Image kindly supplied by Peter Ribbeck

The town and harbour of Ardrossan have a long history inextricably linked with the sea.

The growth of the railways in the mid 1800s played a major part in Ardrossan’s development. From 1841 to 1848 Ardrossan was an important link in the fastest route from London to Glasgow, by train to Fleetwood and then packet boat to Ardrossan. As the railways expanded after 1848 the entire journey could be taken by rail. Ardrossan town and harbour were serviced by 5 railway stations, 3 of them still remain. As Ardrossan developed during the 18th & 19th centuries it became best known as a port; with coal and iron exported to Europe & North America as well as Ireland for many years.

Shipyards were built and many local firms were involved in building wooden ships, fishing vessels or cargo boats. This continued through the post war period until the competition from abroad damaged Ardrossan’s shipbuilding industry and it ceased to exist much after the 1950s and 1960s.

Ardrossan town had grown as a result of the harbour and in 1886 the Ardrossan Harbour Company was formed to deal with the huge increase in use of the harbour. The company built the Eglinton dock, where we are today, in 1892 along with the existing outer breakwater.

The Ardrossan Harbour Company eventually became a part of Peel Ports.

Ardrossan continued to flourish into the 20th century with new manufacturing industries, but the harbour declined in latter half of the century. In the 1980s – 90s when apart from the Arran ferry service the harbour had become little used.

In 1997 the establishment of Clyde Marina started the transformation of the Eglinton basin from an out of work commercial dock into the now vibrant marina and boatyard and beginning a new chapter in Ardrossan’s maritime story.