NON-FOOTBALL STORIES 1881

While looking through old documents, it is almost inevitable that the reader's attention will be drawn from the intended target to other articles. The reports below were found in old Ardrossan and Saltcoats Heralds. Although they have no football content, they may be of interest.


LETTER TO THE EDITOR - WHO'S THAT KNOCKING AT THE DOOR?
Sir
A practice has been freely indulged in during the winter evenings by some mischievous scamps of rapping at knockers of doors and pulling down sashes of windows to the annoyance of residents. The increasing daylight may prevent the ill-disposed and idle scamps from keeping up the practice. It is just possible that one of the ill-disposed loungers may be captured and made an example of before the spring season is far advanced.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 12 February 1881

CHARITY
We have much pleasure in recording that in the recent severe weather, a few Ardrossan gentlemen distributed twenty-four tons of coals in Saltcoats and eighteen tons in Ardrossan among the most necessitous poor besides goods and money.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 12 February 1881

KENNEDY FAMILY
If we have had anything like a severe winter, which undoubtedly we had, we have had no lack of entertainments as a counterpoise to lighten and cheer our dull winter nights. These, we may say, have been legion for the last month and the cry is still "They come!". The latest is the Kennedy Family and we question if any more acceptable party could come amongst us. They appear in the Bute Place Halls (shown below as the Winton Rovers' Club in 1974) on 8 March in their Songs of Scotland and we are sure they will meet with a hearty reception.

            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 19 February 1881

ILLUSIONIST AT ARDROSSAN TOWN HALL
Dr Lynn, the great Piccadilly wonder-worker and who, since his appearance in the provinces has been drawing large houses everywhere, gives his entertainment tonight Saturday (19 February 1891) in the Town Hall, Ardrossan (shown below in the early 1890s, early 1910s and as the Masonic Hall in 2003). His feats of necromancy and illusion are said to be altogether unequalled, the mysterious blood-writing on the arm being most startling. His tricks are all performed without any adventitious aid or mechanical appliance and nothing to compare with them has been witnessed before. He is sure to have a crowded house.

            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 19 February 1881

SEAFIELD TOWER FOR SALE
Seafield Tower (shown below as Quarriers in 2008) and ground adjoining were exposed to sale in the Faculty Hall, Glasgow on Wednesday (23 February 1891) at the upset price of £5500 but did not find a purchaser.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 26 February 1881

SEAFIELD TOWER STILL FOR SALE
This mansion-house (shown above as Quarriers in 2008) with gardens, vineries, conservatory, etc will be again exposed to sale by public roup in Glasgow on Wednesday next (23 March 1891). The upset price has been still further reduced. On dit that it will this time find a purchaser.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 19 March 1881
'On dit' is French for 'one says' or 'it is said'.

CENSUS 1881
Mr James Fullarton junior and Mr Grim Wood, the Registrars for New and Old Ardrossan, having made all necessary arrangements, the enumerators began to deliver the census schedules on Monday last (28 March 1891). Heads of families are required to fill in the name, age and other particulars regarding every person who is in their house at midnight on Sabbath next (3 April 1881) and the schedule will be called for the next day or at latest on Tuesday.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 2 April 1881

CENSUS 1881
Mr Fullarton, the Registrar for Ardrossan District has furnished us with the following apparent result of the census.
   population of the town of Ardrossan - about 3896
   landward part of the quoad sacra Parish of New Ardrossan - about 125
   total 4021

At the last census in 1871, the total was 3929 giving an increase during the last ten years of 92. The returns have not been checked yet so that the above can only be taken as an approximation to the correct number. The increase in the population of our good town and neighbourhood for the last ten years is certainly small but when we take into consideration the great numbers which have been obliged to change their places of residence consequent on the commercial depression, we recognise the cause of the paucity in that increase. Had the census been taken five years ago, our figures would certainly have bulked much larger.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 9 April 1881
'Quoad sacra' is Latin for 'concerning sacred matters' A quoad sacra parish is one for ecclesiastical purposes only. Normal parishes have combined civil and eccesiastical functions.

ARDROSSAN CAPTAIN MISSING
The smack Mackerel, iron-built, loaded with manure from Glasgow to Stranraer (Captain Hutton of Ardrossan) sailed from Glasgow on 16 April last and has not since been heard of. Any information regarding the missing vessel will be gladly received by the Captain's wife, Mrs Hutton, Glasgow Lane, Ardrossan (shown below in 2002).

            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 7 May 1881

A DANGEROUS SLEEPING PLACE
On Saturday evening last (14 May 1881), about eight o'clock, the driver of a goods train reported that, when between Stevenston and Saltcoats, he observed a man lying on the line. A party was dispatched immediately to the spot and discovered a man lying asleep on the six feet way between the up and down line with his head near the rails. He was rather the worse of drink and had wandered on to the line and laid himself down. He was at once aroused and moved from his perilous position.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 21 May 1881

WAS ARDROSSAN CASTLE HILL SURROUNDED BY A WALL?
The Castle Hill of Ardrossan (shown below left in 2006), now proposed for a public park for the town, still bears some evidence that it was surrounded by a wall and was the 'stone-walled park' or park belonging to the castle referred to by Cambden in his Britannia but let us give what he says: 'Ardrossan Castle (shown below right in the early 1900s) belongs to ye Montgomerys, a very ancient and famous family as any other. I have seen it at a small distance. It is now ruinous and uninhabited, a large pile and half spacious courts and high walls. It looks noble, though a skeleton, and is bravely situated over ye sea. Only ye keeper of ye stone-walled park belonging to it lives in some of ye vaults thereof or lone buildings adjoining to it as I was told in summer 1689 when I went yt way.'.

