Ballantine Memorial Window, Old West Kirk

This beautiful stained glass window can be found in the Old West Kirk, Esplanade, Greenock.

Entitled “Faith” and designed by the famed Pre-Raphaelite artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones produced by Morris & Co.  It was placed in the church in 1867 shortly after the building was fully renovated after lying disused for about twenty years.

The window is a memorial to the Ballantine family of Greenock.  The wording reads:-

”Erected by James Ballantine Merchant Greenock and Janet Haddow his wife in memory of their children—Robert, died 1853 aged 6 years; 

Janet Niven, died 1858 aged 19; Jeanie Carmichael, 

wife of T. B. Rowan Merchant Greenock 

died 1860 aged 24; James died 1863 aged 21.”

The window shows a beautiful female figure depicting faith with a book under her left arm and holding a cup in her right hand.  She is surrounded by a background of vines, foliage and fruit.  Among the greenery at her feet are five beautiful red flowers, probably representing the children of the family who died young and are mentioned in the wording beneath.  

James Ballantine (1801-1883), a merchant from Girvan married Janet Haddow (1809-1908) in 1831 in Greenock.  The family lived at Houston Street in Greenock.

Photo source - Greenock Burns Club

They had seven children – those mentioned in the memorial – Robert (1847-1853), Janet Niven (1839-1858) and James (1842-1863).  Also mentioned is their daughter Jeanie Carmichael Ballantine (1835-1860) who married Thomas B Rowan in 1859 and who unfortunately died just a year later.  Thomas B Rowan's mother was Agnes Ballentine from Irvine, perhaps a relative.

James and Janet Ballentine had other children –

Thomas Ballantine (1833-1872), distiller involved in the family business in the town married Margaret Doctor Crockatt in 1859.

John Haddow Ballantine (1837-1890) carried on the family’s distilling business in Greenock.  In 1866 he married Marion Russell, daughter of Captain Alexander Russell.

Photo source - Greenock Burns Club

A surviving daughter, Henrietta Haddow Ballantine (1854-1953) married Lewis Macfarlane (1849-1825) from Lochgoilhead.  She and her family lived with her parents at Houston Street in Greenock.  After her parents’ death they returned to Lochgoilhead.

James Ballantine came to Greenock from Irvine in about 1824 in connection with the Greenock Distillery Company which started about that time on the corner of Tobago Street and Inverkip Street.  (Check out distillery's position on 1857 OS map here.)  The premises, once a brewery, covered three acres of ground.  (You can read an interesting description of the premises here.)  He took active part in local affairs and was a member of the town council and JP. He died at Bridge of Allan in 1882 and was survived by his wife Janet, son John Haddow Ballantine, daughter Henrietta and many grandchildren.

The children of sons Thomas and John Haddow continued the Ballantine involvement in the distillery business in Greenock for many years and were also involved in sugar refining.

There is a very similar stained glass window depicting Faith in All Saints Church, Sculthorpe which you can view here.

Other Greenockian posts about the Old West Kirk's windows -

Daniel Cottier's Window of Hope

The Arbuckle Window

Crawfurd of Cartsburn Window

An important birthday for local club - 225 years old!

While America celebrated it's 250th birthday in July this year, a local organisation 

celebrated 225 years of its history - Greenock Burns Club!

While we usually associate the annual celebrations of the life of poet Robert Burns with his birthday on 25 January - known worldwide as Burns Night, a commemoration of the 5th anniversary of the poet's death on 21 July 1801 took place in Greenock.  Admirers of the poet, along with members of the Greenock & Ayrshire Society met in the White Hart Hotel in Cathcart Square, Greenock to mark the occasion.  This was the start of Greenock Burns Club.  

The Greenock & Ayrshire Society started in 1796 and included in its membership many local men as well as Ayrshire men with business interests in the area.  You can read about some of these Ayrshire men in a previous post here.

