Saltcoats

Infobox UK place
official_name= Saltcoats
gaelic_name= Baile an t-Salainn.
scots_name=
local_name=
country= Scotland
map_type= Scotland
population= 11,260 [cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Saltcoats Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=saltcoats&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29|accessdate =2008-08-31 ] (2001 census)
est. 11,730 [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data] (2006)
population_density=
os_grid_reference= NS245415
edinburgh_distance=
london_distance=
latitude= 55.6352
longitude= -04.7896
post_town= SALTCOATS
postcode_area= KA
postcode_district= KA21
dial_code= 01294
constituency_westminster= North Ayrshire and Arran
civil_parish=
unitary_scotland= North Ayrshire
lieutenancy_scotland= Ayrshire and Arran
constituency_scottish_parliament= Cunninghame North:"For other places with the same name see Saltcoats (disambiguation)."

Saltcoats (Scottish Gaelic:"Baile an t-Salainn") is a town on the west coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is one of the 'Three Towns' along with Ardrossan and Stevenston.

History

Saltcoats' name is derived from the town's earliest industry when salt was harvested from the sea water, carried out in small houses along the beach known as 'cots'.McSherry, page 3] Other early industries in the town included coal mining, fishing and handloom weaving.

After the turn of the twentieth century and the decline of salt panning in the town, Saltcoats became increasingly popular as a holiday destination. An old bathing pond was rebuilt during the 1930s, becoming the largest tidal pool of the time in Scotland. However since the 1960s Saltcoats has seen a decline in popularity as a seaside resort, mainly due to the popularity of international travel.

Saltcoats received Burgh status in 1528, which lasted into 1975 when it was integrated into the then new Cunninghame District Council (now North Ayrshire Council).

Transport

Saltcoats is served by regular bus and train services. Primary bus services are provided by Stagecoach West Scotland, while rail services are operated by SPT.

Although Saltcoats currently only has a single railway station, the town was once served by a second railway station to the north of the town, originally as part of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway. This station closed to regular services on 4 July 1932, [Stansfield, page 7] and there is no trace of the station today bar a nearby bridge.

Saltcoats in popular culture

*The BBC comedy "Still Game" shot scenes in Saltcoats and Largs which served as the fictional coastal town of Finport. The areas shown in the episode were the sea wall, promenade and the Melbourne Cafe.
*The Melbourne Cafe, and various areas of the town also appear in the movie "Late Night Shopping" (2001).
*Saltcoats is the birthplace of Australian band Men at Work frontman Colin Hay.

Amenities

*Eglinton Country Park is fairly close by and is linked to Saltcoats via the Sustrans cycle route.

References

*McSherry, R. & M. (1995). "Old Saltcoats", Stenlake Publishing, Ochiltree. ISBN 1-872074-57-X.
*Stansfield, G. (1999). "Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways", Stenlake Publishing, Catrine. ISBN 1-84033-077-5.

External links

* [http://www.the3towns.com the3towns.com]
* [http://www.threetowners.com Threetowners]