Old Largs

on Jan 4, 2024

Over the years I have acquired a fair number of old engravings, photographs and postcards of Largs. These mostly relate to the Edwardian era into the 1930s and in this article I will attempt to present an album of captioned pictures to give a sense of the town and some of the events that distinguish it. The account covers little beyond the second world war. Largs had two excellent photographers who produced postcards during the early and middle part of the 20th century; Hampton, and Simpson. Both feature strongly in what follows. Simpson also published copies of earlier photographic work by Poulton. Another important photographer was Fergus who, in addition to portraits, also included views of the town. I will start with some early views from engravings and phtographs taken from paintings, moving into the photographic era with more specific topics. In the early years, the main part of...

Dr James Stevenson

on Dec 1, 2023

I enjoy finding sources of the impact of the steamboats on the Clyde that others might overlook. One such is the “Salt-Water Gazette,” a literary and satirical publication that lasted a season in 1835. In one issue there is the tale of Mr. John Guy, porter at Helensburgh Quay, and his journey by steamboat to Glasgow. A contemporary view of Helensburgh Quay is shown above, courtesy of Helensburgh Library. After spending some time on deck, Mr Guy was beckoned “down into the little chamber, built by the proprietor, Doctor Stevenson, for the refreshment of pilgrims.” Here is the name of the steam-boat owner, and the implication is that he was widely known in his day by the traveling public. A little research reveals that Dr. James Stevenson was a Royal Navy surgeon and the 1841 Census has him living in Clyde Street, Helensburgh, aged 50 years with his wife Elizabeth 45 along with a maid...

Early days at Largs

on Nov 1, 2023

Even before the steam-boat age, the village of Largs was a popular summer destination for sea-bathers and pleasure seekers. Sheltered from the prevailing winds by the Isle of Cumbrae, the climate was mild. The good folk of Paisley found it particularly attractive, and the advent of the steamboat meant that a tedious journey under sail or uncomfortable progression by road could be avoided. The old part of the town was built up north of the Gogo burn and by the time that steamboats arrived, new building was beginning south of the burn, including the celebrated Curling Hall. The first steamboat advertised to call off Largs was the Glasgow. Built of wood towards the end 1813, by Messrs John Wood of Port Glasgow, she was 67 feet in length. Her first engines were furnished by Henry Bell and were constructed by Messrs Anderson & Campbell of Greenock, but were not a success when she...

Graham Brymner

on Oct 1, 2023

Graham Brymner was born on 27th January 1827 in Greenock, the son of Elizabeth (neé Fairlie) and Mr Alexander Brymner, who was the cashier in the Greenock Bank, and was at one time editor of the Greenock Intelligencer. Graham was educated at Greenock Grammar School and afterwards sought his fortune as a planter in the West Indies. On returning to Greenock in the 1840s, he took up office work, and then started a business with his elder brother, Douglas, who was at the time engaged as a shipping clerk. The firm of Messrs D. & G. Brymner were coal and lime merchants, with premises in East Quay Lane. The vessels they used were mainly wooden gabbarts or small schooners. The Alexander, presumably named after their father, was built for them by Messrs Scott & Sons, Greenock. The Mount Stuart was built by Messrs M‘Lea on the slip at Rothesay in 1855 and Strath Clutha the following year...

The Storm of November 26, 1912

on Nov 24, 2017

On the afternoon of November 26, 1912, a storm of hurricane proportions hit the West of Scotland, bringing more than half an inch of rain, and winds gusting in excess of 75 miles an hour. The storm was not the most violent on record but its peak coincided with the high tide causing more widespread damage. High tide at Glasgow reached over 25 feet, the highest value since 1882 so that the channel was 50 feet deep. Contractors cranes were blown over at the new Meadowside Granary. The steamships Architect and Clydeholm were damaged in the harbour and the Cervales was ashore. Further down the river, Bowling Harbour was submerged and the Renfrew and Yoker ferries were suspended. Helensburgh was isolated with roads and railway flooded, Ashton esplanade was damaged and the esplanade at Fairlie was washed away. Some of the worst damage was recorded on the Cowal shore. Dunoon Town Council...

Yachts

on Aug 24, 2017

The early days of organized yachting on the Clyde date to the formation of the Northern Yacht Club at Rothesay in 1824. Almost immediately, the club hosted an annual regatta, initially alternating between Belfast Lough and the Clyde. The club gained a Royal Charter in 1830, becoming the Royal Northern Yacht Club. A glance at the Glasgow and sporting newspapers in late summer in the 1830s and 1840s reveals the intense interest in the “Clyde Regatta” and the yacht races. In the 1838 regatta held at Gourock at the end of July in the 25 tonner class Matthew Perston’s Wave, built by Robert Steele at Greenock in 1834, found success over James Smith’s Amethyst and James Macnair’s revolutionary Cyclops that was iron hulled to water line and built in 1836. Robert Kerr’s Falcon was fourth while Andrew Wauchope’s Nancy did not finish. Smaller yachts in the 10 tonner class featured a contest...