Saltcoats(Scottish Gaelic:Baile an t-Salainn;Scots:Saulcuts) is a town on the west coast ofNorth Ayrshire,Scotland. The name is derived from the town's earliest industry when salt was harvested from the sea water of theFirth of Clyde,carried out in small cottages along the shore. It is part of the 'Three Towns'conurbationalong withArdrossanandStevenstonand is the third largest town in North Ayrshire.
Saltcoats
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|---|---|
| Town | |
From top, left to right:Saltcoats Prom, and townscape, the North Ayrshire Heritage Centre, Saltcoats Pier, Saltcoats sea front, Saltcoats War Memorial | |
  Saltcoats Location withinNorth Ayrshire | |
| Population | 12,250 (2022)[1] |
| •Density | 3,489/sq km |
| OS grid reference | NS245415 |
| •Edinburgh | 77.6 mi (124.9 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SALTCOATS |
| Postcode district | KA21 |
| Dialling code | 01294 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
History
editOrigins, 1200s
editThe history of Saltcoats can be traced back to when the monks of Kilwinning Abbey discovered easily accessible coastal coal seams at Saltcoats in the 1200s, it expanded from small scattering of buildings. The coal proved an efficient source of heat for evaporating saltwater for the manufacturing of salt, and by the 1500s, King James V-funded sheds along the shoreline, leading to a successful salt pans industry. This sector of the economy is where Saltcoats gets its name.
Burgh status, 1528
editIn 1528, Saltcoats was granted status as a burgh leading to the creation of a market. By the middle of the 1600s, Saltcoats' primary sources of income were the import of corn and butter, as well as the sale of cattle and fish (mostly herring) to Ireland. Local farmers produced cheese, butter, wheat, oats, and potatoes. Cottage labourers in the town were given access to hand looms so they could weave muslins for the Glasgow and Paisley markets. On the outskirts of the town, chemical operations that produce magnesium and Epsom salts ran on waste materials from the salt-panning business.[2]
In the late 18th century, several shipyards operated at Saltcoats, producing some 60 to 70 ships. The leading shipbuilder was William Ritchie, but in 1790 he moved his business toBelfast.In 1793, it was recorded that Saltcoats had around 400 houses, with 3 operational shipyards remaining. By 1820, this had climbed to 600 houses, with a population of 3,413 being noted.[3]
Recent history
editBy the early 19th century, the town had stopped producing ships.Saltcoats Town Hall,which dates back to 1826, is a Category Blisted building.[4]
Saltcoats had various amenities, lodging, and entertainment required to develop into a prosperous seaside resort as a result of the vast, protected bay known as "South Beach" between Saltcoats and Ardrossan and a Beach Pavilion built in the 1920s. Its importance as a holiday destination declined with the onset of cheap air travel and mass summer migrations to the Mediterranean.[5]
Governance
editSaltcoats is part of theNorth Ayrshire and Arranconstituency in theHouse of Commons.From 2005, the seat was represented byScottish Labourhowever, more recently in 2015, the seat was won byPatricia Gibsonof theScottish National Party.[6]She was returned in2017albeit a smaller majority, but in2019her majority increased.
Historically, Saltcoats has been part of the UK parliament constituenciesNorth Ayrshire(1868–1918),Bute and Northern Ayrshire(1918–1983) andCunninghame North(1983–2005). These constituencies historically returnedConservativeorUnionistMPs until 1987, when the constituency was won by theLabour Party.
For the devolvedScottish Parliament,the town is a part of theCunninghame Northconstituency. This seat has been represented by Kenneth Gibson since the2007 Scottish Parliament election,where it was the seat with the smallest majority at only 48 votes.[7]It was previously represented by Scottish Labour since its creation in1999.
