Hatches, Matches and Dispatches Part 1

Dear blog reader

This is the first part in a new series of Shandon hatches, matches and dispatches that have appeared in the newspapers.

I have always found such finds very exciting in my own 30 years of family history research and I hope this helps anyone doing similar Shandon-based research.

Please note that for privacy reasons all entries will be 100 years old and over.

(Glossary: inst/instant means of the present month, ult/ultimo means of last month)

Births

Glasgow Herald 30 August 1864

At the Free Church Manse, Shandon, on the 27th instant, the wife of the Rev A  McCallum; a son.

Glasgow Herald 15 May 1865

At Summerhill, Shandon, on the 13th inst, Mrs Robt McCallum; twin sons.

Glasgow Herald 20 October 1865

At the Free Manse, Shandon, on the 18th instant, the wife of the Rev A M MacCallum, a son.

Glasgow Herald 14 July 1866

At Shandon, Gareloch, on the 12th inst, Mrs Neil Kennedy jun, 42 Kelvingrove Street, Glasgow; a daughter.

Glasgow Herald 20 September 1866

At the Free Church Manse, Shandon, on the 17th instant, the wife of the Rev A Murray McCallum; a son.

Glasgow Herald 21 March 1868

At the Manse, Shandon, on the 19th instant, the wife of the Rev A Murray MacCallum; a son.

Glasgow Herald 24 May 1870

At Greenhill, Shandon, on the 22nd inst, the wife of John B Cowan, MD; a son.

Glasgow Herald 7 February 1871

At Shandon Manse, on the 4th inst, the wife of the Rev A Murray MacCallum; a daughter.

Glasgow Herald 25 June 1872

At Shandon Manse, on the 22nd inst, the wife of the Rev A Murray MacCallum; a son.

Dundee Evening Telegraph 5 September 1898

At Broomfield Cottage, Shandon, Dumbartonshire, on the 1st inst, the wife of Archibald Thomson, gardener, of a daughter.

Marriages

Glasgow Herald 24 August 1849

At West Shandon, Dumbartonshire, on the 22nd instant, by the Rev Dr Napier, William Rigby Esq of Portsmouth, to Jane, second daughter of Robert Napier Esq, of Shandon, engineer, Glasgow

Chester Chronicle 6 May 1854

25th ult, at Shandon by the Rev Dr Napier, Graham Wilkin Esq, to Isabella, third daughter of Robert Napier, Esq, of West Shandon, Dumbartonshire

Caledonian Mercury 13 July 1857

At 2 Carlton Court, Glasgow, on the 16th inst, by the Rev Mr Brodie, Shandon, Mr James Hutchison, New York to Mary Ann, daughter of David Wallace Esq.

Glasgow Herald 21 November 1867

At Shandon, Dumbartonshire, on the 20th inst, by the Rev Alexander McEwen DD, John M Martin, younger, of Auchendennan, Dumbartonshire, to Isabella, second daughter of John Jamieson, Esq, Shandon

The same wedding:

Pall Mall Gazette 25 November 1867

Martin-Jamieson – At Shandon, Dumbartonshire, Mr J M Martin, younger, of Auchendennan, Dumbartonshire, to Isabella, second daughter of Mr J Jamieson, Shandon, 20th inst.

Glasgow Herald 16 September 1869

At Stuckenduff, Shandon, on the 14th inst, bythe Rev John Laurie Fogo, Row, Mr George Harvie, chemist, Helensburgh to Joanna Thomson Hendry, granddaughter of Henry Taylor Esq, Stuckenduff

North British Daily Mail 4 August 1877

Primrose – Taylor – At Stuckenduff, Shandon on the 2nd inst, by the Rev John Lawrie, assisted by the Rev John Webster, Mr Edward Primrose, ironmonger, to Jane, youngest daughter of the late Henry Taylor, Esq, merchant, Glasgow

Glasgow Herald 1 November 1898

McLachlan – At Laigh Bolernick, Shandon, on the 24th Oct., William McLachlan, farmer, in his 78th year – Funeral on Thursday from Laigh Bolernick at 1.30pm, and from the West Free Church, Helensburgh at 2.30, to Helensburgh Cemetery – Friends, kindly accept of this (the only) intimation – Australian and American papers, please copy.

