William M‘Kim was born in 1883 in the village of Renton in the Vale of Leven where his father was postmaster. He was apprenticed as a draughtsman. Early in his life he and his younger brother David, developed an interest in photography that led to the production of postcards, mainly of scenes around his native village. “The Renton” as it is known was a thriving centre for the bleaching and dyeing industry.
Renton from the lower slopes of the Carman hill, looking to Dumbarton and showing the chimneys of Dalquhurn works around 1908. The railway station is on the extreme right.
Renton from the west looking down King Street to Renton Cross around 1908. In the foreground are the houses of Back Street and beyond those of the Main Street. Across the River Leven are the policies of the Strathleven estate.
Renton Main Street with the tramline to Loch Lomond.
Renton from further north on the hill showing Levenside Church on the right, at the end of Red Row.
The north end of Renton looking over the Cordale estate to the chimney of Cordale works.
Kilmahew Glen, Cardross, a well known beauty spot over the Carman Hill from the village. Renton is in Cardross Parish.
Looking towards Dumbarton from Dalquhurn where the Leven becomes tidal
After the first world war, industrial relations in the Vale of Leven deteriorated and the local industry went into decline. The postcards produced in that time show small knots of the unemployed congregating on street corners in the village in addition to local beauty spots.
Main Street Renton from Lennox Street around 1923
Red Row Renton around 1923. The Levenside Church at the far end of the row was demolished in 1910.
Renton’s reservoir, Carman Loch (David L M’Kim)
Carman Hill (David L M’Kim)
David M‘Kim, entered politics with a strong left-leaning slant and was elected to the local council. He and others of his ilk became unemployable in the area, blacklisted by employers. In the meantime, William M‘Kim was producing postcards of local views and, beginning in the late 1920s produced some of the finest photographs of Loch Lomond and the surrounding area.
Houseboats on the Leven at Balloch from Balloch Bridge around 1927
Houseboats clustered on Monkey Island on the Leven at Balloch around 1927
Looking to Balloch from the source of the Leven around 1927
Princess May at Drumkinnon Bay around 1927. The steamer in the medium distance on the left is Prince Edward and on the extreme left is Princess Patricia. Behind Prince Edward is the hulk of the Queen Mary that had burned around 1915 when she had been brought to the Loch from the Thames. She was broken up in 1929
Drumkinnon Bay around 1927. The steamer is the Empress, then laid up, and beyond is the hulk of the Queen Mary.
Loch Lomond from Stoneymollan around 1927.
Loch Lomond from Ross Priory around 1927
Drymen Bridge on the Endrick around 1927
Drymen war memorial and post office around 1927
Conic Hill and the pyroligneous acid works at Balmaha around 1927
Balmaha Bay in the 1930s
Balmaha Bay around 1927
Balmaha Pier around 1927
Prince George approaching Balmaha around 1927, taken from Old Fort.
Prince George leaving Balmaha around 1927
Ptarmigan Lodge at Rowardennan around 1930
Rowardennan Hotel around 1930
Inversnaid Falls around 1930
Shrewdly, the photographs, particularly those of the early 1930s were mainly scenic with little to indicate a date and these “timeless” images were sold into the 1950s.
Ben Lomond from the Dhu Loch (Rosdhu) around 1930
Aldochlay around 1930
Ben Lomond from Luss Straits around 1930
Camstradden
Swan Island
Ben Lomond from Luss around 1930
Sailboats out from Luss around 1930
Entrance to Luss village around 1930
The Avenue, Luss, around 1930
Luss from the Pier around 1930
Luss campsite around 1930
Looking to the head of Loch Lomond from Inverbeg
Tarbet Loch Lomond around 1930
Tarbet Pier, 1930
Prince George leaving Tarbet around 1930
Changes were also taking place in the village of Renton with new housing at both the north end and south end.
New Houses at Hillfoot with Cordale in the middle distance around 1930. The Chimney is Dillichip works on the east bank go the Leven.
