ii t^^ =»». fl,\l)\ National Library of Scotland ^6000261860' Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2010 with funding from National Library of Scotland http://www.archive.org/details/battrumsguidedir1875batt u : MACNEUR & BRYDEN'S (31.-A.TE ""w. :b.aji}t:rtji^'&] GUIDE AND DIRECTORY TO HELENSBURGH AND NEIGHBOURHOOD, SEVENTH EDITIOK. ;^<A0MSjdi^ HELENSBUEGH MACNEUE & BUT & 52 East Princes Street, aad 19 West Clyde Street, 1875. 7. PREFACE. In issning the seventh edition of the Helensburgh Direc- tory, the publishers, remembering the kind apprecia- tion it received when published by the late Mr Battrum, trust that it will meet with a similar reception. Although imperfect in many respects, considerabie care has been expended in its compiling. It is now larger than anj^ previous issue, and the publishers doubt not it will be found useful as a book of reference in this daily increasing district. The map this year has been improved, showing the new feus, houses, and streets that have been made ; and, altogether, every effort has been made to render tbe Directory worthy of the town and neighbourhood. September' 1875. NAMES OF THE NEW POLICE COMMISSIONERS, Steveu, Mag. Wilhaiii Bryson. Thomas Chief j J. W. M'Culloch, Jun. Mag. John Crauib. John Stuart, Jun. Mag. Donald Murray. Einlay Campbell. John Dingwall, Alexander Breingan. B. S. MFarlane. Andrew Provan. Martin M' Kay. Towii-CJerk—Geo, Maclachlan. Treasurer—K. D, Orr. Macneur & Bkyden (successors to the late W. Battrum), House Factors and Accountants. House Register published as formerly. CONTENTS OF GUIDE. HELENSBURGH— page ITS ORIGIN, ..,.,..., 9 OLD RECORDS, H PROVOSTS, 14 CHURCHES, 22 BANKS, 26 TOWN HALL, . 27 GENERAL FEATURES 28 THE HIGHLANDMAN'S ROAD, . ... 32 THE OLD ROAD. • 38 ROW, 41 THE SMUGGLER'S OR WHISTLER'S GLEN, . 51 THE GARELOCH, 54 CARDROSS. 60 GLEN FRUIN, 69 ROSENEATH, .......... 81 LUSS, . , 94 EXCURSIONS, 101 THE GEOLOGY OF THE DISTRICT, .... 102 BOTANY OF THE DISTRICT, .105 PASTIME AND SPORT— CRICKET, Ill BOWLS, 112 CURLING, 112 SHOOTING, ....,.,.. 112 ANGLING, 116 HENRY BELL 125 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGK VIEW OF BIS.'LE^SBJJ'RG'R—Frontispiece. KOW, 42 AEDENCAPLE CASTLE, .....•• 44 51 THE SMUGGLER'S OR WHISTLER'S GLEN, . FASLANE CHAPEL, 57 59 WEST SHANDON HOUSE, . • • • OLEN FRUIN, NEAR DUNFIN, 70 - 78 BANNACHRA CASTLE, . ROSENEATH CASTLE, 81 ROSENEATH CHURCH, &c., 88 — HELENSBURGH GUIDE. The earliest notice of a public kind concerning Helensburgh appears in an extinct newspaper, called the Glasgow Journal^ under date 11th January, 1776, in the form of an advertise- ment, and runs thus : ** Notice. —To be fued immediately, for building upon, at a very reasonable rate, a considerable piece of ground upon the shore of Malig, opposite Greenock. The land lies on both sides of the road leading from Dumbarton to the Kirk of Row. The ground will be regularly laid out for houses and gardens, to be built according to a plan, &c. There is a freestone quarry on tbe ground. "For the accommodation of the feuars, the proprietor is to encloaa a large field for grazing their milk cows, &c. "N.B. —Bonnet-makers, stocking, linen, and woollen weavers, will meet with proper encouragement. There is a large boat building at the place for ferrying men and horses with chaises." The idea of founding a town on these shores suggested itself to the great-grandfather of the present Sir James Colquhoun of Luss, who purchased the land of Malig or Milrigs from Sir John Shaw of Greenock, and in further- ance of this design, laid it out in prospective streets, and advertised it to the public. The town itself, as appears from the advertisement, was nameless for some years. A very old form of the name of the barony was Muleig, with which the local pronunciation accords, and the infant town was 10 HELENSBURGH GUIDE. recognised under tliat patronymic, or tlie more unmeaning one of tlie New Town, till the course of events brought a change. Probably its name was a matter of considerable family discussion, till at last some ingenious friend solved the difficulty by happily suggesting it should be called after the lady of its new owner, "Helensburgh." A more noble and permanent memorial of that distinguished lady could hardly have been devised than this happy suggestion gave birth to. Notwithstanding the tempting advertisement above quoted it seems to have made slow progress for many a year. In 1794, we find from an old rental-book, that there were only about seventeen houses built on the lands, and the gross feu-duty paid to the superior amounted to only .£8 16s. 8d. Of the few houses then built, only one or two now stand.