Deaths

Glasgow Herald 26 May 1848

At West Shandon, on the 25th instant, Robert Napier, jun, in his twentieth year

Caledonian Mercury 7 November 1859

At Ballernich Cottage, West Shandon, on the 4th inst, Margaret, only daughter of George Robertson, engineer, Glasgow

Glasgow Herald 21 October 1865

At the Free Church Manse, Shandon, on the 19th inst, the infant son of the Rev A M MacCallum.

Dundee Advertiser 24 October 1865

At the Free Church Manse, Shandon, on the 19th inst, the infant son of the Rev A M MacCallum.

Glasgow Herald 6 January 1873

At Shandon House, Dumbartonshire, on the 4th inst, Agnes Ritchie Miller, widow of John Jamieson Esq, of Shandon – Friends will please accept of this intimation.

North British Daily Mail 28 January 1873

Taylor – At Stuckenduff, Shandon, on the 27th inst, Henry Taylor Esq, aged 89 years – Friends will please accept this intimation.

Glasgow Herald 1 March 1895

Cochrane – At Chapelburn, Shandon on the 27th inst, aged 57 years, Miss Elizabeth Cochrane.

Glasgow Herald 4 March 1897

Baillie – At Shandon Cottage, Shandon, on the 3rd inst, Violet Beith, in her 86th year, relict of John Baillie.

Glasgow Herald 1 November 1898

Mclachlan – At Laigh Bolernick, Shandon, on the 30th Oct, William McLachlan, farmer, in his 79th year – Funeral on Thursday from Laigh Bolernick at1.30pm and from the West Free Church, Helensburgh at 2.30 to Helensburgh Cemetery – Friends, kindly accept of this (the only) intimation – Australian and American papers, please copy.

Death at Lagbuie

Glasgow Herald 10 July 1900

The announcement of the death of Mr Andrew Jackson Kirkpatrick which appears today in our obituary, will be read with feelings of deep regret by a wide circle of friends. The sad event was not wholly unexpected. About six months ago Mr Kirkpatrick had a paralytic seizure, but he recovered so far that he was able to be removed in the beginning of last month from his house in Park Terrace to Lagbuie, Shandon, where the family usually spend the summer months. The improvement in his health continued and he was sufficiently well to enjoy a drive in the beginning of the week. A relapse subsequently took place, from which he failed to rally, and he passed away peacefully at an early hour yesterday morning.

Mr Kirkpatrick was the son of Mr Thomas Kirkpatrick, who carried on business for many years in Glasgow, and was trained in the firm of which he ultimately became the principal partner. When he entered it as a boy it was known under the title of Messrs Robertson & Caldwell, chemical brokers and merchants, afterwards becoming Caldwell & Middleton. On the retirement of Mr Caldwell, Mr Middleton, who will be remembered as one of the members for Glasgow, assumed Mr Kirkpatrick as a partner, and after the death of Mr Middleton the title of the firm was changed to Messrs A J Kirkpatrick & Co.

Mr Kirkpatrick was also a member of the firm of Messrs Kirkpatrick & Barr, coal exporters, Newcastle, and of Messrs Kirkpatrick, Barr & Guthrie, merchants, London.

Though actively engaged as the head of a large and successful business, in the conduct of which he earned universal esteem, Mr Kirkpatrick found time in which to do much useful public work. In the promotion of the interests of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, in particular, he took a deep interest, and not a little of the success of its latter years has been due to his labours, to the unassuming dignity, tact, and courtesy with which he discharged the varied duties entrusted to him. From 1889 to 1898 he filled the office of chairman of the council, and in the latter year he was elected president. He was a liberal patron of the fine arts, and possessed a valuable collection of paintings, many of which in successive years have graced the walls of the exhibition. He was a member of the executive of the approaching International Exhibition, and was chosen to fill the office of sub-convener of the oil paintings section.

Mr Kirkpatrick was also a lover of books, and a discriminating collector. He was convener of the committee which carried through so successfully the recent Burns Exhibition.

In municipal affairs Mr Kirkpatrick never took any prominent part; he was more identified with political movements as a consistent supporter of the Conservative party, and he was some time since appointed vice-president of the Junior Conservative Club. He was a Justice of the Peace for the County of City of Glasgow, and a director of several industrial and commercial concerns. He was a member of the Free Church – in the city being connected with Renfield Free Church, which he has been for a number of years an elder in the Free Church of Shandon. Mr Kirkpatrick leaves a widow and a family of three sons and four daughters.

