"The Establishment"

Fairlie a small village on the Firth of Clyde became in 1940 home to H.M. Anti-Submarine Experimental Establishment for the development of underwater acoustics, asdic, and many anti-submarine developments. Fairlie was chosen by the Admiralty because of the existence of William Fife's boatyard, deep sheltered channels (roads), a railway, a pier and yet a remote place where secrecy could be observed. Portland naval base in the English Channel was being bombed and it provided the scientists needed for urgent progress against the the U-boat threat against Atlantic convoys sinking hundreds of ships.
Over 300 people were secretly employed in Fairlie including some local men and women.