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ABOUT INVERCLYDE
GREENOCK PORT GLASGOW
GOUROCK INVERKIP
WEMYSS BAY KILMACOLM
QUARRIER'S VILLAGE Inverclyde is one of
Scotland's smallest council areas, with spectacular views and scenery,
fabulous sporting and leisure opportunities and excellent transport
links to Glasgow and the rest of Scotland.
We are fortunate in being one of the most attractive places in Scotland
to live and work, with 61 square miles stretching along the south bank
of the magnificent estuary of the River Clyde. Further along, the river
opens up into the Firth of Clyde: the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.
Inverclyde's main towns: Greenock,
Port Glasgow and Gourock
sit on the coastal strip. Our heritage, steeped in centuries of maritime
and industrial history sits comfortably with a revitalised, modern
economy of electronics, financial services and tourism. The
transformation has been remarkable by any standards. Inverclyde boasts
not only major improvements to the physical environment but an enviable
track record in attracting new industries and development.
The towns provide a marked contrast to the small coastal settlements of
Inverkip and Wemyss Bay
to the south west of the area and except for the picturesque rural
villages of Kilmacolm and
Quarriers Village the landward areas are sparsely populated offering
a further contrast.
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Greenock
Originally a small fishing village, Greenock, by the mid 17th century,
had an extensive herring trade and was granted burgh status in 1635.
During the Industrial Revolution the harbour expanded rapidly due to
transatlantic trade and growth in the shipbuilding industry. Paper,
pottery, glass, barrel making and sugar refining also flourished in the
town.
Greenock was shaped by heavy industries but decline in this sector meant
the town had to change to meet the demands of the new electronic age and
service sector industries. The harbourside areas have now been cleared
to make way for modern developments like The Royal Bank of Scotland's
National Mortgage Centre, a new four screen cinema complex and a
state-of-the-art ice and water leisure complex.
A civic square has been created in front of the Custom House. This Grade
A listed building was built in 1818 and is still used by the Customs and
Excise Service, but also houses a museum devoted to the history of the
Customs Service. The nearby quay was the departure point for many
Scottish emigrants during the 19th century, and it is now a regular stop
for the world's last ocean going paddle steamer - The Waverley.
A range of shopping is available throughout Inverclyde from charming
speciality outlets in Gourock and Kilmacolm and craft shops in
Quarrier's Village to familiar high street names in Greenock town
centre. The main shopping area in Inverclyde is Greenock's Oak Mall; the
seventies pedestrianised centre which has undergone a major
transformation. It is now completely covered and the refurbishment has
provided an attractive place to shop - whatever the weather!
Although the development of Greenock has been dictated by industrial
growth, the legacy of this has been a wealth of beautiful civic and
domestic buildings, many of which are protected by listed building
status. Cathcart Square and a large part of the west end of Greenock,
including the McLean Museum and Watt Library, are also designated
conservation areas to protect the historic buildings from development.
As well as impressive architecture, Greenock offers plenty to the
outdoor enthusiast. The Battery Park boasts wide open spaces for a
variety of leisure pursuits, and the Lyle Hill affords spectacular views
over the Firth of Clyde and up to Ben Lomond. On the summit of the hill
stands the Cross of Lorraine, a memorial to the Free French Armed Forces
stationed in Greenock during the Second World War.
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Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow is the second largest town in Inverclyde. It developed from
the hamlet of Newark in the 17th century to service the large ships
which could not reach Glasgow because the Clyde was too narrow and
shallow. By the early 18th century Port Glasgow had become the river's
main customs port, trading in tobacco, cotton, timber, sugar, iron and
hemp.
The Clyde was eventually dredged and widened to give direct access to
Glasgow, but as Port Glasgow's importance as a port waned, shipbuilding
became the town's biggest industry. The only construction shipyard still
in operation in Inverclyde is Ferguson Shipbuilders based in the town.
It specialises in building small vessels including tugs and car ferries.