Shandon architecture

Alt-na-Coille/Woodburn House

Earlier 19th century. 2-storey, 3-bay symmetrical house with later 19th century, single storey, canted bay to outer left. Squared and snecked whinstone with sandstone margins and dressings. Base course, eaves band, quoin strips.

Originally called Woodburn House.

Ardchapel

Named after the ancient Chapel which was sited north east of the railway line. Built in 1854 by James Smith and extended in 1865.

2-storey, 3-bay symmetrical house with later single storey, canted bay to outer left. Squared and snecked whinstone with sandstone margins and dressings. Base course, eaves band, quoin strips.

Ardgare

A large Italianate mansion which had a decorative scheme designed by J J Burnet in 1884. Demolished around 1980.

Ardlarich

1937 2-storey, 3-bay, T-plan Arts and Crafts house. Painted harl with ashlar margins and dressings. Base course; string course; battered cills.

Aldonaig associated with Broomknowie

Aldonaig is an earlier to mid 19th century house with later 19th century additions. 2-storey, asymmetrical, gabled, rambling-plan house. Rendered with chamfered, golden sandstone margins; chamfered arrises and quoin strips. Projecting bracketted eaves.

Broomknowie is now demolished but both Aldonaig and Broomknowie reputedly formed the headquarters of a large company of distillers in an area notorious for illicit whisky distillation.

Blairvadach/Blairvadoch

Designed around 1850 by J T Rochead for Sir James Anderson, Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1846 to 1851.

2-storey and attic, rectangular-plan, Scots Baronial house with square keep. Stugged, squared and snecked, honey-coloured sandstone with ashlar margns and dressings. Stop-chamfered reveals; base course; string course; triangular pedimented dormerheads; crowstepped gables.

Subsequently sold to the Donaldson family of shipping fame, then used as a children’s home and finally used as council offices.

Braidhurst

Designed in 1977 by Michael Charles Henderson.

Chapelburn

Early 19th century with a cottage-feel.

Coach-house and stables (formerly belonging to Bashley)

The remains of the demolished Bashley. An 1880 courtyard arch remains.

Cragmhor/Cragmore

Built around 1830 with later 19th century additions. 2-storey, asymmetrical, rambling-plan villa set on raised plateau. Harl with sandstone margins and dressings. Chamfered reveals. Strip quoins; eaves band; base course, band course. Windows directly under eaves; projecting eaves bracketted eaves. Noted for its winter garden.

Croy

1834, designed by Sinclair of Caithness. with mid 19th century billiard room addition (1865) at south. 2-storey, asymmetrical, gabled Tudor-gothic, rambling-plan villa. Rendered with sandstone margins and quoin strips. Ornamental bargeboards. Chamfered reveals. Tudor hoodmoulds.

The associated lodge is earlier 19th century. Single storey, asymmetrical, Gothic lodge. Stugged, squared and snecked sandstone with ashlar margins and quoin strips. Pointed arch windows with chamfered reveals; roll-moulded surrounds. Eaves band; base course; string course. Projecting bracketted eaves.

Gareside Cottage

An Arts and Crafts era gamekeeper’s cottage.

Glenfeulan

An early 19th century classical house.

Earlier 19th century with additions to rear and south of late 19th century and early 20th century. Single storey over raised basement, 3-bay block with bay to south and 2 bay wing to north; rectangular-plan villa; conservatory attached at south end. Harling with yellow sandstone ashlar margins and dressings. Base course; band course; eaves band and cornice; strip quoins. Figurative urns. Architraved openings to principal elevation.

Gullybridge House

A late Victorian fishing lodge.

Inverallt/Shandon Bank

Earlier 19th century. Single storey and attic, 3-bay, symmetrical, rectangular-plan cottage. Rubble with painted ashlar sandstone dressings and margins to main elevation and red sandstone margins to side elevations. Projecting eaves; base course; quoin strips.

The separate cottage is built around 1840. Single storey, 3-bay, symmetrical, rectangular-plan cottage with bay addition and outbuildings recessed to right. Whinstone rubble with sandstone margins. Eaves band; quoin strips; base course; overhanging eaves.

