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Stevenston
Stevenston maps
Historic maps of Stevenston and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Stevenston maps
Stevenston photos
We have no photos of Stevenston, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Kilwinning| Ardrossan| Irvine| Dalry| West Kilbride| Dundonald
Stevenston area books
Displaying 1 of 2 books about Stevenston and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Stevenston
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Ayrshire memories
Crossing The Moor
My secondary education was completed after spending 4 years at Irvine Royal Academy. The school was broken into two buildings known as the old school (pictured) and the new school in Kilwinning Road. Classes were conducted between both buildings and often meant crossing the moor to and from either building. This was fine and considered a great timewaster in good weather but was a pain in pouring rain and ice & snow etc.
The old school was a beautiful building which was loaded with character and that also included some of the teachers who could be characters in their own right, the older of whom wore the black robes and generally carried a belt for discipline, although I never saw one used. The classes were split following the results from the 11+ exam and we were taught according to capabilities. I loved it.
I loved the old building, the character, and the learning (although the exams were a bit stressful). However we survived and although that... Read more
Irvine Royal Academy
In relation to Margaret's memory of 'crossing the moor', we did the same! I have various memories of gym periods in embarrassing shorts, running around on 'the moor', with the boys from the 'new' Ravenspark School (now Irvine) passing us and whistling etc. Heather C. and Joan R. were my pals -I've used my own name here - maybe someone remembers? The old building was lovely, I loved the 'lecture room', seen top left of the pic, huge windows onto the moor. Yes, teachers with flowing black robes. I bumped into Mr. Rab McGarry (Art) a few years back, loved art, (got my degree just recently!). Mr. McGarry was so cool, he seemed surprised when I told him we thought he was cool - proves he MUST have been! Did we really see Gallagher and Lyle at Ravenspark in 1970-71-just after school bell, walked in still with uniforms on - organised - (remember head teach telling us not to miss the bus)! Met Jean McKee in London... Read more
29 Seagate, Irvine
Hi, my name is Colin, I live in Lowestoft, Suffolk. The picture you have of 29 Seagate, Irvine is part of the building we lived in, the part you see was used as a workshop when we lived there, he did upholstery. We had no electricity, gas only. I loved to see the part in your picture, it brings back memories. We used to take our accumulator up to the High Street to a bicycle shop to be charged up for the radio, near there Willie Kilmarnock had a toy shop, they didn't have any children, they were such nice people, I don't suppose they are still alive, they used to give me toys that were damaged. I remember Mcnab the plumber's son, he had a large train set which went up and down the back garden, being young I had never seen one that size before. There were some cold winters in them days when the river froze over. I was going to Loudon Street School at that time.... Read more
Remembering "The Good & The Bad"
I well remember "Stasher" (Murray) the PE teacher and at the time I thought he was a real "sadist" but, on reflection, I have to thank him for instilling in me the fact that physical exercise is "nae bad thing". I also remember the excellent crafts teachers Mr. Robertson who taught metalwork right next door to my favourite teachers Woodworking class, Mr (Geordie) Wotherspoon - a most excellent teacher who had a very interesting habit of ...... wait for it ...... bringing into class two .22 air rifles just before the long summer break - I remember helping to shift the workbenches to one side and firing the air rifles from his teaching dais !!! - not something that would ever be permitted today.
Whenever I complete a piece of my own woodworking and I'm satisfied with it I usually end up saying "Mr. Wotherspoon would've been proud of that".
Another teacher I have reason to be grateful to is Miss McAlpine who taught maths whilst wearing her mortar board... Read more
Seagate
I was born and lived at the big building No 33 Seagate, it was a great street to grow up in. Outside the close was a gas lamp where we children played around. This wee house was for a long time empty then a family called Frasers moved in, later it was taken over by Wullie Findlay who was famous for his kilt making, he used to make my brother's kilts, then when he grew out of them they were reversed for me, this was what we had to do in the 1940s. Next door where you see the gap was a wee cottage where two families lived, Andersons and Clarkes. I have very fond memories of Seagate and still go back regular to have a wee look.
2 Armour Street
I cannot trace my grand father's birth. The second child registered as born at 2 Armour Street, Riccarton, Kilmarnock (now demolished). Can anyone supply me with an old photo of the area?
Irvine of The 1950's
My last entry was quite some time ago when I invited anyone interested to contact me on an EMail address which is no longer available. If anyone has attempted to contact me and (regrettably) has not received a reply I apologise and I would welcome hearing from any of the Irvinite's whose company I enjoyed 'a them years ago - the new and current EMail address is "jayjaynor@gmail.com".
Ian
