Shandon People and History

Shandon Valuation Roll 1895

Dear blog reader

Welcome to the fifth part in a series, a list of the people, with house names where known, who were connected with Shandon in 1895.

In 1895 Shandon only had 16 households listed, a massive reduction compared to 1885. I suspect, unlike all other valuation rolls so far, only a few of the Shandon properties were counted as Shandon in 1895 for an unknown reason. In 1885 Shandon had 74 households, a huge increase from 1875 when Shandon had 32 households. The 1875 number was the exact same number as the 32 households in 1865 which had been a growth of 4 households from the 28 households in 1855.

Hopefully those of you with ancestors from Shandon will find this list useful.

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George Archibald, Shandon Lodge
John Donaldson, West Shandon, West Lodge
Elizabeth Hanagan, West Shandon, East Lodge
Andrew Charles Henderson, Shandon House and Shandon Lodge
Robert Keir, pier
Robert Lindsay, Shandon Bank
Peter MacBride, Shandon Bank
Mrs Margaret Maclean, West Shandon, East Lodge
Alexander MacTaggart
Reverend Hugh Miller, manse
Thomas Reid, Shandon house
James B Shedden, Shandon station
John Watt, West Shandon, West Lodge
Robert Whillans, West Shandon
William R Wright, Shandon Bank

Visit of an Abyssinian hero

Field Marshal Robert Cornelis Napier, born 1810 in Colombo, British Ceylon and died 1890 in London, was a very distinguished British Indian Army office.

He fought in the First and Second Anglo-Sikh Wars, was the chief engineer during the second relief of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, was a commander during the Second Opium War and achieved his greatest fame when he led an expedition to Abyssinia in July 1867 with the aim of rescuing hostages.

Robert Napier was governor of Gibraltar from 1876 to 1883 and was Commander-in-Chief, India from 1870 to 1876. After Robert’s successful rescue mission to Abyssinia, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Freeman of the City of London and, in 1868, Baron Napier of Magdala.

In 1868 Robert Napier visited West Shandon:

GLASGOW HERALD WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 1868

LORD NAPIER OF MAGDALA AT WEST SHANDON, GARELOCH

Yesterday evening Lord and Lady Napier arrived at Helensburgh Station, from Glasgow, where they were met by Mr Napier, of the firm of Messrs Robert Napier & Sons, the eminent Glasgow shipbuilder, and from thence conveyed to Mr Napier’s beautiful residence at West Shandon, on Gareloch.

The circumstances of the visit of the Abyssinian hero to this district having been made known, a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen assembled at the station to witness his Lordship’s arrival. To give eclat to the occasion, flags and other insignia were displayed at the Helensburgh harbour, railway station and other adjoining buildings.

The distinguished General was expected to arrive by the quarter to four train from Glasgow but that train failed to bring him. The anxious assemblage were, however, only kept for a very little time in suspense, as only a quarter of an hour separated the train by which he was expected to arrive and the one by which he did arrive.

On being recognised on the platform he was greeted by a lusty cheer and outside the station frequent manifestations of ? [illegible] kind were made, all of which Lord Napier cordially acknowledged.

Last evening a distinguished party were invited to meet Lord Napier, including Sir James Colquhoun of Luss, Rev Dr Norman MacLeod, Glasgow; Rev Dr Duff, etc. His Lordship’s stay at West Shandon will extend over today.

Opinion of charitable mansions

Dear blog reader

I was fascinated when I discovered a local opinion on the giving of mansions to charity, given that I have published 3 blog posts on Broomfield and Berriedale being handed to charities.

I hope you also find this alternative opinion interesting.

Jacqueline

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GLASGOW HERALD WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL 1895

FRESH AIR FORTNIGHT HOMES AT SHANDON

Clarinish, Row, Helensburgh, April 15, 1895.

Sir – Acting upon the requisition, copy of which is annexed, signed by nearly all the householders between Faslane and Blairvaddick, and sent to me as their representative on the County Council, I brought the matter of the proposed Fresh Air Fortnight Home in Shandon before a meeting of the Western District Committee today, but found, as I anticipated, that they have no power to prevent the establishment of such a home. All they can do is secure that the sanitary arrangements, water supply, etc, be adequate and satisfactory.

But I think the public, on whose support these homes entirely depend, should know that a home is being opened in Shandon in direct antagonism to the expressed wishes of the residenters, who feel that their property is being depreciated, and the amenity of the place as a quiet residential district is being largely spoiled.

