Did you know that the first artificial curling pond was built in Largs?
Curling Hall, in the Castle Bay area of Largs, was built in 1812 by a Dr John Cairnie, a retired surgeon, who invented the system of an artificial pond, which has done so much for curling.
John Cairnie was born on 21st February 1769 in New or East Kilpatrick. He married Agnes Galbraith in 1809 in Uphall, West Lothian. Dr Cairnie was an excellent curler and was a founding member of Largs curling club, which was instituted in 1813 and became known as the Noddle Club in 1814. The first rules of curling were drawn up by him in Largs in 1833 and in 1838 he was accredited as being the founder of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and was its first president. This club would go on to become the governing body for curling worldwide.
Dr Cairnie published an essay on curling and pond making in 1833 where he describes fully his efforts to provide an ice surface which would allow him to curl when natural lochs and ponds were not suitable. Dr Cairnie’s own artificial pond was about 90 metres from the sea and a flag would be hoisted on a high mast when the ice was ready for sport.
In addition to his passion for curling, Dr Cairnie was also a keen yachtsman and owned a 17-ton cutter called Nancy.
Despite losing an arm to an explosion in his house, Dr Cairnie continued to curl.
At a curling dinner in Kilmarnock, 150 curlers dined in the Town Hall with the Earl of Eglinton in the Chair. The meeting honoured Dr Cairnie, who replied:
“I am now an old curler and very unable to speak as I would like, but I am a keen curler; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. I think I shall curl until the last.”
It was to be his farewell. A year later, Dr Cairnie played his last stone and died on 27th October 1842 in Largs, aged 73. He is buried alongside his wife in the graveyard at Skelmorlie Aisle, Largs. His monumental inscription reads:
To the memory of John Cairnie Esquire of Curlinghall, surgeon H.E.I.C. service, who died the 27th October 1842, aged 73 years / and Agnes Galbraith his wife who died April 1842, aged 53 years / by Neil Cairnie of Curlinghall / Neil Cairnie of Curlinghall died 17th October 1847 and was interred here / John A. Cairnie died 10 July 1850 aged 33 years and was interred here.
The artificial pond was maintained for many years after the death of Dr Cairnie and was used up until 1885 when it was demolished by its then owner, John Clark. Curling Hall itself later became a hotel which amalgamated with a neighbouring hotel to become the Marine and Curling Hall hotel which was demolished in the early 1980s to make way for housing.