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A (very) brief history of West Kilbride

6 June
With evidence of Roman remains and neolithic stone, West Kilbride's is a rich and diverse history. Here are some important dates:

c. 500AD - St Brigid of Kildare (commonly known as St Bride) arrives and establishes church.
13th/14th Century - Tower that becomes Crosbie Castle built.
14th Century - Portencross Castle re-built on rocky promontory. It was previously situated on Auld Hill.
15th Century - Law Castle built for Princess Mary (daughter of King James 2 of Scotland).
1660 - Kirktonhall House built (now one of the oldest remaining houses in the area).
1739 - Portencross Castle roof torn off in storm.
1826 - Hunterston Brooch (thought to be from around 700AD) discovered in nearby hills by two locals.
1885 - Nobel Peace Prize winner Sir John Boyd Orr moves to West Kilbride with his family as a five year old boy.
1921 - War Memorial built.
2004 - Ministry of Defence releases report rating West Kilbride one of the best UFO areas in the UK.
September 2006 - West Kilbride Craft Town wins 'Enterprising Britain 2006' award.

Now it's your turn.

Above are just a few important dates - there's far more to the heritage of the town. There's a lot of interest in local history, and lots and lots of local knowledge. And here's your chance to tell everyone about it.
If you have an interest in the history of West Kilbride - either in general or in specific points - then you can post it here. There must be many, many pictures of the village from throughout the 20th century - why not post them here, and ask other people what they remember?

s1westkilbride is your site, so be one of the first to help build it!

3 January | 8:54:26

davy moore says

we are meant to have a rich history but things seem 2 happen every 50 years, thats not good. and what about the furure? its deffo not craft shops, there was nothing to do when my dad was young and there was nothing to do when i was young and now theres nothing for my kids genaration to do. sort it out, theres tennis courts down the glen doin nothing until wimbleden starts and then doin nothing when wimbldon finishes, build 5 a side fake grass football parks or astroturf coz every1 in the towns football mad. from david moore

13 August | 1:08:39

Jim McCreadie says

~ Thomas Lovell ~

1852 - 1911

"Servant to prominent citizen"

Thomas (Tom) LOVELL was born May 5, 1852 at West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland. As the decennial Censuses of Great Britain started in 1801 and has been made every 10 years since, apart from 1941 due to the Second World War, our first meeting with Tom is the 1861 Census in which he is recorded as 8-years old, son of Edward (born circa 1828, died March 17, 1891 at Ardrossan, Ayrshire) and Bridget (McFADZEAN) LOVELL (born circa 1824, died February 9, 1882 at West Kilbride, Ayrshire). Edward and Bridget were married March 8, 1845 at probably Keel, Achill Island, County Mayo, Ireland. Tom's siblings were Anne (5-years), Catharine [sic] (3-years) and Mary (11-months). In the 1871 Census, Tom is recorded as an 18-year old "Servant" at Millstonford Farm, West Kilbride.

On January 7, 1877, Tom married Theresa BEGLEY (born circa 1855) in County Armagh, Ireland where they lived at least four years as indicated by the following births:

Edward (Ed) W LOVELL was born in County Armagh, Ireland in November 1877. To date, his death remains unlocated although he was known to have lived in Quanah, Hardeman County. As there are two Counties named Hardeman, one each in Tennesee and Texas, it is not known in which Edward lived although it was probably Texas.

During August 1879, Thomas (Tom Junior) was also born in County Armagh, Ireland. Around 1905, in Texas, he married Blanche (maiden surname unknown, born circa 1883, Texas). Although both their deaths are yet to be located, they were recorded in Belton City, Bell Co. in the 1930 Census. Further, Thomas is believed to have lived in Landers, Wyoming. Tom Junior and Blanche had at least one child, a daughter who became Mrs. G. B. PATE, 3314 Homan, Waco, Texas 76707 and is believed to have been alive in 1971. It is unlikely Mrs. PATE remains alive today (August 2007).

Sometime during the period August 1879 and the night of April 3-4, 1881, Tom and his small family returned to West Kilbride as they were recorded in residence for the 1881 Census. Daughter Mary was born in West Kilbride on September 21, 1881. In Dallas, she married Patrick Joseph LENAHAN (b. March 17, 1875) who was a contractor for the construction of the Magnolia Building, Dallas. Completed in 1922, the 29-story building became the tallest in Dallas and was probably the headquarters of the Magnolia Petroleum Company. Mary taught at Bryan High School from 1906 to 1921 and was also the dean of discipline at the University of Colorado, Boulder. At the time of her death, she and Patrick were living at 839 Goodlawn, Dallas.

Mary was born 21 September 1881 at West Kilbride. The 1900 Federal Census records the family arrival in the USA as 1882. The 1910 United States Federal Census Record records their arrival as 1881. However, the June 20, 1949 edition of the "Dallas Morning News" when reporting Mary's death reported "Mrs. LENAHAN was born in West Kilbride, Scotland and came to the United States when she was two years old". Sadie (diminutive of "Sarah") Frances LOVELL (born November 1884, Brownwood, Texas died February 8, 1922 at Dallas). Although the point of entry has not been identified, it was probably not Ellis Island as those records have been searched for no result. In January 1887, Anne LOVELL was born probably in Brownwood. She married Dr William Worthington SAMUELL, who was born January 13, 1878 in Georgetown, Kentucky. Anne and William lived at 6120 East Grand, Dallas where Anne died, aged 47 years, in early October 1934. William was considered one of the country's foremost surgeons. He was a staff member of Methodist, Baylor and St. Paul's Hospitals. William died at St. Paul's Hospital and was originally interred in Oakland Cemetery, Dallas on December 14, 1937. However, his remains were removed to Hillcrest Cemetery (now Sparkman-Hillcrest) on December 17, 1940. The reason for this removal is unknown. The "Dallas Morning News" of January 13, 1938 reported a park was to be "named for Dr W W SAMUELL as a fitting memorial to commemorate the gift of several hundred thousand dollars worth of property to the city."

