North Ayrshire Heritage and Cultural Services

13/10/2026

On the 21st of October, 1874 the 953 ton paddle-steamship Chusan was run aground at Crinan Rock, near Horse Island at Ardrossan.

Constructed by John Elder and Co., Glasgow for use by the China Steam Navigation Company of Shanghai, the ship was launched on the 17th of September, just one month before the fateful events at Ardrossan.

The ship was captained by George Coate Johnson, a 37 year old American who was nicknamed Whispering Johnson due to his booming voice.

The ship ran the measured mile at Wemyss Bay and arrived at Waterford in Ireland, with the intention of proceeding to Shanghai via the Suez Canal. Fatefully, one of Chusan’s paddle wings was damaged and instead of heading for Shanghai, it was decided to send the vessel home to the Clyde for repairs. It would be the last journey Chusan would make.

On Wednesday the 21st of October, Chusan was heading for the Clyde when it encountered a fierce storm. On board, Captain Johnson had a crew of 48 plus his heavily pregnant wife Harriet, their 4 year old son George and his wife’s sister Miss Helen Elliot.

The decision was taken to head for the safety of Ardrossan but on the approach was dashed on the Crinan Rock some 50 yards from the pier head and, almost immediately, the ship broke in two.

The forward section of the ship stayed afloat, drifting towards the pier where some crew were able to leap to safety. Meanwhile, the aft section was trapped on the rocks. The desperate scene saw the captain, his family and some of his crew, clinging to anything they could to stop being thrown into the tumultuous sea.
Harriet Johnson was tossed overboard and George jumped in to save her, holding her afloat until she could be pulled back aboard. Sadly, George was unable to be rescued, drowning in the process.

In all, the captain and 16 of the crew lost their lives on that fateful day. In the following weeks, their bodies washed up at various points in Ardrossan. The body of Captain Johnson was found close to North Crescent and was sent back to America where he was buried in Salem, Massachusetts.

On the 22nd of December, a couple of months after the tragedy, Mrs Johnson gave birth to twins – a boy named DeCourcey Elliot Johnson and a girl named Decosta May Johnson.

There is a monument in Ardrossan, that was erected in memory of those who died. Do you know where it is (and have you seen it)?

A) Ardrossan Harbour
B) Ardrossan Cemetery
C) Ardrossan Parish Church

Let us know in the comments below for this sad .

12/10/2026

Saturday was the annual conference of the Ayrshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, held at the Harbour Art Centre in Irvine. This year's subject was Changing Ayrshire Landscapes and included many fantastic speakers who discussed a wide variety of topics including Irvine Harbour and the Irvine Development Corporation.

Our archivists attended this event and exhibited some items from their collections which illustrated the historical changes which have taken place throughout Ayrshire that ultimately changed the landscape. This included records from the collections of Irvine Burgh, Irvine Development Corporation and ICI Ardeer Explosives.

Ayrshire Archives is the local authority archive service for South, East and North Ayrshire Councils. To find out more about them and their collections, please visit their website https://www.ayrshirearchives.org.uk/ where you can explore their new catalogue. Also give them a follow on Facebook Ayrshire Archives

Thanks to for a wonderful conference!

08/10/2026

Do you remember when our wonderful model of the frigate 'Caledonia', went for conservation to AOC Archaeology earlier this year?

Well they have written a wonderful blog post all about the conservation process!

Built in 1804 by William Dunlop as thanksgiving for his survival during the Napoleonic Wars, the frigate was displayed in the Ardrossan Parish Church in Saltcoats until 1908, when it was moved to St Cuthberts Church. Where it was displayed until very recently, when the church closed its doors; the model was then donated to the North Ayrshire Heritage Centre.

You can read the full blog post at their website below:

Read about the conservation treatment of the Caledonia Ship Model, from the North Ayrshire Heritage Centre.

06/10/2026

On the 5th of October, 1947 the landscape artist George Houston died at his home in Dalry at the age of 78.

