Notes on the History of Seamill Hydro
The Sanatorium, Seamill was founded in 1879 and this represents the first part of the present Seamill Hydro building. During the work of building the present gateway, 14 human skeletons were uncovered in roughly made stone kists, probably dating from early Christian times (400 - 700). St. Brigid, the patron saint of West Kilbride is thought to have landed in this area when she arrived from Ireland carrying the Christian message to the then Pagan Scotland. The Sanatorium provided various types of 'baths' made from the Hydro's own spring which can still be seen today in the form of a well. The 'baths' provided relief from Sciatica, Rheumatism and Lumbago and could be likened to a modern day health spa. The Swimming pool was filled with seawater and nurses attended to guests.
[Taken from the Seamill Hydro Hotel website - June 2013]
The list of those who came from the ranks of ministers heavily involved in the temperance cause includes John Kirk, who first experienced hydropathy as a patient of East at Dunoon, and himself was to set up a small establishment at Seamill. ......James Newbigging at Seamill had followed his pastor John Kirk there from Edinburgh shortly after 1874. He was a joiner turned bathman who became manager and from 1887 sole proprietor. He was attached to the Evangelical Union church in Ardrossan.
("Almost twins by birth: Hydropathy, temperance and the Scottish churches 1840-1914". Dr Alastair Durie, University of Glasgow, The Scottish Church History Society, Paper given on Tuesday 27th November 2001)
Seamill Sanatorium and Hydropathic.-Very soon after the appearance of these "Papers on Health," the need was felt for some establishment where the treatment expounded here could be given by trained attendants under Dr. Kirk's personal supervision. The site was fixed on the Ayrshire coast, in the parish of West Kilbride. This region was chosen because special advantages of soil, climate, and scenery recommended it. The soil along the shore is almost pure sand, and dries rapidly after rain. The climate is extremely mild, high hills sheltering the whole region from north and east winds, and the Arran mountains, intervening some sixteen miles over the sea to the west, collect much of the rain. Hence, although near some very rainy districts, the Seamill neighbourhood is peculiarly sunny and dry. In winter the sun reflected from the water, and beating on the face of the hills, makes the shore climate most genial, and when other places only a few miles away are encased in ice, flowers will be blooming in the gardens at Seamill. In the very best part of this district a villa was secured in 1880 by some gentlemen interested in the treatment, with grounds abutting on the sand of the seashore.
Here treatment was carried on with great success, until it became evident that larger premises were needed. In 1882 Mr. James Newbigging was secured by Dr. Kirk as manager and head-bathman, and worked under Dr. Kirk until the latter's death in 1886.
Mr. Newbigging then bought the establishment. Since that time, it has constantly increased in size and efficiency until it now accommodates close on a hundred patients. Very many have come to Seamill almost or quite hopeless, and have left it with health restored and vigour renewed. It ought to be mentioned here that in all his dealings with this establishment Dr. Kirk never had any pecuniary interest in it, always giving his services free. Nor has the writer, or any of Dr. Kirk's family, any pecuniary connection with the place. All information as to the establishment may be had by writing to the Proprietor or Manager, Seamill Sanatorium, West Kilbride, Scotland.
[extract of "Papers on Health" by John KIrk, edited by his son Professor E.B. Kirk, Edinburgh, 1904]
James Newbigging was born on 19th Dec.1842 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire. His parents were James Newbigging (Master Joiner) and Janet Prentice. By 1866, James had moved to Edinburgh and found occupation as a Joiner. In that year he married Margaret Haddow, Spinster of Shotts. Margaret died in a few months after giving birth to their son, James, in 1868. James re-married, in 1871, Catherine McMillan, Spinster, a Domestic Servant. Catherine was a native of Dores, Inverness.
Seamill Sanatorium and Hydro was incorporated as a (Private) Limited Liability Company on 30th October 1906, Registered No: SC006322. The company was incorporated under the Companies Act 1900 (Sec. 2 (3)) under which it did not invite members of the public to subscribe for its shares. The Capital of the company on Incorporation was 12,000 shares of £1 each. Initial subscribers were the immediate family of James Newbigging, thus:
James Newbigging, Seamill, Ayrshire, Portioner
Catherine Newbigging, Seamill, Ayrshire, wife of James Newbigging above described.
James Newbigging, Junior, Hydropathic Manager, Seamill, Ayrshire.
John Newbigging, Seamill, Ayrshire, Portioner.
Mary Helen Newbigging, Seamill, Ayrshire, Spinster.
David Robertson Newbigging, Seamill, Ayrshire, Veterinary Student.
Each of the subscribers had one share. In the document detailing the capital of the company, James Newbigging signs himself as "Governing Director".
