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