Shandon People and History

A New Pier

Dear blog reader and friend

I must apologise for being absent for the past couple of months.

My Mum died at the end of April and I simply have not felt like blogging up until now. However normal service now resumes in terms of my local history research.

I have some interesting news for you. My Mum had agreed a couple of months before her death that I could share all of our family photos of Shandon with you. I have also found, since Mum died, that I hadn’t written down every one of Mum’s stories but I do have in writing Mum’s version of how our family found Shandon and our friends in Shandon. I look forward to sharing both of these with you in the near future.

I hope you find the attached interesting.

Best wishes

Jacqueline

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DUMBARTON HERALD AND COUNTY ADVERTISER

NEW PIER AT SHANDON

From the time the steamers first began to ply on the Gareloch there was a ferry boat station in connection with them at Shandon, where all 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 erected 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; Wm 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, Bart., 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 exceeding handsome one. The gangway and terminal platform are off creosoted pitch-pine, and on the pierhead there is a commodious waiting-room and pier master’s office and store-room. The pier has been built by Messrs Watt & Wilson, contractors, from a design by Mr W R Copland, 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.

Shandon Visitors in September 1882

Dear blog reader

This is a post particularly for my readers researching their family history.

How marvelous it would be to find out where your ancestors holidayed!

Jacqueline

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THE HELENSBURGH NEWS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1882

SHANDON

SHANDON HYDROPATHIC VISITORS LIST

Mr George Drummond and Mr Joseph Gardiner, Glasgow
Mr Milne and valet, Miss Milne, Miss G J Milne, and Mr A H Milne, Aberdeen
Mr and Mrs G A Hudwen and maid, Halifax
Mr W H Swire and servant, Miss Swire and maid, Miss M H Swire
Miss A B Swire, Mr C Swire, and Mrs Fort, London
Captain and Mrs Obert, Glasgow
Major Sharp
Mr, Mrs and Miss Booker, Edmonston
Miss Phillpotts and Fleming, London
Mr and Miss Hickman and Miss Florence Stagurrock, Selby Hill
Mr and Mrs Y P HIckman and Miss Crump, Derby
Mr Yice and the Misses Yice
Mr Cartwright, Louth
Major Woodward, Clevedon
Hon. Arthur C C Plunket, Londonderry
Mr and Mrs Youngson and family, Aberdeen
Mr Goodbody, Miss J E Goodbody, and Miss J B Goodbody
Mr Dryborough, Edinburgh
Mr and Mrs Marrable
Mr S, and Miss Suttie, Arbroath
Mr Dudley Docker, Birmingham
Mr and Mrs Huntly and Miss Hunt, Blackheath
Mr Geo. Halliday, Glasgow
Mr J Thomas, Mr C Aird, Mr and Mrs Scott, and Miss Scott, Edinburgh
Mr John Graves, Edgbaston
Dr Cameron, MP, Mrs Cameron, nurse and child, Glasgow
Mrs and Mrs Gunn, Crieff
Mr and Mrs C J Cooper
Mr Teesdale, Lincoln
Mr G M Roland, Edinburgh
Mr George Tomkins, London
Mr James Jamieson, Kirkcaldy
Mr John Ritchie, Trinity
Rev John and Mrs Inglis
Mr James Allan, Helensburgh
Mr Dunlop and Mr J S Hare, Bristol
Mr Peter Kennedy, Renfrew
Mr and Mrs Boyd, Dublin
Mr Edward B Lemon, Chester
Mr and Miss Fulton, Mr and Mrs Ramage and Councillor Crighton, Edinburgh
Mr S Hamilton Reid, Dublin
Mrs and Mrs Murray and maid and Mr G Stirling, London
Mr W Melvin and Miss Melvin, Alloa
Mrs and Mrs Newburn, Warford, Hull, Alderley
Mr G H Moffatt, Taylor, London
Mr James Alex Forrest, Liverpool
Mr James McLagan, and Mr James Chisholm, Edinburgh
Mr John Annan, Mr Finlay Smith, and Mr Robert Mills, Glasgow
Mr Alex Massoom, Kirkliston
Rev A G MacAlpine, Gorebridge
Mr J J Goudie and Master Goudie, Glasgow
Mr and Mrs Geo Walker, Newtonards
Mr J C R Thomas, London
Mr Todd, Glasgow
Mr W Ibbotson, London
Mr J A Imrie
Mr Fred A Smith and Mr W W Bedford, Glasgow
Mr Richard Day, London
Mr Joseph Stephens, Walsall
Rev D S McDonald
Mr W Burness, Edinburgh
Mr Walter C Wren
Mr and Mrs G W Morrison, Leeds
Mr W Dodshon, Stockton
Mr A M Springett, Oxford
Mrs, Miss and Mr S Todd, Ilkley

The Oratorio

THE HELENSBURGH NEWS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1884

SHANDON

COURSE OF LECTURES

The Church here was crowded on Friday evening last to hear Mr Thomas Brash’s lecture on the ‘Oratorio’. Mr Brash gave a historical account of its development and progress down to the present time.

The lecture was a great success, and its interest was greatly increased by the vocal illustrations which were given by Mrs Christian Williams and Miss Mainds, and a select choir from Helensburgh. Mr Brash himself rendering valuable assistance at the harmonium.

Mr Walter McLellan, junior, occupied the chair, and proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Brash and the ladies and gentlemen who assisted him, which was heartily responded to by the audience; a similar vote to the chairman brought the proceedings to a close.

A waiting room and the bowling green

THE HELENSBURGH NEWS, THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1883

SHANDON

OUR WAITING ROOM

Those who love flowers – and who do not? – will be delighted with a visit to our waiting room on the pier. The collection is not large, but it contains some very choice plants in flower very tastefully arranged. The flowers are a great source of attraction to peoples landing here, and Mr Vallance is to be complimented on the fine taste he displays in their arrangement.