* Helensburgh was created a free burgh of barony by royal charter, dated 28th July, 1802. Under this charter, the government of the burgh is committed to a provost, two bailies, and four councillors, and weekly markets and four * The following seem to have been the first adventurous feuars, and the rates of feu-duty paid by them. What a contrast it affords be- twixt the value of land half a century since and its price now ! We have heard it said, that the whole shore ground from the pier to the east boundary of the town was offered at a perpetual rent of £1 to the ancestor of one of the Malig feuars, and refused as too serious a speculation. William Stewart, t £0 6 8 John M'Aulay, £0 13 4 Donald M'Kinlay, 13 4 Malcolm Taylor, 1 Andrew M'Lachlan 6 8 David Eeoch, 6 8 Kobert Watson, 6 8 Eobert Colquhoun, 1 James Walker, 13 4 Agnes Ferguson, 13 4 Donald Smith, 6 8 Archd. M'Auslane, 14 John M'Naughten, 8 John Grovan, 6 8 WiUiam Bruce, 6 8 Patrick Gray, 8 John M'Aus ^ane, 6s. 8d. t William Stewart's feu seems to have been without the boundary of the burgh as existed in 1802. — " HELENSBURGH GUIDE. 11 annual fairs are appointed. In a community of seventeen houseliolders, one naturally thinks that considerable in- genuity must have been exercised at times to find a staff of seven such officials to govern the other ten, and we conse- quently find among the old records repeated instances of householders fined for failure to accept the honour conferred on them by their townsmen. As in some degree throwing a measure of light on the past history of this burgh, v/e give a few extracts from the older official records. There is not much amusement to be gleaned from them, but they may afford insight into the inner life of an infant town, and thus prove of some interest to the curious in such matters : EXTRACTS moM RECOEDS of the TOWN COUNCIL of HELENSBURGH. By-Laws. Helensburgh, WihNov., 1807. Marhets and Fairs. —The Magistrates and Town Council convened, ** agreed that the annual markets of Helensburgh should be published in the newspapers and handbills ; and likewise inserted in the alman- ack, and also the following articles concerning the same—viz., all cattle coming and entering the market for sale, shall pay the follow- ing dues:—For each cow or horse a penny ; sixpence for each score of sheep ; a sixpence for each sow ; and if sold to pay the above same rates when returning from the market. And we likewise further agree, that the two town officers are authorised to uplift the same at their proper stations, and to be paid only ojBf the funds for so doing. Attendance at Church, Officers and their Halherts. Helensburgh, Qth Jan., 1808. We, the Magistrates, having convened this day, we therefore ordain that the two town officers shall attend church in their uniform with the Magistrates, Only with the exception that the town hal- berts are not daily required, but upon certaia occasions to be ordered by the Magistrates. John CampbeWs disobedience in relation to the above By-Law. (Literatim.) Helensburgh, 10^^ March, 1808. , . And likewise the Magistrates having ordered their twa —) 12 HELENSBURGH GUIDE. officers npon Saturday the 16th of February, to attend divine service at the Rq-w Church, upon Sunday the 17th of February ; but upon John Campbell's disobeying our orders thereanent, it is agreed by the Council, that the said John Campbell be decerned in the fine of one pound sterling for misbehaving in such a manner, and likewise liable to pay the above fine for every Sabbath and fast day lawfully or- dained he absents himself without a lawful excuse. Court days—Absence of Magistrates. At Helensburgh, the third day of July eighteen hundred and nine years, —Convened the Magistrates and Town Council of Helensburgh, and have taken into our consideration the following articles:—1st, We have mutually agreed that our first court will be held upon Tuesday the 10th current, at the New Theatre, and five o'clock in the after- first noon, and regularly, afterwards, the Tuesday of every month ; 2d, We have likewise agreed that, after the Provost is regularly warned by the officer to any of the courts and not attends, that he will be liable to a fine of ten shillings sterling, unless a regular notice be given to the Council beforehand as impossible to attend ; the Bailie, as above, a fine of five shillings, and councillors half-a-crown. (Signed) Henry Bell. John Moody. WILLLA.M Michael. Helensburgh, IQth March, 1810. (A long minute, in which it is ordained that an assessment of one penny per pound of the valued yearly rent be exacted annually from each proprietor, till the town is by this means supplied with water. Non-attendance of Burgesses at Public Meetings. Wih September, 1811. —It is moved and unanimously voted that, when intimation was given to the feuars by the bell, through the streets of the Burgh, to attend any meeting of the Magistrates and Council, any magistrate, councillor, or feuar, who shall fail to attend, shall forfeit and pay the sum of two shillings and sixpence sterling of a fine for each failure, without a reasonable excuse, to be levied by legal measures if not paid.