Certificate of Greenock Ayrshire Society (also on view in Burns Club Room in Greenock Custom House

On Friday 24 January 1902, an article appeared in the Greenock Telegraph noting that the Centenary celebrations of Greenock Burns Club would take place the following day in the Town Hall Saloon - that is, the 100th celebration of Burns' birthday.  But also mentioned, as proof of the earlier 1801 meeting, an important artefact which was once housed in a wooden chest with other important documents belonging to the Club.  The article states –

“The principal treasure, perhaps, in this chest is the original minute-book of the Greenock Club, the first entries in which are dated 1801, in the summer of which year the society was first formed.  It is an excise book which belonged to Robert Burns or rather was in his keeping and for his use as a Government servant.  It is of the once familiar form, oblong and narrow in width, and bound in thick brown calf boards.  The leaves have taken on an age-worn appearance, but otherwise the little volume is in a state of good preservation.  On the first leaf under the top cover is the following inscription:

“This Book was found in the house of the late Mr Robert Burns at his demise and presented to the Burns Club of Greenock by Adam Pearson, Esq, of His Majesty’s Excise, Edinburgh, AD 1801.”

On the second page is the following in large and legible handwriting: “Greenock Burns Club and Ayrshire Society.”

Cover on display in Greenock Burns Club's Archive and Exhibition Room in Greenock Custom House

The donor of the book, Adam Pearson (1743-1815) was Secretary of Excise for Scotland based in Edinburgh.  He was a witness at the trial of Deacon Brodie and his associate who were charged with robbing the Excise Office in Chessels Court in the Canongate, Edinburgh.  They were found guilty and hanged in front of the Tollbooth in the High Street.  Adam Pearson died in 1816.  He and his family are buried in the Canongate Kirkyard in Edinburgh.   Also buried in the same place are poet Robert Fergusson (1750-1774), whose work was greatly admired by Robert Burns.  Burns was responsible for providing the headstone for Fergusson's grave.  Agnes Maclehose (1759-1841), Clarinda to Burns' Sylvander is buried there too.

The Greenock Telegraph article continues by describing the first entry in the minute book -

"The minutes in this book open with an Ode on the poet composed by Mr Neil Dougal, a prominent and gifted local musician of the years of the last century, and the author of some Psalm tunes long popular with Presbyterians, including the well-known “Kilmarnock.” 

The long Ode – oh, how lengthy and gushing these old odes on Burns usually were! – concludes as follows:

“Sae for his [Burns] sake the dainty cheil,
I wish his weans and widow weal,
Gude grant them wealth
O’ milk and meal, For brose and bread,
And bless them with a cosy beil,
Till they are dead.”

Neil Dougal (1776-1862) was a Greenock born poet and composer.  He started life at sea but was seriously injured in 1794 while in Greenock when the ships in harbour were ordered to fire a salute in  honour of Lord Howe's victory over the French.  His gun misfired and he lost an arm and the sight in his right eye.  He had to give up his life at sea and turned to other ways of making a living.  He taught singing and composed many psalms, the best known being "Kilmarnock".  He was a lifelong member of Greenock Burns Club.

The cover of the excise book still exists and can be seen in the Archive and Exhibition Room of Greenock Burns Club in the Custom House in Greenock.  Unfortunately, the rest of the book has been lost.  No one knows what happened to the inside pages after the cover was removed to be photographed.

Inverclyde Sailors' Centre - due for demolition

The foundation stone of the Sailors’ Centre on Dalrymple Street in Greenock was laid on Tuesday 7 September 1943 by Lord Inverclyde (1897-1957), after whom the Centre was named.  Lord Inverclyde (Alan Burns, 4^th Baron Inverclyde) of Castle Wemyss was Scottish chairman of the British Sailors’ Society.  The British Sailors’ Society’s Greenock Committee was chaired by Edward Mackay.  Money for the Centre was raised by the Society from near and far with many local people and businesses contributing.  Lord Inverclyde himself made a personal contribution.

The Inverclyde Sailors’ Centre was officially opened on 24 March 1944 by the Duchess of Kent (1906-1968), at the time she was President of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.  A newspaper report of the time quoted that the Duchess had described the Centre as - “the finest residential quarters in Britain for men of the Mercantile Marine.” 

She went on to state “The River Clyde, was famous throughout the world as a great shipbuilding centre.  It had seen during this war and in the days of peace, many events of vital importance to our national life.  It had seen the departure and return of thousands of sailors from these islands and from other nations – men on whom our very existence depended.  The least we could do for them while they were ashore was to give them every comfort and recreation and a home-like atmosphere.”

