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...

Steamboat Traffic on the Clyde—Article II

on Oct 18, 2022

“Steamboat Traffic on the Clyde “Article II “Our last article closed with a statement to the effect that in 1817 Mr David Hutcheson came to Glasgow as a clerk to the two luggage boats, the Trusty and Industry. When a boy at Port-Glasgow, Mr Hutcheson witnessed the building of the Comet, and remembers being present when she was put on the station in the beginning of 1812. For many years subsequent to this date steamships were propelled by two paddle wheels, similarly constructed to undershot water mill-wheels places on each side of the vessel. In some boats they were fitted at right angles to the sides of the ship; in others in a circular direction; and in a third class, in an oblique form. An early Clyde steamboat from an “Essai” by Joachim Gilbert, published in 1820 Engine arrangement of the above steamboat showing oblique paddles “The cabins and...