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SKELMORLIETHE STORY OF THE PARISHCONSISTING OF SKELMORLIEAND WEMYSS BAY 
byWALTER SMART
'So we grew togetherLike to a double cherry, seeming parted,But yet an union in partition, Two lovely berries moulded on one stem'A Midsummer Night's Dream
THE SKELMORLIE & WEMYSS BAY COMMUNITY CENTRE1968
Copyright Walter Smart 1968Original book printed in Scotland by
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Campbell & Co. (Reproduction Services) Ltd.,Glasgow.
Inside Front CoverSKELMORLIEWEMYSS BAY & KELLY c. 1800Foreword
Feu contracts forbid the erection of a house of a house of less than a certain value, and nomore than one house can be erected on each feu. In consequence of this restriction,Skelmorlie can never become a town, or even a village of any extent, and will always be afavourite resort for those who love retirement and seclusion from the busy haunts of men. The italics are mine, and it was this statement of nearly a hundred years ago, taken withpresent trends, which encouraged me to explore the past. This story of the Parish has been compiled from notes made over the years from variousbooks, maps and documents, of which the principle ones are listed. All the facts have beenverified where possible, but certain statements, particularly of the very early days, may becontested by experts. Where a conflict of opinion already occurs it has been noted.Skelmorlie is part of the landward area of the Parish of Largs, in the County of Ayr and looksto such administrative centres as Ayr and Kilmarnock. A step across the Kelly burn, WemyssBay is in the Parish of Inverkip in the County of Renfrew, and looks to Paisley and Greenock. This causes many complications, not least for me in having had to consult the records of two Counties. So far as local amenities are concerned, the two are interdependant; thetelephone exchange is ‘Wemyss Bay’ but has always been located in Skelmorlie. However,for ecclesiastical purposes, they have been fused into the Quoad Sacra Parish of Skelmorlie,within the Parish of Largs but in the Presbytery of Greenock. Truly ‘an union in partition’, butthis is what is meant when I refer generally to ‘Skelmorlie’ or the ‘Parish’.I have purposely restricted myself to the development of the Parish, which has not beeneasy, and have resisted as far as possible any temptation to include Largs or Inverkip, bothrich in history and legend but already fully recorded. Nor have I attempted to tell the vastand fascinating story of the Eglinton family, which is a task beyond my resources but anessential ingredient of the story of Skelmorlie. The only book on the subject so far has been the Guide to Wemyss Bay, Skelmorlie, Inverkipand Largs published in 1879 by Alexander Gardner of Paisley and written by the Reverend J.Boyd, then minister of the North Church. It was mainly for the benefit of visitors to theHydro and he certainly suggests some ambitious walks. I have covered the historicalbackground which he gives, expanding in some directions and including a later period, buthe is still essential reading for anyone interested in the district.My original intention had been to tell the story of Skelmorlie and bring Boyd up to date, butso many relevant and interesting facts have been unearthed that it seemed a shame to losethem. I have tried to include only those of general interest, but even so the result is more acatalogue of events than a story. This I regret is more apparent in the early days wheninformation is sketchy and deals with family units as opposed to an integrated community. Ihave avoided personalities except where they refuse to be excluded and the presentcentury is covered in the barest outline. A wealth of detail is available in the files of the‘Wee Paper’ for someone more energetic, and if this book provides a framework for a fuller
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account, or even stimulates the thought, then the very many fascinating hours will beamply rewarded.Walter Smart, Annet Lodge, 1968 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
So many have helped in the preparation of this little book that it is impossible to namethem individually. Some have provided information, wittingly or unwittingly; some have lentbooks, maps and plans; others have typed, checked and retyped with great forbearance. Ihope that they will recognise their contribution, and perhaps feel that it has not beenentirely wasted.
PHOTOGRAPHS
I am grateful for the loan of so many photographs and I have had to select the onesincluded most carefully. The most interesting unfortunately are very old and in poorcondition. I am also indebted to Valentine & Sons Ltd. of Dundee for permission to reprintsome of their earlier series of Postcards. A complete collection of these would have made awonderful pictorial history of the village during this century.
MAPS
 The Sketch Maps are not very skilful but have been included because they do highlight thegreat changes during the 19th Century. For permission to reproduce the other maps andplans I am indebted to the Director General of Ordnance Survey and the Curator of Historical Records of Scotland.
SPELLING
 There is considerable variation in the spelling of proper names throughout. I have tended tofollow that of the period or of the account I am quoting. Even that is not easy. In a letter of remission of their quarrels and crimes signed in March 1565 by Henry, King of Scots(Darnley), he refers to George Montgomerie, Patrick Montgomery and Hugh and WilliamMungumry.
ContentsPERIOD I : To 1700
THE EARLY DAYS
In the very beginning the shore road area was under water and the cliff is referred to bygeologists as the ‘raised sea beach’, bearing traces of shells and other marine objects. Thedistrict lies on the old Red Sandstone Band, and the immediate limits can be defined as justnorth of the Bruacre burn, Loch Thom and down the Brisbane Glen to the coast. It issurrounded by large areas of igneous rock with a mass of calciferous sandstone fromArdgowan to Loch Thom.
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