Photo Willie Lyle
This view of The Place is the clearest one available to date, and would be hard pushed to beat. The beauty of the collection of glass negatives is the fact they are the original image the photographer (John Taylor Gibb) captured, and not a copy. This photograph of The Place is followed by some samples of parts of the plate.
To quote from the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, 19th June 1858; "It must at any rate have been a much superior building in it's day. Now however, it is in such a state of dilapidation and disrepair, that instead of being an ornament it is a disgrace to the town." The above was certainly taken after 1858, and the building certainly looks like it has some of it's previous splendor brought back. It is home to Clark's Eating Place. The billboards relate to the disappearance of a young lady, and the resulting £100 reward. We have not been able to relate the news article to a date as yet.
Bang in the centre of the building between the two windows, the plaque reads "WG.ER.MDCCLV1"
It may be WC, but the rest is quite clear, see next image. MDCCLV1 of course being the Roman numerals for 1756.