James Morrison was elected as the first Provost of Stevenston in 1952 at the age of 92! He has now been added to the ‘Stories’ section of our website for you to learn all about this fascinating man. In 1870 James left school to start his apprenticeship as a baker, after which he was employed as a foreman in a …
George Wall: Johnny McIntyre put me to left-back
The following post was kindly submitted to us by Gordon McCreath, who is a keen Ayrshire junior football historian. George Wall began his Junior career at Dalry Thistle, playing alongside a young Jim Leighton, who went on to win 91 Scottish international caps during his career with, amongst others, Aberdeen, Manchester United and Hibs. At the other end of his …
Hugh Hogarth has Been Added to the Stories Section
We have added another new story to our ‘Stories’ section and this time it is about Hugh Hogarth, who founded the Baron Line. Born in 1840, Hugh Hogarth became a wealthy shipping shipping magnate who played an active role in the affairs of Ardrossan itself. In 1881 the Hogarth family were living at Clutha Villa, Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan. Interestingly the …
A History of Marymass
Marymass 2024 is now in the past but the history of the event goes back much, much further with origins in the 9th century! The first queen was Martha McHarg, who was crowned in front of Irvine Townhouse in 1928. Irvine Town Council and Carters Society suggested including children in Marymass and proposed ‘a Marymass Queen’, with the first Queen, …
Robert Smallwood – Re-united with his Past
The following post was kindly submitted to us by Gordon McCreath, who is a keen Ayrshire junior football historian. The wide-eyed 12-year-old Meadow fan reached his hands up as Bobby Carroll held out his trophy for the schoolboy to hold. It was the morning of the 1959 Scottish Junior Cup final and the players were having a pre-match breakfast with …
The Marymass Derby
The following post was kindly submitted to us by Gordon McCreath, who is a keen Ayrshire junior football historian. Over the years Meadow XI has dominated the traditional Marymass Derby against local rivals Irvine Victoria, but it wasn’t like that right at the start. Up until 1921 both clubs had enjoyed free Marymass Saturdays to allow the people of the …
Return of the Bell
We have had a lot of conversation in the Heritage Centre over the last while as to the whereabouts of the bell that used to hang in the bell tower in Ardrossan Parish Church, which is now the Heritage Centre. Over a month ago our lovely volunteer and local history enthusiast, Frances Gilmour, brought a post by Three Towns Explored …
Alex “Sanny” Moffat – If the Cap Fits
When Alexander “Sanny” Moffat signed for his local club, Irvine Meadow XI, in 1898 he could have had no idea that he was going to make history for the club. For as well as contributing towards Meadow’s first trophy success, he was the first Meadow player to be selected to play for his country. “Sanny” was joining a young club …
St Margaret’s Free Church
Another addition to the ‘Stories‘ section and this time it is a history of St Margaret’s Free Church in Fairlie. St. Margaret’s Free Church in Fairlie was first known as the Free Church of Fairlie. It’s first minister was the Port Glasgow born Reverend – John Gemmel. The Free Church of Fairlie opened on Wednesday 31 July 1844 with services …
The 1954 Prestwick Air Disaster
Another article has been added to our ‘Stories‘ section and it’s about the 1954 Prestwick air disaster. In the early morning of 25 December 1954 the RMS Cathay, a British Overseas Airways Corporation Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, crashed upon landing at Prestwick Airport killing 28 people. The aircraft had been on a flight from Heathrow Airport to New York with scheduled …