Irvine, North Ayrshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Irvine | |
|---|---|
| Scots: | Irvine |
| Location | |
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| OS grid reference: | NS325395 |
| Statistics | |
| Population: | 33,090 (2001 Census) |
| Administration | |
| Council area: | North Ayrshire |
| Constituent country: | Scotland |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Police force: | Strathclyde Police |
| Lieutenancy area: | Ayrshire and Arran |
| Former county: | Ayrshire |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | IRVINE |
| Postal district: | KA11 & KA12 |
| Dialling code: | 01294 |
| Politics | |
| Scottish Parliament: | Cunninghame South |
| UK Parliament: | Central Ayrshire |
| European Parliament: | Scotland |
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Irvine is a coastal new town in North Ayrshire, Scotland.
The town was once a haunt of none other than Robert Burns, who now has two streets in the town named after him, Burns Street and Burns Crescent. Despite being classed as a new town, Irvine has had a long history stretching back many centuries and was classed as a Royal Burgh. There are also conflicting rumours that Mary, Queen of Scots was briefly involved in the towns history. Some say she stayed briefly at Seagate Castle. To this day there is still an annual festival, called Marymass held in the town. It is the birthplace of the current First Minister of Scotland, Jack McConnell.
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[edit] Harbour History
The harbour for Irvine has had a long history and once was one of the most prominent ports in Scotland after Glasgow. Across from the main harbour itself there was a terminal for the ICI-Nobel Explosives plant on the River Garnock. Much of the harbour went into decline in the 19th Century when Glasgow, Greenock and Port Glasgow achieved higher prominence as sea ports. Despite this, there was still commercial sea traffic though the harbour went into further decline in the 20th Century. A shipyard, Ayrshire shipbuilding remained active until after World War II, though it's last ship was built just prior to the war. Afterwards it was involved in refitting ships and also in the manufacture of fitting for other vessels including the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2. Irvine Harbour is now officially closed as a commercial port and now houses a small number of privately owned pleasure craft. It is also now home to part of the Scottish Maritime Museum with numerous vessels on display, including the 'Spartan', one of the last surviving Clyde puffers.
For a long time, the people of Irvine had their own lifeboat. They saved many lives and took part in many rescues, including the rescue of The Frey - a Norwegian vessel - in 1894. For more information on the crew visit the Sinclair Story website.
Irvine Harbour is home to a unique and distinctive building which marked the tide level. Built in 1906 and devised by Martin Boyd, the Harbour Master at that time. The tide was marked in two ways depending on the time of day. During daylight, the level was marked with a ball and pulley system attached to the mast. At night, a number of lamps marked the tidal level. Unfortunately the building has fallen into some disrepair. The mast has been partially dismantled. There have been plans to try to refurbish this unusual building which so far, has come to nothing.
The Harbour and surrounding area became an area heavily blighted by industrial waste even long after some of the industries were gone. There was a waste bing known by the local name of 'The Blue Billy' due to the colour of the waste there. During World War II a Royal Observer Corps watch tower was sited here giving a wide overall view of the Firth of Clyde. It is also credited with the first visual sighting of Rudolf Hess's Messerschmitt 110.
Irvine Harbour was a prime target for Adolf Hitler's invasion of the British Isles, being a major boating district and also in near vicinity to ICI weapons development.
[edit] New Town Development
Unlike most New Towns which were either completely new build or only had small villages near them, Irvine was already a sizeable town. A company, Irvine Development Corporation was set up in the 1960's to oversee the development of Irvine which involved massive and sometimes controversial development to the old parts of the town. Irvine was officially classed as a New Town in 1966. IDC was widely criticised for some of their actions including the demolition of large swathes of the Fullarton part of the town, the Bridge and most of Bridgegate in 1972 - 1973. One positive development of IDC's was the Irvine Beach Park from 1975 and the Magnum Leisure Centre opened in 1976. This area, behind the harbour had been largely industrial wasteland for many years and was regarded as an eyesore. The area was developed with vast amounts of greenery making it a pleasant place to walk. IDC also built many council estates in the area surrounding Irvine, among these being Bourtreehill, Broomlands and newer build houses on the existing village of Girdle Toll.
Irvine New Town officially took in the villages of Springside, Dreghorn and Girdle Toll, as well as the town of Kilwinning. This idea seems to have faded throughout the years, probably partially due to the disbanding of IDC and less people in the newer generations knowing about the idea of the 'new town', and partly as people in those communities maybe felt their own sense of identities were being compromised.
