Ardrossan
Encyclopedia
Ardrossan is a town on the North Ayrshire
coast in south-western Scotland
. The name "Ardrossan" describes its physical position — 'ard' from the Gaelic àird meaning headland, 'ros' a promontory
and the diminutive suffix '-an' - headland of the little promontory. Ardrossan is becoming an affluent commuter town
with a population of roughly 11,000 and is in a three-towns corroboration act with the nearby towns of Saltcoats
and Stevenston
.
'Cannon Hill', thought to be in around 1140, by Simon de Morville. The castle and estate passed onto the Barclay
family (also known as Craig
) and it passed through successive heirs until the 14th century. Then it passed onto the Eglinton family on the death of Godfrey Barclay de Ardrossan, who died without leaving an heir. Sir Fergus Barclay, Baron of Ardrossan was said to be in league with the Devil and in one of his dealings he set the task of the Devil to make ropes from sand; upon failing to do Satan kicked the castle with his hoof in frustration and left a petrosomatoglyph
hoofprint.
In 1292, under the reign of John Balliol, the castle fell to the invading English
army, who held it until 1296, when it was scene of the infamous event known as Wallace's Larder. William Wallace
lured the English garrison out of the castle by setting a decoy
fire in the village. He promptly slaughtered them, throwing their remains into the castle dungeon
.
The castle stood until 1648, when Oliver Cromwell
's troops had it destroyed, taking much of the stonework to Ayr
to built the fort there. The ruins still stand, but are overgrown and in a dangerous condition.
Ardrossan developed quickly during the 18th and 19th centuries thanks to its position on the coast. Exports of coal
and pig iron
to Europe
and North America
were the main trade from the town's port, which became a centre for shipbuilding
. Fishing vessels and small cargo boats were the mainstay of the shipyard
until the 1950s, when the yard all but ceased to exist as a result of foreign competition. A smaller yard, McCrindle's, operated until the 1980s before it ceased trading.
Passenger services from Ardrossan harbour to Brodick on the Isle of Arran
started in 1834, and services to Belfast
in Ireland
(later Northern Ireland
) and the Isle of Man
followed in 1884 and 1892 respectively. Clyde sailings were operated initially by the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company from Winton Pier and the Caledonian Railway from Montgomerie Pier. The Earl of Eglinton's ambitious plan for a canal
link to Glasgow
was never realised.
Between 1841 and 1848 Ardrossan was a part of the "West Coast Main Line
" equivalent of its time. The fastest route from London
to Glasgow
was by train to , and thence by packet boat to Ardrossan. After 1848 the entire journey could be made by rail, avoiding Ardrossan.
The link to the Isle of Man
no longer operates, having first been moved to Stranraer, then all Scottish services terminated altogether. Shell-Mex
developed an oil refinery
in Ardrossan from a World War II
aviation-fuel canning factory, and the harbour was expanded for the company's tanker ships to berth. Local residents blocked plans in the 1960s for further expansion of the refinery, limiting the operations that could be carried out there. Operations at Shell-Mex ceased in 1986.
The harbour has been substantially redeveloped as a marina
, and the passenger and vehicle ferry
to Brodick is still operated by Caledonian MacBrayne
.
Ardrossan was one of the last towns in Scotland to be made a Burgh
, in 1846, with a Provost
, magistrates and commissioners. Its Burgh status was lost in 1974 on the formation of Strathclyde
Regional Council, whereupon it came under Cunninghame
District. It is now part of North Ayrshire
, created as a unitary authority in 1996.
Since 2006 Ardrossan has been part of a regeneration area, overseen by the Irvine Bay Regeneration Company. Their vision for Ardrossan is as a gateway to Arran and a good place to live and relax next to the sea in a regenerated town centre serving the existing and incoming community. This has started to be achieved through renewal of the town centre, which includes A derelict office in Princes Street which has been turned into two modern shops. The former Jack Miller's Hotel building at 78 Princes Street has been redeveloped and the refurbished building was completed in autumn 2010 and has been let out and is now open as an art gallery and artists studio space called Phoenix http://www.phoenix-art.net The Studio displays Scottish Art as well as holding art classes and demonstrations. The old pumphouse has also been transformed into a popular contemporary Italian restaurant cecchinis http://www.cecchinis.com. The future development of the harbourside in a co-ordinated and overall plan. The Ardrossan North Shore project is now taking shape, which includes the redevelopment of the oil refinery site and the extension of the marina.
