Find Your Family Tartan

I often get asked about family tartans.

You can easily check if there's a tartan associated with your family name.  Check out the website of the Scottish Register of Tartans.  They have a search feature - just put your name in and find out if there's a tartan for you.  Try it here.

Stormy Gourock

Still a bit stormy here in Inverclyde today.

Went down to Gourock - there was a high tide and the waves were amazing!

East India Harbour Reflections

The River Clyde was beautifully calm last Sunday when I took this photograph.

These boats can be found in Greenock's East India harbour.  I liked the way the mast was reflected in the water.
Joining with Weekend Reflections.

Rusty Relics

Out and about in Greenock yesterday.

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

The Greenockian

Mearns Street School - No More!

I blogged about Mearns Street School in Greenock's in December last year and expressed the hope that it was not due for demolition.

Well ... guess what?!

Yup - it has gone!

All those lovely architectural details smashed.  What a shame!

The Greenockian

Old Greenock Gates

These old Greenock gates have seen better days!

They show Greenock's coat of arms - you can read what the symbols mean here.

God Speed Greenock - a proud motto from Greenock's past as a leading trading port and shipbuilding town.

One side of the gates has weathered better than the other.  They are on a quiet street, not many people will have noticed them.

Hope one day these are taken away from the yard they open into, restored and given a much better home somewhere where they can be seen and appreciated by many more people.

Joining with Good Fences - come over and join us.

The Greenockian

Lyle Kirk, Greenock

This is Lyle Kirk, Union Street in Greenock.  It was built in 1871 by architect John Starforth (1822-1898).

At that time it was called Trinity United Presbyterian Church, one of many which lined Greenock's Union Street in those days.  It became Ardgowan Parish Church following an amalgamation with another church and is now part of Greenock's Lyle Kirk.

I love the incredibly detailed carving in the tympanum - wonderful!

A beautiful building.

Joining with InSPIRED Sunday - come on over and see many other beautiful churches from all over the world.

The Greenockian

Gourock From Lyle Hill

This photograph shows a view of Gourock taken from Lyle Hill.

The Greenockian

Former Buttercup Dairy, Kilmacolm

These beautiful tiles come from the entrance to a shop in Kilmacolm.  Now a small electrical shop, the tiles show that it was once a branch of the Buttercup Dairy Company.

Founded by Andrew Ewing in 1904, at its height the company had over 250 shops throughout  Scotland.  The picture is of a little girl feeding a buttercup to a cow and is taken from a painting by Thomas Curr (1887-1958).

The tiles were part of the Company's distinct branding.  Even the floor tiles at the entrance are wonderfully decorative.

The tiles were manufactured by the Glasgow firm of James Duncan Ltd.  You can read about them, and their association with the Buttercup Dairy Co here.

The Greenockian

On the River Clyde Recently

Some small ships/boats on the Clyde recently.

Can anyone tell me - when does a boat become a ship?

The Greenockian

Newark Castle, Port Glasgow

Couldn't resist taking these photographs of the Doo'cot (dovecot) at Newark Castle in Port Glasgow.

It was such a beautiful day and the view of the hills of Argyll across the River Clyde was just fabulous.

Read more about Newark Castle's doo'cot here.

The Greenockian

On the River Clyde - Dredger

Suction dredger Causeway on the River Clyde last week.

The Greenockian