Published: Monday, 13th July, 2009 5:48pm
Did Kelvin really stay in Skelmorlie?
Comments (4) | 
Print | 
Email
Regarding your report about Morland, a mansion house in Skelmorlie, part of which is up for sale, and inferring that it was built by Lord Kelvin, this may not be accurate.
Before receiving his peerage, Lord Kelvin"s title was Professor Sir William Thomson. His brother James was also a professor and it is understood that he lived in Skelmorlie. He was a colleague and friend of Dr James Young who owned the Wemyss Bay estate of Kelly and together they successfully set up an experiment to measure the speed of light from Inellan to Kelly.
The old Skelmorlie school, recently demolished, was opened by a Professor Thomson in 1866 and in a local history written by the late W. Smart he comments that if, as seems likely, the Professor Thomson referred to was the one who eventually became Lord Kelvin, it seems surprising that his stay in the village has not been more widely acclaimed..
If, as the "News" reports Lord Kelvin built Morland, the Registers of Scotland have no record of this. In a reply to a query they state that they managed to trace records of the house back to a title over subjects granted in 1861 and presume that Hugh Montgomerie, Earl of Eglinton of Skelmorlie whose title appears to be from 31 March 1861, was the first owner of the mansion.
From articles appearing in the local press, Lord Kelvin"s long association with Largs goes back to his childhood days when he came on holiday and he had a life-time affection for the town and that may suggest that he had a preference to have his home in Largs. He lived at Auchenames at the foot of Nelson Street before building Netherhall.
Perhaps there has been some confusion with the Thomson brothers, James and William, both doctors. Probably one lived in Morland, most likely James, and it was he who opened the school. And William always lived in Largs and built Netherhall. Perhaps a local historian will come up with the answer.
Jim Carnduff
Skelmorlie
Have your say. .
-
A Clark
Unregistered User
Jul 14 09 10:16
Comment: 3608
Mercy mercy me. An estate agent fallaciously misrepresenting one of their sale properties - Well, I'll be a Dutchman's uncle.
What next?
"Parking chaos in Largs" - Oops, seems this has been covered.
"Leather-clad bikers cheek up day tripper" - Surely not?
Talk about stating the bleeding obvious.
Why not conduct a poll for the most unpopular business in Largs instead? A two horse race methinks. Headline... "Editor finally bags a winner"
Regardless, nice piece. I'd like to see more authoritative, pictorialised historical recollection published in the wee paper. I'd also like to see more emphasis on the many positives that this heavenly town has going for it rather than focusing on petty theft, drinking in public and other such trifling tosh. Allow me to borrow from the Bard.... "SH*T HAPPENS"
When was the last time you wrote anything positive? Considering you represent a town of extreme privilege and success, it beggars belief that week in, week out; all you ever headline over is petty infighting amongst hapless, barrow-boy, featherweight politicians and the outpourings of a few local egotistical narcissistic business peeps - names available upon request.
You can take the man out of Stevenston, eh?
You've been at war with the people of this town for as long as I can remember. This is a commonly held perception. I never hear "Drew Cochrane - great editor." What I do hear is unprintable. For whatever reason (I'll wager rejection) you've become stymied and jaded. Your newspaper is effectively an extension of same persona. There too much Cochrane and not enough Largs. It's never too late to change. Embrace your public. Don't always adopt a pugnacious stance on that which you clearly do not understand. It really is a toss up what paints Largs in the worst light – the promenade's outmoded "shows" or the LMN itself.
Finally, "cowards of cyberspace." You're clearly not enjoying the shoe on the other foot I see. This truly is rich. This coming from the man who has jabbed and ran at pretty much every public figure north of Irvine for quarter of a century without EVER having the backbone to sit one-on-one with ANY of them . Seriously, talk about hypocrisy!
Alan.
Report this comment
-
Colvin Houston
Unregistered User
Jul 15 09 14:53
Comment: 3641
Rarely, I suppose, do people break cover - and not least of all shady characters such as solicitors (who double as Trusttess of the Stevenson Institute) and actually go into print in their own name. However, mea culpa, can't keep gobsh*t at times. Having been directed to the on-line discussion, all I will do is to refer back to a letter I wrote a long time ago which said baiscally that if the Vikings invaded largs today, there would be no-one to sound the "attack" because of all the infighting and nonsense. So "plus ca change" as we say when we leave morrisons - where, indeed, is my change. GIve Editor Drew a break - after all, he has to deal with a GIGO situation with the input from such wise sources as the Comedy Council (yes, I was a member for a year so please keep the "people in glass houses should close the blinds before removing their trousers" comments) But - as an unrepentant incomer - Largs is a beautiful town. A real Gem. So, folks, if there is s h 1 t going on, please remember it is nothing more than a blemish on the face of a loved one. So please be careful shere one dabs the verbal Clearasil - don't throw the baby out with the bathwater (even if Scottish Water's system means it would get washed back up at high tide.) Let's concentrate on the issues - too many Charity Shops, no parking, the pier's no finished, and Jordan and Peter Andre have split up. You know it makes sense......
Report this comment
-
Colvin Houston
Unregistered User
Jul 15 09 14:57
Comment: 3642
..and tomorrow I get a new Speel Chock. Apologies for the typos - but then I am only a solishiturrr
Report this comment
-
Tim Spence
Unregistered User
Jan 9 10 13:36
Comment: 7608
On one of my trips to St John's (NFLD) while in the MUN (Queen Elizabeth) library I happened across a book containing the corespondence of Lord Kelvin and there were a few with the address "Morland" but not as his address, likely his brother.
Report this comment