, close to the boundary with Saltcoats
; Ardrossan Town
, in the centre of town, closed 1968 and reopened 1987; and Ardrossan Harbour
, which is near the port for the Arran ferry. East-bound trains to Glasgow Central
run every half-hour and a westbound service to Largs
runs every hour. Rail services are operated by First ScotRail
.
There are also two closed Railway Stations in the town. Ardrossan North was located adjacent to Montgomerie Street, and the platform remains can still be seen to this day, although the redevelopment of the former Shell Bitumen Plant site edges ever closer to the station remains. Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier was located further down the line from Ardrossan North, but the building of the harbourside apartments removed the last remains of the platforms and no evidence remains that a railway station once stood there.
The last train ran through both these stations around 1968, although by that time they served summer boat train services only, with regular passenger traffic ceasing back in 1932.
via the A737 road and to Ayr
via the A78 road. The A78 Three Towns Bypass was opened in December 2004 and has provided a much-needed improvement to local transport links, reducing local travelling times significantly. The bypass has also helped to divert a significant amount of heavier traffic from the Three Towns. Bus services are available to the town and are operated primarily by Stagecoach West Scotland
.
has run since 1834. Today, a ferry to Brodick departs every two hours and 45 minutes Monday–Saturday with each journey lasting 55 minutes.
In the past Ardrossan also ran regular ferry services to Belfast, and the Isle of Man (summer only). The Belfast run was operated by the Burns & Laird Line with the last scheduled service in 1976. The last ship to sail this route was the MV Lion, which is still the largest car ferry to operate from Ardrossan. The Isle of Man run was operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company during the summer holiday season with the last service in 1985, although Caledonian MacBrayne later experimented with a smaller vessel to the Isle of Man for a couple of seasons, which ran one return service per week.
While being an exemplar of post-industrial Scotland's socio-economic malaise, Ardrossan is located on the edge of an area of exceptional natural beauty. The towering peaks of the Isle of Arran
are starkly visible on a cold sunny day. Beyond, one can see the Paps of Jura
and the Mull of Kintyre
.
Offshore from Ardrossan is the small Horse Isle
, an RSPB reserve and home to nationally important populations of herring gulls and lesser black backed gulls.
The Holm Plantation area dividing Ardrossan and Saltcoats is a popular area for alternative walks to the seaside. The current regeneration of the area has led to the plantation receiving many new amenities such as lighting and landscaped flower areas.
stations, Hunterston A nuclear power station
(currently being decommissioned) and Hunterston B nuclear power station
. A 24 Mega-Watt (MW) windfarm
which opened in 2004 overlooks the town.
. There is also the EU Congregational Church and the Church of the Nazarene.
and Cunninghame North
constituency in the Scottish Parliament
. The Westminster
seat is held by the Labour Party
, and the Holyrood
seat was gained by the Scottish National Party
from Labour in the May 2007 election by a mere 48 votes.
Historically, Ardrossan has been part of the UK parliament constituencies North Ayrshire
(1868–1918), Bute and Northern Ayrshire
(1918–1983) and Cunninghame North
(1983–2005). These constituencies traditionally returned Conservative
or Unionist MP's until 1987, when the constituency was won by the Labour
Party.
Ardrossan has a Unionist
Club on Princes Street, which was established in 1901 and a Labour
Social Club is present in the neighbouring town of Saltcoats.
In North Ayrshire council, Ardrossan is represented by 2 Independent
councillors, 1 Labour councillor and 1 SNP councillor. The results were:
The town has two diplomatic missions, a Danish
and a Norwegian
consulate.