The beach itself for many years was criticised for its lack of cleanliness due to an extremely dated outflow pipe from the sewage system and regularly was classed as one of the dirtiest beaches in Scotland. Recent changes to the treatment of sewage however has resulted in tests(2006)by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency returning results showing excellent to good quality.
[edit] Constituency
The Westminster Constituency of Central Ayrshire is currently held by the Labour Party. The Member of Parliament is Brian Donohoe.
The Scottish Parliament Constituency of Cunninghame South is currently held by the Labour Party. The Member of the Scottish Parliament is Irene Oldfather
[edit] Transport
Irvine is well served with numerous transport links. A railway station, originally built by the Glasgow and South Western Railway company, is situated at the west end of the town which is on the main line between Stranraer and Glasgow. The rail company responsible for local routes is First ScotRail who operate the carmine and cream liveried Diesel and Electric Multiple units of the former Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive. A comprehensive local bus network, coupled with frequent services to Ardrossan, Greenock, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Troon and Glasgow, is provided by Stagecoach West Scotland.
There are two primary road crossings over the River Irvine, the most southerly of which has been criticised for some years. It is situated on the site of the former Irvine - Kilmarnock rail link which has long since been closed. The bridge over the river there has long been unsuitable for heavy traffic being of a Bailey Bridge design which has been constantly repaired over the years.North Ayrshire Council has announced plans to renew the bridge in a £2m investment scheduled to start in 2007.
Irvine is also well served by several arterial roads, namely the A78 (Greenock - Prestwick), A71 (Irvine - Kilmarnock and beyond to Edinburgh), A737 (through the Garnock Valley to Glasgow International Airport and the M8) and the A736 (to Barrhead and Govan).
[edit] Notable residents
John Galt, the author born in 1779. His family relocated to Greenock in 1789. Known as an associate of Lord Byron and the author of novels depicting Scottish rural life.
Elizabeth Buchan the founder of the Buchanites, an odd society of the Burnsian days which was launched in Irvine.
James Steadman, the possible inventor of the Screw Propellor is still buried in the Parish Graveyard.
David Sillar, good friend to Robert Burns, is also buried nearby.
Edgar Allan Poe spent a little time in a hotel on Bridgegate as a child. Close relatives of his foster father John Allan lie buried in the parish churchyard.
Ross Tollerton, Awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of the Aisne in 1914.
The Big Brother 7 UK contestant Sam Brodie.
Colin B. Liddell, the editor of the Tokyo Journal was born in nearby Kilwinning and was a resident of Irvine from 1976 to 1985.
[edit] Notable visitors
Mary I of Scotland is known to have slept at Eglinton Castle in Kilwinning and legend states she stopped at Seagate Castle on her journey the next day. A stone, believed to commemorate the visit has been found in Irvine. It is inscribed MQ 1560.
Louis Napoleon III of France was invited to the famous Eglinton Tournament which took place at Eglinton Castle near Kilwinning and resided at parre-terre in the centre of town.
Frederick the Great or Frederick II of Prussia after a trip to Irvine, visited Perceton before returning to Potsdam.
Sir Charles Lamb of Beauport is not to be confused with Sir Charles Lamb and has a fairly obscure history. Among other achievements, he was the Knight Marshall to the Royal Household during the coronation of Queen Victoria.
Edward I of England also known as Edward Longshanks possibly camped in Irvine.
Daniel Defoe was a Spy. One of his 'missions' included a survey of Irvine's harbour and port.
William Wallace enjoyed the fishing and fighting around the River Irvine. Most of his early exploits are firmly placed in the Irvine Valley. He was possibly present at the Capitulation of Irvine.
Alfred Nobel built an explosives factory in Ardeer which sits on the opposing bank of the River Irvine mouth.
Roddy Woomble, lead singer for Scottish band Idlewild, was born in Irvine in 1976.
Kris Boyd, Rangers and Scotland striker was born in the town in 1983.
[edit] Further reading
- McJannet, A (1938) "The Royal Burgh of Irvine"
- Strawhorn, J (1985) "The History of Irvine: From Royal Burgh to New Town"
- Pettigrew, D (1997) Old Irvine
- Stirrat, N (1998) Irvine
