History of Ardrossan

[@frederic7406]

You might be interested to know, if you don't already, that a century ago in December 1921 the first "amateur radio" signals were exchanged between Greenwich, Connecticut USA and Ardrossan, Scotland. On December 12th at 03:00AM GMT the message was sent from the States which read: "Nr 1 NY ck 12 to Paul Godley, Ardrossan, Scotland. Hearty congratulations. Burghard, inman, Grinan, Armstrong, Amy, Cronkhite." Before any of these tests, radio people, engineers and scientists considered any 'radio waves' in the higher frequencies such as what we now know as the "shortwave bands" were absolutely worthless and could never be used for industrial or broadcast applications. It was only after these trials that it was made obvious that the higher frequencies were well capable of transmitting signals around the world. Eventually, of course, we progressed even further to use even higher frequencies (VHF radio, UHF television, microwave for satellites and internet etc.,) for more applications and today we could not live the life we live without the communication in all its forms without such signalling.

[@TVAyrshire]

Wow I did not know that, thanks so much for sharing. Amazing to think that happened in Ardrossan

[@christinecormack8776]

Lived in Ardrossan for 12 years .This video brought back many happy memories.The Lyric was a cinema before it was a bingo hall.As bairns we went there on a Saturday for the matinee.Family still live there.Good to see the positive regeneration taking place . " Lang mae yer lum reek ".

[@TVAyrshire]

Great to hear some happy memories Christine! We’re hoping to do histories of other Ayrshire towns and places, any suggestions?

[@iansinclair7581]

Back in 1978/79 I used to bring in TJP crude for the Shell refinery. I used to nip home to Langbank in Renfrewshire. I would cover for the guys from Devon/ Cornwall when we tank cleaned in Falmouth which we did after discharging the cargo.

[@davidraman3477]

Sitting in " ma hoose " in a chilly Sweden. Memories of going up the cannon hill and mucking about doon the docks we reignited from this video sojourn.

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks for sharing, amazing to hear from people around the world with memories of Ardrossan

[@bluenosewrx]

I was brought up in Ardrossan, some place to have a childhood, the harbour was our playground, loved it. I visit at least once a month as family still live there. The lyric was also a bingo hall for years, there were 13 pubs/ clubs when I was growing up. I saw the hoof print in the castle years ago, no idea if still there, the South beach area was so busy with arcades and a go cart track with all the visitors from Glasgow and further afield. The coalree was where we stole coal for the house. I could go on and on, great video and in ten years it’ll be just as bad, especially if the rumours of the ferry moving location to Troon.

[@TVAyrshire]

Great memories, thanks for sharing!

[@glentyan2505]

What a lovely film, I'm sure like many it took them back many decades with Parents and Grandparents of days oot doon the coast. Many a Sunday School trip was had to Saltcoats, Ardrossan and South Beach with little delineation of the towns involved. Even today it's our go-to place for a walk along the front as it is for many. Thanks for illuminating Ardrossan's History and keeping it alive,

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks for such a lovely comment, really glad you enjoyed it!

[@maykerr4813]

My Husband was born in Ardrossan, Grandparents Aunt Uncles Cousins Father as well....the video really gave us the History of this once thriving bustling Town.....looking forward to your next video maybe one of Saltcoats would like some history of my old home town..thanks..

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks so much, if you haven’t seen it already Aidan did a film on the history of Saltcoats which you can watch here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWnEpIOfp7mkoMU Something we could possibly revisit on this channel

[@Chrysilla_QuantumHealing]

I really enjoyed watching this. You really took me back into history

[@neilking]

That was very good.

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks Neil 😃

[@staceymurray9644]

really enjoyed your video i am thinking of moving to Ardrossan and this video made my mind up

[@elizabethmartin5902]

Terrific film insight of Ardrossan well done enjoyed so much Betty Martin

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks so much, we really enjoyed making it

[@janicemackie611]

I was born in the Ardrossan fire station where my father was fire chief in 1954….later immigrated to Canada in 1957….