The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald edition dated November 9, 1906 reported that among the public companies registered last week was that called the Seamill Hydropathic.
In the Probate Inventory of James Newbigging dated 7th May 1912, James Paton is declared the owner of 5000 shares of £1 each (fully paid) Numbered 1 to 5000.
Extensive additions to the Hydro were made during the years 1920-25. Further work was carried out in 1934. The ballroom was added in 1965.
James Newbigging, son of James Newbigging by his first wife, Margaret Haddow, was the Manager of the Hydro until his death in 1942. His younger half-brother John (Mother was Catherine Macmillan, James Newbigging's second wife) was Managing Director of Seamill Hydropathic Ltd. He retired shortly before his death in 1938. James Newbigging, Jr, in 1899 was elected a Vice-President of the Ardrossan and District Camera Club.
Grant Paton has vivid memories of Seamill Hydro in the mid to late 1940s. In my early childhood, probably at the age of 3 or 4, both the Glasgow Rangers and Celtic Football teams used to come and stay, every year, at Seamill Hydro for a "Week-End Away" (on separate occasions, of course). Because my father was at the hotel most weekends (as a director), I got to kick a ball about with both teams on the front lawn at the hotel. I must be one of the few people in the world who can legitimately claim to have kicked a football with both the Rangers and the Celtic teams! During the war years, my father used to attend firing practice sessions on an anti-aircraft gun that was situated on the foreshore between Seamill and Fairlie. The gun was, I think, a Bofors, but I could well be mistaken. During the war years and for a few years afterwards, the "Hydro" had a Rolls Royce Estate car, known to everyone as "The Hydro 'Bus". This was used to take guests and their luggage to and from the railway station at West Kilbride. It was very majestic and the rear body was constructed largely of wood in what, I think, is called "Countryman Estate" style, which was also known in those days as a "Shooting Brake". I am not sure but I think it may have been a 1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith Binder Estate Wagon.
I have very fond memories of Seamill Hydro when I was a child. It is a very popular and successful hotel now - as it was in my day - but it has been extensively modernised and extended over the last 30 years; a Ballroom has been added and the Dining Room extended. When I was young, where the Ballroom is now was the Laundry with clouds of steam and machinery belts driving overhead. At the entrance to the Hydro was Hydro Cottage where my Aunt Mary and Uncle Diego lived, in the 1950's and 60's, with my cousins, Dewar and Catherine. It is no longer there. Between the Cottage and the Laundry was an extensive vegetable garden with flower beds at the side. Behind the Laundry was the Boiler House and built against the Sandy Road wall was a two-storey building that contained the Engineer's Workshop and above it his apartment. On the other (South) side of the entrance drive was the Garage and huge metal barn-like structure with, at its entrance a manually-operated petrol pump, where the guests' cars and the Hydro Bus were refuelled.
The Hydro, up until the early 1960s, was very old-fashioned and, in structure and configuration, little changed since its inception. It was unlicensed, Dinner was always served at 8pm. Two gongs were sounded before Dinner: the first gong, struck at 7pm, was the signal to change for Dinner, the second gong - struck at 8pm - was to announce that Dinner was being served. There was a "Boots": he lived at the end of a small, downward-sloping, passage on the left beside the entrance to the Dining Room. It was his job, every evening when all had retired to bed, to collect the shoes which guests would leave outside their bedrooms and to take them to the "Boots Hall" where he would clean and polish them before returning them, in immaculate condition, to their owner's bedroom.
On the beach front of the hotel, right up against the Sandy Road wall, was a very large Summer House. This was a wood and glass two-storey building, on the ground floor of which was stored all the equipment for croquet, tennis and putting that the guests might require, while on the upper floor, inside a large verandah, was the Billiard Room. My father, who greatly enjoyed a game of snooker, frequently played there. He told me once that he thought Joe Davis had played on the table, when he stayed at the Hydro. This Summer House, at the present Hydro, is now called "The Tea Room").
From the death of their father, James Newbigging in 1911, the hydro was managed by John Newbigging assisted by his brother James. James became manager on John's death in 1938.
At his death on 30th March 1952, Dewar Paton, husband of Mary Helen Newbigging (deceased) was the owner of 212 shares in the company.
James "Diego" Paton became manager of the hotel, I think, about 1952. He stayed as manager until the Hydro was sold in 1964.
Robert Charlton Paton (father of Grant Paton) was Chairman of the company until it was sold in 1964.
Seamill Hydro has been owned and operated by the Sweeney family since 1985.
It is interesting to note that a grandson of James Newbigging (James Heron Newbigging) was Crown Agent in Kuala Lumpur in 1942.
This page last updated 12/07/2013