Saltcoats 1846
SALTCOATS, a sea-port town, and lately an
ecclesiastical district, partly in the parish of Stevenston, but chiefly in
that of Ardrossan, district of Cunninghame, county of Ayr, 6 miles (W. by
N.) from Irvine, and 32 (S. W.) from Glasgow; containing 4238 inhabitants,
of whom 2806 are in that part within the parish of Ardrossan. This town,
which is irregularly built, is chiefly inhabited by seafaring men connected
with the shipping of the harbours of Ardrossan and Saltcoats; by weavers;
and the various artificers connected with the business of the port.
The
harbour is in that portion of the town which is in the parish of Stevenston,
and it has contributed greatly to the increase of the population. A great
number of the inhabitants are employed in weaving for the manufacturers of
Glasgow and Paisley; the articles are chiefly lappets, gauzes, trimmings,
shawls, and silks, in the manufacture of which more than 450 looms are
constantly at work. A large number of females, also, are engaged in working
muslins in different patterns, for which this part of the country is
celebrated, and which by way of eminence are designated the Ayrshire muslin.
Many persons from the Highlands and from Ireland have settled at this place,
who are employed in general trades; and several families, unconnected with
business, have built handsome houses here as a favourite residence for the
benefit of sea-bathing, for which its proximity to Ardrossan renders it very
convenient.
The principal building is the town-house, a well-built edifice
two stories in height, and surrounded by a lofty spire. The ground-floor is
occupied by shops, a room for the town library and reading-room, and a
committee-room; the upper story contains a spacious apartment which is
appropriated to the monthly meetings of the magistrates of the district, who
here hold a court of petty sessions, and in the intervals is used as a
news-room and for other general purposes. Attached is a small lock-up house
for the temporary confinement of petty offenders. A handsome building has
also been erected for the branch of the Western Bank of Scotland established
within the last few years. Fishing is carried on here to a considerable
extent; salmon are found in the Frith, and sent in large quantities to the
neighbouring towns, to Glasgow, Paisley, and Kilmarnock, and to Liverpool by
steam-packets, which sail regularly from the harbour of Ardrossan. From
fifteen to twenty boats, likewise, are employed in the herring-fishery, for
which purpose they frequent the lochs in the north and west Highlands;
herrings are also taken in tolerable numbers in the bay, and some boats go
to the coasts of Barra and other islands for ling and cod. A fair is held on
the last Thursday in May, for cattle, pigs, shoes, and other articles of
merchandise; a post-office is established here, which has a good delivery;
and facility of communication is maintained by roads in every direction, and
by packets and steam-boats that sail at stated times.
The Ardrossan and Johnstone railway, which now forms a part or branch of the Ayrshire railway,
passes through this place, to which it proceeds from the west side of the
harbour of Ardrossan, and unites with the main line at the town of
Kilwinning. The district was separated for ecclesiastical purposes from
Ardrossan by an act of the General Assembly; and was in the presbytery of
Irvine and synod of Glasgow and Ayr: the stipend of the minister was £80,
arising from seatrents and collections. The church, built in 1836, is a neat
edifice containing 720 sittings. There are several meeting-houses, and a
mechanics' institute. A public library is supported by subscription, which
has an extensive collection of books on general literature; and a savings'
bank has been for some time established.
A Topographical Dictionary
of Scotland (1846)
and .co.uk