George was born on the 20th of January, 1869, in New Street, Dalry. His father, also called George, was a Flesher (butcher) and his mother, Mary Douglas, was a dealer in spirits.

The family moved to Saltcoats when George was 3 years old. First to Green Street and then to Countess Street. George attended Saltcoats Public School where his natural gift for drawing was noticed and nurtured.

Art seemed to be a theme of his life. His family home at Countess Street was the same street that Sir John Lavery had lived at when he was younger. Also, at school, George became friends with James Wylie, who would also go on to become an artist.

He left school in 1883 and started working for the Citizen Newspaper in Glasgow. He was a printers apprentice but was training in etching and lithograph and also attended the Glasgow School of Art as a part-time student, taking drawing classes.

By 1889, he was not only a husband but also a father. He married Anne Kerr Crawford who was also from Dalry. Together they had 10 children (6 daughters and 4 sons) and the marriage lasted for 58 years.

The family had lived in Glasgow while he worked for the Citizen Newspaper but they moved to Chapleton Cottage, West Kilbride with their growing family. George at this point described himself as a lithographic artist and sold his drawings and etchings locally, going door to door and selling them for half a crown.

He was an elected member of Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI), Royal Sottish Academy (RSA) and Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours (RSW). He served on various art councils, committees and institutes and he also taught at the Glasgow School of Art in his later years.

we have various works by George in our collection? Did you know George was chairman of a club in Dalry from 1906-07?

Can you tell us what the club was?

A) Dalry Burns Club
B) Dalry Art Club
C) Dalry Golf Club

Let us know in the comments below for this !

02/10/2026

Are you interested in researching your family tree, learning about the local history of your area, or exploring old maps of the area?

North Ayrshire’s Local History and Genealogy Library, which is based inside Irvine Library, is open this Saturday, 3rd October 2026, from 10am to 12.45pm.

Our normal opening hours are:

Monday 09.30am – 1pm & 2pm – 5pm
Tuesday 09.30am – 1pm & 2pm – 5pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 09.30am – 1pm & 2pm – 5pm
Friday 09.30am – 1pm & 2pm – 5pm
Saturday (first Saturday of month only) 09.30am – 1.45pm

To book an appointment contact us at:
Local History & Genealogy
168 High Street, Irvine, KA12 8AN
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01294 310015
Website: www.naheritage.co.uk

02/10/2026

On this day in history 80 years ago, the paddle steamer ‘Waverley’ was launched from the Pointhouse Shipyard, Glasgow, into the River Kelvin, on Wednesday 2nd October 1946.

Named after Sir Walter Scott’s first novel, she was christened by Lady Matthews, wife of Sir Ronald Matthews, chairman of the London & North-Eastern Railway (L.N.E.R.) and launched from Pointhouse Shipyard into the River Kelvin, where she was berthed for fitting out.

She was built by Messrs A. & J. Inglis Ltd, at their Pointhouse Shipyard in the Partick area of Glasgow, for the London and North Eastern Railway (L.N.E.R.), and was the first L.N.E.R. paddle steamer to be built by them after the second world war.

She was the third ship built by A. & J. Inglis Ltd., to carry the name Waverley. The first ship built in 1865 was wrecked off Guernsey in 1873; the second ship built in 1899, was requisitioned by the Admiralty as a minesweeper during both World Wars and was sunk during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.

A. & J. Inglis began construction of the new Waverley on 27th December 1945. Once built, she cost £107,725; weighed 693 tons and measured 235 feet long by 30 feet wide; and carried 1,350 passengers. Her features included two funnels, carrying the L.N.E.R.’s flag colours of red, white and black, and two masts.

The new Waverley was outfitted with modern dining saloons and lounges for both first and third-class passengers and was lit by electric lighting. On deck observation lounges provided shelter. First and third-class bars and a confectionary shop provided refreshments and snacks for the passengers.

On Monday 20th January 1947 she was towed to Victoria Harbour, Greenock, where Rankin and Blackmore installed their new triple expansion engine capable of achieving up to 17 knots, along with a coal-fired boiler.

