Irvine History Notes

Notes on the history of Irvine and surrounding areas.

Irvine and Kilmarnock, two neighbouring Ayrshire towns.

Jules Verne and Charles Nodier, two of the most influential French writers of the 19th century.

The little port of Irvine is not much frequented, at least by vessels of large tonnage.  It is rather more to the north that merchant vessels, sail or steam, pass on their way into the Firth of Clyde.

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Its well-sheltered harbour has an important signal-light to indicate the reefs and banks, in such a way that a prudent sailor could never make a mistake.  Wrecks were therefore rare on this part of the coast, and the coasters or cruisers wishing either to make for the Firth of Clyde, to get to Glasgow, or to bring up in Irvine Bay, could always manoeuvre without danger even in the darkest nights.

           Jules Verne, The Child of the Cavern (1877)

Photograph of Belvedere Hill, Eglinton Park copyright © John Loney