[@TVAyrshire]

Wow that’s amazing thanks for sharing

[@danum442]

A beautiful town and beautiful people in Ardrossan and the three toons. My mum was born just off Glasgow Street. Every time I visit I feel like I am home (despite being a dirty Englishman - with Scots blood). I would urge anyone that has never visted to go and wander the beauty of Ardrossan. Fantastic video xx

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks for your comment, it is a fantastic wee place!

[@mikeh7617]

Hi Shaun, where was your mum born and when, because my mum was born in Princes Street, just off Glasgow Street.

[@danum442]

@@mikeh7617 she was born on princes place just one street up 😊

[@mikeh7617]

my mum was born in 1925, and yours ? she worked in the Lyric cinema in glasgow street

[@noreenclark2568]

Interesting content , I've no idea what Ardrossan will look like in ten years time but whatever happens I'm sure you will still call it home 😊

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks Noreen for the lovely comment!

[@rogergriffith286]

Very informative. Good to see the old vs new photographs. The reconstruction of the castle was very helpful in undertstanding the present day ruins.

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks Roger 😊

[@maycoats4901]

Thoroughly enjoyed this wee film.very interesting thankyou.

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks very much, we’re hoping to do a few more soon, any other Ayrshire towns or villages you’d like to see?

[@MrSnout5]

I never knew anything about Ardrossan until I worked as a parcel delivery courier for several months. Going round the whole town daily for weeks on end and talking to local people, I grew to love the place and might live there one day.

[@TVAyrshire]

That’s great to hear, it really is a great wee place 👍

[@gordonruthven7656]

excellent video, never knew about the cinema on princes street. Ardrossan was always a drab place to stay and now looking better with the refurbished harbour area.

[@derekporter7658]

I remember the cranes at Ardrossan harbour, especially the cargo there which was sulphur. I'm originally from Kilwinning, and can remember Ardrossan in the 1970's. Shame it's changed beyond recognition.

[@TVAyrshire]

Could you smell the sulphur? I can imagine it being such a busy harbour

[@derekporter7658]

@@TVAyrshire before I got into a fight at school, which led to my loss of smell (even to this day), yes I could! It was howffin! I'm looking forward to seeing your Kilwinning video. I have great memories of the place. Lived there from birth (1971) to June 1980. Moved to Edinburgh after my folks split up with my dad remaining in Kilwinning. Had been back and forward to Kilwinning from 1980 to 83. And have been through it recently ( the place has changed, not for the best in my opinion, and I have to admit it saddened me a great deal).

[@TVAyrshire]

@@derekporter7658 Ha, it's a very distinct smell, must have been rotten! Thanks for sharing, Kilwinning is definitely on the list for this year 👍

[@JamieW-o7b]

Fish supper, English Street.......memories!

[@TVAyrshire]

Making me hungry 😂

[@JamieW-o7b]

@@TVAyrshire Hahaha! I asked in there, what fish have you got, the reply was fushy fush! They only use haddock I discovered!!

[@TVAyrshire]

@@JamieW-o7b ha brilliant!

[@mscoop74]

Crackin' video. Really looking forward to the rest of this series. Much love from Kilwinning. x 😊

[@TVAyrshire]

Glad you enjoyed it! Still plans afoot for the rest of the series...

[@salt_cots]

My father worked for Shell in Ardrossan for most of his working life. He was very proud of it and we scattered his ashes near the site of the former buildings.