You can view a short film of the Duchess at the opening ceremony in Greenock at the National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive here Film 0258.

The three-storey building’s interior had kitchens, well-equipped bathrooms and a “cabin” for each resident, as well as a lounge, dining room, reading room and billiard room which were said to contain artwork by French artist Leopold Pascal (1900-1958).  In 1940 Pascal had joined the Free French Forces and was the official painter of the Free French Navy.  He signed his work with an anchor and the Cross of Lorraine.  An exhibition of his work had been held in Glasgow under the patronage of Lord Inverclyde.

In May 1946 Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) visited the Centre and was received by Lord Inverclyde.

In 1978 the building became a hostel for the homeless.  It closed earlier this year and is shortly to be demolished.

Read a previous Greenockian Blog Post about Lord Inverclyde (click on link).

Greenock's eve of destruction

Yes, you read the sign correctly traffic disruption on Greenock's main thoroughfare, Dalrymple Street at Bullring roundabout to commence on Monday and last for 63 weeks!

Greenock Municipal Buildings in background

Machinery is already in place - next week sees the start of the widespread changes in much of central Greenock.  Work has already started on the demolition of the old (well, 1970s) central library building along with much of Clyde Square.  Now demolition will commence on the Bullring roundabout and car park on Dalrymple Street.

Bullring car park

Roads will be closed and alternative routes have been put in place for traffic to avoid the area of demolition.  Bus routes will be changed and pedestrian access in the centre of town will be disrupted.  You can read all about diversions, plans etc on the Inverclyde Council website - click on link.

Area around Dalrymple Street looking up High Street before earlier demolition (c1970).

Many still remember in the late 1960s and early 1970s when a previous round of annihilation demolition took place in order to build the Bullring roundabout and Greenock Oak Mall.  Now much of it is going to go!  It will be interesting to see what takes its place!

Hunter Place demolition

Demolition continuing in Hunter Place - that car park is also closed.

Hunter Place carpark

John Walker & Co, Sugar Refiners

For over a hundred years, the Walker family of Greenock ran the huge sugar refinery situated on the corner of Nicolson Street and West Shaw Street (now the site of shop - the Range).  The West Burn ran through the area.

Photo source - Watt Institution

Two brothers, John and Hugh Walker along with their brother in law James Speirs who was married to their sister Elizabeth, were the first of the family to run the business under the name of John Walker & Co.  They commenced business in 1850.  Over the years, their sons and a nephew, Duncan Shaw were involved in the company.

Photo source - Watt Institution

Despite being burned down three times, a common problem for sugar refineries, the business grew successfully.  However, after a downturn in trade in 1920, but were rescued by Tate and Lyle but kept the Walker name.  The refinery closed in the 1970s and was demolished shortly thereafter. 

News article 1928

The Moving Image section of the National Library of Scotland has three great films showing workers at Walker's Refinery.  Click on links to view - Film 5151 also Film 5152 there's also a great film of sugar being unloaded from a ship at Film 5153.  These are amazing films!

Gravestone of Hugh Walker in Duncan Street cemetery

 The Walker family had been involved in business in Greenock for many years.  Hugh Walker, a baker, was born in Leith in 1762 and moved to Greenock where in 1795 he married Margaret Gardiner.  The couple had a family of three sons and four daughters.  The family lived at George Square while Hugh's baker's shop was at 8 West Blackhall Street.  Hugh died in Greenock in 1838 and was buried in Duncan Street Cemetery.

Hugh and Elizabeth's daughters Agnes (1800-1867) and Charlotte (1806-1877) did not marry and lived in the family home where they looked after the three children of their sister Margaret (1811-1842), the wife of Captain John Shaw.  Margaret had died at sea in 1842.  Her son, Duncan Shaw (1840-1925) would later join the firm.  Another daughter, Elizabeth (1803-1846) married James Speirs, a wine and spirit merchant in 1831. James Speirs (died 1872) was one of the founding partners in the company.

John Walker - picture source - Greenock Burns Club

John Walker after whom the company was named was twice married.  His first wife was Mary Anne Carmalt (born 1815) who died in 1838.  Re remarried in 1841 -  Jane Barnhill (1811-1850).  He had several children.  John Walker died in 1866 and was buried in Greenock Cemetery.