Ardrossan has some notable buildings, for example Barony St John's Church and St Peter-in-Chains Roman Catholic Church. St Peter's is of modern construction in an all-brick, Swedish style. Its architects were the notable Gillespie, Kidd & Coia
. Barony St John's dates from the mid-nineteenth century. Both buildings are on the South Crescent, overlooking South Beach and Irvine Bay. The crescent is lined by large villas dating from the 19th century, many of which have been converted into multiple residences.
A prehistoric shell-mound, measuring 102 ft by 16 ft, on the side of Cannon Hill, close to Ardrossan Town railway station, was excavated by the Ayrshire historian John Smith in the 1890s. Its length was mostly overhung by a few feet, by the rock face, which had formed a rock-shelter, which the excavation showed had been occupied at intervals over a considerable period of time. The railway workings had cut a longitudinal section in the mound, which overlay a 1 ft layer of raised beach sand.
The mound was composed of seashells, mainly periwinkle and limpet, and animal bones.
Relics found included a stone 'anchor' with a groove cut round it for a rope, a possible stone sinker, fragments of very coarse, hammer stone, hand-made pottery, also pieces of wheel-turned, glazed pottery, a bone chisel, two bone needles, etc. No sign of the mound is visible today.
John Kerr
. He discovered the quadratic electro-optic effect, a change in the refractive index
of a material in response to an electric field
, now known as the Kerr effect
.
Former pupil David T. Denver is Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Lancaster
. Professor Denver is a frequent media commentator on Scottish political issues and voting patterns and has published several books in the field of statistical analyses of voting patterns.. His daughter, Rachel Bell, has followed in his footsteps and has published several statistical reports within financial services. Well-respected City Project Manager Louise Milligan also lived in Ardrossan and is currently working in a high profile role for RBS in London.
Bobby Ferguson, who was born and raised in the town, won seven Scotland caps while goalkeeper for Kilmarnock in the 1960's. Bobby was transferred to east London club West Ham United for a fee of £65,000 in 1967, which at the time was a world record fee for a goalkeeper. He made his West Ham debut against Sheffield Wednesday on 19 August 1967, the first game of the 1967–68 season.
W.B. Young
who holds one of the records for longest Scottish rugby career was also from Ardrossan.
, the current Conservative MP for Flyde, was born in Ardrossan.
Campbell Martin, journalist and former Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament
for West of Scotland, now editor of the3towns.com, an online local newspaper covering Ardrossan, Saltcoats
and Stevenston
.
, recipient of the Victoria Cross
, came from Ardrossan.
Calum Kennedy
(1928–2006), popular exponent of Scottish Gaelic song in the 1950s and 60s, ran a hotel in Ardrossan towards the end of his life.
From the core of its now-gone industrial workers, Ardrossan has produced a number of people of individual note. Ardrossan Academy has produced several former pupils that hold US and international patents for their scientific work.
The town also featured on Series 1, Episode 3 of hit BBC comedy Gary: Tank Commander
, during which "The General" wanted to trace the footsteps of his ancestors, the MacBadgers, who had originally hailed from the town.
North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South...
coast in south-western Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The name "Ardrossan" describes its physical position — 'ard' from the Gaelic àird meaning headland, 'ros' a promontory
Promontory
Promontory may refer to:*Promontory, a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water*Promontory, Utah, the location where the United States first Transcontinental Railroad was completed...
and the diminutive suffix '-an' - headland of the little promontory. Ardrossan is becoming an affluent commuter town
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
with a population of roughly 11,000 and is in a three-towns corroboration act with the nearby towns of Saltcoats
Saltcoats
- References :*McSherry, R. & M. . Old Saltcoats, Stenlake Publishing, Ochiltree. ISBN 1-872074-57-X.*Stansfield, G. . Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways, Stenlake Publishing, Catrine. ISBN 1-84033-077-5.-External links:***...
and Stevenston
Stevenston
Stevenston is a town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is one of the 'Three Towns' along with Ardrossan and Saltcoats.-History:The town is named after Stephan Loccard or Lockhart, whose father obtained a grant of land from Richard de Morville, Lord Cunninghame and Constable of Scotland, around 1170....
.