She completed sea trials on Thursday 5th June 1947, achieving a maximum speed of 18.37 knots, after which she joined the L.N.E.R. Fleet. She went into service on Monday 16th June 1947, sailing from Craigendoran, Helensburgh, and cruised to Lochgoilhead and Arrochar, the route she was specifically built for, captained by J. E. Cameron who had been captain of the previous Waverley. In 1947 the Waverley was the largest sea-going passenger paddle steamer in the world.

Between 1948 and 1951 the Waverley was operated by the British Transport Commission/Caledonian Steam Packet Co. Following the nationalisation of the Railways she was operated by the British Railways Caledonian Steam Packet Co. from 1952. The funnels were repainted yellow with a black top. In 1965 a Scottish red lion rampant was painted on both sides of each funnel.

From 1969, the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. began merging with David MacBrayne Ltd., which became Caledonian MacBrayne in 1973. The Waverley was operated by Caledonian MacBrayne
until she was withdrawn from service in November 1973. Caledonian MacBrayne then gifted the Waverley to the Paddle Steamer Preservation (PSPS) for the sum of £1.

After inspecting the hull, the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society put out a public appeal through which they raised £100,000 to restore her. The Waverley was officially handed over to the Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, (a company formed by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society) on 8th August 1974 at James Watt Dock, Greenock. After being extensively restored the Waverley was put back into service on the Clyde in 1975.

Today the PS Waverley is recognised as the last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world and is listed by the National Historic Ships UK as being of national importance.

29/09/2026

View details and apply for this parks, gardens & green space (modern apprenticeship / trainee) role in with North Ayrshire Council on myjobscotland

29/09/2026

In September, 1929, Sheina Marshall returned to Scotland after having been part of the Great Barrier Reef Expedition. This 13-month expedition saw Sheina depart the UK in May 1928 en-route to Australia.

Jean MacAllister Marshall, known as Sheina, was born on the 20th of April, 1896 at 54 Kelvingrove Street, Glasgow. Her father was Dr. John Nairn Marshall and her mother Jean Colville Binnie. The family lived at Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.
Educated at home by a governess until 1909, she went on to attend Rothesay Academy and St. Margaret’s Boarding School at Polmont.

Her father was an enthusiastic amateur historian who founded the Bute Natural History Museum in Rothesay. Young Sheina developed a keen interest in Zoology and attended Glasgow University, graduating with a BSc in Zoology, Botany and Physiology in 1919.

She won the coveted Carnegie Scholarship and published her first scientific paper in 1921.

Upon Professor Kerr’s recommendation, she applied for a post at the Scottish Marine Biological Association’s Research Station in Millport, starting there in October 1922. Her job title was “Naturalist.”

Incredibly, she would hold this post for over 40 years, until her retirement in 1964. She still worked informally at the station into her 70’s, while also travelling to various marine laboratories around the world.

The Great Barrier Reef Expedition of 1928-1929 saw Sheina in charge of phytoplankton studies however, her work covered far more than that. She helped construct furniture and was a skilled microscopist. The expedition was led by Dr Charles Maurice Yonge of Cambridge University and one third of the team were women, a rarity at the time.

Today, almost a century later, their work is still referenced in academic works. Dr Yong stated:

“Looking back I cannot conceive of the Great Barrier Reef Expedition, a major event in the lives of all participants, without the scientific and personal contributions made by Sheina Marshall and A. P. Orr.”

In 1934 she was awarded a DSc (Doctor of Science) by Glasgow University. When the Royal Society of Edinburgh first admitted women as Fellows in 1949, Sheina MacAllister Marshall was one of the first five pioneering women to be admitted. In 1963 she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London and in 1966 she was awarded an Order of the British Empire.

As today is day, here is a little question for you. In 1977, a few days before her death, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from a foreign university…but which one?

A) University of Uppsala, Sweden

B) Aachen University, Germany

C) University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Let us know in the comments below!