His brother Hugh Walker (1809-1889) continued the business.  Hugh was married to Emma Agnes Wonham (1829-1896).  The couple had a large family.  His sons were involved in the sugar business.  Hugh was a keen yachtsman, competing in regattas around the country.  He stood down from the business in 1887.

Hugh Walker and family - picture source - Greenock Burns Club

Before becoming sugar refiners, John and Hugh were the owners of three ships - Merlin (lost in 1847), Kilblain and Hugh Walker.  These were sold in 1851.  Captain Duncan Shaw was the master of one of these ships.

Sugar refining was very much a family business in Greenock.  Other families involved in this trade were the Lyles, the Fairrie family, the Macfies and the Kerrs.

The return of the "Comet"

It is great to see the new model of the wonderful Comet steamship in place at Argylls' Parade, Port Glasgow.  

Looking great, the model replaces the 1962 replica which was removed in 2023 because it had fallen into disrepair (read more here).

The original Comet was built in 1812 by John Wood shipbuilder at his yard near this site.

The sign beside the Comet reads -

John Wood and the PS Comet 
“We certify that in the year 1811 we built for Mr Henry Bell, engineer, a small steam vessel of 40ft keel, 10ft 6in beam, called “The Comet”, she being the first vessel in Scotland, and that Mr Bell was the first person who projected and carried into effect in this Kingdom the use of steam vessels, which followed immediately his steps, and have proved, and are likely much further to prove, of such amazing importance.  This certificate was given at Mr Bell’s request, and for his use as he sees fit.”
John Wood & Co Port Glasgow, 10^th October 1826.

The sign continues with the following information -

"John Wood, born 1745, became foreman carpenter in Thomas McGill’s yard in Port Glasgow.  By 1781 he had his own business in the Port.  John purchased James Muir’s shipyard, at the west end of the town.  He was contracted to build Henry Bell’s steamship The Comet which was laid down in October 1811.  John died on 22^nd November and his son John completed the launch of the vessel on 24^th July 1812.
Steam Passage Boat, The Comet"

Then there is the wording of an advertisement which was published at the time -

"Between Glasgow, Greenock and Helensburgh for passengers only.
The subscribers having at much expense fitted up a handsome vessel to ply upon the River Clyde between Glasgow and Greenock – to sail with the Power of Wind, Air and Steam.
The elegance, comfort, safely and speed of this vessel requires only to be proved to meet the approbation of the Public and the Proprietor is determined to do everything in his power to merit public encouragement.
Passengers by the Comet will receive information of the hours of sailing by applying at Mr Houston’s Office, Broomielaw or Mr Thomas Blackney’s, East Quay Head, Greenock.  Henry Bell"

Henry Bell

Read about the unveiling ceremony which took place in June 2026 here.

John Hendry - Gourock Chapel of Ease

John Hendry was born in 1765 in Baldernock in Dumbartonshire, the second of three sons.  He attended the University of Glasgow where he became a student of divinity.  His final year of study was spent at the University of Edinburgh and was licenced to preach by the Presbytery of Dumbarton.  Not long afterwards, in 1789, he was elected to the Chapel of Ease at Gourock where he stayed for several years.  He was the fourth incumbent of the chapel and succeeded James Greenock (click on link to find out more).

The Chapel of Ease was built in Gourock in 1776 in the burial ground at what is now Chapel Street.  .  The parish church (now Old Gourock and Ashton Church) was not constructed until 1832.  Ministers (or readers) appointed to chapels of ease were licensed to preach, but could not administer the sacraments.

Gourock burying ground - site of chapel of ease

While at Gourock John Hendry married Mary Adam (1765-1858) in 1805.  Mary was the daughter of Rev Dr John Adam of the Mid Parish Church in Greenock.  Hendry later became friendly with Adam’s successor Rev Dr Scott.  

