Skelmorlie
Encyclopedia
Skelmorlie is a village in North Ayrshire
, Scotland
.
Although it is the northernmost settlement in the council area of North Ayrshire it is contiguous with Wemyss Bay
, which is in Inverclyde
. The dividing line is the Kelly Burn, which flows into the Firth of Clyde
just south of the Rothesay
ferry terminal. Despite their proximity, the two villages have historically been divided, Skelmorlie in Ayrshire
and Wemyss Bay in Renfrewshire
.
Skelmorlie itself is divided into two sections, Lower and Upper Skelmorlie. There is one primary school in this village, with secondary age pupils going to Largs
Academy in North Ayrshire.
In common with this part of the Clyde foreshore the rich red sandstone
is a prominent feature of the landscape and housing in Skelmorlie.
, south of the village, is a tower house
built on the site of an older structure in 1502. Much altered and added to since, it is an ancient seat of the Clan Montgomery
(a notable burial tomb of the family can be seen at Skelmorlie Aisle
in Largs). During the nineteenth century the village was once home to many Glasgow
tea
barons. On the cliff above the shore a large hydropathic institution once stood, with access from the main road via a lift
whose shaft was hewn out of the rock face. The building later operated as a hotel, but was demolished in the 1990s.
To the south of Skelmorlie is the serpent mound, a prehistoric, perhaps druidic, site apparently carved either deliberately for religious uses or by nature then reused due to its natural shape.
On Saturday 18 April 1925, an embankment on the reservoir
which belonged to the Eglinton
Estate and provided the main water supply for the whole village gave way, releasing millions of gallons of water down through the village. After 10 minutes many homes, streets and gardens were shattered and five people, four of them children, lay dead.
The composer and arranger Brian Fahey lived in Skelmorlie until his death in 2007. Nowadays Skelmorlie has a population of 1880 residents.
In the early part of the 20th century the Royal Navy
used a measured nautical mile
in the Firth of Clyde off Skelmorlie, known as the 'Skelmorlie Mile' as the range for speed trials of new warships.
Recently Skelmorlie has been in the news as reports of a rogue creature known as 'the skelmorlie panther' have been sighted in and around the area. Numerous witnesses have come forward but without any photographic evidence the beast's actual species is still a mystery. According to most witnesses the creature is said to be larger than a cat and smaller than a bear.
North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Although it is the northernmost settlement in the council area of North Ayrshire it is contiguous with Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay is a village on the coast of the Firth of Clyde falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The name may derive from the Gaelic uaimh, meaning 'cave'...
, which is in Inverclyde
Inverclyde
Inverclyde is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Together with the Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county of Renfrewshire - which current exists as a registration county and lieutenancy area - located in the west...
. The dividing line is the Kelly Burn, which flows into the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
just south of the Rothesay
Rothesay, Argyll and Bute
The town of Rothesay is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It can be reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay which offers an onward rail link to Glasgow. At the centre of the town is Rothesay Castle, a ruined castle which dates back to the 13th...
ferry terminal. Despite their proximity, the two villages have historically been divided, Skelmorlie in Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
and Wemyss Bay in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire (historic)
Renfrewshire or the County of Renfrew is a registration county, the Lieutenancy area of the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, and one of the counties of Scotland used for local government until 1975. Renfrewshire is located in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland, south of the River Clyde,...
.
Skelmorlie itself is divided into two sections, Lower and Upper Skelmorlie. There is one primary school in this village, with secondary age pupils going to Largs
Largs
Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" in Scottish Gaelic....
Academy in North Ayrshire.
In common with this part of the Clyde foreshore the rich red sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
is a prominent feature of the landscape and housing in Skelmorlie.
History
Skelmorlie's history is recorded as far back as the fifteenth century. Skelmorlie CastleSkelmorlie Castle
Skelmorlie Castle is a castle in North Ayrshire, to the south of the village of Skelmorlie, on the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The castle was formerly the seat and stronghold of the Montgomery Clan.-History:...
, south of the village, is a tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
built on the site of an older structure in 1502. Much altered and added to since, it is an ancient seat of the Clan Montgomery
Clan Montgomery
-Origins of the Clan:Clan Montgomery originated in Wales, and emigrated to Scotland in the 12th century as vassals of the FitzAlans. The family derives its surname from lands in Wales, likely from the Honour of Montgomery which was located near the Shropshire lands of the FitzAlans...
(a notable burial tomb of the family can be seen at Skelmorlie Aisle
Skelmorlie Aisle
The Skelmorlie Aisle of Largs Old Kirk is the remains of a church in the town of Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland.-History:The majority of the kirk was demolished in 1802 when the new parish church came into use, but the aisle, a division of the once larger building containing the mausoleum, was...
in Largs). During the nineteenth century the village was once home to many Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
barons. On the cliff above the shore a large hydropathic institution once stood, with access from the main road via a lift
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
whose shaft was hewn out of the rock face. The building later operated as a hotel, but was demolished in the 1990s.
To the south of Skelmorlie is the serpent mound, a prehistoric, perhaps druidic, site apparently carved either deliberately for religious uses or by nature then reused due to its natural shape.
On Saturday 18 April 1925, an embankment on the reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
which belonged to the Eglinton
Earl of Eglinton
Earl of Eglinton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland.Some authorities spell the title: Earl of Eglintoun In 1859 the thirteenth Earl of Eglinton, Archibald Montgomerie, was also created Earl of Winton in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which gave him an automatic seat in the House of Lords,...
Estate and provided the main water supply for the whole village gave way, releasing millions of gallons of water down through the village. After 10 minutes many homes, streets and gardens were shattered and five people, four of them children, lay dead.
The composer and arranger Brian Fahey lived in Skelmorlie until his death in 2007. Nowadays Skelmorlie has a population of 1880 residents.
In the early part of the 20th century the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
used a measured nautical mile
Nautical measured mile
A nautical measured mile is a nautical mile which is marked by two pairs of towers. A mile is measure by sailing on a given bearing and lining up the pairs of towers...
in the Firth of Clyde off Skelmorlie, known as the 'Skelmorlie Mile' as the range for speed trials of new warships.
Recently Skelmorlie has been in the news as reports of a rogue creature known as 'the skelmorlie panther' have been sighted in and around the area. Numerous witnesses have come forward but without any photographic evidence the beast's actual species is still a mystery. According to most witnesses the creature is said to be larger than a cat and smaller than a bear.
Further reading
- Skelmorlie by Walter Smart, published locally in 1969. Now out of print but a useful source of local history. Available on-line at Scribd