The hamlet of Pirnmill on the west coast of Arran derives its name from the mill set up by the Clark family of Paisley for the production of bobbins or pirns. The photograph above shows the pirn mill itself after it became Currie’s grocer and general merchants. With the advent of the steamboat, Pirnmill became a calling point, served by a ferry-boat.

It was the Campbeltown and Glasgow Steam Packet Co. that opened up the trade and included the ferry stop in its itinerary, and for many years this was the only regular stop on the west coast of Arran.

In the 1860s, the steamboat Herald was placed on a new route to Campbeltown from Fairlie and it called at the ferries of Pirnmill, Machrie and Blackwaterfoot, favouring the Arran shore of the Kilbrannan Sound rather than Carradale and the Kintyre shore. Indeed the calls at Blackwaterfoot and Machrie were also made by the turbine steamers Queen Alexandra that were the successors on the Fairlie route. The importance of Pirnmill, however, remained as it was the only ferry call maintained after the first-world war.

This is a little collection of postcard photographs of the ferry boats on the west coast of Arran.

Pirnmill Ferry around 1900

Pirnmill Ferry around 1910

Pirnmill Ferry around 1910

Pirnmill Ferry leaving around 1910

The Campbeltown Co’s Davaar at Pirnmill

The first Queen Alexandra at Pirnmill around 1910

The second Queen Alexandra at Pirnmill around 1914

The second Queen Alexandra at Pirnmill around 1914

The second Queen Alexandra at Pirnmill in the 1930s

A little down the coast between Pirnmill and Machrie is the mouth of the Dougarie Burn and the magnificent boathouse and jetty associated with Dougarie Lodge, the summer hunting lodge of the Dukes of Hamilton.

Dougarie boathouse and the Dougarie burn

Dougarie boathouse in 1902. The Lodge can be seen on the extreme right of the picture. High Dougarie farm lies above the telegraph pole in left center.

Although not a ferry call for the Clyde traffic, this spot did have at least one embarkation when King Edward VII embarked on a tender for H.M.Y Victoria and Albert. On August 27, 1902, the royal yacht was anchored in Brodick Bay and the Dowager Duchess of Hamilton drove over from Dougarie to dine aboard and stay overnight with the King and Queen. The following day, the Duchess made arrangements for the King to visit Dougarie to attend a sheep-dog trial.

H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert on another visit to the Clyde in 1920 for a fleet review.

“The splendid weather continues. The morning broke hazy and dull, without breath of wind, but in few hours the sun shone brightly, clearing the mists from the mountaintops, and giving promise of warm day. The early Clyde steamers had full complements of passengers, and passed the Royal yacht their way to the pier. His Majesty stood on the bridge as one or two of these vessels went by, and acknowledged the rounds of enthusiastic cheering.

“Shortly before noon the King appeared the companion-way of the Royal yacht, and stepped into the steam launch, in order to proceed to Dougarie. His Majesty, who appeared to be in excellent health, was accompanied by the Queen, and the party included Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Commodore Lambton, and the Marquis Several, the Portuguese Ambassador. On reaching the shore, the Royal party entered a conveyance, provided by the Dowager Duchess of Hamilton, and at once drove off to Dougarie, amid the cheers of several hundreds of spectators.

“Princess Victoria and the Hon. Mrs. Keppel landed some time before his Majesty and started to cycle to Dougarie. Shortly after twelve o’clock the Royal yacht weighed anchor and steamed out the Bay, followed by the torpedo destroyers. They proceeded to Kilbrannan Sound and anchored off Blackwaterfoot, near to Dougarie, in order to bring back the Royal party. Leaving Brodick, the King and Queen were driven along the Glen Sherrag road, in the direction of the other side of the Island. Reaching the foot of a short, steep hill at the opening of the road from the Brodick shore, the King alighted and walked to the top. Farther along is a four-mile stretch of hill locally designated the String, up which the vehicle was driven leisurely, while the bicycle party walked in front.”—Standard, August 28, 1902

After the trials, the King and his party embarked on a steam pinnace from the Dougarie jetty to rejoin the royal yacht.

Ford and footbridge at Dougarie Burn

The wooden bridge and stepping stones on the Dougarie Burn in 1926. The Lodge is in the background.

The road on the west of Arran for many years forded the Dougarie Burn with a small wooden footbridge and stepping stones for pedestrian traffic. Later, a wooden bridge was built but the Dougarie Burn in spate can be fierce and in 1934, a new stone bridge was commissioned to be built by the Messrs Leggat & Co. Ltd., of Barrhead.

Leggat workers at Dougarie Bridge in the summer of 1934

Dougarie Bridge under construction in 1934

On a personal note, my grandfather had moved from Tangy in Kintyre in the 1920s to farm as tenant of the High Dougarie farm that can be seen on the hill above the boathouse. My mother got the know the Leggat workers and her initials are carved on the stones on the underside of the bridge.