car company Ford? Malcomson provided funding to Henry Ford to support him in the founding of his car company. Malcomson ran a highly successful coal business and founded his own car company, ‘Aerocar’. Alexander Young Malcomson died in 1923 with a net …
From Quiet Shores to Bold Words: The Declaration of Arbroath at the Heritage Centre
We are delighted to announce that on Saturday the 30th of May at the North Ayrshire Heritage Centre in Saltcoats, our friends from the Ardrossan Castle Heritage Society will be unveiling their replica of the Declaration of Arbroath. This stunning replica is one of only 7 in existence and will be the only one on public display in Scotland. Also …
What’s in the Box? by Sarah MacDiarmid
The following blog post was kindly written for us by our student volunteer Sarah MacDiarmid. During my current master’s course in Museum Studies at the University of Glasgow, I was given the invaluable opportunity of carrying out a work placement at the North Ayrshire Heritage Centre with a fellow student, Honor. The project we are undertaking is called ‘What’s in the box?’ which entails cataloguing the objects held in the centre’s collections room. …
Kilbirnie War Memorial Has Been Added to the ‘Stories’ Section
We are pleased to announce we have added yet another war memorial to our ‘Stories’ section and this time it is Kilbirnie War Memorial. Unveiled on the 7th of October, 1922, the war memorial in Kilbirnie takes the shape of a large memorial gateway which leads to the public park. At the time of the unveiling, it contained the names …
What’s in the Box? by Honor Mackenzie
The following blog post was kindly written for us by our student volunteer Honor Mackenzie. As a Museum Studies student on work placement at the North Ayrshire Heritage Centre, I have been working behind the scenes alongside my fellow student, to catalogue objects from the collection stores. Although much of this work takes place outwith public view, it plays part of an essential role in preserving and understanding the …
The Final Talk at Haylie Neolithic Tomb
Gordon Black of the Haylie Neolithic Tombsters has been conducting a series of very well received talks at Haylie Neolithic Tomb and the final one takes place on Tuesday, the 12th of May at 10:30am. Meeting at the entrance to Douglas Park (just off of Irvine Street with nearby street parking available) Gordon will inform visitors of the history of …
Beith Bronze Age Shield Returns to Scotland
A bronze age shield is finally returning to Scotland after more than 230 years! Found in 1779 in a peat bog, following an excursion at Luggtonrigge Farm, just outside of Beith, the shield was presented to the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1791 by Dr Ferris (who acquired it from the Estate owner) where it has remained ever since. …