History
Ardrossan's roots can be traced back to the construction of its castleArdrossan Castle
Ardrossan Castle is situated on the west coast of Scotland in the town of Ardrossan, Ayrshire. The castle, defended by a moat, stands on a ridge above the town. There is a keep dating from the fifteenth century, and a vaulted range containing a kitchen and cellars. In a deep passageway there is a...
'Cannon Hill', thought to be in around 1140, by Simon de Morville. The castle and estate passed onto the Barclay
Barclay
-People:* Barclay , people with the surname Barclay* Clan BarclayFictional* Andy Barclay, the protagonist in the first three films of the Child's Play series* Reginald Barclay, character in Star Trek: The Next Generation-Business:...
family (also known as Craig
Craig (surname)
Craig is a surname, derived from the Scottish Gaelic creag. The word craig refers to a small, rocky hill in Scottish English.It may refer to:* Amanda Craig , British author...
) and it passed through successive heirs until the 14th century. Then it passed onto the Eglinton family on the death of Godfrey Barclay de Ardrossan, who died without leaving an heir. Sir Fergus Barclay, Baron of Ardrossan was said to be in league with the Devil and in one of his dealings he set the task of the Devil to make ropes from sand; upon failing to do Satan kicked the castle with his hoof in frustration and left a petrosomatoglyph
Petrosomatoglyph
A petrosomatoglyph is an image of parts of a human or animal body incised in rock. Many were created by Celtic peoples, such as the Picts, Scots, Irish, Cornish, Cumbrians, Bretons and Welsh. These representations date from the Early Middle Ages; others of uncertain purpose date back to megalithic...
hoofprint.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
army, who held it until 1296, when it was scene of the infamous event known as Wallace's Larder. William Wallace
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
lured the English garrison out of the castle by setting a decoy
Decoy
A decoy is usually a person, device or event meant as a distraction, to conceal what an individual or a group might be looking for. Decoys have been used for centuries most notably in game hunting, but also in wartime and in the committing or resolving of crimes.-Duck decoy:The term duck decoy may...
fire in the village. He promptly slaughtered them, throwing their remains into the castle dungeon
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
.
The castle stood until 1648, when Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's troops had it destroyed, taking much of the stonework to Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
to built the fort there. The ruins still stand, but are overgrown and in a dangerous condition.
Ardrossan developed quickly during the 18th and 19th centuries thanks to its position on the coast. Exports of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
and pig iron
Pig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
were the main trade from the town's port, which became a centre for shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
. Fishing vessels and small cargo boats were the mainstay of the shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
until the 1950s, when the yard all but ceased to exist as a result of foreign competition. A smaller yard, McCrindle's, operated until the 1980s before it ceased trading.
Passenger services from Ardrossan harbour to Brodick on the Isle of Arran
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
started in 1834, and services to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(later Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
) and the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
followed in 1884 and 1892 respectively. Clyde sailings were operated initially by the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company from Winton Pier and the Caledonian Railway from Montgomerie Pier. The Earl of Eglinton's ambitious plan for a canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
link to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
was never realised.
Between 1841 and 1848 Ardrossan was a part of the "West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
" equivalent of its time. The fastest route from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
was by train to , and thence by packet boat to Ardrossan. After 1848 the entire journey could be made by rail, avoiding Ardrossan.
The link to the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
no longer operates, having first been moved to Stranraer, then all Scottish services terminated altogether. Shell-Mex
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
developed an oil refinery
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
in Ardrossan from a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
aviation-fuel canning factory, and the harbour was expanded for the company's tanker ships to berth. Local residents blocked plans in the 1960s for further expansion of the refinery, limiting the operations that could be carried out there. Operations at Shell-Mex ceased in 1986.
The harbour has been substantially redeveloped as a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
, and the passenger and vehicle ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
to Brodick is still operated by Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast...
.
Ardrossan was one of the last towns in Scotland to be made a Burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
, in 1846, with a Provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
, magistrates and commissioners. Its Burgh status was lost in 1974 on the formation of Strathclyde
Strathclyde
right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994...
