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 …
Alexander Dickson – From Hero to Villain
In the heyday of Scottish Junior football, it was fairly common practice for fans to celebrate their clubs’ successes by immortalising cup wins and great players in verse. In 1909 Kilwinning Rangers gave the amateur poets amongst their fans good reason to sharpen their pencils. The following lines are attributed to “Garnock” Hurrah! for the Kilwinning “Buffs,” The “Buffs” whom …
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 …
Second Time: A Companion to Time Piece
In December 2019, my book entitled Time Piece, a history of James Blair and the clocks, clock & watchmakers of Kilwinning, 1719-2019, was published by Kilwinning Heritage and launched at an event at Nethermains Community Centre, in January 2020. It sold out in the first year and was subsequently reprinted. It has now been updated and revised with full-colour clocks …
The 1930 Saltcoats Railway Disaster
We have added another fascinating story to our ‘Stories‘ section of the website and it is all about a railway disaster that occurred at Canal Street, Saltcoats when a 7-coach train derailed and crashed in 1939. On Saturday 05 August 1939 a disastrous railway crash took place at Canal Street, Saltcoats, which killed 4 people and injured 27. To read …
Kenny Dalglish at Victoria Park in 1967
The following post was kindly submitted to us by Gordon McCreath, who is a keen Ayrshire junior football historian. When Irvine Victoria were drawn to play at home against Cumbernauld United in the 1st Round of the Scottish Cup in 1967/68 they couldn’t possibly have known they’d be facing one of the greatest players ever to be produced in Scotland. …
New Exhibition: ‘They Wore It So Well’
We have a brand-new exhibition at our Heritage Centre in Saltcoats and it’s all about fashion! We are going back to the 60’s and 70’s for ‘They Wore It So Well’, an exhibition which celebrates the fashions from those two decades. The exhibition features a lovely variety of dresses, shoes, handbags and coats and it’s all from the collection of …