Stevenston
Encyclopedia
Stevenston is a town in North Ayrshire
, Scotland
. It is one of the 'Three Towns' along with Ardrossan
and Saltcoats
.
, Lord Cunninghame and Constable of Scotland, around 1170. The town is first mentioned in a charter of c. 1240.
The town was the birthplace in 1768 of Miss Lesley Baillie. Robert Burns
met her in 1792 and described her to a friend as "the most beautiful, most elegant woman in the world". She inspired one or two of his love poems, in which she is described as Bonnie Lesley. A memorial now stands in her memory and is situated between Sinclair Street and Glencairn Street.
The town became a coal mining centre until the pits were exhausted at the end of the 19th century. In the 20th century, the town was a major base for Nobel Industries and later ICI
, whose Ardeer
site employed many thousands of workers producing explosives and chemicals. ICI added a nylon plant in the 1960s which had a short lived production life, and a nitric acid plant. The closure of these facilities, along with the general decline in ICI's presence in the town has had a devastating long term effect on the town's economy. The site is now owned by Inabata, a Japan
ese trading firm, and operates as Nobel Enterprises
. The energetic technologies side of the business is now owned by Chemring Ltd, with the nitrocellulose manufacture retained under Nobel Enterprises.
In 1840 Stevenston received its first railway station, Stevenston
, on the line travelling from Ardrossan to Glasgow
. In 1888 a second railway station, Stevenston Moorpark
was opened on the new Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
, however this line had a short life span, and the station closed in 1932. At one point a third railway station, Ardeer Platform
, was in operation just south of the town serving the Nobel factory, however it closed in 1966. The first station is still in operation today.
To the north of the town sits the ruin of Kerelaw Castle
, with a history spanning over 800 years. Nearby was Kerelaw House
, once home to the family of Alexander Hamilton
and later the family of Kenneth Campbell
VC RAFVR, however the house was demolished in the early 1970s.
To the south of Stevenston, on the border of the Nobel Plant, sits the South African Pavilion. Known locally as Africa House, this building was once part of the Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938
in Bellahouston Park
, Glasgow
. The pavilion was rebuilt at Ardeer after the end of the exhibition and served as the staff restaurant for many years. The building now lays derelict and in disrepair, having suffered vandalism and extensive fire damage.
On 8 September 2007 a major fire was reported at the Nobel site when 1500-1700 tons of nitrocellulose, stored in an open area, caught fire. There was little property damage and no serious injuries.
The regeneration of Irvine Bay
includes the development of Stevenston Business Centre on the site of the Grange Bingo Hall.
is close to Stevenston and is also linked to it via the Sustrans
cycle path.
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...
, 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...
. It is one of the 'Three Towns' along with Ardrossan
Ardrossan
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...
and 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:***...
.
History
The town is named after Stephan Loccard or Lockhart, whose father obtained a grant of land from Richard de MorvilleRichard de Morville
Richard de Morville , succeeded his father Hugh de Morville as Constable of Scotland and in his Scottish estates and English lands at Bozeat in Northamptonshire, and Rutland, as well as a number of feus of the Honour of Huntingdon....
, Lord Cunninghame and Constable of Scotland, around 1170. The town is first mentioned in a charter of c. 1240.
The town was the birthplace in 1768 of Miss Lesley Baillie. Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
met her in 1792 and described her to a friend as "the most beautiful, most elegant woman in the world". She inspired one or two of his love poems, in which she is described as Bonnie Lesley. A memorial now stands in her memory and is situated between Sinclair Street and Glencairn Street.
The town became a coal mining centre until the pits were exhausted at the end of the 19th century. In the 20th century, the town was a major base for Nobel Industries and later ICI
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
, whose Ardeer
Ardeer, Scotland
Ardeer lies at the head of the Ardeer peninsula, now part of Stevenston, North Ayrshire, and was a dominant global supplier of explosives to the mining and quarrying industries and a major player in the design and development of products for the chemical and defence industries during the 20th...
site employed many thousands of workers producing explosives and chemicals. ICI added a nylon plant in the 1960s which had a short lived production life, and a nitric acid plant. The closure of these facilities, along with the general decline in ICI's presence in the town has had a devastating long term effect on the town's economy. The site is now owned by Inabata, a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese trading firm, and operates as Nobel Enterprises
Nobel Enterprises
Nobel Enterprises is a chemicals business based at Ardeer, near to the North Ayrshire town of Stevenston in Scotland. It specialises in nitrogen-based propellants and explosives and nitrocellulose-based products such as varnishes and inks...
. The energetic technologies side of the business is now owned by Chemring Ltd, with the nitrocellulose manufacture retained under Nobel Enterprises.
