The Mackerston Fountain
The fountain at Mackerston is called the Campbell Fountain. It was built in memory of John Campbell as a tribute to his long service to Largs. John Campbell became a licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1811 and a Fellow in 1863. He became a Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1816 and gained his Doctorate of Medicine (MD) in Glasgow in 1830. Campbell became a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons in London in 1813 and also practised as a surgeon in Largs for 61 years.The fountain was built about 1892. The original location of the fountain was right in front of the old Morris's restaurant on Gallowagate Street next to St Columba's Church. The fountain was later moved to the Mackerston putting green in the late 1890's. Inscribed on the fountain are the words.
"The people of Largs to John Campbell for 61 years their beloved physician. Born 1791, died 1873."
Model Yachting Pond
Moving on from the putting green and fountain we now reach the children's play park. This used to be the location of the model yachting pond which was built by the council in the 1930s. At its height it was a popular place for model boat enthusiasts, locals and holiday makers. Many shops in Largs would sell toy yachts.
The following is a selection of old postcards and photos the pond taken from our collection.
The entrance to the children's playpark today.
The same view showing the model yachting pond.
Mackerston Place as it is today.
The outline of South and North Goldenhope can still be seen.
A busy scene at the pond taken in the 1930s. Behind the pond to the right is the Broomfields Cadet Stand Pavilion. This was an open air theatre providing summer entertainment. We will cover that in more detail in the next part of our walk. Up to the left we can see Broom Lodge which is still in use today as a family home and B&B. The building to the right is Broomfield House which was demolished in 1962 to make way for Castlebay flats.
Broomfields Cadet Stand Pavilion
In the late 1880s an open air theatre was built on the Largs prom on the site of today's Children’s Skate park and prom kiosk. For a small fee there was limited seating inside the pavilion however most Largs folk stood on the slopes of the Broomfield watching for free. The entertainers would pass a cup through the crowd to raise funds. The pavilion became so popular that the council eventually build ramps along the slop to hold more people.
This open air theatre soon was known locally as the Cadet Stand which was named after the entertainers who worked there.
The first entertainers to perform were the Joe Wesleys minstrels. They were the initial regular summer time entertainers on the at the Cadet Pavilion from the late 1890s. They performed to large audiences of well turned out and probably very cold locals and holidaymakers who watched from the glass slope overlooking the pavilion.
By June 1904 rival entertainers on the foreshore included fiddlers, dancing bears, bagpipers orchestras, German bands and acrobats as well as showmen playing the latest hi tech gadget of the day which was the portable gramophone.
Also featured at this time was a children’s minstrel company which included a violin and harp singer. A strong man and an Irish comic were very popular who were joined with a vocalist during the summer.
The Cadet Stand
A busy crowd watching a show at the Cadet Stand
The smartly turned out Cadets (image far left) were run by an American Alvin Sawyer.
They combined music hall shows usually beginning with upbeat opening chorus which continued into individual spots and sketches. The shows all ended with a cheery final ensemble. Sawyers entertainers performed at Largs until 1928
Alvin Sawyer was born 1874 in Tarmage Ohio. His Smart Set Cadets were a music hall act that used to travel around Britain in the early 20th century. Notably, they did concert parties in Prestwick and Largs in the summers. Sawyer was his stage name. His real name was Alvin Moore. Although born in the U.S., Alvin and family had moved to England by the time he was seven.
He grew up at Whitley Bay near Newcastle Upon Tyne. The above picture shows Alvin with his family in 1928 on his retirement. In the middle is his wife, Nellie Sawyer (Moore) who he married in 1910. She was also his pianist, composer, and music director. Their three children are Alvin, Kenneth, and Lois Moore (Joyner). Ken and Lois were both born in Largs at 55 Main Street, just opposite Largs station.
When the new Barrfields Pavilion was opened in Largs in 1928 ,Alvin was offered to run it, but apparently he preferred to retire down south in Rottingdean where the family lived in a cottage named Cumbrae after the Isle of Cumbrae opposite Largs.
The Kiosk at Mackerston
The Kiosk at the Mackerston was imported from Venice Italy by the Castelvecchis in the 1930s. The Castelvecchi family links with Largs go way back to 1902 built 1936 The old Moorings café at the pier in 1936. Almost 80 years old this wee lovely blue kiosk is still a major feature of the south prom and still provides a service to the town in summer days.We are not sure who owns the kiosk as of today but it appears still to be in use and open every summer. Thankfully attempts to demolish the kiosk a few years back were cancelled.
A second Castelvecchi imported kiosk was located on the prom for many years and located where the Largs lifeboat station is today. Sadly this was demolished many years ago. For more details on the history of the Castelvecchi family in Largs check out our Castelvecchi feature.