Regional Council, whereupon it came under Cunninghame
Cunninghame
Cunninghame is a former comital district of Scotland and also a district of the Strathclyde Region from 1975–1996.-Historic Cunninghame:The historic district of Cunninghame was bordered by the districts of Renfrew and Clydesdale to the north and east respectively, by the district of Kyle to the...
District. It is now part of North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South...
, created as a unitary authority in 1996.
Since 2006 Ardrossan has been part of a regeneration area, overseen by the Irvine Bay Regeneration Company. Their vision for Ardrossan is as a gateway to Arran and a good place to live and relax next to the sea in a regenerated town centre serving the existing and incoming community. This has started to be achieved through renewal of the town centre, which includes A derelict office in Princes Street which has been turned into two modern shops. The former Jack Miller's Hotel building at 78 Princes Street has been redeveloped and the refurbished building was completed in autumn 2010 and has been let out and is now open as an art gallery and artists studio space called Phoenix http://www.phoenix-art.net The Studio displays Scottish Art as well as holding art classes and demonstrations. The old pumphouse has also been transformed into a popular contemporary Italian restaurant cecchinis http://www.cecchinis.com. The future development of the harbourside in a co-ordinated and overall plan. The Ardrossan North Shore project is now taking shape, which includes the redevelopment of the oil refinery site and the extension of the marina.
Railway
There are three railway stations in Ardrossan: Ardrossan South BeachArdrossan South Beach railway station
Ardrossan South Beach railway station is one of three railway stations in the town of Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line.- History :...
, close to the boundary with Saltcoats
Saltcoats
- References :*McSherry, R. & M. . Old Saltcoats, Stenlake Publishing, Ochiltree. ISBN 1-872074-57-X.*Stansfield, G. . Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways, Stenlake Publishing, Catrine. ISBN 1-84033-077-5.-External links:***...
; Ardrossan Town
Ardrossan Town railway station
Ardrossan Town railway station is one of three remaining railway stations in the town of Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is one of the oldest operational railway stations in Ayrshire, although services and facilities are severely cut back from the station's peak in the early 20th century...
, in the centre of town, closed 1968 and reopened 1987; and Ardrossan Harbour
Ardrossan Harbour railway station
Ardrossan Harbour railway station is one of three remaining railway stations in the town of Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, south west of...
, which is near the port for the Arran ferry. East-bound trains to Glasgow Central
Glasgow Central station
Glasgow Central is the larger of the two present main-line railway terminals in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The station was opened by the Caledonian Railway on 31 July 1879 and is currently managed by Network Rail...
run every half-hour and a westbound service to Largs
Largs railway station
Largs railway station is a railway station in the town of Largs, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, south west of .- History :...
runs every hour. Rail services are operated by First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
.
There are also two closed Railway Stations in the town. Ardrossan North was located adjacent to Montgomerie Street, and the platform remains can still be seen to this day, although the redevelopment of the former Shell Bitumen Plant site edges ever closer to the station remains. Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier was located further down the line from Ardrossan North, but the building of the harbourside apartments removed the last remains of the platforms and no evidence remains that a railway station once stood there.
The last train ran through both these stations around 1968, although by that time they served summer boat train services only, with regular passenger traffic ceasing back in 1932.
Roads and Bus Services
Ardrossan is linked to GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
via the A737 road and to Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
via the A78 road. The A78 Three Towns Bypass was opened in December 2004 and has provided a much-needed improvement to local transport links, reducing local travelling times significantly. The bypass has also helped to divert a significant amount of heavier traffic from the Three Towns. Bus services are available to the town and are operated primarily by Stagecoach West Scotland
Stagecoach West Scotland
Stagecoach West Scotland is an operating region of Stagecoach UK Bus, comprising Western Buses Ltd and Stagecoach Glasgow Ltd, based in Ayr, Scotland.-Operation:...
.
Ferry services
A regular ferry service from Ardrossan to Brodick on the Isle of ArranIsle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
has run since 1834. Today, a ferry to Brodick departs every two hours and 45 minutes Monday–Saturday with each journey lasting 55 minutes.
