The town of Ayr is the lowest bridging point on the river of the same name and the bridges gained renown through Burns’ poem “The brigs of Ayr,” where the old bridge predicts the demise of its newer downstream neighbour. Indeed the new bridge was damaged irreparably in a flood in 1877 and replaced a year later.

The old bridge with the new bridge behind around 1870

The old bridge itself was in danger of collapse around 1900, but its association with Burns was its salvation and remedial work was carried out in 1904.

Renovations to the old bridge in 1904

The bridges also mark the extent of the harbour of Ayr, stretching downstream from the bridges to the Firth of Clyde. The Railway reached the town of Ayr in 1840 and connections with the harbour were made initially to the north bank of the river in 1878 when a wet dock, named the Griffin Dock, was opened, complete with coal drops. A railway bridge, downstream of the new bridge was built in 1899, connecting the south side of the harbour. It was damaged in a flood in the 1970s and demolished in 1978.

View to the bridges from the south quay around 1900.

View up the river around 1905.

The major imports to the port were timber, limestone and iron ore to sustain the mining and iron producing industries in the neighbourhood. Coal and, textiles and agricultural products including live-stock were exports. The harbour needed constant dredging. Ayr Harbour Commissioners owned the bucket dredger, Kyle, built by Messrs S. M‘Knight & Co., of Ayr. A second dredger, Carrick, was added in 1938. The shipyard was situated on the south bank near the mouth of the river and had a slip-dock for ship repairs.

Looking downstream in the 1880s, part of the quay east of the sheerlegs appears to be under construction.

Looking upstream in the 1880s. A harbour paddle-tug, perhaps the Ayr, is seen by the sheerlegs. The rope across the river in the foreground may be attached to the dredger, or to a ship that is canting in the river.

The port was frequented by vessels involved in the coastal trade, including colliers and shipping from further afield, including the Baltic.

Looking across the river from the entrance of the slip-dock. The wet-dock entrance is on the left. The round building is the Pilot House at the entrance to the wet-dock. The coaster is being serviced by a crane lifting coal wagons to tip into the hold.

Newcastle built steamship Glitt from Malmo, unloading timber on the north bank with a coaster berthed outside. The dredger is on the right of the picture.

Loading at Ayr around 1905.

Unloading at Ayr around 1905

A coaster leaving Ayr Harbour for Belfast.

Preparing to sail from the entrance to the shipyard where there was a swing bridge. The pier in the foreground was known as Compass Pier

In 1876, the Ayr Steam Shipping Company was founded and provided cargo and passenger service between Ayr and Campbeltown and Belfast. Most of their steamers were named after local rivers. I have to acknowledge Mr Alistair Deayton who pointed out that on their Campbeltown service, the company provided a call at Kildonan on the south end of Arran. They also ran excursions to Whiting Bay.

Advert from March 13, 1886

One of the Ayr Steam Shipping Co.’s vessels loading on the north quay around 1905.

A busy river with the Greek ship Elena Margarita berthed next to the pilot house.

Looking down river with the Ayr tug on the south quay

Looking up river with the railway bridge, dating from 1901, in the distance

In 1908, the Ayr Steam Shipping Co., Ltd., was taken over by the Laird Line and distinctive funnel colouring of the Laird ships features in many photographs of the port.

Laird steamers Culzean and Turnberry. Both steamers came from the Ayr Steam Shipping Company. The Culzean was the former Belfast Steamship Company’s Logic.

Laird’s Azelea at the north quay with Turnberry berthed outside.

Ayr was also a fishing port.

Liverpool coaster Ophir at the north quay with steam drifters on the other bank in 1937.

Fishing boats at Ayr around 1950.

Steamer service to Ayr is beyond the scope of the present article but sailings between Glasgow and Ayr date to the earliest days of steamboats on the Clyde. The coming of the railway impacted the trade but Messrs Seath and Steele were offering sailings to the “Land o’ Burns” into the 1870s. As a popular holiday resort, Ayr was able to offer a regular excursion traffic with sailings to popular destinations throughout the Firth principally by the Glasgow and South Western Railway Co., and the Caledonian Steam Packet Co.

Steamers regularly berthed on the south breakwater or the quay as traffic required.

After 1893 when she entered service, the Arran winter steamer Glen Rosa was employed in the summer, offering excursions from Ayr to destinations such as Brodick, Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute, and Dunoon and Loch Long.

Glen Rosa leaves the breakwater on an excursion around 1895.

Glen Rosa heading out from Ayr.

After 1896 when she was displaced from the Arran by way of the Kyles cruise by the new Jupiter, the Neptune became the Ayr excursion steamer. Generally the steamer sailed up the river and turned at the entrance to the wet-dock before berthing.

An early view of Neptune entering Ayr Harbour in 1896. (Valentine)

After experiencing stormy weather on the lower Firth, protective ports were fitted on the forward sponsons of Neptune.

Neptune at Compass Pier with her sponson ports.

In 1898, the new Juno was stationed at Ayr and was a popular vessel for the next thirty years.

Juno heading into the Firth.

Juno reversing into her berth around 1906

Juno and the new turbine Atalanta loading for excursions around 1906

Juno returning from an evening cruise in the gloaming.

The Caledonian Steam Packet Co., also provided Ayr cruising, generally using the regular Arran steamer, Duchess of Hamilton, in mid-week excursions. These were generally to destinations on Loch Fyne like Tarbert or Inveraray where the Glasgow & South Western Steamers could not call.

Duchess of Hamilton at the south breakwater, Ayr.

Duchess of Hamilton at Ayr.

After the companies were combined in 1923, Juno was the main steamer until she was scrapped in 1931.

Juno at Ayr in 1923

The withdrawal of Juno left a gap. The turbine, Duchess of Montrose, made some sailings from the port.

Duchess of Montrose at the south breakwater, Ayr.

In 1932, the new Duchess of Hamilton was specifically designed with Ayr in mind and was fitted with a bow rudder so that she did not need to turn round in the narrow river.

Duchess of Hamilton at Ayr.

Duchess of Hamilton reversing out of Ayr.

Moore, J. M. “The Port of Ayr,” Portland Press, Troon, 2005