Rusty Relics

Out and about in Greenock yesterday.

Enjoyed taking photos of some old rusty relics of Greenock's industrial past.

The Greenockian

Greenock - Port of Departure

In my last post I mentioned the Scottish Diaspora, those Scots who travelled far and wide across the world in search of new lives.  Many of them would have sailed in the thousands of ships which left the port of Greenock each year taking folk away to all corners of the globe.  I came across this poem recently -

Wilfred Campbell (1860-1918) was a Canadian poet, and lived in Ontario.  You can read about him here.

I'm ashamed to admit that I hadn't heard of him before.  But these few verses from his poem The World-Mother (Scotland) appealed to me (if we ignore the fact that for each of the Scotsmen who moved away, there were an equal number of Scotswomen with them who contributed just as much!).  Of course his poetry is of its time and appears very old fashioned and romanticising to us today.  But in this year of Homecoming Scotland I thought that the last line was quite apt.

The Greenockian

Greenock Has Been Wiped Off the Map!

I picked up a brochure yesterday - it is called Welcome to Scotland.  However, I was shocked to discover that on the main map of central and southern Scotland - Greenock is not there!

The port of Greenock will welcome at least forty cruise ships this year bringing over 100,000 passengers and crew from all around the world.  Many will probably pick up this booklet at some point on their visit to Scotland, good luck to them if they try to find the port which welcomed them!  Greenock has truly disappeared off the map!

Port Glasgow which is home to the beautiful Newark Castle is missing too!

This is the year of Homecoming Scotland, which will attract many descendents of the Scottish Diaspora back to their ancestral homeland, anyone picking up this booklet will have a problem with the map if they try to find the place that thousands of families sailed from to start new lives overseas!

OK - here's my map - here's where to find Greenock and Port Glasgow - where you are sure of a wonderful welcome! 

The Greenockian

Robert Adam, Merchant - Greenock and Fayetteville, North Carolina

A brief obituary in the Watt Library's archive index of family notices recently caught my attention.  It read -

Robert Adam born Greenock c 1759.emigrated to

America, merchant in Fayetteville, N.C. died 1801

A bit of research later and I came up with the fascinating story of Robert Adam and his life in Fayetteville.  I am indebted to Craig Harmon of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Company of North Carolina for much of the information which appears in this post.

Robert Adam was the son of Rev Dr John Adam, second minister of the Mid (or New) Parish in Greenock, now Wellpark Mid Kirk.  While his brother John stayed in Greenock, Robert went to North Carolina and became a prosperous merchant there, trading across the Atlantic.  He married a widow, Jennet Burgess and they had three children - John Robert Adam, Eliza Ann Adam and Margaret Jane Adam.

It is perhaps as the first Commanding Officer of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (FILI) that Robert Adam is best remembered in his adopted land.  On 23 August 1793 the Company was founded with Robert as its leader and offered their services to the then President, George Washington.  They adopted the motto -

"he that hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart".

The Company drilled regularly, undertook guard duties and took part in public events.

Unfortunately Captain Adam died on 11 June 1801 at the Sound near Wilmington.  He was buried at the Old Cross Creek Cemetery, opposite the old FILI parade ground.  The stone that covers Captain Adam's tomb reads as follows -

Beneath this stone are deposited the mortal remains of Robert Adam,

a native of Greenock, Scotland,

for many years a merchant of Fayetteville and Wilmington,

who departed this life 11th June 1801 aged 42.

He was universally beloved and regretted.

In his conduct and department through life

was combined all that should adorn the Christian character

and constitute the honorable man,

the kind husband and affectionate parent.

Such a wonderful testament to a fine Greenock man.  The Company held a Memorial Service in 1989 in honour of their first Commander and a footstone was unveiled at his tomb.  He will never be forgotten by the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry.

The wonderful history of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry can be read on their fabulous website here and blog here.  Once again I would like to express my thanks to the members of the Company who helped by sending me information about Robert Adam and especially Craig Harmon for photographs of the grave.

The Beacon Clock Tower and So Much More

On Friday I described the top part of the Beacon  clock tower at Customhouse Quay in Greenock, designed by William Clark, marine artist.  There was a weather vane, a fog bell, a fog light and clock.  Today it is the turn of the lower section which is just as interesting and contains an amazing amount of detail.

This was a drinking fountain with a beautiful lion's head and crest with the words "God Speed" - very apt considering many there would be going on a journey, as well as being part of Greenock's own motto.

There was also a letter box.  I wonder how many tear-stained last words were sent from here before folk went off to different lives in far flung corners of the globe.

The Beacon itself was made at Rankin & Blackmore's Eagle Foundry in Greenock (Baker Street). 

This is a view of the Beacon with the magnificent Custom House behind it.  It must have been a very welcome sight for people returning to Greenock to meet with old friends and family. 

The stories this could tell!

The Greenockian

Greenock Royal Infirmary

Its always great when historical image collections go online.  I have to admit spending hours looking through them just amazed at the range of subjects and the methods and styles of depicting them.  I especially look for anything connected with Greenock.  Today, the Wellcome Library have released a huge collection of images into the public domain.

A quick search and I came across this picture of Greenock's old hospital - the Royal Infirmary, Duncan Street built in 1868 designed by Salmon & Son.  The original infirmary was built about 1810.  The hospital was demolished in the late1970s.  You can have a look at a photograph of it here.

There are historical maps, photographs and documents to explore.  It is a fabulous resource.