The cottage was originally named Shandon Bank and is possibly the summer cottage belonging to Robert Napier before he built West Shandon.

Letrualt

Named after the Gaelic for mill. Built in 1855 and extended in 1864.

Linnburn

Began in 1836 by Samuel McCall, a Glasgow merchant. Remodelled in 1884.

2 storey with attic, asymmetrical villa with Baronial and Jacobethan details. Harled with sandstone margins and dressings. Chamfered arrises. String courses. Base course. Corbel cornice. Hoodmoulds.

Linnburn Cottage

Originally the Linnburn stable block. Converted by Jack Notman for T Campbell Lawson in 1972.

Manse

Erected in 1844 with later 19th century additions. 2-storey, asymmetrical, gabled, former manse to adjoining former Church. Whinstone with sandstone ashlar margins and dressings. Chamfered reveals. Base course, cill course, quoin strips, decorative bargeboards.

Lagbuie

Mid 19th century. 2-storey, 3-bay villa. Harl with painted ashlar sandstone margins and dressings; base course; eaves band; quoin strips; projecting bracketted eaves.

Letrualt

1855 house, extended 1864. 2-storey, 5-bay asymmetrical villa with single storey block and conservatory to north; rambling- plan villa; Jacobethan details. Painted harl with sandstone ashlar dressings and margins. Base course; quoin strips; string course; hoodmoulds; bipartites, stone mullions; chamfered reveals; eaves cornice.

Oakbank

Mid 19th century. 2-storey, 3-bay rectangular-plan house. Painted harl with sandstone margins and dressings. Base course, eaves band, quoin strips. Projecting bracketted eaves.

The Gables aka Greenhill

Mid 19th century. 2-storey, asymmetrical, rambling-plan, gabled villa with Baronial details built into rising ground at east. Sandstone and whinstone rubble with pinnings; droved sandstone margins and dressings; chamfered arrises. Base course; quoin strips.

Originally called Greenhill.

Shandon Church

Erected in 1844 whilst the congregation met temporarily in the malt house of a nearby distillery. Designed by John Burnett with an addition in 1883 designed by William Landless. Behind the Church, the school and schoolmaster’s house, later the Church reading rooms, were built in 1845-6 and designed by John Burnet.

Steeple reduced and the building converted into flats in 1984.

Originally rectangular-plan hall Church, now T-plan with tower, tower and transepts added in 1883 additions, along with porch and buttresses. Rubble sandstone and whin with ashlar quoin strips and dressings. Base course. Eaves band.

Shandon House

Designed by in 1849 by Charles Wilson for William Jamieson. Wilson was one of the most fashionable architects in the Glasgow area in the 1840s. 

2-storey with attic, asymmetrical, rambling-plan, Baronial house with Jacobethan details. Coarse cement render with ashlar dressings and margins. Base course. Crowstepped gables. With a series of Victorian alterations and additions including in 1883 by John Honeyman.

A reform school from 1965 to 1986 then sold to the Ministry of Defence.

Stuckenduff

Earlier 19th century. Single storey, 3-bay rectangular- plan villa. Painted harl with sandstone dressings and margins. Base course; timber eaves course; quoin strips.

Stuckenduff was built as the dower house of the former Italianate mansion of Ardgare which was demolished around 1980. Stuckenduff coach house and stables, which also formed part of the Ardgare estate, lie to the north-west of the house. 

Stuckenduff coach house and stables are earlier 19th century. Single and 2-storey Italianate range of coach house, stables and office buildings. Rectangular-plan with 2 projecting wings forming inverted F-plan ; campanile tower and glass houses. Painted harl with droved honey-coloured sandstone margins and dressings.

War Memorial

Designed in 1920 by A N Paterson & Stoddart. Red sandstone Celtic cross with 3-stage shaft; ring cross head and pedestal base; Art Nouveau detailing. Relocated away from the Church when the Church was converted into flats.

West Shandon

Funded by Robert Napier the marine engineer and used to house his vast collection of art and books.

The house was started in 1851 and designed by J T Rochead.

After Robert Napier’s death in 1860, the house and grounds became the Shandon Hydropathic. Thereafter the building was used as an emergency hospital then as a hotel.

In 1960 the building was demolished and the grounds cleared as part of the development of the submarine base. The south lodge still survives.