            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 23 July 1881

LETTER TO THE EDITOR - SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOUR
Sir
We have in all conscience enough of profanation and desecration of the Sabbath day, seen and unseen, in our midst without an actual open-day breach of the divine commandment yet such an infringement of the canon took place in Ardrossan last Sabbath (17 July 1881) and that too without the slightest cause of necessity. The steamship Mandrane from Bilbao with iron ore arrived in Ardrossan Harbour (shown below in the early 1900s) on Friday afternoon (15 July 1881) and commenced forewith to discharge and judge, Sir, of my surprise when on taking an early walk on Sabbath morning, I found the cranes going and the quay labourers pulling away like galley slaves.. From one of the latter I learned that they had been discharging the Mandrane all night and only finished at six o'clock. Why should such a violation of the Lord's Day be allowed to go unnoticed and who are responsible for such conduct?
I am, yours et cetera, Observer

            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 23 July 1881

DISSOLUTION OF ARDROSSAN COURSING CLUB
After dragging on a lingering illness for many years past, this venerable coursing institution has been finally dissolved. The funds on hand, as mentioned lately, were expended in the purchase of forty-four beautiful oleo graphs framed and with suitable inscriptions attached which were gifted to the Kilmarnock Fever Hospital. A public exhibition of these took place in the George Hotel Hall of that town and attracted a large number of visitors. The members present at the concluding meeting unanimously agreed to present the champion collar with its load of medals - the first is dated 1857 - to Mr D C Gairdner, the genial secretary who has long given his services gratuitously to the club.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 20 August 1881

SALE OF A VESSEL
On Thursday (18 August 1881), Mr Edward Magee offered for sale in the Eglinton Arms Hotel (shown below in the early 1960s), Ardrossan, 16-64ths of the schooner Brodick Castle belonging to the estate of the late Donald Kerr, Corrie, Arran. Mr Hugh Hogarth, Ardrossan purchaser at the reduced upset price of £175.

            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 20 August 1881

LETTER TO THE EDITOR - ARDROSSAN BATHS
Sir
Thanks are due to you in having called attention to the baths opened by Mr Lowe at Harbour Buildings. I have myself had several Turkish Baths there and have proved that your acknowledgement of Mr Lowe's services is no exaggeration. I have been at most of the hydropathics in Scotland and at no place have I met with more efficiency and courtesy. I hope residents and visitors will unite with you in giving practical expression of their approval of Mr Lowe's services.
I am, yours truly, One Who Knows.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 3 September 1881

MALICIOUS MISCHIEF
In our advertising page, will be observed a notice of £1 reward (shown right) for the conviction of a youth - we must suppose him to be - guilty of a most reprehensible action, namely, inserting a missile between the spokes of the wheels of a bicycle when at full speed. The dastardly act was committed (on 30 October 1881) at Stevenston where a display of this malicious conduct has been perpretated on more than occasion recently. The bicycle has not only been badly damaged but the rider has sustained a severe bruise. We appeal to the instanets of every member of the community to assist in putting down such a heinous act. Bicycling harms no-one, is an excellent exercise for those sedentarily employed and ought to be enjoyed without dread of any mean-spiritedness from without. We trust the depredator may be brought to justice and sent to the 'black hole' for a season or to the treadmill for a month.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 5 November 1881

SKATING POND FOR ARDROSSAN?
What about a skating pond for Ardrossan? For the last few years we have advocated the propriety of having such a pond if for no other reason than that the pleasant and exhilarating exercise of skating may be enjoyed with safety by the thousand and one who now profess to skate. When we hear of such a place as West Kilbride putting forth efforts to possess an attractive field of ice, it is time something was being done to stir up the dry bones in Ardrossan. Every individual spoken to on the subject admits the necessity for such a thing but as neither one nor a few swallows make a summer so no number of admissions will make a skating pond. If we are to have one at all, now is the time to make the necessary arrangements and not when Jack Frost has made his appearance.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 12 November 1881

BACHELORS' BALL
The bachelors of Ardrossan are making arrangements for a ball to come off on the sixteenth of next month under their auspices and under the patronage of several local ladies and gentlemen. This will be the first thing of its kind in Ardrossan and when we hear of the success which attends such gatherings in other towns, we see no reason why Ardrossan should be behind the age even in a matter of this kind.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 19 November 1881

CLUTHA LAUNCHED
There was launched from the ship-building yard of Messrs Barr and Shearer, Ardrossan on Wednesday (7 December 1881), a finely-modelled three-masted barquentine of the following dimensions: length 126 feet, breadth 24 feet 6 inches, depth 12 feet 10 inches. She is 246 tons net register and is intended for the Brazil trade. On leaving the ways, which she did most successfully, she was named the Clutha by Miss McCall, Yarborough Place, Ardrossan. Her owners are Messrs Munn, Newfoundland
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 10 December 1881

CELEBRATION OF LORD EGLINTON'S BIRTHDAY AT ARDROSSAN
On the afternoon of Thursday last (8 December 1881), the tenantry on the estate of Lord Eglinton and Winton and a number of townspeople celebrated his Lordship's birthday by a dinner in the Eglinton Arms Hotel. The third of December this year falling on a Saturday, it was deemed unwise to celebrate the event on that day, and it was postponed till Thursday, as we have said, that day being market day as well. As it was afterwards remarked, the fixing upon Thursday was a happy thought, the numbers present this year being in excess of previous years. It is but right, we think, that such an important event in the life of the Lord of the Manor should be recognised and perhaps a more fitting mode could not be found than that which has been in use and wont for so many years. On Thursday, the boards of "mine host and hostess" of the Eglinton were surrounded by about fifty gentlemen and the spread was a very creditable one.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 10 December 1881