Mid Parish Church, Greenock

In 1796 he left Gourock and was presented by the Earl of Eglinton to the parish of Dalry in Ayrshire as assistant to the Rev John Fullarton (1735-1802).  John Fullarton had succeeded his father, also John Fullarton (d1761) to the charge at Dalry.  John, who in 1766 married Greenock woman Helen Donald, had a brother, Gavin Fullarton (1737-1795) who was a surgeon at Greenock and another brother, William a merchant in Greenock.  

Gravestone of Gavin and William Fullarton in Inverkip Street Cemetery, Greenock

On the death of John Fullarton in 1802, John Hendry, who had just been at Dalry as assistant, moved to Stevenston again as an assistant to Rev Dr James Wodrow (1730-1810).  He was the son of the well-known church historian Robert Woodrow.  Hendry remained at Stevenston until the death of Wodrow. 

St John's Church, Dalry

In June 1810 he was at last ordained as “assistant and successor” to Rev John Duncan (1750-1819) of Ardrossan.  On the death of Rev Duncan in 1819, he was appointed his successor and became a full parish minister.  A few years later, after a visit to the north of Scotland, he suffered a bout of typhus from which he never fully recovered.  He suffered problems with his speech which affected his communication both in the pulpit and with his parishioners.  As his health deteriorated, it was decided that he needed an assistant.   The Rev John Campbell Bryce (1800-1858) was appointed and began in 1828.  He was presented to the congregation by the Earl of Eglinton and was ordained officially as assistant and successor at Ardrossan in July 1830.

Rev John Hendry died in 1835.  He was (not very complementary) described as -

 “tall and stately and well-formed, although latterly he was corpulent and rather unwieldy.  His countenance was manly, and very expressive of good sense.  He was a person of great modesty and genuine humility; in large companies he spoke very little.”

John Hendry and Mary Adam had a son, John Adam Hendry (1806-1837) who became a surgeon in Ardrossan. 

Mary Adam’s father Rev Dr John Adam (1720-1792) was the second minister of the Mid Parish Church in Greenock.  She had two brothers – Robert a merchant in North Carolina and John, a merchant in Greenock.  You can read more abut the family on these Greenockian Blog posts –

Rev Dr John Adam of the Mid Parish, Greenock

Robert Adam Merchant – Greenock and Fayetteville, NorthCarolina

American Revolution and a bounty for Greenock sailors

The American War of Independence 1775-1783 greatly affected trade in Greenock and Port Glasgow.  British troops were sent to America and many left from Greenock.  The British Navy needed extra sailors, and while the press gangs were busy abducting local mariners, men who “volunteered” or could be induced financially to join up were more valuable.  However, it would appear that Greenock was full of patriotism at this time. 

Published in the Caledonian Mercury, February 1776.

In the History of the Town of Greenock published in 1829, Daniel Weir writes -

“On the breaking out of the American war in 1776, the people of Greenock rallied faithfully around their Sovereign; and, in proof of this, the following placards were posted on the corners of our streets, from the two great bodies which then composed the most important part of the population."

One of these notices  was issued by the Herring Fishing Society of the town (as shown above) it reads -

"The Busses herring Fishing Society of Greenock, impressed with a just abhorrence of the unnatural Rebellion in America, tending to the subversion of the present happy establishment, under the wisest and most moderate government, do therefore offer ONE GUINEA of BOUNTY, over and above his Majesty’s Royal Bounty, to each of the first hundred able bodied SEAMEN, who shall, betwixt and the 1^st day of March next, enter with Lieutenant Henry Constobadie, of his Majesty’s Navy, or the commanding officer for the time, at Greenock; from whom proper certificates must be procured, and lodged with Mr James Taylor merchant in Greenock, who will thereupon order immediate payment of the Society’s Bounty."

The second notice was issued by concerned Greenock merchants and is very much along the same lines as the first stating that they were -

“Desirous to promote the manning of His Majesty’s Navy with able seamen, having raised by subscription a sum of money for that purpose, do hereby offer a Reward of One Guinea, over and above his Majesty’s Bounty, to each of the first Sixty able Seamen belonging to the towns of Greenock, Crawfordsdyke, Gourock, and Inverkip not above Fifty nor under Eighteen years of age, who shall voluntarily enter to serve in his Majesty’s Navy with Lieutenant Henry Constobadie, or the Commanding Officer in Greenock for the time, betwixt and the twenty-ninth day of February next; to be paid by Joseph Tucker, Merchant in Greenock, upon a Certificate from the said Lieutenant Constobadie, or the Commanding Officer for the time.”