[@TVAyrshire]

I'm sure he would have had a few stories! Thanks for sharing

[@Wardog-rf1tx]

Born in Ardrossan in January 1954, attended Winston Primary 1959-63, 1963-1969 Stanley Secondary. Worked construction for Auchinharvey Academy 1970-1971. ICI Stevenson 1973-1974. British Army June 1974-1982. Then of to Alberta Canada, where I have lived and worked in various towns and cities since Oct 1982. The Canadian Military Medical Forces 1989-2009 (Medically retired 16 sept 2009). + concurrently Registered Civilian Paramedic 1988 - 2016 (Permanent Disability April 2014) living the good like as a retired senior in Medicine Hat Alberta. ( if you ever served at B.A.T.U.S, you know where I am lol) in January 2024 I will turn 70. Not sure how many trips back to Scotland I have left in me?, but the next one is coming fast 18 Oct 2023 for sisters birthday on the 20th October. I have been flying back and forth one and sometimes twice in a year since 2001 till I became a PURBLOOD!!!, in March 2020 while just arriving in Scotland for a wedding, then having to scramble to get out of the UK as Air Canada and West-jet emailed use to say they had cancelled our return flights to Canada. AND OUR SHITTY PRIME MINISTER WAS CLOSING THE BORDERS. My first flight back to Ardrossan was to say Farewell to my school boy friend and Brother from another mother Tommy, I arrived at cross house hospital the evening of the 15 august 2023, and had that and the 16 with Tommy, the 17 till the end were very sad for me. My life in a Nutshell.

[@TVAyrshire]

Wow thanks for sharing!

[@seaghanobuadhaigh8240]

I saw the hoofprint as a child, before the vandals smashed it up. It was a very ordinary looking horse's hoofprint set in stone at an odd angle.

[@mcochrane3348]

Well done. Lovely music too. Who did the music?

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks, most of the music is from stock libraries and details are listed in the description 😊

[@michaelbarclay4803]

AUT AGERE AUT MORI

[@2msvalkyrie529]

AUT CAESAR AUT NULLUS

[@CalMacandWaverleyEnthusiast]

I’m surprised I didn’t see you in Ardrossan harbour, I was out and about in the harbour that day as the Isle of Arran was berthed rather peculiarly. Not that anyone else realises but you can tell in your video. Only little thing I noticed is you said the Eglinton basin was repurposed for the marina when it’s Eglinton Dock that was repurposed. The Eglinton basin is still the Eglinton basin where the Isle of Arran is in your video when alongside the Irish berth. But that’s me just being pedantic.

[@TVAyrshire]

Thanks for your comment, we must have just missed you that day! Thanks for the info, we're always learning and happy to be corrected

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Ardrossan has a History.....??????!

[@TVAyrshire]

Who knew!?

[@paulredmond5956]

The lyric was not a cinema it was a bingo hall

[@TVAyrshire]

Hi Paul, I think it was both, here is where we got some of our information www.threetowners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2290

[@brianmcculloch6341]

The lyric was a cinema. That was it's original purpose. Saturday matinees cost 6d in the late 50s.It was later 'repurposed' several times.

[@mikeh7617]

My mum was an usher in the lyric cinema around the beginning and end of the second world war, so it definately was a cinema.

[@johnnierainey01]

The Lyric was indeed a cinema. I remember as a lad living round the corner in Glasgow Street, watching firstly Pearl & Dean advertisements then Gaumont British News before a "B" movie, typically an Audie Murphy western then following the intermission during which I would consume an "Orange Maid" ice lolly, then on to the main film. Of course, in those days most folks would stand for the playing of the national anthem at the end of the show...ahh, the memories. The Lyric was a terrific cinema Paul, sorry that it disappeared before your time.

[@livvymunro1929]

I remember the Lyric as a picture house in the 50s. Like the Grange in Stevenston, it was rather in the shadow of the three Saltcoats cinemas (the Regal, La Scala and Countess) which showed the current blockbusters on the circuit. The Lyric tended to show older films or films on their second run. I remember the excitement of getting the A&S Herald on a Friday to see what films would be showing in the coming week. If it was a really popular movie at the Regal, you had to book at a wee booking office in Hamilton Street or stand in a long queue to get in.