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Largs
Largs (Scottish Gaelic: An Leargaidh Ghallda) is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The original name means "the slopes" (An Leargaidh) in Scottish Gaelic. A popular seaside resort with a pier, the town markets itself on its historic links with the Vikings and an annual festival is held each year in early September. In 1263, it was the site of the Battle of Largs between the Norwegian and the Scottish armies.
There is evidence of human activity in the vicinity of Largs which can be dated to the Neolithic era. The Haylie Chambered Tomb in Douglas Park dates from c. 3000 BC. Largs evolved from the estates of North Cunninghame over which the Montgomeries of Skelmorlie became temporal lords in the seventeenth century. Sir Robert Montgomerie built Skelmorlie Aisle in the ancient kirk of Largs in 1636 as a family mausoleum. Today the monument is all that remains of the old kirk. From its beginnings as a small village around its kirk, Largs evolved into a busy and popular seaside resort in the nineteenth century. Large hotels appeared and the pier was constructed in 1834. It was not until 1895, however, that the railway made the connection to Largs, sealing the town's popularity.
It also became a fashionable place to live in and several impressive mansions were built, the most significant of which included 'Netherhall', the residence of William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, the physicist and engineer.
Largs has historical connections much further back, however. It was the site of the Battle of Largs in 1263, in which parts of a Scottish army attacked a small force of Norwegians attempting to salvage ships from a fleet carrying the armies of King Magnus Olafsson of Mann and the Isles and his liege lord King Haakon IV of Norway, beached during a storm. The Norwegians and islemen had been raiding the Scottish coast for some time, and the Scots under Alexander III had been following the fleet, attempting to catch its raiding parties. The outcome of this confrontation is uncertain, as both sides claim victory in their respective chronicles and sagas and the only independent source of the war fails to mention the battle at all. The battle was followed soon after by the death of the 59 year old King Haakon in Bishop's Palace on Orkney. Following the king's demise, his more lenient son Magnus VI of Norway agreed the Treaty of Perth in 1266, under which the Hebrides were sold to Scotland, as was the Isle of Man after the demise of Magnus Olafsson.
The Largs war memorial dates from 1920 and was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer.
During World War II, the Hollywood Hotel was designated HMS Warren, which was Headquarters, Combined Training. A conference was held there between 28 June 1943 and 2 July 1943, code name RATTLE, under Lord Louis Mountbatten. It was known as the "Field of the Cloth of Gold" (named after a famous historic event) because of the number of high-ranking officers taking part. The decision that the invasion of Europe would take place in Normandy was made at this conference. Churchill and Eisenhower attended the conference, staying at St Phillans which later became the Manor Park Hotel.
King Haakon VII of Norway, then in exile in Britain due to the German occupation of his kingdom, visited Largs in 1944 and was made the town's first honorary citizen.
The Largs Viking Festival is an annual event held in the town, to commemorate the Battle of Largs, a pivotal conflict between the Scots and the Norsemen. First held in 1980, the festival takes place each year between late August to early September. It features traditional Viking crafts and displays, parades, live music, markets, and fairground rides. The closing night of the festival features a battle reenactment, the burning of a Viking longship and a fireworks display. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year, celebrating the towns Viking heritage and history. Barrfields Pavilion, as it was originally known, was officially opened on 11 April 1930, as a popular variety theatre to cater for the thousands of summer tourists who visited the town. Originally seating 1003, it was home to the lavish Barrfields Summer Season Revues. Many international Scottish entertainers and actors have played the theatre over the years including Rikki Fulton, Jack Milroy, Jimmy Logan, Stanley Baxter, The Krankies, Ronnie Corbett, Johnny Beattie, Billy Connolly and from south of the border, Frankie Vaughan and Pat Kirkwood. In 1995, the pavilion was refurbished and reconstructed into a visitor centre known as “Vikingar!”.
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Largs
Largs (Scottish Gaelic: An Leargaidh Ghallda) is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The original name means "the slopes" (An Leargaidh) in Scottish Gaelic. A popular seaside resort with a pier, the town markets itself on its historic links with the Vikings and an annual festival is held each year in early September. In 1263, it was the site of the Battle of Largs between the Norwegian and the Scottish armies.
There is evidence of human activity in the vicinity of Largs which can be dated to the Neolithic era. The Haylie Chambered Tomb in Douglas Park dates from c. 3000 BC. Largs evolved from the estates of North Cunninghame over which the Montgomeries of Skelmorlie became temporal lords in the seventeenth century. Sir Robert Montgomerie built Skelmorlie Aisle in the ancient kirk of Largs in 1636 as a family mausoleum. Today the monument is all that remains of the old kirk. From its beginnings as a small village around its kirk, Largs evolved into a busy and popular seaside resort in the nineteenth century. Large hotels appeared and the pier was constructed in 1834. It was not until 1895, however, that the railway made the connection to Largs, sealing the town's popularity.
It also became a fashionable place to live in and several impressive mansions were built, the most significant of which included 'Netherhall', the residence of William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, the physicist and engineer.
Largs has historical connections much further back, however. It was the site of the Battle of Largs in 1263, in which parts of a Scottish army attacked a small force of Norwegians attempting to salvage ships from a fleet carrying the armies of King Magnus Olafsson of Mann and the Isles and his liege lord King Haakon IV of Norway, beached during a storm. The Norwegians and islemen had been raiding the Scottish coast for some time, and the Scots under Alexander III had been following the fleet, attempting to catch its raiding parties. The outcome of this confrontation is uncertain, as both sides claim victory in their respective chronicles and sagas and the only independent source of the war fails to mention the battle at all. The battle was followed soon after by the death of the 59 year old King Haakon in Bishop's Palace on Orkney. Following the king's demise, his more lenient son Magnus VI of Norway agreed the Treaty of Perth in 1266, under which the Hebrides were sold to Scotland, as was the Isle of Man after the demise of Magnus Olafsson.
The Largs war memorial dates from 1920 and was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer.
During World War II, the Hollywood Hotel was designated HMS Warren, which was Headquarters, Combined Training. A conference was held there between 28 June 1943 and 2 July 1943, code name RATTLE, under Lord Louis Mountbatten. It was known as the "Field of the Cloth of Gold" (named after a famous historic event) because of the number of high-ranking officers taking part. The decision that the invasion of Europe would take place in Normandy was made at this conference. Churchill and Eisenhower attended the conference, staying at St Phillans which later became the Manor Park Hotel.
King Haakon VII of Norway, then in exile in Britain due to the German occupation of his kingdom, visited Largs in 1944 and was made the town's first honorary citizen.
The Largs Viking Festival is an annual event held in the town, to commemorate the Battle of Largs, a pivotal conflict between the Scots and the Norsemen. First held in 1980, the festival takes place each year between late August to early September. It features traditional Viking crafts and displays, parades, live music, markets, and fairground rides. The closing night of the festival features a battle reenactment, the burning of a Viking longship and a fireworks display. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year, celebrating the towns Viking heritage and history. Barrfields Pavilion, as it was originally known, was officially opened on 11 April 1930, as a popular variety theatre to cater for the thousands of summer tourists who visited the town. Originally seating 1003, it was home to the lavish Barrfields Summer Season Revues. Many international Scottish entertainers and actors have played the theatre over the years including Rikki Fulton, Jack Milroy, Jimmy Logan, Stanley Baxter, The Krankies, Ronnie Corbett, Johnny Beattie, Billy Connolly and from south of the border, Frankie Vaughan and Pat Kirkwood. In 1995, the pavilion was refurbished and reconstructed into a visitor centre known as “Vikingar!”.
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