Do you remember when we posted about our lovely model ship of the frigate Caledonia going for preservation? Built in 1804 by William Dunlop: “as thanksgiving for his survival during the Napoleonic Wars, was displayed in the Ardrossan Parish Church in Saltcoats until 1908, when it was moved to St Cuthberts Church. Where it was displayed until very recently, when …
Saltcoats Model Yachting Pond Has Been Added to the Stories Section
Did you know that in June, 1934 the Saltcoats Model Yachting pond was officially opened? Drawing a crowd of 5,000 spectators, the new pond was the largest in Scotland and had walls 7ft high at the tallest point. Construction was completed by Hugh Leggat Ltd and cost £2,208 6s. Learn all about this part of Saltcoats history by clicking the …
Tours at Haylie Neolithic Tomb
We have exciting news in regards to Haylie Neolithic Tomb to share with you all! There is both an excavation and a series of site tours scheduled for 14th-17th of September! Archaeology Scotland will be on site, conducting an excavation of the mound at the tomb. This is a ‘spoil heap’ from a previous dig in the 1950’s and it …
Titanic: The Story of the Legendary Liner at the Museum of the Cumbraes
Our new exhibition ‘Titanic: The Story of the Legendary Liner’ is now on display at the Museum of the Cumbraes! Running until the 21st of September, the exhibition features a wide variety of artefacts including personal belongings of Titanic passengers, examples of dining plates upon which meals were served onboard the Titanic and a costume worn by Kate Winslet in …
‘Bound by the Sea’ New Exhibition at Saltcoats Heritage Centre
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. …