Next to Ferguson Shipbuilders is Newark Castle, the 15th century home of
the Maxwell Family who originally sold the land for the development of
Port Glasgow to the Glasgow baillies. On the other side of the shipyard
is Coronation Park, the former site of the old harbour. In 1962, a
replica of the SS Comet was built to celebrate the 150th anniversary of
the first sailing of a commercial steamship in Europe. It was recently
refurbished and is now located opposite the Park.
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Gourock
Gourock is the smallest of Inverclyde's three main towns. It sits at the
mouth of the Clyde and has a long-established rail and ferry terminal.
In its early days it was a fishing community but it underwent a boom
period at the end of the 1880s as a favourite holiday spot for thousands
of Glaswegians who went 'doon the watter' for their holidays. Despite
cheap foreign package holidays, Gourock is still a popular resort for
day visitors.
The railway station adjoins Gourock Pier from which Caledonian MacBrayne
operate their ferry terminal for crossing to the centre of Dunoon, and a
pedestrian ferry operates to Kilcreggan and Helensburgh (summer only).
Western ferries operates another vehicle ferry from McInroy's Point to
Hunter's Quay in Dunoon.
There is a folly on Tower Hill, a short walk from the town centre which
provides excellent views over the Clyde and surrounding hills. Between
Kempock Street and Castle Gardens is Granny Kempock Stone, a prehistoric
monolith which resembles a huddled cloak figure. Legend says that
sailors used to circle the stone to ensure safe voyages and newly weds
visit it to bring them good luck.
Just outside the town lies the Cloch Lighthouse which dates from 1796,
and is still used to warn sailors of the dangers of the Gantock rocks.
Further down the A770 coast road, towards Inverkip, lies the beautiful
Lunderston Bay, a Yellow Flag Rural Beach award winner (given by the
Tidy Britain Group), with picnic areas.
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Inverkip and Wemyss Bay
The picturesque villages of Inverkip and Wemyss Bay lie on the coast to
the south of Gourock. Inverkip dates from 1170 when land was granted to
the monks of Paisley Abbey, and until the re-establishment of a church
in Greenock in 1589, Inverkip was the main ecclesiastical centre for the
area.
The villagers followed traditional trades such as weaving and farming,
but the sheltered coastal location was also ideal for fishing and
smuggling! Now the Kip Marina provides shelter for pleasure craft; and
is one of the largest marinas in Scotland. Quality mixed development at
Kip Marina has brought further high standard housing and facilities to
the village.
Wemyss Bay formed part of the Kelly Estate which was established in the
late 15th century by the Bannatyne family. Wemyss Bay Caravan Park now
occupies the site of their family home, Kelly Castle, which was burnt
down in 1740. In the 19th century Kelly house was built, but this was
also destroyed by fire in 1913 - suffragettes were thought to be
responsible.
It was the advent of the railway age which firmly established Wemyss Bay
as a popular residential village and holiday resort. The station at
Wemyss Bay pier is a Grade A listed building and one of the finest
railway buildings in Scotland. The rail service complements the regular
ferry service to the Isle of Bute which operates from the pier.
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Kilmacolm and Quarrier's Village
The beautiful village of Kilmacolm lies inland between Port Glasgow and
Paisley. The village grew from a small rural hamlet founded in the 7th
or 8th century and takes its name from the Church of Columba.
The railway arrived in 1869 and Kilmacolm became a popular residential
area for people working in Greenock, Paisley and Glasgow. Many of
Scotland's finest architects of the period, including Mackintosh and
Salmon, were commissioned to build grand homes. Part of the village is
now a conservation area, and the quality of the buildings ensures that
it remains a much sought after residential village.
In the countryside to the south of Kilmacolm, the 19th century
philanthropist William Quarrier founded a village for homeless children,
far away from the deprivations of Victorian Glasgow.
Today with new housing complementing the original village and small
businesses established, the community has developed a vibrant
multi-faceted environment with care provision still at its heart. The
craft centre, coffee house, museum and heritage trail re-inforce the
visitor appeal of this attractive village. TOP
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