Not quite something tourists would really want to
photograph! The building was once a
sugar refinery (or sugarhouse, as we call it) here in Greenock. It is one of my favourite buildings in the
town, despite its derelict appearance.
It is a fabulous shape and the brickwork is wonderful.
Built in the 19th century, it was the
Glebe Sugarhouse in the days when sugar refining was an important industry in
Greenock. I've already written about
Abram Lyle and the connection with Tate and Lyle sugar. You can read it here.
The building has been unused for some time
now. It has been left ruinous. Pigeons fly in and out of the broken
windows. It lies among waste ground
abandoned and forlorn. The windows
facing the street have now been boarded up.
An Aldi supermarket has now been built right in front of it.
It is situated right across the street from the
container terminal which is where the large cruise liners dock when they visit
the west coast - bringing thousands of tourists to the area. What a great first impression …………………. not!
But how wonderful it could be and what a great
asset for Greenock if only someone with money and vision would take it
over. Personally, I would turn this building into a
heritage centre for Greenock. I would have
a first class café, with some pretty little shops on the ground floor. Arts, heritage centre and gallery on the
upper floors. A bar and restaurant on
the top floors which would have amazing river views! It could be magnificent!
In the meantime, I pass by and dream.
I even think that it may be haunted ………….....!
The Greenockian