New housing on the Tontine estate around 1930. The memorial to the fallen of the first world war was dedicated in 1922. The Tontine estate subsumed the grounds of Renton Football Club, Champions of the World in 1888.
As unemployment grew with the great depression in the early 1930s, Willie M‘Kim provided an outlet for his brother and some of his contemporaries. With rudimentary training in photographic composition and the elements of photography, they were sent out to photograph destinations and beauty spots frequented by the steamers of the London and North Eastern Railway Company where M‘Kim was able to get his postcards sold on board.
Helensburgh from the Pier
Shandon Pier
Faslane Bay
Garelochhead from Rowmore Point
Garelochhead Pier
Garelochhead from the west
Shandon from above Rahane
Loch Long from above Cove
Loch Long from above Cove
Arrochar, Loch Long
Arrochar and the Cobbler
Loch Restil, Rest-and-be-Thankful
Lochgoilhead
Lochgoilhead
Kyles of Bute
Tighnabruaich
Tighnabruaich
As far as I can ascertain, William M‘Kim died in 1954. Latterly he had a small shop and studio in Bank Street Alexandria and it remained open into the 1960s. The shop was obliterated during the redevelopment of the area around 1970. Some of the work of William M‘Kim from the 1950s can be seen in a youtube video presented by Dumbarton Cine Club.
May 14, 2021
Fascinating piece of history. Thank you!
May 14, 2021
Yes, he died in the early afternoon of 23 February 1954, at home in Hillfoot, Renton.
Have you identified the large vessel in the Tighnabruaich cards?
May 14, 2021
Iain, Thanks for the information the William died at home. As for the ship,I believe it is the Teno, built by Scott’s at Greenock in 1922. There is a Spencer photograph of Duchess of Hamilton in the foreground and the laid-up ship in the background so the postcard photograph probably dates from 1932 or 1933. In fact must be 1934 or later as Mercury or Caledonia of 1934 is in one of the pictures.
May 14, 2021
I should have mentioned that his brother indicated on registering his death that their father was a draper.
May 14, 2021
Iain: Interesting, I missed that on the death certificate. I recall from my reading that there was an Elizabeth McKim who was postmistress in Renton, so the father might well have retired from the post office and had a draper’s shop.
May 14, 2021
Fantastic
May 14, 2021
Many thanks for yet another great set of sepia pictures, a window into my maternal grand mothers history. Her father came to Renton early 1800 as a boatman.
As for my part, as the retired Laird of Glenmallan Loch Long, now sadly compulsory purchased and boarded up by the MOD as part of the nuclear facility jetty handling the missiles, may I add some of the Loch Long pics to my family history please?
May 15, 2021
Douglas: Certainly you can use the pictures. What was your grandfather’s name? Was he one of the Russell family?
May 15, 2021
He was Peter Strachan, and he seemed to obtain work up and down the Leven Clyde and Cart rivers working gabards and early steamers . I know he ended up marrying a girl from Row he met on the ferry and his daughters worked in what became United Turkey Red. His son became a joiner architect in Greenock rebuilding the burned down sugar boilers. George Strachan’s big break came when he was employed by the Scot family to supervise the rebuilding of the family home in the borders burned down. He later became Renfrew County Architect .
May 16, 2021
Thanks for the information. I have an article on Loch Lomond gabbarts coming up at some point.
May 15, 2021
Another great read!
Most enjoyable.
May 29, 2021
Mr M’Kim was an artist, he perhaps would not have acknowledged the term however it takes one to know one and his composition skills are remarkable, some of these views of Loch Lomond are simply superb. I would be grateful if you would allow me to use some of these images as inspiration for paintings.
May 29, 2021
Jim: No problem with the use of the images. I’m sure Mr M’Kim would be happy with what you can do with them. Graham
May 30, 2021
Thanks!
April 8, 2022
I have a framed coloured photograph 11″ by 7.5″ hand written by Kim “The Cobbler” Loch Long and signed WM Kim. So pleased to have traced this fine gentleman