Accident at Bell Rock Quarry

[hullnow]

William Henry Alcroft and his son John William Alcroft died in the same incident on the 18 aug 1894,anyone have any further info on this.

[GR2]

Dundee Evening Telegraph 20-8-1894:

FATHER AND SON DROWNED
               AT AYR
On Saturday afternoon a sad drowning acci-
dent occurred at Annpit Quarry, near Ayr, a
father and son, William Henry Alcroft, aged 38,
riveter, and John William Alcroft, rivet-heater,
losing heir lives. The two had been out walking
and the son having seen a toy boat floating in the
water at the bottom of the quarry, put off his
clothing and swam to it. He became entangled
amongst the weeds, and his father went to his
rescue, but also got entangled, and both were
drowned. Two boys who saw the occurrence
gave the alarm, but some hours elapsed before the
bodies, which were near each other, were re-
covered from a depth of about 14 feet of water.
Alcroft leaves a widow and six children, all
younger than the lad who was drowned.

[GR2]

It was reported in at least 85 newspapers. Some say that the father was "said to belong to Northumberland". One says they worked at Clydebank and were on a visit home. Their address is sometimes given as New Prestwick. The ages vary. Most say Annpit Quarry, a couple say Bell Rock Quarry.

The quarry in the link below is in the area of Annpit Road today and is probably the place.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=55.48159&lon=-4.61820&layers=168&b=5

However, if you go to the north and west of this quarry, you come to two others near the sea. You will notice the Bell Rock is marked nearby them.

[hullnow]

The death certificates for both name Bell rock quarry.

[GR2]

Unfortunately I could not find an Ayr paper which covered it (although one obviously did). Most newspapers say Annpit quarry, but they are obviously all copying an account in one particular paper. It appears in newspapers as far as the south of England.

From the death certificates, presumably it was one of the two quarries nearer the sea:

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=55.48677&lon=-4.62670&layers=168&b=5

[Forfarian]

From the death certificates, presumably it was one of the two quarries nearer the sea:
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=55.48677&lon=-4.62670&layers=168&b=5

The older six-inch map actually names it
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=55.48841&lon=-4.62496&layers=5&b=5

[Maiden Stone]

The older six-inch map actually names it
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=55.48841&lon=-4.62496&layers=5&b=5

2 boys drowned in that quarry in late 20th century.
Do you know the date of that map?

[GR2]

The older six-inch map actually names it
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=55.48841&lon=-4.62496&layers=5&b=5

2 boys drowned in that quarry in late 20th century.
Do you know the date of that map?

It was surveyed in 1857 and published in 1860. At that time it seems to be a working quarry and dry. The 1855-57 Ordnance Survey name book says of the quarry at that time:

A tolerable large freestone quarry Situated near the sea beach about ¼ miles West of New Prestwick and about 1½ North of the town of Ayr Stone not of a very good quality. There is pumping engine for keeping the quarry clear of water

[Maiden Stone]

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=55.48159&lon=-4.61820&layers=168&b=5

However, if you go to the north and west of this quarry, you come to two others near the sea. You will notice the Bell Rock is marked nearby them.

A road without a name on that map is Bellrock Rd. on modern maps. It's on the west (sea) side of the railway line, near initials G & S.W.R. It runs parallel with the coastal footpath for a short distance. A pond which was presumably a disused quarry is on a golf course between the railway line and the coastal path.