Dalmadan at 10 Years—The Old Vale

on Nov 7, 2024

The Dalmadan website has been ongoing for 10 years now, a fact that amazes me. I have managed to post at least once a month over that time, and admit that some of the material would have fared better with more time and better editing and I hope to do better in future. I have greatly enjoyed the input from comments, pointing to errors, adding to the subject matter, and suggesting new areas for research. I plan to continue writing about the Clyde and its ships and resorts, mainly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but I also want to contribute a few more articles on the Vale of Leven. I was born and brought up in the Vale of Leven in the 1950s and 60s, a time when the towns and villages had changed very little for half a century. It was a privilege to be able to talk to older generations who could embellish the history of familiar buildings and places. It was a simple matter to relate...

Kilchattan Bay

on Oct 11, 2024

The village of Kilchattan Bay on the south-east corner of Bute has long enjoyed a sheltered spot, in the lee of the Suidhe hill, protecting it from the prevailing westerly winds. The Bay itself was a place of respite for fishing boats and sailing craft in storms. With Cumbrae across the water to the east, ferry crossings to the mainland to Bute were established north of the bay but the surrounding farmlands of Kingarth for many years provided cargoes of produce, including the early potato crop shipped from the old stone quay that was constructed in 1822. Smacks at the old quay at Kilchattan Bay (Stengel) Kilchattan Bay in the shelter of the Suidhe (Valentine) It seems likely that in the early days of steamboats on the Firth, that the Castle steamers on their sailings from Glasgow or Rothesay to the east Arran ports would make occasional, unadvertised calls at Kilchattan Bay to drop off...

Craigmore

on Sep 9, 2024

This article centers on Craigmore, to the east of Rothesay on the Island of Bute, and the eastern coast of the island. For just over 60 years, Craigmore had an iron pier, much like the original pier that was erected at Brodick on Arran, and particular events associated with the pier are highlighted. The feuing of Burgh lands in the 1850s and 60s extended the town of Rothesay to the west and especially to the east round Bogany Point, with the construction of terraces and villas for the more affluent class of society. Craigmore was an attractive setting with fine views of the Firth and Rothesay Bay. The first serious proposal to construct a pier at Craigmore occurred in 1875 when a number of gentlemen contacted the Rothesay Harbour Trust, who controlled the foreshore around as far as Ascog. They sought the permission of the Harbour Trust to develop a proposal for a pier at Craigmore and...

Rothesay West

on Aug 30, 2024

This is the third article on Rothesay and deals with the west end of the town, Argyll Place, and Ardbeg. An early view of the west end of the town in the 1870s. The rocky area in the foreground was the location of the Gallows Rock. The esplanade is in the course of construction along the west side of the bay towards Ardbeg Another view of the west side of the bay during the construction of the esplanade Ardbeg from Chapel Hill The previous shot was likely taken from around the old Rothesay Academy building that dominates the sky-line The west end of Rothesay Bay also had its boat hirers Boat Hirers The sandy shore on the corner of the bay was a safe place for children to enjoy the water Children’s corner looking to the pier Children’s corner around 1910. In the background, just before Skeoch Woods there was a Floating Waterchute that attracted some attention The Floating...

Rothesay Front

on Aug 29, 2024

This is the second article on Rothesay and takes the visitor along the front of the town. The Harbour from the Albert Memorial Fountain. The Fountain was removed in 1947 to facilitate motor traffic Along the front, Victoria Street is the location of many shops, restaurants, banks, and most of the important Hotels. The Royal Hotel from Albert Place The Royal Hotel A view of Victoria Street from Duncan’s Building Cabs awaiting hire in Albert Place Guildford Square on Victoria Street was the main point where one could catch a brake to Kilchattan Bay to the east or, after the trams were introduced in 1882, a tram to Port Bannatyne and Ettrick Bay. It is bounded by the Watergate and the High Street. A horse tram nearing the end of the line at Guildford Square in 1894. The Kilchattan Bay brake is next to the ornate drinking fountain Guildford Square looking west in 1894. The Hotel on the...

Rothesay East

on Aug 28, 2024

The next few articles will focus on the Town of Rothesay itself, mainly on the half-century surrounding World War 1 when the resort was at the peak of popularity, although there will be some later views. This first part is an album of views of the eastern part of the town. The next will cover the front, and the third part, the western shore to Ardbeg. Rothesay around 1865 (Annan) Rothesay around 1930 (Adamson) A good place to start is the Albert Memorial Fountain on the front, at the bottom of Bishop Street. It was erected by public subscription in 1863 after the death of the Prince Consort two years earlier. Opening of the Albert Memorial Fountain Looking north from Albert Place around 1894, the impressive Duncan’s Halls, erected in 1876, provided a public space for meetings and functions. The building also sported the entrance to the Palace Theater that was located to the rear. The...

On Rothesay Pier

on Aug 1, 2024

In the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, the sea-front at Rothesay presented an imposing vista, with the pier, the well laid-out promenade, and the handsome row of hotels. Visitors had a wide range of accommodation; from rented villas, to the hotels and the numerous boarding houses around the bay, to cheaper rented flats and rented rooms in the town. A previous post looked at the development of Rothesay Harbour and the ways of dating photographs of the town. This, and the following short articles will view the town, mainly from the point of view of the visitor. I recall reading in Cameron Sommerville’s marvelous little book, “Colour on the Clyde,” the description of the visitor’s day, from the point of view of the heyday steamers in the late Victorian and Edwardian years. The early morning steamers were mainly those leaving for the railway piers, with those with business on the...

Rothesay Harbour

on Jul 1, 2024

When steamboats first plied on the Clyde, Rothesay was a small town known for its mild climate and safe anchorage, the quality of its kippers, and its cotton spinning mill. Rothesay quay, and the modest harbour was not quite adequate to handle steamboats. The funding for repairs was raised by public subscription, half of which came from the Marquess of Bute, and a loan from the Government Commission. Planning began in 1822 and by the following year, construction was underway to provide the basic form of the harbour that exists today. By 1824, the stonework was largely completed, and a slip to allow cattle and carriages to be handled at the right angle of the new pier. The Town Council had no legal authority to impose charges for the use of the pier, and in 1831, a Harbour Trust was authorized by Parliament with revenue raising powers. About this time, a drawbridge between the old or...