Besides, from my local knowledge, I can safely assert that the property acquired is quite unsuitable for the purpose. It is beside the sea, yet the children will never be permitted to play upon the shore; the grounds attached to the house extend to five acres, the mean slope of which is in 1 in 5, no part being level, or adapted for a playground. Notwithstanding the care which is exercised to prevent the bringing of infection into any district by the children sent, there can be no doubt that their presence is a distinct danger to public health.

We have, indeed, had experience of that in the home which is already in the district, and which had to be closed about a fortnight after its opening owing to an outbreak of fever. That this is not an unusual occurrence was shown by a statement made by a meeting today to the effect that there is a home at Balmaha, and every year since it was opened it has been closed for a period by the outbreak of infectious disease among the children.

Throughout the great number of letters I have received on the subject no one says a word against the charity or the spirit which prompts such handsome gifts. But while all are glad to think that the poor children should have a holiday by the sea or in the fresh country air, there is a strong and universal expression of opinion that there must be many places more suitable for such a purpose than Garemount, places where they would be free to play, romp, and enjoy themselves to their heart’s content without the possibility of inflicting injury and annoyance upon those residing permanently in the neighbourhood – I am, etc, Francis C Buchanan.

Copy of Requisition

To F C Buchanan, Clarinish, Row.

We, the undersigned, feuars and householders in the Gareloch, respectfully ask you as our representative on the County Council of Dumbartonshire to exercise your utmost influence in order to prevent a second Home for Fresh-Air Fortnight Children from Glasgow being set up in our midst, on the ground that it will completely spoil the amenity of the place as a residential district and be a standing menace to public health.

In the event your not being able to prevent the Home from being opened, we respectfully beg that you, as chairman of the Local Sanitary Committee, would insist on all the sanitary arrangements of the house being satisfactory and complete before the opening, especially that the burn and the shore be kept free from pollution – (Signed by)

Margaret McDonald, Belmore
Parlan MacFarlan, Faslane
Andrew J Kirkpatrick, Lagbuie
A C Henderson, Shandon House
D J Young, Cragmore
S MacLeod, Fuinary
William L Brown, Linnburn
Helen C MacKenzie, Altnacrille [Alt-na-Coille?]
Fanny C Hartley, Letrualt
John James Kerr, Ardgare
Duncan McKinlay, Woodburn
William Wallace, Croy
James Kirk, Broomfield

Shandon Hydro Hotel and great kindness

Dear blog reader

This week’s blog post is a tribute to the great kindness of Dominic Skeet who this week sent me a duplex postcard book of views of and around the Shandon Hydropathic Hotel.

I shall share below each postcard in the album (only one postcard was actually sent, that showing the terrace) and then what I actually find most fascinating in the album, the tariff list for the Shandon Hydro Hotel. Having said that, I do enjoy seeing the rooms where the subjects of so many of my blog posts actually took place.

The front cover:

The 1st lounge:

The 2nd lounge:

Part of dining room:

The fishing pond:

Garelochhead:

Shandon:

The golf course:

Rhu:

If you were to have stayed at the Shandon Hydro Hotel when this album was published, here’s what you would have been charged:

TARIFF

The inclusive terms are as follows:

April to September – from 18\- per day

October to March – from 15\- per day

And these terms include – bedroom, attendance, lights, breakfast, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner – also the enjoyment of baths (private or swimming in baths department), putting green, tennis on covered or open-air hard courts, bowls, croquet, dancing in the hotel ballroom, concerts, entertainments.

Apart from the inclusive terms quoted above, the general tariff is as under –

Apartments – single bedroom 8/6 to 15/-, double 18/- to 26/-, sitting room per day 21/-

Breakfasts – plain 2/6, Table d’Hote 4/-

Luncheon – Table d’Hote 4/-

Teas – afternoon, in lounge 1/6

Dinners – Table d’Hote 7/6

Dinner and dance – 11/6

Meals in bedroom – extra per meal, 1/- per head

Visitors’ servants – 15/- per day, apartments and board

Garage – per week from 12/6 to 17/6; per day 2/- to 3/-; 2 hours or less, 1/-, motor cycles and side cars 2/- per day, private lock up per week £1\2\6; per day 3/6, washing cars 2/6 to 5/-, use of hose for washing cars 1/-.

Steamer sunk

ELGIN COURIER FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 1852

SERIOUS STEAM-BOAT ACCIDENT – STEAMER SUNK

On Friday night, about eight o’clock, the river steamers Duchess of Argyll and Emperor came into collision upon the Gairloch, by which both vessels sustained very serious damage, and are so disabled that some time must elapse before they are fit to resume their usual stations.

