What's in a name?

Saltcoats derives its name from the ancient practice of boiling sea water to extract salt, which its habitants once carried out in their beachside houses known as "salt cots". Saltcoats grew and developed around its small harbour, built in 1685, which was used to facilitate the exportation of coal from the Stevenston coalfield to Ireland. Throughout the years the people of Saltcoats earned their living from a variety of activities such as salt panning, fishing, ship building and weaving. Saltcoats had always been a great favourite as a holiday destination, being only approximately
40 minutes away from Glasgow by train. The road system nowadays means that Saltcoats is a great run along the coast.

A brief history
In its early history, Saltcoats was divided into two; half belonged to the parish and barony of Stevenston, whose principal family was the Cunninghames, and the other half belonged to the Montgomeries of Eglinton, the owners of the barony of Ardrossan. Needless to say the two sides did not see eye to eye and Saltcoats suffered greatly from time to time, as it marked the boundary between the two sides. The people who lived in the Stevenston part of the town were reasonably self-sufficient, as the harbour and the saltworkers were in that area, but the people in Ardrossan relied heavily on the Earl of Eglinton to make a living and hostility was the outcome.


The feud between the families of Cunninghame and Montgomerie came to a head in 1526. Edward Cunninghame of Auchenharvie, Lord Glencairn, was murdered by the Montgomeries and their allies. In revenge Lord Glencairn's eldest son raised his supporters and raided the Montgomeries' territory burning their lands and Eglinton Castle itself. The damage inflicted by the Cunninghames on The Montgomeries was severe; the tenants, having no crops, were destitute and the Earl of Eglinton himself was in no position to alleviate their suffering as he lost most of his home and possessions and was receiving no rent from his lands.

James V was made aware of the situation and he decided to intervene on behalf of the Earl of Eglinton. One reason for his decision could have been the fact that the Earl of Eglinton was a Roman Catholic and the Earl of Glencairn was suspected of heresy and, indeed, of being in league with
Henry VIII, who was trying to gain domination of Scotland. As a result on 1st February 1528 Saltcoats was granted a Precept which gave it status of Burgh of Barony. Says the charter:-

"We make and create said village and the lands in like manner called Saltcottis with its pertinents into a free burgh of barony for ever; and we also grant to the inhabitants of said burgh now and in the time coming,
full power and free opportunity of buying and selling in the same, wine, wax, bread, woollen, linen, brough and grown and all other saleable commodities, with power and liberty to said burgesses, inhabitants, to hold out and keep in said burgh, bakers, brewers, fleshers and sellers both of flesh and fish and all work men necessary for the liberty of the
burgh in said barony.... We also grant .... with power .... of holding in the same for ever a market place and a weekly market on the Wednesday and free fairs annually on the feats of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mother and of St. Lawrence, for 8 days the same, with all the tholing (allowances) and liberties to or at the nine markets observed or to be observed in any matter prevalent, for ever."

As Saltcoats grew in size and population, so did the need for a proper infrastructure including a fire service, which it eventually established. More can be found out about the service including an original old hand operated fire-engine in the local museum.

This precept was granted directly to the Earl of Eglinton and was clearly designed to give him special powers to develop trade and industry within his part of Saltcoats. It is interesting that the precept did not cover the Glencairn part of Saltcoats; obviously Lord Glencairn and his allies were a force to be reckoned with, even by the King!

The main advantage of Burgh of Barony status was that it gave the right to hold fairs and markets, as can be seen from the text quoted above. The first Saltcoats fair was presided over by the Abbot of Segton (Kilwinning) and his monks. The bay was lined with Highland wherries full of cattle, sheep, eggs and butter. The fair was followed by a dance which lasted into the 'wee sma oors'.

Struggle for Burgh status

A new era in the history of Saltcoats began when Sir Robert Cunninghame purchased the parish of Stevenston in 1658. The parish of Stevenston was responsible for the administration of much of Saltcoats, the remainder being responsibility of Ardrossan. His first act was to sink coal mines which produced a considerable amount of coal - much of which was exported to Dublin. In order to further expand this trade, Sir Robert's nephew, Robert Reid Cunninghame, drew up plans for a harbour. But he didn't stop there; he also constructed salt pans and by the beginning of the 19th century Saltcoats' salt was famous as far afield as New York.

By 1793 the population was 2200 and growing. However, it was not until 1852 that the first attempt was made to make Saltcoats a police burgh, with the power to elect councillors who could levy rates and promote public works, similar to district councils today. The proposal met with considerable opposition and was shelved for another two years.

The issue was raised again in 1853 when the house-holders were asked to decide but only those householders who paid £10 or more in rent were eligible to vote and opponents of the proposal used this restriction to stir up more opposition. On the 11th November, the day appointed for the vote, there was much agitation in the town and the opponents mustered at the head of Raise Street and accompanied by a brass band, marched to the old Town Hall, where the Sheriff sustained the objections and the meeting was adjourned. A third attempt was made in 1865 but it did not get past the preliminary stage. Another effort was made in 1883 and still another in 1884, both with negative results. At length, in the following year the attempt was successful and the town was declared a burgh without a poll on 23rd May 1885.

Below is reproduced, from the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald of 29th May 1885, a report on the events leading up to the declaration of Saltcoats as a burgh:

Saltcoats - a Burgh


"The ratepayers of Saltcoats have at last accomplished a peaceful revolution and we take the adoption of the Burgh Act on Saturday without a division as a most hopeful augury for the future good management of the town. One thing, it illustrates the growth of intelligence and a fuller recognition of the need there is for settled government, amongst all classes of the community. It has, however, taken over 30 years to bring this desirable result about. So long ago as 1851 a movement was originated to erect Saltcoats into a Burgh. It simmered for two years and culminated at the close of 1853 when it received its quietus for a time. The arguments for and against were the same as still - those in favour asked for the change that the streets might be kept clean, the town better lighted and increased police powers; the contents with the status quo were satisfied what voluntary effort would accomplish all that was necessary. A strong argument in their favour then was that the voting was confined to ratepayers occupying premises rented at £10, hence front the commencement of the struggle the watchwords of the opposition party were - "No Vote, No Burgh", "Fair Play - What is politically wrong cannot be morally right", "Taxation without Representation is robbery". Boycotting was publicly advocated and the standard of the them public taste may be guessed at, when there was displayed on a banner a 'Death Head with cross bones'. The movement practically collapsed on the Sheriff, at the suggestion of the late Mr. C.D. Gairdner, the Commissioner for the Earl of Eglinton, ordering a new and correct list to be made up, the late Thomas McCash, Ayr, agent for the opposition being prepared to show that the list lodged was faulty. This decision was accepted as a victory and was duly celebrated by a general illumination. The good resolutions which went to achieve great results by voluntary effort were, as might have been expected, short lived, and in 1865, and again last year the movement was renewed only to be defeated by determined organised opposition. The smallness of the majority by which the attempt of last year was defeated, and possibly the influential character of those who were the promoters, and the laudable forbearance of those who were then active in opposition, probably had the most to do with the unanimity on Saturday, and it is well that it was settled without further appeal to a poll. It saves expense and had the further good of preserving friendly feeling, and in a small community, this is desirable. One mistake has, we think, been made - the Board of Commissioners to be elected would have been of a much more representative character had the town been divided into say three wards, and that will yet be seen, but as the result on the whole is so satisfactory we are not despaired to cry over spilt milk."

That day must be one of the most eventful in the history of Saltcoats. The town became a self-sustained unit and responsible, for the first time, for its own affairs. The town embarked on a new era of municipal management which to this day has been singularly successful.