THE BOWLING GREEN

We understand that ex-Baillie Morrison, of Glasgow, will open the bowling green on Saturday first. We hope the weather may be favourable.

Electricity and the Telephone

THE HELENSBURGH NEWS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1886

DISTRICT NEWS

SHANDON

COURSE OF LECTURES

On Friday evening, the schoolroom was crowded to hear a lecture by Mr James Bell, of Summerhill, the subject being ‘Electricity and the Telephone’.

He said that it was not his intention to occupy much time with a lecture, but rather to instruct and amuse the audience by giving them practical illustrations of the wonders of the sciences.

The room was accordingly lit up with electricity, and a telephone was connected from Summerhill to the schoolroom.

The lecture was highly appreciated, and at its close, a hearty vote of thanks was conveyed to Mr Bell by the Rev. Hugh Miller, MA, who presided.

Lady Nairne and a Children’s Treat

THE HELENSBURGH NEWS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1892.

SHANDON

LADY NAIRNE AND HER SONGS

A lecture was delivered on Thursday evening last by the Rev. Mr Miller, the subject being ‘Lady Nairne and her Songs’. The lecture was made very interesting by vocal illustrations of the songs by a choir under the conductorship of Mr D McCallum, and accompanied on the piano by Miss Jessie Buchanan.

CHILDREN’S TREAT

Mr and Mrs Hartley, Craigmore, entertained the school children to a tea and bus treat. A tree laden with gifts was presented to the children, all of whom received several presents.

Shandon Mutual Improvement Society in 1886

THE HELENSBURGH NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1886

DISTRICT NEWS

SHANDON

MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY

The annual conversazione of this association was held in the Schoolhouse on Friday evening. There was a large attendance and Mr Andrew J Kilpatrick occupied the chair.

The chairman gave a very interesting address on the pleasures of reading and the love of books, and thereafter a programme of readings, songs, and concerted music was gone through in a satisfactory manner.

The annual report of the association was read by Mr W Priestley, and showed that the past session had been the most successful since its institution.

A vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr Miller and the committee who had conducted the session’s lectures was conveyed to these gentlemen.

Hydro Entertainment

THE HELENSBURGH NEWS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1884

SHANDON

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE HYDROPATHIC

During the past week the visitors at the Shandon Hydropathic Establishment have enjoyed a round of excellent entertainments.

Dr Moxey, the popular elocutionist, and professor of that art in the Free Church College, Edinburgh, gave a very attractive reading on Monday.

Laurence Gane, Esq., barrister, Middle Temple, London, gave a lecture on ‘Charles Dickens’ and the subject, which is always a popular one, was treated in a critical and appreciative spirit by the learned lecturer.

But literature was not the only source from which the visitors were amused, and the physical side of life’s enjoyments was exemplified by swimming matches, and the different styles of swimming, given under the guidance of Mr Stanley Priestley.

Shandon Proposals

THE GLASGOW DAILY HERALD, SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1871

SHANDON

FREE GARDENERS

On Wednesday evening a meeting was held at Shandon – Mr Alexander McCallum presiding – to consider the propriety of forming a Lodge of Free Gardeners for Helensburgh, Row, Shandon, and Garelochhead.

Resolutions favourable to this object were agreed to, and it was resolved that these, together with correspondence on the subject with Lodges already formed, should be forwarded to Helensburgh for the purpose of being laid before a meeting to be held there on an early day.

It may be mentioned that this movement to form a Lodge of Free Gardeners is accompanied by a proposal to establish a Mutual Improvement Society in connection therewith.

Shandon Mutual Improvement Society in March 1883

THE HELENSBURGH NEWS, THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1883

SHANDON – MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY

In connection with this association, a grand literary and musical entertainment was given in the schoolroom on Thursday evening last, when every available inch of space within its walls was occupied by a large and enthusiastic audience, who long before the hour of commencement had gathered together, many of them from a considerable distance.

The entertainment was certainly one of the best of the whole course, and each of the artistes, at the close of his or her performance, was greeted with enthusiastic applause. The programme was of the most varied and mixed nature, and while the audience were at times raptured in silence, listening to the sweet strains of some delightful solo, they were again roused to the highest pitch of mirth by the humorous and side-splitting recitations of a couple of Glasgow gentlemen, whose efforts aided considerably to make the evening an unqualified success.

Of the ladies, the song of Miss Finlay, ‘Come o’er the moonlit sea’ was much enjoyed, while those of Miss Lindsay, ‘The Kerry dance’ and ‘Killarney’ were equally so. Mr Harrison’s ‘Bay of Biscay’ was a powerful rendering of this well-known song, and for which he received an enthusiastic encore, while his part of the duet, ‘The minute gun at sea’ accompanied by Mr McCallum, was quite as telling.

A most pleasing feature of the evening’s entertainment was several selections on the violin and piano by Messrs D McCallum and Ingram, and although for a time the audience was held as it were spellbound, as the strains gradually quickened the bonds of restrain were fairly broken, and the musicians finished under a perfect storm of applause. Last though not least at the end of a lengthy programme was the catch song ‘Call John’, sang by a quartette under the able leadership of Mr McCallum, and which at the finish had to be repeated.

The piano for the occasion was kindly lent by Mrs O’Bryan, Greenhill, while the duties of chairman were most pleasingly performed by Mr W MacLellan, jun., Blairvaddich.

The ninth of the course of public lectures will be given on Friday evening first by Rev Wm Leitch, Helensburgh, the subject being ‘Readers and Readings’.