One funnel or two?

The Clyde steamer Queen Mary was towed into the James Watt Dock in Greenock last week.  A welcome return thanks to the Friends of TS Queen Mary, a charity formed to safeguard the future of the ship.  (TS - turbine steamer.)

She is not much to look at now, but in her heyday was a majestic passenger steamer taking day trippers from Glasgow "doon the watter" to Clyde resorts such as Dunoon and Rothesay.  These photographs are from an underpass mural in Greenock which I've blogged about before.  She looks quite a bit different.

Her appearance has changed somewhat over the years.  When she was built in 1933 at Denny's Shipyard at Dumbarton she had two funnels.  In 1957 she was given a new boiler and one of the funnels removed.  Then in 1987, having finished her days on the Clyde, she was fitted out as a restaurant, all her machinery was removed and another funnel added.  She was berthed at Waterloo Bridge in London until closed in 2009.

Perhaps when you think of ships called Queen Mary, the Cunard cruise ship springs to mind.  Well, there is a connection.  In 1935 Cunard requested that the steamer's name be changed so that they could name their liner Queen Mary.  The steamer was then named TS Queen Mary II.  In 1976 she got her old name back!

During World War II she was the ferry between Gourock and Dunoon.  The photograph above is of a poster in Gourock Station.

Dales Marine Services now have charge of the Queen Mary and it will be great to see what the future hold for her.

All this is thanks to a group of people, the Friends of TS Queen Mary who have got together to save her.  Check out their site for so much more information about the history of the ship.

Duncan McPherson Fountain, Gourock

I had never really paid much attention to this fountain in the Pierhead Gardens in Gourock, but it really has some lovely features.

It was donated to the town by Captain Duncan McPherson.  He died in 1910 at Mavisbank in Gourock.  His obituary states that he was marine superintendent of the Gem Line of coastal steamers, was a local councillor and magistrate and was Commodore of the Royal Gourock Yacht Club.

The fountain originally stood in the road at the pierhead - you can see this from these old photographs which are conveniently attached to the fountain.  It was dismantled and removed because of increased traffic.  For many years it lay neglected in a council yard.  It was rediscovered in 2005, refurbished and rebuilt by W H Kirkwood and then placed in its present location in the gardens across from Gourock railway station.

It was only when I was taking photographs that I noticed these lovely sculpted panels of ships which I presume are to commemorate Captain McPherson's association with the sea and yachting.

Duncan McPherson also donated a cottage hospital to Gourock.  It opened in 1925 and closed in the 70s.  The building is presently used as a centre for adults with learning difficulties.

The McPherson family grave is in Gourock Cemetery.  The headstone gives family details.  Duncan McPherson was married to Mary Shaw (died 1892).  His parents were Alexander McPherson (died 1861) and Mary Smith (died 1901).  He also had a brother Captain Alexander McPherson (died 1887) who was married to Elizabeth Gray (died 1908).  The gravestone has a nautical motif of rope and anchor at the top.

(The Gem Line shipping company was founded in 1852 by William Robertson and the ships were named after precious stones - Ruby, Pearl etc.  More information can be found at the University of Strathclyde Archives.)

Port Glasgow Church

This is the lovely New Parish Church in Port Glasgow formerly known as St Andrew's.

It's a beautifully classical building dating from 1823.  It was refurbished in 1898.

This is the belfry - look at those lovely classical features.

Joining with InSPIREd Sunday.

Leafy Lane

This little lane in Glen Avenue, Port Glasgow caught my attention recently.

Tried a few different photo effects - like the black and white best - makes it look a bit mysterious.

I didn't venture to see where it led to ..... maybe next time.

Light sails in Gourock

I love these new lamp posts in Gourock.  They look a bit like yacht sails and fit in so well with their location.

Since the introduction of the new one-way road system in Gourock, a whole portion of what used to be a car park has been transformed into a lovely walkway.  Just look at those views across the River Clyde to the hills of Argyll.

Of course a bit of sunshine helps!

I think here they resemble the wings of a great seabird!
Joining with Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Elegant Visitor to the James Watt Dock

The tall ship Stavros S Niarchos has been in at the James Watt Dock in Greenock recently.