From what we have learnt of the catastrophe, it would appear that the Duchess left the Broomielaw at five o’clock on Friday afternoon, and had proceeded as far on her passage to the head of the Gairloch as Shandon, when she was run into, or came in violent contact with the steamer Emperor, by which the last-mentioned vessel was so much damaged that she sunk in deep water, and now lies a little way below Shandon toll-house completely covered with water almost up to the top of the funnel.

The Duchess, after the collision, seems not to have been so much disabled, as she had evidently been put about and run ashore. She lies close on the beach, but her stern quarter is also covered with water. It was quite dark when the accident took place, and it is said to have been caused by one of the vessels not exhibiting the usual signal lamps. The passengers of the Duchess, we believe, made their escape by means of the small boats attached to the vessel, and it is gratifying to be enabled to state that although the loss and damage to the property by this extraordinary collision are considerable , no person has been injured in the slightest.

In the meantime of course it is impossible to say who is to blame for the accident, but we doubt not a searching enquiry will be made into the whole facts of the case by the proper authorities.

Broomfield House part 2

Dear blog-reader

This blog post is related to last week’s blog post and details what happened to Broomfield House 20 years later.

I hope you find it interesting.

Jacqueline

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MILNGAVIE AND BEARSDEN HERALD FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER 1934

SIR HAROLD YARROW’S OFFER TO GLASGOW HOSPITAL
SHANDON HOME AND £10,000. STIPULATION OF NAME.

The Broomfield Convalescent Home for Mothers at Shandon has been presented to the Glasgow Royal Maternity and Women’s Hospital by Sir Harold Yarrow, and will be known in future as the Eda Yarrow Convalescent Home.

The late Lady Yarrow over 20 years ago became interested in the welfare of mothers and their babies and opened the Broomfield Convalescent Home. The home has been continuously in use since its inception, and has done inestimable good.

As Sir Harold Yarrow may, in his discretion, make use of the trust funds for any charitable object which he may select, he has offered to the Maternity Hospital Broomfield House and its grounds, together with the trust funds, which have a present market value of about £10,000.

The only provision made by Sir Harold Yarrow is that the home should in future be known as the Eda Yarrow Convalescent Home.

Lady Yarrow was closely associated with the maternity hospital as a director and member of the Ladies’ Committee for many years.

Broomfield Home

DAILY RECORD MONDAY 1 JUNE 1914

In the unavoidable absence of the Countess of Eglinton and Winton, Mrs M Pearce Campbell opened the new Broomfield Convalescent Home for mothers and infants at Shandon on Saturday afternoon. Mrs Harold E Yarrow received the guests and the ceremony was performed on the grounds.

The Home has been founded and will be endowed by Mr A F Yarrow, and presented to his daughter-in-law, Mrs Harold E Yarrow. It is for the treatment of recently confined women and their infants.

Situated upon the shores of the Gareloch, at Shandon, the Home commands a fine view of both the loch and hills beyond. The six acres of ground are beautifully laid out. Six mothers and infants are to accommodated, and each mother is to have a room to herself and child.

The Home will be under the care of Dr Robert Jardine who will have associated with him Dr Leonard Findlay, physician to the Glasgow Royal Hospital for Sick Children, and Dr Arthur D Downes, of Helensburgh, will be the visiting physician. Preference will be given to patients from the Glasgow Royal Maternity and Women’s Hospital and to the wives of the workmen of Messrs Yarrow, but other deserving patients will also be received. Miss Gow is the matron.

Dr Gourlay presided, and after prayer the Rev H Miller, of Shandon, Dr Jardine explained that he had received a letter from the Countess of Eglinton and Winton expressing her regret that owing to illness she was not able to be present. The Countess, however, stated that she expected to visit the Home on an early date, in the work of which she took a very great interest.

Mrs Pearce Campbell formally declared the home opened, and congratulated Mrs Yarrow upon the good work she was in a position to carry out. The Home would be of great benefit to the women in restoring them to health again.

Mr M Pearce Campbell moved a vote of thanks and also offered his congratulations to Mrs Yarrow and those associated with her in the work of the Home, which he felt certain would have a useful career.

Shandon Valuation Roll 1885

Dear blog reader

Welcome to the fourth part in a series, a list of the people, with house names where known, who were connected with Shandon in 1885.