Was this strategy successful?  Weir writes that – 

“in a short time, a number of enterprising and excellent seamen 

were added to the navy.”

These previous posts give some idea of how ships from Greenock and Port Glasgow were affected by the American Revolutionary War.  Click on the links to read the posts -

An Appeal to Heaven - the ship Concord of Greenock and its cargo.

Ship Concord of Greenock - captured by the Americans - read about what happened to the crew of the concord after their capture and George Washington's involvement.

George Washington

James Greenock of Gourock

 250 years ago, in 1776, Gourock got its first church.
A small chapel of ease was built in the old burial ground.

The chapel of ease was described as "a very small place of worship, with earthen floor, and only partially seated with rough benches.”  Before this was built, those wishing to attend worship had to travel from Gourock to the Auld Kirk at Inverkip.  For convenience a small place of worship was provided in Gourock, thus its name – chapel of ease.  The name is continued in the nearby Chapel Street.

Chapel Street Burial Ground, Gourock

According to Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae the first two ministers were, James Wilson minister from 1776-1777, the son of James Wilson, mariner Saltcoats and licenced by Presbytery of Irvine in 1765.  The second was Archibald Anderson minister in 1777.  The third minister, from 1780 until 1789 was James Greenock (sometimes written Grinock).

James Greenock was born in 1739, the son of James Grinock farmer in St Ninians, Stirling and educated at the University of Glasgow.  Although he had completed his theological studies, he was not ordained and was known as a licentiate of the Church of Scotland.  This was common practice for those appointed to chapels of ease rather than full time parish churches.  He was at Gourock Chapel of Ease for just 9 years before returning to St Ninian’s, Stirling where he lived a quiet life.  Occasionally he would preach when asked by other ministers.  James died in 1813 at the age of 73.

What is known about his life can be found in In a letter dated June 1813 and published in the Reports of the British and Foreign Bible Society.  The letter, written by the Rev Dr John Campbell of Edinburgh, was to highlight a donation to the Society by the Greenock family and giving an account of how that came about.

 

Of Rev James Greenock, Campbell writes that - “The life of the late Mr Greenock furnishes no incidents calculated to gratify curiosity.”  But goes on to add that he was “a pious and worthy man, eminently distinguished by that simplicity and godly sincerity, which are at once so essential and ornamental to the Christian character.  His manner was grave, and reserved to strangers, though open and cheerful among his confidential friends.  Humble, moderate, and contented, he lived much in retirement.”

James Greenock inherited the family farm at Whitehouse, Stirling after the death of his older brother John in 1810.  John’s will stated that after his brother James’ death, the funds from the estate were to be used for “pious and public purposes”.

In 1812, James Greenock issued a trust nominating several well-connected Edinburgh ministers as trustees and bequeathing the farm at Whitehouse (80 acres) and a considerable sum of money to the British and Foreign Bible Society.  Rev Dr John Campbell addressed his letter to the Right Honourable Lord Teignmouth.  John Shore, 1st Baron Teignmouth (1751-1834) was the first president of the British and Foreign Bible Society, elected at its formation in 1804.  The British and Foreign Bible Society was formed by, among others William Wilberforce to encourage the use and reading of the Bible.  It is still in existence today with the name – the Bible Society.

In the letter, Campbell assures Lord Teignmouth that James Greenock had the correct motives for the donation -  “My long acquaintance with this worthy man, and my knowledge of his views relative to his settlement, have led me to detail to your Lordship the circumstances in which this benefaction – the largest, I believe, that you have ever receive, devolves on the British and Foreign Bible Society.  It is not offered as an atonement for the crimes of a guilty life.  It is no compromise with conscience, for the enjoyment of property acquired by unjustifiable, or by questionable means.  Nor is it given as a price to purchase heaven”.

Advertisement for the sale of James Greenock's land.

The lands of Whitehouse were sold in 1819 and presumably the money received by the trustees was donated to the British and Foreign Bible Society.

James Greenock was succeeded at Gourock Chapel of Ease by John Henry who was minister there from 1789-1796.