In the past Ardrossan also ran regular ferry services to Belfast, and the Isle of Man (summer only). The Belfast run was operated by the Burns & Laird Line with the last scheduled service in 1976. The last ship to sail this route was the MV Lion, which is still the largest car ferry to operate from Ardrossan. The Isle of Man run was operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company during the summer holiday season with the last service in 1985, although Caledonian MacBrayne later experimented with a smaller vessel to the Isle of Man for a couple of seasons, which ran one return service per week.
Secondary schools
- Ardrossan AcademyArdrossan AcademyArdrossan Academy is a large Scottish secondary school, opened in October 1882, serving the town of Ardrossan, with pupils also coming from nearby Saltcoats, West Kilbride, Seamill, and other areas.-Management Team:...
- A non-denominational school opened in 1882 which has a school roll of approx. 1050 people, coming from Ardrossan, Saltcoats, West Kilbride and Seamill.
Environment
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
are starkly visible on a cold sunny day. Beyond, one can see the Paps of Jura
Paps of Jura
The Paps of Jura are three mountains located on the western side of island of Jura, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Their highest point is ....
and the Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Kintyre
The Mull of Kintyre is the southwesternmost tip of the Kintyre Peninsula in southwest Scotland. From here, the Antrim coast is visible and an historic lighthouse, the second commissioned in Scotland, guides shipping in the intervening North Channel...
.
Offshore from Ardrossan is the small Horse Isle
Horse Isle
Horse Isle is an uninhabited island located in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland near the seaside town of Ardrossan. It is a nature reserve, run by the RSPB.-Geography:...
, an RSPB reserve and home to nationally important populations of herring gulls and lesser black backed gulls.
The Holm Plantation area dividing Ardrossan and Saltcoats is a popular area for alternative walks to the seaside. The current regeneration of the area has led to the plantation receiving many new amenities such as lighting and landscaped flower areas.
Energy
Ardrossan is located near two nuclear powerNuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
stations, Hunterston A nuclear power station
Hunterston A nuclear power station
Hunterston A nuclear power station was a Magnox power station located at Hunterston in Ayrshire, Scotland, adjacent to Hunterston B and is currently being decommissioned.-History:...
(currently being decommissioned) and Hunterston B nuclear power station
Hunterston B nuclear power station
Hunterston B Power Station is a nuclear power station in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is located about 9 km south of Largs and about 4 km north-west of West Kilbride. It is operated by EDF Energy...
. A 24 Mega-Watt (MW) windfarm
Ardrossan Wind Farm
The 24 megawatt Ardrossan Wind Farm in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland was officially opened on August 10, 2004. The Vestas factory in Argyll, which now employs more than 200 people, has supplied the wind turbines for the Airtricity development...
which opened in 2004 overlooks the town.
Religion
In Ardrossan Loyal, there are five churches. St.Peter-in-chains is a Roman Catholic church. Barony St.Johns and the Park Church are Church of ScotlandChurch of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. There is also the EU Congregational Church and the Church of the Nazarene.
Politics and Government
Ardrossan is in the Ayrshire North & Arran constituency in the House of CommonsBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
and Cunninghame North
Cunninghame North (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Cunninghame North is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one MSP by the first past the post method of election once every four years...
constituency in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
. The Westminster
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
seat is held by the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, and the Holyrood
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
seat was gained by the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
from Labour in the May 2007 election by a mere 48 votes.
Historically, Ardrossan has been part of the UK parliament constituencies North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Ayrshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 until 1918. It returned one Member of Parliament , using the first-past-the-post voting system.-Boundaries:...
(1868–1918), Bute and Northern Ayrshire
Bute and Northern Ayrshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Bute and Northern Ayrshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system.-History:...
(1918–1983) and Cunninghame North
Cunninghame North (UK Parliament constituency)
Cunninghame North was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983 until 2005, when it was largely replaced by North Ayrshire and Arran...
(1983–2005). These constituencies traditionally returned Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
or Unionist MP's until 1987, when the constituency was won by the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Party.
Ardrossan has a Unionist
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Club on Princes Street, which was established in 1901 and a Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Social Club is present in the neighbouring town of Saltcoats.
