On the July Fair Monday in 1892, the annual excursion under the auspices of Blantyre Salvation Army took place to Ardrossan.
As early as 5.30 a.m. the leaders were astir in Blantyre and, headed by the band, paraded the village, rousing the intending excursionists. The procession continued to patrol the district till 7 a.m., when a start was made for the Blantyre Railway Station.
On arriving there it was found that somewhere like 1,100 people had been amassed in the group, all willing to join the excursion, but the special train was packed with fully 950, so that nearly 200 were left behind forced to make alternative plans that summers day.
When the excursionists arrived in Ardrossan, an open-air meeting was held at the head of Glasgow Street, which was listened to throughout with much attention. After this, all the excursionists dispersed, each finding amusement and recreation in boating, bathing, walking, etc., and the weather being excellent, a happy time was spent. The entire company not only enjoyed excellent weather, but behaviour was exemplary.
The whole group arrived back into Blantyre at 9.30pm still in hours of daylight, well pleased with the outing, weary and with fond memories.
Pictured around 30 years later in the 1920s is Ardrossan. The Esplanade however, wouldn’t have looked like that in the 1890,s as it wasn’t constructed until 1922. However, at the time of the visit, the shoreline, despite being less well defined would still have attracted many of the visitors, for a walk on the beach and perhaps a dip in the water.