In 1885 Shandon had 74 households, a huge increase from 1875 when Shandon had 32 households. The 1875 number was the exact same number as the 32 households in 1865 which had been a growth of 4 households from the 28 households in 1855.

Hopefully those of you with ancestors from Shandon will find this list useful.

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John M Allan – Oakbank
George Archibald – Shandon Lodge
John Barr – Garemount
Henry Bell – Summerhill
Mrs John Bell – Summerhill
Henry Bell – Woodside Cottage
Christopher H Braid – Croy Lodge
William Lochore Brown – Linnburn
John Brown – Ardgare
Donald Cameron – Summerhill Lodge
Archibald Carsewell – Ardchapel Lodge
Archibald Crichton – Blairvaddick
John Ralston Cunningham – Broomfield
Daniel Currie
Joseph Davidson – Lagbine [Lagbuie?]
John Donaldson – West Lodge [West Shandon Lodge?]
James Donaldson – Woodside Cottage
Robert Finlay – Croy
William Forgie – Greenhill
John Gartshore – Linnburn Lodge
Henry Gibb – Letrualt
William Glen – Hillhead
Andrew Graham – Shandon
Archibald Graham – Croy
Mrs Hanagan – East Lodge
David Harrison – Broomfield
Mrs Fanny Chisholm Hartley – Letrualt
George Harvey – Hillhead
Andrew Charles Henderson – Shandon
Joseph Innes – Summerhill
Mrs Janet P Johnstone – Croy
Walter Keir – Ardgare
Duncan Keith – Hillhead
John James Kerr – Ardgare
John Kirkpatrick – Lagbirie [Lagbuie?]
Andrew J Kirkpatrick – Lagbirie [Lagbuie?]
John Kirkpatrick – Oakbank
Robert Lindsay – Shandon Bank
John MacCormack – Glenfenlan [Glenfeulan?]
Roderick MacDonald – Craigmore
Mrs MacDonald – Hillhead
Mrs MacDonald – Shore Ground
Alexander MacKellar – Linnburn
Duncan MacKinlay – Hillhead
Duncan MacKinlay – Woodbank
Duncan MacKinlay – Woodburn Cottage
James MacLean – East Lodge
Mrs MacLean
Walter MacLellan – Blairvaddick
Professor George H B MacLeod – Finnary [Fuinary?]
James MacRae – Blairvaddick
John Mauchan – Berriedale
John Miller – Finnary [Fuinary?]
Reverend High Miller – Manse
Archibald Noble – Broomfield
John Gibson Patrick – Greenhill
James Playfair – Broomfield
William Priestley – West Shandon
Francis Reid – Craigmore
James Reid – Berriedale
George Ruthven – Ardgare Lodge
John Shearer
Daniel Sinclair -Linnburn
Miss Small – shop
Hugh Snodgrass – Balornock
Professor William Swan – Ardchapel
Miss Joanna T Taylor – Stuckenduff
Hugh Thomas – Garemount
Thomas Thomson – Woodbank
Thomas Vallance – Balornock
Robert Vallance – Ardgare
William James Walker – Woodburn
Mrs Jane Walker – Garemount
John Watt – West Lodge

Missing POW

DAILY RECORD FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 1945

ONE ITALIAN DIES – ONE VANISHES

The occupant of a lower bunk in a two-tier bed at an Italian POW camp at Blairvaddich, Shandon, Dumbartonshire, was wakened early yesterday morning by the sound of gurgling coming from the bunk above.

Blood began to trickle down on top of him and when he got up to see what was wrong he found the man in the top bunk with his throat cut. The man was unconscious and died very soon afterwards.

A blood-stained clasp knife was found near the bed.

It was later discovered that one of the occupants of the hut was missing, and late last night he had not been found.

Character of a Shandon Minister

GLASGOW EVENING POST SATURDAY 19 MARCH 1892

The Rev Neil Brodie, of Pollokshaws Free Church, who died the other day, was succeeded in Shandon Free Church by three or four ministers who all held the fort for very short periods.

Mr Brodie’s immediate successor was of an extremely irritable temperament, and immediately after his settlement he began to quarrel with his elders. One of these gentlemen owned a large estate in the latitude in which arrowroot is grown, and thinking that a small barrel of the season’s first fruits might mollify the minister and be accepted by him as a peace offering, an olive branch, or any other symbol of amity, he straightway put his deign into execution.

The minister, spying the elder approaching, answered the door himself. On being politely and modestly requested to accept the gift, he gruffly bade the elder to put his offerings in the church plate, and, turning on his heel, slammed the door in the good man’s face.