In North Ayrshire council, Ardrossan is represented by 2 Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
councillors, 1 Labour councillor and 1 SNP councillor. The results were:
The town has two diplomatic missions, a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and a Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
consulate.
Culture
Gillespie, Kidd & Coia
Gillespie, Kidd & Coia were a Scottish architectural firm famous for their application of modernism in churches and universities, as well as at St Peter's Seminary in Cardross. Though founded in 1927, it is for their work in the post-war period that they are best known...
. Barony St John's dates from the mid-nineteenth century. Both buildings are on the South Crescent, overlooking South Beach and Irvine Bay. The crescent is lined by large villas dating from the 19th century, many of which have been converted into multiple residences.
Castlehill
Also known as 'Cannon Hill' by locals, it is a great place to visit, including a swing park. An historic ancient burial place on Castle Hill was vandalized in the 1950s. One tomb was taken to the Barony Church on South Crescent for safekeeping.A prehistoric shell-mound, measuring 102 ft by 16 ft, on the side of Cannon Hill, close to Ardrossan Town railway station, was excavated by the Ayrshire historian John Smith in the 1890s. Its length was mostly overhung by a few feet, by the rock face, which had formed a rock-shelter, which the excavation showed had been occupied at intervals over a considerable period of time. The railway workings had cut a longitudinal section in the mound, which overlay a 1 ft layer of raised beach sand.
The mound was composed of seashells, mainly periwinkle and limpet, and animal bones.
Relics found included a stone 'anchor' with a groove cut round it for a rope, a possible stone sinker, fragments of very coarse, hammer stone, hand-made pottery, also pieces of wheel-turned, glazed pottery, a bone chisel, two bone needles, etc. No sign of the mound is visible today.
Science/Academia
Arguably the town's most notable son was physicistPhysicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
John Kerr
John Kerr (physicist)
John Kerr FRS was a Scottish physicist and a pioneer in the field of electro-optics. He is best known for the discovery of what is now called the Kerr effect.-Life and work:...
. He discovered the quadratic electro-optic effect, a change in the refractive index
Refractive index
In optics the refractive index or index of refraction of a substance or medium is a measure of the speed of light in that medium. It is expressed as a ratio of the speed of light in vacuum relative to that in the considered medium....
of a material in response to an electric field
Electric field
In physics, an electric field surrounds electrically charged particles and time-varying magnetic fields. The electric field depicts the force exerted on other electrically charged objects by the electrically charged particle the field is surrounding...
, now known as the Kerr effect
Kerr effect
The Kerr effect, also called the quadratic electro-optic effect , is a change in the refractive index of a material in response to an applied electric field. The Kerr effect is distinct from the Pockels effect in that the induced index change is directly proportional to the square of the electric...
.
Former pupil David T. Denver is Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Lancaster
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
. Professor Denver is a frequent media commentator on Scottish political issues and voting patterns and has published several books in the field of statistical analyses of voting patterns.. His daughter, Rachel Bell, has followed in his footsteps and has published several statistical reports within financial services. Well-respected City Project Manager Louise Milligan also lived in Ardrossan and is currently working in a high profile role for RBS in London.
Sport
Roy Aitken, who was born and raised in the town, went on to become one of the great captains of Celtic Football Club in the 1980's, and also captained the Scotland International Team. Roy also played for Newcastle United, Aberdeen and St Mirren, and managed Aberdeen to their last trophy success when they won the Scottish League Cup in 1996. Roy was given his Celtic first team debut at the age of 16 while he was still attending St Andrew's Academy in neighbouring Saltcoats. His manager at the time was Jock Stein.Bobby Ferguson, who was born and raised in the town, won seven Scotland caps while goalkeeper for Kilmarnock in the 1960's. Bobby was transferred to east London club West Ham United for a fee of £65,000 in 1967, which at the time was a world record fee for a goalkeeper. He made his West Ham debut against Sheffield Wednesday on 19 August 1967, the first game of the 1967–68 season.
W.B. Young
W.B. Young
William Brewitt Young was a Scottish and East African rugby football player.He was capped ten times for between 1937–48 and three times for East Africa between 1949-50. Along with Maurice Daly of he is one of only two people to have been capped by a major rugby playing nation and by East...
who holds one of the records for longest Scottish rugby career was also from Ardrossan.
