‘Hamilton’: The show that ended in Ayrshire’s tears.
- Feb 4, 2018
- 4 min read
Question:- what is the connection between this outstanding, Oscar-tipped musical Hamilton and Ayrshire? Notably Stevenston and Kilmarnock.I would be interested how many people could answer this since the whole matter is sometimes forgotten about nowadays.There is an inspiring story here, but be warned,- there is a sting in the tale. A chance conversation with an American friend set the story rolling in my mind the other day. An absolute golden opportunity to regenerate our area has passed us by. But let me explain. Alexander Hamilton was of Scottish origin and rose to great heights in the USA. They did not decide to make a great musical out of him for no reason at all. He was an important general in the American War of Independence, especially at the battles of Princeton and Yorktown and for years he was chief aide of staff to George Washington. As First Secretary of the U.S Treasury 1789 - 1795, his place in history is forever secure with the reforms he made and his name appears yet on American bank notes. Crucially he was one of the signers of the U.S Constitution in 1787. His speeches are noted for their great eloquence and are still studied in American schools and universities. Killed in a duel in1804, you can see why he is still remembered, revered, indeed loved by millions of Americans, and with good reason. He had everything,- wisdom, brains, [the two do not always go together] courage, leadership, eloquence, charisma, a tragic end. Hamilton had the lot. His family came from Stevenston on the Ayrshire coast. Apart from our national poet, Robert Burns, no other person with Ayrshire connections can rival him in fame and importance. His grandfather and namesake, Alexander Hamilton, purchased Kerelaw Castle in Stevenston in the year 1655, not long after the beheading of King Charles 1. This gentleman hailed from Kilmarnock, did not like the name Kerelaw too much and changed it to Grange Castle.The name Grange is pretty familiar in both towns. In 1787 the Hamilton family downsized, finding the castle a bit draughty perhaps and moved a few yards away to Kerelaw or Grange House in 1787. It was a cousin of Alexander Hamilton who built it. After this, the castle very slowly deteriorated into the ruin that it is today. Kerelaw House or Mansion, the castle and grounds were all sold in 1838 to a Gavin Fullerton. At least the original name Kerelaw was then restored. The lawyer James Campbell [his firm is still in Saltcoats] bought Kerelaw House in 1919, moving out in 1967. Interestingly, his son, Kenneth Campbell, became a great war hero, a bit like Alexander Hamilton, in fact, winning a posthumous Victoria Cross in World War 2. [They could almost write a musical about him too]. And now we come to the sting in our tale. You would think that the powers that be would have done at least something to protect this priceless building, this fine old home, Kerelaw House, arguably as important as Burns Cottage. Let me tell you what happened.They did absolutely nothing. They neglected it appallingly. The Campbell family took everything with them apparently when they moved out, including, one surmises, original furniture and artefacts. Someone I know crept into the place at night for a 10 pence dare and got the fright of his life, seeing an Egyptian sarcophagus with a picture of a Pharoah on the outside at the top of the bannisters. It had been a peach of a house in its time,- an architectural gem, built in the Adam style, a tall, 3-storey ashlar building. There was an imposing Doric entrance porch. But no one thought to take care of it. No one was very cultured among the authorities. In 1969 the house and grounds were bought by Glasgow Corporation Education Department. This was for the ground to build Kerelaw Residential Approved School. A borstal. But to me, the officials who allowed the House to be demolished in the early 1970s were greater criminals or vandals than any of the boys who were at the borstal [many were abused there, but I digress]. Rumour has it that a bulldozer got out of control one day and started the demolition. Probably a rumour put about to save the blushes of Cunningham District Council, who could have saved Kerelaw House at the drop of a hat. Cultural vandals of the first order. The American I mentioned at the start of my piece asked me casually if a museum of heritage centre could not be erected there, for the benefit of American tourists. I think the answer is no. There is simply nothing left. The American tourists would undoubtedly have come in their droves to the area to see a building with such connections to their great hero. It would have needed much skill in commercial promotion, of course. Hotels would have had to be built. The Hamilton musical would have made the place an even greater draw. Since the demise of the old I.C.I. explosives factory in Stevenston, the largest explosives factory in the world, at one time employing 13,000 people, the whole area has been a bit of a ghost town If the ignorant councillors forgot about Alexander Hamilton, and they did, well they have got form over the years. They also demolished other buildings of great interest, such as Auchenharvie House [Seabank], Hayocks House {Archoille], Ardeer House, Africa House, Nobel House, and several others. The moral is to keep an eye on your councillors, many of whom are maybe not all that bright. Philistines, I think, is the correct word.
Click The Photo Below To Watch 'Hamilton' Clips
David Rodger
North Ayrshire Correspondent
davidrodger107@yahoo.co.uk
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