The Storm of November 26, 1912

on Nov 24, 2017

On the afternoon of November 26, 1912, a storm of hurricane proportions hit the West of Scotland, bringing more than half an inch of rain, and winds gusting in excess of 75 miles an hour. The storm was not the most violent on record but its peak coincided with the high tide causing more widespread damage. High tide at Glasgow reached over 25 feet, the highest value since 1882 so that the channel was 50 feet deep. Contractors cranes were blown over at the new Meadowside Granary. The steamships Architect and Clydeholm were damaged in the harbour and the Cervales was ashore. Further down the river, Bowling Harbour was submerged and the Renfrew and Yoker ferries were suspended. Helensburgh was isolated with roads and railway flooded, Ashton esplanade was damaged and the esplanade at Fairlie was washed away. Some of the worst damage was recorded on the Cowal shore. Dunoon Town Council...

Neil Snodgrass’ Cigar

on May 14, 2017

An engraving by Joseph Swan in the book Strath-Clutha by John M. Leighton, published in 1839 shows an unusual vessel in the harbour of Glasgow. The vessel looks to have a twin hull with a series of galleries forming the superstructure. It is almost certainly the early iron steamer nicknamed Cigar that was built on an unusual and patent model for Mr. Neil Snodgrass in 1837. In his obituary in the Glasgow Herald of February 5, 1849, we learn a little of the background of Mr. Snodgrass though some of the details are inaccurate and have been added to from other sources. Mr. Snodgrass was born at Craigie in Ayr around 1776 and was educated at Ayr Academy where he achieved high honours in Mathematics. In 1794, he went to work in the cotton factory of Messrs. George Houston & Co., Johnstone, where he developed a plan for heating the factory by steam rather than the dangerous stoves then...