In 1840 Stevenston received its first railway station, Stevenston
Stevenston railway station
Stevenston railway station is a railway station serving the town of Stevenston, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, south west of Glasgow Central.- History :...
, on the line travelling from Ardrossan 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...
. In 1888 a second railway station, Stevenston Moorpark
Stevenston Moorpark railway station
Stevenston Moorpark railway station was a railway station serving the town of Stevenston, North Ayrshire, Scotland as part of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway .-History:...
was opened on the new Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
The Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway was a railway company in Scotland built in the late 19th century that provided services between Ardrossan and Glasgow, with branches to Irvine and Kilbirnie. The line was operated by the Caledonian Railway with an aim to compete with the Glasgow and South...
, however this line had a short life span, and the station closed in 1932. At one point a third railway station, Ardeer Platform
Ardeer Platform railway station
Ardeer Platform railway station was a railway station serving the Nobel Industries division of Imperial Chemical Industries near the town of Stevenston, North Ayrshire, Scotland.- History :...
, was in operation just south of the town serving the Nobel factory, however it closed in 1966. The first station is still in operation today.
To the north of the town sits the ruin of Kerelaw Castle
Kerelaw Castle
Kerelaw Castle is a castle ruin situated on the coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland in the town of Stevenston.- History :This castle, variously named Kerelaw, Kerila or even Turnlaw, is said by Timothy Pont to have been held by the Lockharts from Richard de Morville, Constable of Scotland, as far...
, with a history spanning over 800 years. Nearby was Kerelaw House
Kerelaw House
Kerelaw House was part of the former Kerelaw Estate situated on the west coast of Ayrshire, Scotland near the town of Stevenston.- History :...
, once home to the family of Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
and later the family of Kenneth Campbell
Kenneth 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:...
VC RAFVR, however the house was demolished in the early 1970s.
To the south of Stevenston, on the border of the Nobel Plant, sits the South African Pavilion. Known locally as Africa House, this building was once part of the Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938
Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938
Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 was an international exposition held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, from May to December 1938....
in Bellahouston Park
Bellahouston Park
Bellahouston Park is a public park in the South Side of Glasgow, Scotland, between the areas of Mosspark, Craigton, Ibrox, and Dumbreck, covering an area of . It is based around Ibrox hill in the centre, with commanding views over most of the city, exceptions being views to the east that are...
, 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...
. The pavilion was rebuilt at Ardeer after the end of the exhibition and served as the staff restaurant for many years. The building now lays derelict and in disrepair, having suffered vandalism and extensive fire damage.
On 8 September 2007 a major fire was reported at the Nobel site when 1500-1700 tons of nitrocellulose, stored in an open area, caught fire. There was little property damage and no serious injuries.
The regeneration of Irvine Bay
Irvine Bay
Irvine Bay is on the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde, on the coast of North Ayrshire in the West of Scotland. The area is famous for its long sweeping sandy beaches and views across to the Island of Arran...
includes the development of Stevenston Business Centre on the site of the Grange Bingo Hall.
Schools
- Ardeer Primary SchoolArdeer Primary SchoolArdeer Primary School is a primary school based in Stevenston of North Ayrshire, Scotland that was opened in August 1982. The school is located in the Ardeer Area of Stevenston in Clark Crescent and serves ages 5 to 11 in a primary school and a nursery class....
1982+ - Glencairn Primary SchoolGlencairn Primary SchoolGlencairn Primary School is based at New Street in Stevenston, Ayrshire.It serves the town of Stevenston Ayrshire with a nursery for children aged 4 and primary school for children from the ages of 5 to 11.-History:...
1971+ - Hayocks Primary School, opened on 27 August 1964, serves the Hayocks area
- Auchenharvie AcademyAuchenharvie AcademyAuchenharvie Academy in North Ayrshire is a secondary school based in Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland. It is a comprehensive school which takes children from the ages of 11–18 from Stevenston and Saltcoats of North Ayrshire area.- History :...
1971+
Famous residents
- Gordon Smith, footballer
- Des BrowneDes BrowneDesmond Henry Browne, Baron Browne of Ladyton is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Kilmarnock and Loudoun from 1997 to 2010...
former Secretary of State for DefenceSecretary of State for DefenceThe Secretary of State for Defence, popularly known as the Defence Secretary, is the senior Government of the United Kingdom minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence, chairing the Defence Council. It is a Cabinet position...
and Secretary of State for ScotlandSecretary of State for ScotlandThe Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
Local Amenities
Eglinton Country ParkEglinton Country Park
Eglinton Country Park is located in the grounds of the old Eglinton Castle estate, Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland . Eglinton Park is situated in the parish of Kilwinning, part of the former district of Cunninghame, and covers an area of 400 hectares...
is close to Stevenston and is also linked to it via the Sustrans
Sustrans
Sustrans is a British charity to promote sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"...
cycle path.