Coordinates: 56°01′00″N 4°44′00″W / 56.016667°N 4.733333°W
| Helensburgh | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Bail'eilidh | |
 Colquhoun Square in Helensburgh town centre. |
|
  Helensburgh
 Helensburgh shown within Scotland |
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| Population | 14,626 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| - Edinburgh | 61 mi (98 km) E |
| - London | 363 mi (586 km) SSE |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Lieutenancy area | Dunbartonshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HELENSBURGH |
| Postcode district | G84 |
| Dialling code | 01436 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| List of places: UK • Scotland • | |
Helensburgh (Baile Eilidh in Gaelic) is a town and former burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the eastern shore of the entrance to the Gare Loch.
Helensburgh was formerly in Dumbarton District, but was re-allocated under local government reorganisation in 1995. Prior to 1975 it was part of the former Dunbartonshire.
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History
Helensburgh was founded in 1776 when Sir Ian Colquhoun of Luss built spa baths on the site of Ardencaple Castle, which dated back to about 1600. He then had the seaside resort town constructed to the east of the spa on a formal layout in the style of Edinburgh New Town, and named it after his wife Helen. A ferry service he arranged across the Firth of Clyde to Greenock was successful in attracting residents who could commute from jobs there to attractive homes in the new town.[1]
In 1808 Henry Bell bought the public baths and hotel, which his wife superintended while he continued his interest in early steamboats such as the nearby Charlotte Dundas and the North River Steamboat which Robert Fulton had just introduced at New York City. To improve hotel trade he had the paddle steamer Comet constructed and in 1812 introduced Europe's first successful steamboat service, bringing passengers down the River Clyde from Glasgow to Greenock and Helensburgh. The Clyde steamer trade developed rapidly, and Helensburgh pier and Craigendoran pier at the east end of the town both became major departure points. From 1858 holidaymakers were brought to the resort and the steamers by the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh railway terminus built in the centre of the town, and in 1894 a second railway station was opened higher up the hill on the West Highland Railway to Fort William.[1]
Helensburgh born coal miner Charles Harper emigrated to New South Wales (now a state of Australia) and became the first manager of the Metropolitan Coal Company before being killed in a mine accident in 1887. In that year the company took over the mining lease on an area south of Sydney known as Camp Creek. When the coal mine opened the following year, the town was named Helensburgh, possibly named after his birthplace or after his daughter Helen. The two Helensburghs are now sister cities.[2]
The first episode of Scottish drama Hope Springs Helensburgh's main train station Helensburgh Central and pier appeared briefly.
In 1903, Charles Rennie Mackintosh built the Hill House for the publishing tycoon Walter Blackie. The house, in Colquhoun Street on the north edge of town, is one of the best examples of his style, with startlingly modern interiors incorporating furniture which he designed. It is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is a popular tourist attraction, as is well kept by the housekeeper Melanie Carr.
The town is also notable as the birthplace of John Logie Baird the inventor of television, Academy Award-nominated actress Deborah Kerr and Jack Buchanan. The author A. J. Cronin lived in the town as a child. Helensburgh was also the childhood home of the Rev John Christie, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2010-2011.
The baronetcy of Helensburgh
The Raeburn Baronetcy, of Helensburgh in the County of Dunbarton, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 25 July 1923 for William Raeburn. He was head of the firm of Raeburn & Verel, Ltd, (a shipping company) and also represented Dunbartonshire in the House of Commons as a Unionist.
The town today
Helensburgh today acts as a commuter town for nearby Glasgow, with a population at the 2001 census of 14,626, and also serves as a main shopping centre for the area and for tourists attracted to the seaside resort. Helensburgh is also influenced by the presence of the Clyde Naval Base at Faslane on the Gare Loch. Helensburgh is also a popular destination for day trippers.
The town is served by three railway stations, Helensburgh Upper on the West Highland Line, Craigendoran, on the North Clyde Line and Helensburgh Central, the terminus of the North Clyde Line.
The seafront has an indoor swimming pool, an esplanade walk and sailing facilities including Helensburgh Sailing Club.[3] and the nearby marina at Rhu just beyond the town boundary. The streets are built on a gentle slope rising to the north east, and at the brow of the hill a golf club has views looking south out over the town to the Clyde, and to the north across nearby Loch Lomond to the Trossachs hills.[4]
A regular passenger ferry service runs from Helensburgh pier to Kilcreggan and Gourock, usually on the historic ferry Kenilworth; Craigendoran pier fell into disuse in the late 20th Century. The paddle steamer Waverley calls in to Helensburgh pier during summer sailings.
In a recent study, Helensburgh was shown to be the second most expensive town in which to buy property in Scotland.[5]
The town is used extensively for the local Naval Base, Faslane which is the site that houses the British Nuclear deterrent fleet of Vanguard class submarines. The base is only six miles away from the town.
A significant amount of income for the town is generated from the base and its based submarines and visiting submarines alike.
Helensburgh is home to a number of annual events, with the local branch of Round Table running an annual fireworks display on Guy Fawkes Night and hosting a Real Ale Festival[6] at the Victoria Halls.
Sports
Sports are well represented with various football, rugby, cricket, athletics, netball, hockey, curling, bowling, golf, sailing and fishing clubs amongst others active in the town.
Famous residents
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2009) |
- John Logie Baird: Inventor of the television was born in the town on 13 August 1888.
- Bob McGregor: Olympic Silver medalist in the 100m freestyle at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. He was also captain of GB Olympic squad for Mexico in 1968.
- Walter Smith: Former manager of the Scottish National Football Team and current Manager of Rangers FC.
- Kenny Hyslop: drummer in Slik and Simple Minds. With each band, he recorded a hit single: with the first band, Forever And Ever, in 1975, and with the latter, the New Wave song "Promised You a Miracle", in 1982.
- Richard Churchill
References
- ^ a b Helensburgh Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland.
- ^ Wollongong City Library: Helensburgh - History
- ^ Helensburgh Sailing Club
- ^ Helensburgh Golf Club
- ^ http://www.hbosplc.com/economy/includes/Scotlandposttownwinners2006FINAL.doc
- ^ http://helensburghalefestival.co.uk/
External links
- Helensburgh Online - Directory
- Helensburgh info
- Helensburgh picture gallery
- Helensburgh Advertiser
- Helensburgh Heroes
- Stuart Fraser Website
See also
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
