SALTCOATS, a sea-port town, partly in the parish
of Stevenston, but chiefly in that of Ardrossan, district
of Cunninghame, county of Ayr, 6 miles (W. by
N.) from Irvine, and 32 (S. VV.) from Glasgow; containing
4238 inhabitants, of whom 2S06 are in that part
within the parish of Ardrossan. This town, which is
irregularly built, is chiefly inhabited by seafaring men
connected with the shipping of the liarbours of Ardrossan
and Saltcoats; by weavers; and the various artificers
required by the business of the port. The harbour is
in that portion of the town which is within the parish of
Stevenston, and it has contributed much to the increase
of the population. A great number of the inhabitants
are employed in weaving for the manufacturers of Glasgow
and Paisley; the articles are lappets, gauzes, trimmings,
shawls, silks, &c., in the manufacture of which
more than 450 looms are constantly at work. A large
number of females, also, are engaged in working muslins
in different patterns, for which this part of the country
is celebrated, and which by way of eminence are designated
Ayrshire muslin. Many persons from the Highlands
and from Ireland have settled at this place, who
are employed in general trades. Several families, unconnected
with business, have erected handsome houses
at Saltcoats as a favourite residence for the benefit of
sea-bathing, for which its proximity to Ardrossan renders
it very convenient. The principal building is the townhouse,
two stories in height, and surmounted by a lofty
spire. Its ground-floor is occupied by shops, a room for
the town library and reading-room, and a committeeroom;
the upper story contains a spacious apartment
which is appropriated to the monthly meetings of the
magistrates of the district, who here hold a court of
petty sessions, and in the intervals the apartment is
used as a news-room and for other general purposes.
Attached is a small lock-up house for the temporary
confinement of petty offenders. There is also a handsome
building for a branch of the Western Bank of
Scotland established here. A mechanics' institution is
supported, in which lectures arc delivered weekly during
the winter season. A public library is also supported,
which forms an extensive collection of books on general
literature; and a savings' bank has been some time established.
Fishing is carried on to a considerable extent. Salmon
are found in the Firth, and sent in large quantities to
the neighbouring towns, and to Glasgow, Paisley, &c.
From fifteen to twenty boats, likewise, are employed in
the herring-fishery, for which purpose they frequent the
lochs in the north and west Highlands; herrings are
also taken in tolerable ninnbcrs in the bay, and some
boats go to the coasts of Barra and other islands for ling
and cod. A fair is held on the last Thursday in May,
for cattle, pigs, shoes, and other articles of merchandise.
A post-ofliee is established here, which has a good delivery;
and facility of communication is maintained by
SALT SALT
roads in every direction: the Ardrossan railway passes
through the place from the harbour of Ardrossan, and
unites with the Ayrshire railway at Kilwinning. The
parish church of Ardrossan is situated here, and the
town also contains a place of worship with 7'^0 sittings,
built in 1836 for the accommodation of the Gaelic inhabitants,
and still possessed by them, but in connexion
with the Free Church, which the congregation joined in
1843. There is another place of worship for members
of the Free Church, erected in 1843; and two or three
congregations connected with the United Presbyterian
Synod, and a congregation of Baptists, are likewise established
here. See Ardrossan.