Saltcoats
| |
|---|---|
) Seafront and part of the Saltcoats skyline, 2013 | |
)  Saltcoats Location within North Ayrshire | |
| Population | 12,640 (mid-2016 est.)[1] |
| 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 | |
Saltcoats (Scottish Gaelic: Baile an t-Salainn) is a small town on the west coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland. The name is derived from the town's earliest industry when salt was harvested from the sea water of the Firth of Clyde, carried out in small cottages along the shore. It is part of the 'Three Towns' conurbation along with Ardrossan and Stevenston.
History
In the late-eighteenth century, several shipyards operated at Saltcoats, producing some sixty to seventy ships. The leading shipbuilder was William Ritchie, but in 1790 he moved his business to Belfast. By the early-nineteenth century, the town had stopped producing ships.
Governance
Saltcoats is part of the Ayrshire North & Arran constituency in the House of Commons and Cunninghame North constituency in the devolved Scottish Parliament. Both seats are held by the Scottish National Party.
Historically, Ardrossan has been part of the UK parliament constituencies North Ayrshire (1868–1918), Bute and Northern Ayrshire (1918–1983) and Cunninghame North (1983–2005). These constituencies traditionally returned Conservative or Unionist MPs until 1987, when the constituency was won by the Labour Party.
Transport
The harbour was designed by James Jardine in 1811.[2]
Saltcoats is served by regular bus and railway services. Primary bus services are provided by Stagecoach West Scotland, while rail services are operated by Abellio ScotRail.
Although Saltcoats currently only has a single railway station, the town was once served by a second railway station located in the north of the town, originally as part of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway. This station ceased regular passenger services on 4 July 1932,[3] and there is no trace of the station today bar a nearby bridge.
Notable people
- Alexander Allan, founder of the Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers
- Andrew Allan of the Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers
- Sir Hugh Allan, of the Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers
- George Biagi, Italian national rugby player
- William Burns (Scottish historian)
- Kenneth Campbell, recipient of the Victoria Cross
- Steve Clarke, professional footballer
- Hamish Fraser, former communist, traditionalist Catholic writer and local councillor
- Janice Galloway, author
- Michael Garrett, first Sir Bernard Lovell chair in astrophysics, Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics[4]
- Colin Hay, musician, singer-songwriter,[5] leader of Men at Work
- Al Howie, long-distance runner
- Bobby Lennox, professional footballer
- James Manson, engineer
- Hugh McMahon, professional footballer
- Hugh Munro, author[6]
- Graeme Obree, cyclist
- Robert Thornton, professional darts player
References
- ^ "Mid-2016 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "James Jardine: Overview of James Jardine". Scottish-places.info. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ Stansfield, page 7
- ^ "News and events - The University of Manchester - Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics". www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ "The Story Behind Colin Hay's "Maggie"". Milwaukee Public Radio Interview. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ Steve (4 October 2010). "Bear Alley: Hugh Munro". Bearalley.blogspot.ca. Retrieved 1 May 2016.