In probably 1889, Tom built a home for his family at 1306 Cottage St., Brownwood, Texas.

Tom's brother John LOVELL was born January 01, 1863 at West Kilbride, Ayrshire and immigrated to USA in either 1890 or 1891. At Atchison, Kansas, he married an Irish-born lady named Jane (maiden surname and date of marriage unknown) who died March 10, 1950 in Dallas. John died November 22, 1935 at Dallas. Both died at home; 4432 Hall, Dallas. The November 24, 1935 edition of the "Dallas Morning News" containing John's obituary, reported "surviving are his wife and two sons; Ed Lovell, Chicago and Tom P Lovell, Dallas". The March 11, 1950 edition of the same newspaper reported "she is survived by two sons; Tom P LOVELL of Dallas and Edward G LOVELL of Chicago, Illinois."

In May 1892, Teresa LOVELL was born at Brownwood. Better known as Sister Mary Teresa, she took Holy Orders with the Order of St Mary's of Namur for 59 years and taught in Dallas parochial schools including St Edward's. She was a resident at Hillsboro and Our Lady of Victory Convent, Fort Worth. Teresa died on November 12, 1967 at Fort Worth. In the April 15, 1930 Census of Dallas, Texas she is recorded as "Female, White, 39 Years (at last birthday), Single, Able to read and write, Born Texas, Father Born Scotland, Mother born Ireland, Occupation Teacher, Industry School" and ends with the remarks "Here ends the enumeration of St Edward's School." St Edward's School or Academy was located on Elm Street, Dallas.

As reported in the November 08, 1891 edition of the "Dallas Morning News", Judge J M HALL granted the application by Tom LOVELL for U.S. citizenship.

Sometime during 1895, Tom's wife Teresa died at Denton. On June 12 of the following year, Tom married Mrs Seddie N THURMOND (nee SHIELDS), Rev J F PEIRCE officiating. Seddie was born circa 1866 at Sedalia, Pettis Co., Missouri and was named for her birthplace with her proper name being shortened to "Seddie". Recorded in the 1900 Census of Denton City, Texas, were four children from a previous marriage; Prairie (born April 1887, Arkansas), Tom W (born October 1889, Westville, Arkansas died November 08, 1973 at San Pedro, California), Fred (born February 1891, Arkansas) and Mamie (may be "Mayme", both spellings noted in several Census), born November 1892, Texas. Family lore indicates Mamie married a Buford (sic) MILLER and settled on a large ranch in Okmulgee, Oklahoma while Prairie settled in California.

Children from Tom and Seddie's marriage were:
1. John Jackson LOVELL, born February 10, 1898 at Denton, Texas, died September 1986, at Tulsa, Oklahoma.
2. Ellen LOVELL (b. circa 1901, Denton, Texas, died Sep 1986, New York). Ellen did not marry and, all her adult life, was a legal secretary in New York. Very little is known of her. However, as Director, Public Relations, National Tuberculosis Association, Ellen was presented to President Harry S Truman on at least two occasions; Tuesday, November 15, 1949 at 3:30PM and Thursday, November 16, 1950 at 12:15PM"

In probably the early part of 1904, Tom, Seddie and children John and Ellen traveled to his birth-place in Scotland. They returned to the U.S. via Ellis Island onboard the White Star liner SS Majestic which departed Liverpool August 31, 1904 and arrived New York September 04, 1904.

It was reported in the August 6, 1909 edition of the Dallas Morning News, Tom's residence on the west end of Oak Street was threatened by fire several times during a residential district fire which destroyed three houses with flames leaping from one to the other. Only the veering of the wind saved Tom's house on each occasion.

After a lingering illness of three months with a form of paralysis, Thomas LOVELL passed away on Friday, September 8, 1911 at his home at 197 West Oak Street, Denton. His funeral, according to Catholic Rites, was conducted by Reverend Father HARRINGTON of Dallas. John LOVELL and his two sons, Edward (died circa 1936) and Thomas (died circa 1948), travelled from Fort Worth to attend Tom's funeral. The September 14, 1911 edition of the "Denton Record Chronicle" described Tom as "one of Denton's prominent citizens, being well known all over the state of Texas as head of the firm Tom Lovell & Sons, Contractors and Builders". Attending mourners were recorded as Mr & Mrs W JACKSON of Celina, Dr & Mrs CLAYTON and family of Celina, Mr & Mrs J LOVELL of Fort Worth, Mr & Mrs John MURRAY of Fort Worth, Ed LOVELL of Enid, Oklahoma, Tom LOVELL of Landers, Wyoming, Mrs C J SHIELD of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, C H JACKSON of Collins, Mr and Mrs Jack Johnson of Austin.

Jim McCreadie (formerly of Saltcoats)
Fremantle
Western Australia

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