The south lodge was designed by J T Rochead in 1852. Single storey and attic, Jacobethan former lodge to West Shandon House. T-plan with entrance tower in re-entrant angle. Lime-washed rubble with honey-coloured sandstone margins and dressings. Shaped gables; hoodmoulds; quoin strips; blank plaques; decorative finials.

New Pier at Shandon

Glasgow Herald 6 October 1886

From the time when steamers first began to ply on the Gareloch there was a ferryboat station in connection with them at Shandon, where all of the steamers used to call. For the long period of half a century the Shandon ferry continued under the management of Mr Duncan McKinlay, who still survives.

But in 1882 the erection of Craigendoran steamboat harbour by the North British Railway Company, involving the calling of their Gareloch steamer both at Craigendoran and Helensburgh, led to its withdrawal from the Shandon ferryboat station. This for a period of fully four years has been felt by the inhabitants of the Shandon district, the most populous on the east shore of the Gareloch between Row and Garelochhead, to be a very great inconvenience, and to supply a want, amounting in many cases to a positive hardship, the new pier now completed at Shandon has been erected by the following neighbouring proprietors:- Messrs Henry Bell, Summerhill; William L Brown, Linnburn; John J Kerr, Ardgare; Andrew C Henderson, Shandon; Andrew J Kirkpatrick, Lagbuie; William Swan LLD, Ardchapel; and William J Walker, Garemount.

In terms of an agreement made by the promoters of the pier with the trustees of the late Sir James Colquhoun, Baronet, the pier, as now completed, is handed over to them, and becomes their sole property as a portion of the Colquhoun trust estates, to be used and maintained by the trustees on the same conditions as their other piers on the Gareloch. The new pier, situated at a point on the shore directly opposite Shandon Free Church, has been erected solely at the expense of the promoters above-named, and including the obtaining of a feu-disposition for its site from the Board of Trade, and other necessary expenses, will cost them, it is understood, somewhere about £1500.

The piles throughout are of greenheart timber, faced and coped at the pierhead with elm wood. The structure is an exceedingly handsome one. The gangway and terminal platform are of creosoted pitch-pine, and on the pierhead there is a commodious waiting-room and piermaster’s office and store-room. The pier has been built by Messrs Watt & Wilson, contractors, from a design by Mr W R Copeland, CE. Now that it is completed, it should afford to the inhabitants of the surrounding district the means of easy communication with Helensburgh and Greenock, and thus also with the Clyde river steamers generally, of which the want has been of late years so severely felt by them.

Ardgare gifted to the British Legion: a generous gift

Milngavie and Bearsden Herald 15 January 1949

The mansion house and part of the lands of Ardgare, Shandon, Dunbartonshire, have been gifted to the British Legion (Scotland) by Lieutenant-Colonel R G Sillars as a house for ex-service personnel.

The property is situated on the eastern shore of the Gareloch and includes two cottages, stables, a large walled garden with greenhouses, woodlands, fields and lawns.

Some necessary interior alterations to the house are being carried out and it will be some months before it can be established as a home.

Colonel SIllars, who took up the duties of County Army Welfare Officer for Dunbartonshire after the termination of a War Office appointment in 1946, has been interested in the British Legion and Earl Haig Fund since their inception. Knowing the urgent need in Scotland for a country house in which ex-members of all the Services could be given a period of peace and rest after illness or distress, he considered that Ardgare might be suitable for a project of this kind. His offer was welcomed by the British Legion (Scotland) who have also obtained a property at North Berwick for a similar purpose. Comfortable accommodation and amenities will therefore exist on the east and west coasts of Scotland for members of the Legion who are in need of them.

Ardgare, originally built in the early days of the last century, was considerably enlarged about 1880/ The architecture is in the Italian style with large windows and high-ceilinged spacious rooms. The ground around the house slopes gradually to a terraced lawn with a balustrade overlooking the loch.

There will be comfortable accommodation in the mansion house for about 25 persons once the alterations are completed.

At the request of the donor Ardgare will retain its present name. The property at North Berwick will probably be known as the Sir Ian Hamilton House.

Death Follows Fall from Car

Dundee Evening Telegraph 27 July 1914

In front of Shandon Hydropathic a gentleman Mr George Aman, a Romanian gentleman, while stepping out of his motor car driven by his wife, fell and fractured his skull. He was promptly attended to by Mr Douglas McAlpine, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow residing at the Hydropathic but he died within 3 hours.