The Greenockian

Lyle's Golden Syrup - the Greenock Connection

Lyle's Golden Syrup - used by bakers everywhere and one of the most iconic tins in Britain.  Here's the Greenock connection - did you know that Abram Lyle (1820-1891) was born in Greenock?  In fact, he was a former provost (mayor) of Greenock in the 1870s.  His family were coopers in the town and Abram went into the shipping business, especially the importing of sugar from the East and West Indies.  He later founded the firm of Abram Lyle & Sons, sugar refiners.

Have you ever really looked at the picture on the tin?  It depicts a dead lion with a swarm of bees around it.  It seems a strange image to adorn a tin of food, but it would appear that the story behind it comes from the Bible (Judges 14:5-18) and it's a pretty horrible tale!  In the story, Samson kills a lion, the next time he passes the carcass, a swarm of bees have made a honeycomb in it.  He makes up a riddle about this "out of the strong, something sweet" - and that's why it is on the tin!  This trade mark was registered in 1904, although syrup was first put into tins in 1885.

Lyle opened a refinery in London, not far from that of his business rival, Henry Tate (of Tate Gallery fame).  The two companies were joined in 1921 after both men were dead.  Thus we have the company of Tate & Lyle, which had a refinery in Greenock until the 1980s.

So, the next time you open a tin of syrup or treacle, just remember the story of the logo and the Greenock connection! 

The Greenockian

Columns and Spires

Wellpark Mid Kirk Church in Cathcart Square in one of Greenock's oldest churches.

It was opened in 1761 and is still used for worship today by a Church of Scotland congregation (Presbyterian).  The spire was added in 1787 and is 140 feet high.  This shows the detail of a column at the front of the church.

Greenock's Municipal Buildings are just across the street and this is a view of the Victoria Tower from the church porch.

Joining InSPIREd Sunday - come and have a look at some other churches from all over the world.

The Greenockian

Greenock Gates

These are the gates of Greenock's Municipal Buildings.

I don't think I've ever seen them closed before - in fact, I don't think I've ever really noticed them at all!  These photos were taken early on New Year's Day.

GMB - Greenock Municipal Buildings, I think that's what the initials are.

 Joining Friday's Fences.

The Greenockian

I wonder if anyone noticed something in the second picture of the submarine in my previous post?  Look at the very right of the photograph!

Reflected In Puddles

I took these photographs at the weekend down at Customhouse Quay in Greenock.

 

Great reflections of the fence in the puddles.

 

Joining Weekend Reflections – pop over and see more fabulous photographs from around the world.

The Greenockian

An Elopement Spoiled - Greenock 1866

Customhouse Quay in Greenock was also known as Steamboat Quay because of all the steamships which went from there to the Highlands of Scotland, Ireland, London, Liverpool and many other destinations.  It was always a hub of activity with passengers and freight arriving and departing at all hours of the day and night.

I came across this newspaper cutting relating to an incident which took place there in December 1866.  It would appear that many, arriving by train from Glasgow, were to join the steamer Snipe to travel on to Liverpool.  "Among them was a respectable-looking man of about 56 years of age, and a well-dressed good-looking female of about 30 years of age, rather jauntily made up with a bloomer hat."  The article scathingly goes on "In fact, they looked like father and daughter bent on an excursion." 

However it would appear that an "elderly female" had her eye on them because the man in question was her husband who had eloped from their home in Edinburgh with this younger woman.  The wife, seizing her moment, rushed on board the steamer and tore the hat from her rival's head.  In the meantime the husband - "fairly subdued, meekly assisted his enraged wife to take his luggage ashore, during which the latter kept up a continued series of rebukes."  It would appear from what she said that this was not his first indiscretion and he, humiliated, went with off with his wife.  The article says that the other woman " proceeded on with the steamer to Liverpool without her companion".  I wonder what became of her?

Customhouse Quay today.

I wonder if this gathered as big a crowd as the bull fighting on the quay some months earlier!  Never a dull moment quayside!

The Greenockian

Men Of The Clyde

This wonderful sculpture is in Clyde Square in Greenock, just across from the Municipal Buildings.  It is called "Men of the Clyde".

The plaque reads:-

"Men of the Clyde"

This statue represents an industrious Greenock

and was unveiled in May 1975 by

Provost Elizabeth Martin

Designed by - Naomi Hunt, DA

Sculptor - Malcolm Robertson, DA

 

I love the expressions on the workers faces as the pull the propeller.  The whole work has an amazing feeling of strength and stability.

 

It commemorates Greenock's long-gone shipyards and the thousands of men who worked in them.

 

A wonderful tribute.

The Greenockian

Mearns Street School, Greenock

This was once Mearns Street School, opened in January 1877.  Many of the children who attended this school would have had parents who worked in Greenock's shipyards and mills.

 

It has some wonderful architectural details.

I wonder if the school bell was rung from here.

 

It was still a primary school up until the 1970s.  It was later used as a centre for people with special needs.

 

Wonder what the local authority intend to do with it?  Hopefully it won't be demolished like so many of Greenock's wonderful old buildings.

The Greenockian

Wonderful Westburn

This is the spire of Westburn Church in Greenock, Scotland. 

The church was built in 1840 and the spire added in 1855.

Westburn Church is still used as a place of worship.  Denomination - Presbyterian, Church of Scotland.

 

Joining with InSPIREd Sunday.

The Greenockian