Transport
editThe harbour was designed byJames Jardinein 1811, however no cargo or passenger services run from the harbour any more.[8]
Saltcoats is served by regular bus and railway services. Primary bus services are provided byStagecoach West Scotland,while rail services are operated byScotRail.These rail services are frequent and serve nearby Glasgow, as well as Largs, Ardrossan and Kilwinning.
Although Saltcoats currently only has asingle railway station,the town was once served by asecond railway stationlocated in the north of the town, originally as part of theLanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway.This station ceased regular passenger services on 4 July 1932,[9]and there is no trace of the station today bar a nearby bridge.
Notable people
edit
- Alexander Allan(1780–1854), founder of theAllan Line Royal Mail Steamers
- Andrew Allan(1822–1901), of theAllan Line Royal Mail Steamers
- Sir Hugh Allan(1810–82), of theAllan Line Royal Mail Steamers
- George Biagi(b.1985), Italian national rugby player
- William Burns(1809–76), historian
- Kenneth Campbell(1917–1941), recipient of theVictoria Cross
- Steve Clarke(b.1963), professionalfootballer,Scotland national teammanager
- Hamish Fraser(1913–1986), former communist, traditionalist Catholic writer and local councillor
- Janice Galloway(b.1955), author
- Michael Garrett(b.1964)[10][11]inaugural Sir Bernard Lovell chair in astrophysics, Director ofJodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics[12]
- Colin Hay(b.1953), musician, singer-songwriter,[13]leader ofMen at Work
- Al Howie(1945–2016), long-distance runner
- Bobby Lennox(b.1943), professionalfootballer
- Fiona Macpherson(b.1971), philosopher
- James Manson(1845–1935), engineer
- Hugh McMahon(1906–97), professionalfootballer
- Betsy Miller(1792–1864), sea captain
- Hugh Munro(1856–1919), mountaineer, author[14]
- Graeme Obree(b.1965), cyclist
- Robert Thornton(b.1967), professional darts player
In popular culture
editThe activities of Glaswegians in Saltcoats during theGlasgow Fairare celebrated byBilly Connollyin his songSaltcoats at the Fair,first released onThe Humblebums'First Collection of Merry Melodiesalbum (TransatlanticTRA186, February 1969).
References
edit- ^"Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland".National Records of Scotland.31 March 2022.Retrieved31 March2022.
- ^"Sense Of Place | Saltcoats | Places That We Know".placesthatweknow.org.Retrieved11 October2023.
- ^"Historical Timeline".ayrshireroots.co.uk.Retrieved11 October2023.
- ^Historic Environment Scotland."Town Hall, Countess Street (LB40489)".Retrieved30 September2021.
- ^"Saltcoats Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland".undiscoveredscotland.co.uk.Retrieved11 October2023.
- ^"Ayrshire North & Arran parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News".Retrieved17 April2023.
- ^"BBC NEWS | Election 2007 | Scottish Parliament | Election Result: Cunninghame North".news.bbc.co.uk.Retrieved17 April2023.
- ^"James Jardine: Overview of James Jardine".Scottish-places.info.Retrieved1 May2016.
- ^Stansfield, page 7
- ^"Saltcoats astronomer Michael elected as Fellow of the Royal Society".Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.23 June 2024.Retrieved22 November2024.
- ^"Outstanding Manchester scientist elected as Fellow of the Royal Society".Outstanding Manchester scientist elected as Fellow of the Royal Society.Retrieved22 November2024.
- ^"News and events - The University of Manchester - Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics".jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk.Retrieved15 April2018.
- ^"The Story Behind Colin Hay's" Maggie "".Milwaukee Public Radio Interview. 29 April 2009.Retrieved1 August2012.
- ^Steve (4 October 2010)."Bear Alley: Hugh Munro".Bearalley.blogspot.ca.Retrieved1 May2016.
External links
edit- Video footage and history of the old Saltcoats Harbour
- Video footage of the 1678 Auchenharvie coalfield drain adit
- Video footage and history of the old open air pools
- The railway between Saltcoats and Stevenston
