Everything about Port Glasgow totally explained
Port Glasgow (
Gaelic Port Ghlaschu, ) is the second largest town in the
Inverclyde council area of
Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons. It is located immediately to the east of
Greenock and was previously a
burgh in the former
county of Renfrew.
The town grew from the central area of the present town and thus many of the towns historic buildings are found here. Port Glasgow expanded up the steep hills inland to open fields where areas such as
Boglestone and
Devol were founded. This area has subsequently become known as upper Port Glasgow and most of the town's population occupies these areas.
The town is served by
Port Glasgow railway station.
History
Port Glasgow was originally a small village known as
Newark, possibly named after
Newark Castle, in the parish of
Kilmacolm. Trading ships from
France and the
low countries were unloaded here and the cargo taken up the
River Clyde to
Glasgow on smaller boats. In 1667, the town council of Glasgow purchased land for the construction of a
harbour and
breakwater. This became Glasgow's first deep-water port and the town of Newark became known as Port Glasgow (on some eighteenth century maps it's shown as
Newport Glasgow). After 1693, the
grid-iron street layout which still forms much of the town centre today, was laid out.
Port Glasgow has played host to several successful football clubs including
Port Glasgow Athletic F.C. and their sister side
Port Glasgow Athletic Juniors F.C., which are both now defunct.
Port Glasgow F.C. have been since formed to fill this void, though they play in nearby Greenock.
Shipbuilding
By the 19th century Port Glasgow had become a centre of shipbuilding. The
Comet was built in the town in 1812 and was the first commercial
steam vessel in
Europe. A replica of the Comet and a
plaque commemorating the actual site of construction are situated in Port Glasgow town centre.
Port Glasgow became a
burgh in 1833, but around this time, the River Clyde up to Glasgow was deepened and new road and rail links meant that the town was no longer needed much as a port. The
shipbuilding industry then took over as the main source of employment and prosperity. Port Glasgow has been responsible for about a quarter of the total tonnage of ships launched on the Clyde. however like the rest of Inverclyde this industry has all but gone and only
Ferguson Shipbuilders yard remains in the town today and is one of the last privately owned shipyards left in Scotland.
Visitor Attractions
Newark Castle
, .]]
Newark Castle stands very close to the shore of the Clyde, and dates to around 1484. It was home to the Maxwell Family, but they no longer lived in the castle after 1694. By 1800 the castle was surrounded by shipyards, but today only Fergusons shipyard survives, standing close to the west of the castle, and an open park area and waterfront walkway have been landscaped to the east.
The castle is now a visitor attraction maintained on behalf of the nation by
Historic Scotland.
Parklea
Adjacent to the castle and its surrounding park, several acres of the Clyde foreshore at Parklea are owned by the
National Trust for Scotland. For many years the land has been leased to the local authority as playing fields. When the NTS acquired the land it was regarded as protecting the foreshore from the widespread acquisition by shipyards.
Parliamentary burgh
Port Glasgow was a
parliamentary burgh as a component of
Kilmarnock Burghs from 1832 to 1918, when it was merged into the
West Renfrewshire constituency. From 1974 to 1997 it was part of the
Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency. It returned briefly to West Renfrewshire before forming part of the
Inverclyde constituency in 2005. For
Scottish Parliament purposes, Port Glasgow remains in the West Renfrewshire constiutency.
Areas of Port Glasgow
Regeneration
As of 2007, the town is in the midst of being regenerated. At the time of writing, current improvements include the construction of a new Tesco Extra superstore, a revised road layout with main road traffic completely by-passing the town centre, the erection of new housing along the waterfront, a new civic square and re-situating of the PS Comet replica. Other projects are set to get under way in the near future. Most of the above has taken advantage of derelict land on the site of the old Lithgow's shipyard, which has lain vacant for many years. It should be noted that many may not class the revised layout as an improvement, citing difficulties with the new roundabouts (which have already claimed several laden lorries) and increased ambulance travel time amongst others.
The Ropeworks building on the edge of town is also being refurbished and will soon be transformed into lofts after a great many years of neglect and decay.
Further ideas and plans for regeneration are too numerous to list, however many are listed in the town's Community Futures plan, which is due for release in late August / September 2007 - Copies should be available from libraries, the town's regeneration centre and council offices amongst other outlets - although the changes most likely to appear first are additional waterfront shop units, which will complete the retail park and refurbishment of the "old town centre" shopfronts.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Port Glasgow'.
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