Old Photographs Beith Scotland

Old photograph of shops, children and houses in Beith in North Ayrshire, Scotland. This small Scottish town is situated in the Garnock Valley, approximately 20 miles South West of Glasgow. Beith has a historical connection to smuggling and built a reputation during the 18th century as being a town which harboured those whose intentions were not always lawful. In 1733 forty or fifty Beith smugglers sacked the Irvine Customs House, escaping with a rich booty of confiscated contraband goods and by 1789 a company of 76 soldiers were quartered in the town dealing with the continuing illicit trade in tea, tobacco, and spirits. This caused great inconvenience to the law abiding citizens on whom the soldiers were billeted. The town was policed in this fashion for some time thereafter. Hence, the Main Street's popular public house is still called the Smugglers Tavern, recalling the days when Beith's location between the coast and Paisley and Glasgow, made it a convenient stopping off point for those involved in nefarious activities. One of Beith's various claims to fame is that a signatory of the American Declaration of Independence, the Reverend John Witherspoon, was a former minister of one its Church of Scotland parishes between 1745 and 1757. In 1745 he led the men of Beith to Glasgow to defend King George III against the Young Pretender in the 1745 rebellion. Despite receiving orders to return to Beith, Witherspoon carried on, was captured at the Battle of Falkirk and imprisoned for a time in Doune Castle. He later emigrated and became a member of the US congress and in July 1776 he voted for the Resolution for Independence. Dr Henry Faulds, the originator of the concept of forensic use of fingerprinting, was born in Beith in 1843.



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Old Photograph Railway Station Lower Largo East Neuk Of Fife Scotland

Old photograph of the railway station, houses and cottage in Lower Largo, East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. An ancient fishing village, Lower Largo is famous as the 1676 birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, who provided inspiration for Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. The arrival of the railway in 1856 brought many tourists to Lower Largo's sandy beach. The railway line through Lower Largo was closed in the 1960s as part of the programme of cuts overseen by Dr. Richard Beeching.



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Old Photograph West Parish Church Scotstoun Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of West Parish Church in Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland. This Scottish church was originally located on the corner of Queen Victoria Drive and Dumbarton Road. It was built in 1902, with additional halls built in 1928 to designs by architect John Stewart.



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Old Photograph Mosesfield House Scotland

Old photograph of Mosesfield House in Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland. Built in 1838, Mosesfield was the site where engineer George Johnston built Scotland's first motor car in 1895. He went on to form the Mo-Car Syndicate Ltd with Sir William Arrol, which became Arrol-Johnston. The house became a museum in 1904, which closed in 1952, and was converted to an elderly gentleman's club.



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Old Photograph Bathing Pool Stronsay Orkney Islands Scotland

Old photograph of people by the bathing pool on the coast by Stronsay, Orkney Islands, Scotland. Deriving from Old Norse Strjónsey, " island of good harvest " or " star island " , it was settled by Vikings in the 8th and 9th centuries. It has a long history of Pictish Christian influence, indicated by ruins on neighbouring Papa Stronsay.


All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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