25/09/2026

It's all change over at the Museum of the Cumbraes! Our successful Titanic exhibition has now left and we are installing another in partnership with Millport Town Hall. Watch this space!

We also have a new art exhibition in the museum courtesy of Harry, Audrey and Jack Sutton. The Cumbraes hold a special place in their hearts and that passion can be felt throughout all their amazing paintings.

We were fortunate to have a sneak preview as we were there at the pondering and head scratching stage, and we can promise you, you are in for a treat!

Museum of the Cumbraes
Garrison House
Isle of Cumbrae
KA28 0DJ

Open seven days

Free entry

24/09/2026

It's nearly the weekend and if you live within travelling distance of North Ayrshire, then why not take a look at some of the cracking events taking place this weekend as part of the Tidelines Book Festival that is on at the Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine.

Here's a few highlights to whet your appetite!

Here's a thought... what happens when Billy Connolly meets Alasdair Gray? Oh the Drama, by playwright and performer Alan Bissett, is a great opportunity to hear about Alan's work from the first idea through to the finished performance and his show, When Billy met Alasdair, which was inspired by a photograph of Billy Connolly and Alasdair Gray.

Friday 25th September, @7.30pm
Tickets available via:
https://tidelinesbookfestival.com/book-tickets/oh-the-drama-page-to-stage-and-back-again-with-alan-bissett/
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One that's right up our street is The Jewel Keepers by Sara Sheridan. Historical Fiction, Sara has a passion for telling the stories of forgotten women from history.
Her novel "The Jewel Keepers" has been described as a Scottish, female Da Vinci Code - a treasure hunt through history!

Saturday 26th September
https://tidelinesbookfestival.com/book-tickets/sara-sheridan-the-jewel-keepers/
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"To the Muckle Flugga and the Soppy Shores Beyond". What a great title! Join Edinburgh Makar/Poet Laureate Michael Pedersen on a waltz through his fiction (Muckle Fluggs, non fiction (Boy Friends) and poetry (the Cat Prince)

Saturday 26th September
https://tidelinesbookfestival.com/book-tickets/michael-pedersen-to-muckle-flugga-the-soppy-shores-beyond-chaired-by-nicola-meighan/
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Calling all fans of dark fairy tales, gothic secrets, and haunting stories… Kirsty Logan, the queen of weird girl fiction, will be in conversation with Lisa Kennedy, host of The Braw & The Brave podcast. Kirsty will be exploring folklore, myth, writing and all the strange wonderful places stories can take us and how she brings all of these elements together on the page.

Saturday 26th September
https://tidelinesbookfestival.com/book-tickets/kirsty-logan-weird-girl-fiction-chaired-by-lisa-kennedy-the-braw-the-brave-podcast/
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Kerri Andrews, the bestselling author of "Wanderers: a History of Walking and Pathfinding" will be discussing all things connected to women's walking and the long and inspirational history of women getting outdoors. This will have you wanting to lace up your boots!

Sunday 27th September @ 11am
https://tidelinesbookfestival.com/book-tickets/kerri-andrews-women-walking-chaired-by-caro-giles/
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Our Gaelic Bookcase will be a celebration of Gaelic books and culture with Whitehirst Primary pupils alongside Scotland's Makar, Peter Mackay. Expect storytelling, audience participation and music.

Sunday 27th September
https://tidelinesbookfestival.com/book-tickets/our-gaelic-bookcase/
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Harriet Tyce - Witch Trial. Join the Traitors contestant and former criminal barrister turned crime writer, Harriet, who will be discussing her fifth novel "Witch Trial", diving deep into law, dark secrets and courtroom drama.

Sunday 27th September
https://tidelinesbookfestival.com/book-tickets/harriet-tyce-witch-trial-chaired-by-susie-green/
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There is something here for everyone and if you want to see the rest of the programme, and see some of the short videos by the authors, then pop over to Tidelines Book Festival or to their website Tidelinesbookfestival.com where you can book your seats!