Deceased was married to a daughter of a Glasgow gentleman Mr William Robb, 5 Park Quadrant, who was also in residence in the Hydropathic at the time. The deceased, who was of independent means, was on tour with his wife. He was 28 years of age. He had a home at 73 Bis Avenue, Niel, Paris where his mother resides.

Serious Accidents at Shandon Station

Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette 2 July 1904

Yesterday morning an accident took place at Shandon Station on the West Highland Railway. The early through train from Glasgow to Fort William was brought to a standstill at the head of the incline which leads to Shandon Station, a stretch of about a quarter of a mile, and the engine and a horse box were detached and proceeded to the station. The train of saloon carriages had been insufficiently braked, with gradually increasing momentum it moved down the incline until near the station it had gained considerable speed. The driver of the engine, while carrying out his shunting operations at the station, noticed the train rushing along, and without a moment’s delay decided on his course of action. To allow the train to proceed onwards was to take a great risk of it coming to grief by jumping the metals and falling over an embankment, so he decided to bring his engine with horse vehicle to a standstill and let them take the shock of the collision. Between the rapidly moving carriages and the engine the shock was severe, and led to the first carriage, a first class saloon, being telescoped by the horse box, but the passenger carriages kept the metals, and came to a standstill.

There were about forty passengers pretty equally divided between first and second class, and the greater number suffered to some extent by the accident, and for a time there was a scene of great confusion and distress. Fortunately a couple of English doctors on tour were on the train and rendered valuable assistance in attending to the injured, some of whom were, it is said, serious affected. The wife of an English Church dignitary traveling with her husband and daughter was completely prostrated by shock. Councillor Sellars, Helensburgh, was injured about the back, Mr John Williams had his mouth injured, and an Helensburgh workman named Ganning had his head cut. The most of the passengers, after having been attended to, proceeded by the train, which was delayed over an hour. Fortunately the first-class saloon telescoped had the fore part closely packed up with luggage, otherwise it might have been occupied with passengers, and loss of life would have resulted. The passengers for the most part were English tourists headed for Fort William. The wrecked saloon and horse box were drawn into a siding at Shandon.

Dumbartonshire Section Clydesdale Harriers

Scottish Referee 31 Monday 1892

This section had their run on Saturday afternoon from their favourite rendezvous at Shandon. There was a large turn-out and the whole company were conveyed form Helensburgh in a special bus.

On arrival no time was lost in despatching the hares, Messrs John McRae and T Vallance and they were followed five minutes later by the slows, paced by George R Murray and whipped by J Adamson; the fast pack followed five minutes after, paced by A McMillan and whipped by W Boyd.

The trail led up back avenue, across the railway, across Laigh Balernock and Stuckenduff farms, recrossing the railway, the public road was reached near Ardgare House, thence to Church Brae, then striking northward the hill was again tackled, rounding Shandon House, across railway, and a good spin down the north avenue home.

The first men were the slows Adam and Murray; fasts A McMillan and A Rodger. Times – Hares 40 minutes; slows 43 minutes, fasts 42 minutes.

POW Tribute in Clyde Tragedy

The Scotsman 19 September 1947

German prisoners of war and members of the British staff of Stuckenduff Camp, near Helensburgh, have sent a wreath to Provost Minihan, Port Glasgow, as a tribute to the 20 people who were drowned in Sunday night’s motor boat disaster at the entrance to the Gareloch.

Two Greenock cinemas are to give Sunday shows in aid of the distress fund, which now totals £629. Thirteen bodies are still missing.

Shandon Experimental Station Closed

Sunday Post 27 March 1921

Plant taken away to England.

Helensburgh, Saturday.

The hammers are now silent in the much talked of established known as the Shandon Experimental Station and with the exception of a few officers and watchmen and one or two workmen the staff has cleared off.

All the machinery has been dismantled and the bulk of it taken to England. What the Disposals Board will do with the elaborate and costly fittings at Shandon remains to be seen. Meantime Helensburgh shopkeepers as well as the workmen are the only persons who will regret the closing down of the establishment.

[Blog readers, please get in touch if you know anything further about the experimental station. Experimental in what regard?].