Politics/Army
Former Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Peter Duncan attended Ardrossan Academy, and Mark MenziesMark Menzies
Mark Andrew Menzies is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Fylde in Lancashire since 2010. He is Parliamentary Private Secretary to Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change and a former member of the Scottish Affairs Select...
, the current Conservative MP for Flyde, was born in Ardrossan.
Campbell Martin, journalist and former Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
for West of Scotland, now editor of the3towns.com, an online local newspaper covering Ardrossan, Saltcoats
Saltcoats
- References :*McSherry, R. & M. . Old Saltcoats, Stenlake Publishing, Ochiltree. ISBN 1-872074-57-X.*Stansfield, G. . Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways, Stenlake Publishing, Catrine. ISBN 1-84033-077-5.-External links:***...
and Stevenston
Stevenston
Stevenston is a town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is one of the 'Three Towns' along with Ardrossan and Saltcoats.-History:The town is named after Stephan Loccard or Lockhart, whose father obtained a grant of land from Richard de Morville, Lord Cunninghame and Constable of Scotland, around 1170....
.
Other
Flying Officer Kenneth CampbellKenneth Campbell
Kenneth Campbell VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, came from Ardrossan.
Calum Kennedy
Calum Kennedy
Calum Kennedy was a Scottish singer.Kennedy won a gold medal at the Mod , singing in Scottish Gaelic...
(1928–2006), popular exponent of Scottish Gaelic song in the 1950s and 60s, ran a hotel in Ardrossan towards the end of his life.
From the core of its now-gone industrial workers, Ardrossan has produced a number of people of individual note. Ardrossan Academy has produced several former pupils that hold US and international patents for their scientific work.
The town also featured on Series 1, Episode 3 of hit BBC comedy Gary: Tank Commander
Gary: Tank Commander
Gary: Tank Commander is a BAFTA-award winning sitcom written and created by Greg McHugh and produced by the Comedy Unit. The show originated in 2008 as a one-off pilot for More4, under the title Gary's War. A full series was subsequently commissioned and broadcast on BBC Two Scotland in December...
, during which "The General" wanted to trace the footsteps of his ancestors, the MacBadgers, who had originally hailed from the town.
Other places with the same name
The name Ardrossan has also been given to places elsewhere in the world:- Ardrossan, South AustraliaArdrossan, South AustraliaArdrossan is a small town on the east coast of the Yorke Peninsula, about 150 km from Adelaide, South Australia.The town was largely initiated by wheat farmers and wheat transporters in the late 19th century who needed infrastructure to ship their produce across the Gulf St. Vincent to Port...
- Ardrossan, AlbertaArdrossan, AlbertaArdrossan is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County. It is located on Highway 824, approximately east of Sherwood Park.Ardrossan has been identified as a growth hamlet and a concept plan has been approved that will see another of land developed for residential purposes.The...
- Ardrossan is the name of a large estate outside Philadelphia, once owned by Robert Leaming Montgomery. His daughter, Helen Hope Montgomery ScottHelen Hope Montgomery ScottHelen Hope Montgomery Scott was a socialite and philanthropist who Vanity Fair once called "the unofficial queen of Philadelphia's WASP oligarchy." She is most famous as the inspiration for Tracy Lord, the main character in the Philip Barry play The Philadelphia Story, which was made into the film...
, was the inspiration for Tracy Lord, heroine of The Philadelphia StoryThe Philadelphia Story (play)The Philadelphia Story is a 1939 American comic play by Philip Barry. It tells the story of a socialite whose wedding plans are complicated by the simultaneous arrival of her ex-husband and an attractive journalist.-Production:...
.
External links
- Barony St John's Church
- Irvine Bay Regeneration
- the3towns.com
- Ardrossan Cricket Club
- News on a crackdown on derelict properties
- Ardrossan Academy's prize-winning website
- Photographs of every street in Ardrossan
- http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S3/committees/stanproc/reports-08/stprr08-03.htm