Albert Harbour and Esplanade - the beginning

At this time of year Greenock’s Esplanade is a busy place.  With its beautiful views over the River Clyde to the north and historically interesting buildings on its south side, it is a popular place for a stroll and is also well used by cyclists and joggers.  Robert Bruce Bell (1822-1883) was the engineer who designed this wonderful promenade.

Robert Bruce Bell was born in Edinburgh the eldest son in the large family of Robert Fitzroy Bell (1791-1862) merchant and Hanna Bruce.  He later moved to Glasgow where he served his apprenticeship as a civil engineer with Murdoch & Aitken he also worked at Lancefield Foundry and Engineering Works as a journeyman engineer under Robert Napier.  About 1850 He entered a partnership with Daniel Miller (1825-1888) under the name of Bell & Miller.  One of their works was the construction of a slip dock for Black of Kelvinhaugh.  In the 1850s they built graving dock in Glasgow for Tod & Macgregor at Meadowside. 

In the early 1860s they were commissioned by Greenock Harbour Trust to survey what led to the construction in 1862 of the Albert Harbour (now Greenock Ocean Terminal) and Esplanade.  The Esplanade, just over a mile long, was built up with the spoil from the Albert Harbour.  They also designed Princes Pier containing the railway link from Glasgow to the Harbour (Glasgow & South Western Railway Co).

The company also undertook harbour improvements at Port Glasgow and the Saltercroft Graving Dock in Glasgow.  Overseas they worked for Antonio Lopez & Co Spanish steamship owners.  They were also responsible for designing the Albert Bridge in Glasgow.

For two years Robert Bruce Bell was President of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland.  He died at Croyden in 1883.  Daniel Miller died at Craigburn (Cragburn?) House, Gourock in 1888.

It is fascinating to think of the work and effort that was involved in constructing the Esplanade, a beautiful asset to the town that has been enjoyed by generations.

John Galt's New Head

At last the John Galt Fountain on the Esplanade, Greenock has been refurbished and he now has a new head!

You may recall my previous post about the John Galt Fountain, showing the damage that had been done when the previous sculpted profile had been removed.  Thankfully, Greenock now has at least a modest monument to this great man.  Wayne Darnell was the sculptor responsible for the new addition.

John Galt died in Greenock on this day, 11 April in 1839.  He died in his sister's house at the corner of Westburn Street and West Blackhall Street.  He is buried in Greenock's Inverkip Street Cemetery.

The First Flashing Buoy!

One of Greenock Esplanade's landmarks, the buoy, has had a new coat of paint and looks really smart.  It has a bit of a history. 

The plaque on it reads -

Clyde Lighthouses Trust

This buoy was laid down by the Trustees at Rosneath Patch in 1880.

It was the first flashing Buoy to be established to aid navigation.

D & T Stevenson

Engineers to the Trust

 The Trust engineers were David and Thomas Stevenson, from the famous engineering family.  Their father, Robert was the builder of the Bell Rock lighthouse and many more.    His son, Alan, famous as the builder of the Skerryvore lighthouse among others, wrote of his father -

"There is scarcely a harbour or  navigation  in Scotland about which at some time he did not give valuable advice." Biographical Sketch of the Late Robert Stevenson (1861).

David and Thomas designed and built lighthouses as well as inventing aids to navigation like the flashing buoy pictured, which used compressed gas to light the lamp.  They were an inventive and hard working family.  The next generation also produced engineers.

 The writer, Robert Louis Stevenson was the son of Thomas and you can read his account of the history of this remarkable family here.

The Greenockian

On the River Clyde - Aasvik

Greenock got a couple hours of beautiful sunshine (well, almost) yesterday and I went walking along the Esplanade.

Got some photographs of the bulk carried Aasvik passing the Pilot Station at the Campbell Street end of the Esplanade.

The Greenockian

Clyde Swans

Two swans on the River Clyde at the Esplanade in Greenock.

It was an absolutely freezing day, but they don't look too bothered - they were too busy preening!

The Greenockian

Tenement Tiles

Tenements have been a feature of Scottish towns and cities for centuries.  Sharing a common entry way and stairs (in Scotland called the close), generally there are six or eight apartments in each building.  They come in a variety of styles, but perhaps the nicest tenements in Greenock are those on the Esplanade.

Sandringham Terrace, built of red sandstone about 1900, takes up a whole block between Margaret Street and Fox Street.  With uninterrupted views across the River Clyde to the hills of Argyll, they are highly desirable residences.

They are also full of interesting features.  These intricate structures top the little towers at each corner.

One of the closes (common entryway) has this lovely ceramic

tiled mural on the wall.  The scene is of the River Clyde with the hills in the background and a steamer making its way downriver.

The tiles were produced by the Glasgow company, James Duncan Ltd who provided the tiles for many shops and business all over Scotland.  There's an interesting paper on the subject here.

Sandringham Terrace is a beautiful feature of Greenock's Esplanade.

Joining with Monday Mural.

The Greenockian

Greenock - Keep the Pavement Dry!

This is what remains of a drinking fountain which once stood on the western end of Greenock Esplanade.  It is now in the garden of sheltered accommodation near the Old West Kirk - at least it hasn't disappeared altogether.

 

The wording reads - "Keep the Pavement Dry" - a bit ironic in Greenock which get a lot of rain!  I think that the bird is a heron and this is also found on many other fountains of this type.

 

Fountains like this with the "Keep the Pavement Dry" motto can be found not just in many British towns and cities, but all over the world - as far away as Sydney in Australia.  Many originated in W MacFarlane & Co's Saracen Foundry in Glasgow.  The company made ornamental ironwork. and published a catalogue from which decorative ironwork items could be ordered. 
 

The Greenockian

John Galt - Who Stole His Head?

John Galt (1779-1839) is perhaps one of Greenock's most famous inhabitants - chiefly known as a novelist and poet. 

 

Although he was born in Irvine, his family moved to Greenock when he was young, and he died here after a life spent in many other parts of Britain and abroad.  There are several plaques commemorating him in the town.

 

This plaque is on the wall of a building on the corner of Westburn Street and West Blackhall Street and marks the place where the house in which he died once stood.

 John Galt is buried in the Inverkip Street Cemetery in Greenock.  This plaque is at the entrance to the cemetery.  He is buried along with other family members - his parents and sister.

 

The grave is beautifully kept.

 

Galt is also commemorated by a fountain on the Esplanade at the bottom of Roseneath Street .  This was the idea of Allan Park Paton, former librarian of Greenock.

This is what should be in that space!

Unfortunately, the metal plate of his profile has been stolen by vandals.  Let's hope that a replacement will be put in place soon.

 

John Galt was a remarkable man.  I'll be writing much more about him in later posts.

The Greenockian