The ship is owned by the Tall Ships Youth Trust and is a two-masted brig.

Would love to see her in sail.

Just seeing this ship docked in Greenock makes me think about how the place must have looked when the Clyde and docks were filled with ships like this.  Must have been amazing!  Oh no, now I've got the theme music from the Onedin Line in my head!

On the Clyde - sunshine and swans

Love the majesty of swans - they are so beautiful and aloof.

The sun was shining on the River Clyde making everything seem so much more vibrant!

These photographs were taken at Coronation Park in Port Glasgow.

There's a lovely walk along the riverside - especially on a sunny day like this.

From the Clyde to Cape Fear

A recent archaeological find in the Cape Fear River in North Carolina leads right back to Greenock. The remains are of a blockade runner, believed to be the Agnes E Fry which sunk in 1864.  The ship was built by Cairds shipyard in Greenock, originally for the coastal mail service.

Her Captain, Joseph Fry (1826-1873) joined the United States navy as a midshipman in 1841 and worked his way up to the rank of lieutenant.  During the American Civil War he joined the Confederate Navy.  In 1864 he was sent to Scotland to pick up the ship Fox which he renamed Agnes E Fry after his wife Agnes Evaline.

The iron paddle steamer Fox had been built in 1864 by Caird & Company, shipbuilders in their east yard in Greenock.  Here is a report of her launch from the local paper - the Greenock Advertiser.

The ship was bought by Crenshaw & Co of Wilmington, North Carolina.  Captain Fry sailed the ship from the Clyde to the Bahamas.  The Agnes E Fry then made three successful runs into Wilmington before being run ashore and sunk in the Cape Fear River near Oak Island in December of 1864.

Captain Fry is more usually associated with another Clyde ship,Virginius.  Launched from Aitken & Mansell's yard at Kelvinhaugh, Glasgow in 1864 she also became a blockade runner and survived.  In 1873 Captain Fry took command of the Virginius in Jamaica.  He also took on board "war materials" (arms and munitions) and insurgents heading to Cuba.  On the way they were intercepted by the Spanish gunship Tornado (formerly the famous Pampero, built by J & G Thomson at Govan in Glasgow).

Captain Fry surrendered and the Virginius with all on board were taken to Santigo de Cuba.
 

It is a long and complicated story and has been well documented elsewhere - read here.   The upshot was that Captain Fry (who became known as the Cuban Martyr) and 53 others were executed by firing squad.  A British ship, the Niobe under the command of Captain Sir Lambton Loraine steamed into port and Sir Lambton demanded that the executions should cease.  He managed to calm things down, but the incident created a major international outcry.

The Virginius was returned to the United States, but by this time she was unseaworthy and sank off Cape Fear.
Anyone interested in Clyde ships used as blockade runners should read "Clydebuilt" by Eric J Graham.  It is full of information about the ships and their adventures.  I've written about it here.

Sunset at Gourock

After a beautiful day of sunshine, the sunset at Gourock last night was amazing.  Love how the old pier is reflected in the river.

Views were taken from the Lyle Hill in Greenock where the beacon torch had been lit for the Queen's birthday.

Enjoy the view!
Joining with Weekend Reflections.

Greenock Sheriff Court Building

This is Greenock Sheriff Court Building in Nelson Street.  Looks more like a fairytale castle than a place of justice, don't you think?  It was designed by Peddie and Kinnear of Edinburgh and opened for business in 1869.  The tower is 130 feet high.

Built in the Scottish Baronial style it has lots of turrets and crow step gables.  There was also a prison attached to the back of this building until 1910 when a new prison was opened at Gateside in Greenock.

I found this old photograph of the building probably taken at the beginning of the last century. Fortunately the building has not been changed too much!

Looking across the Clyde

Last Sunday was a beautiful day here in Inverclyde - just had to get out and take some photographs.

Went up to Newark Castle in Port Glasgow.  Just east of Newark is an unused pier.

The light was amazing.  It was possible to see for miles across the River Clyde.

Love the way the afternoon sun gave a warm golden glow to the timbers of the pier,

Looking east - Dumbarton Rock.  You can see the walls of Dumbarton Castle from here.

I'm so lucky to live here!