by William Battrum
BANKS.

It speaks well for the economical habits of the population, that the first bank in Helensburgh was a savings’ bank. It was promoted, about 1827, by Mr. James Smith of Jordanhill, Mr. Richard Kidston, and others, and managed, gratuitously and successfully, for many years by Mr. Peter M‘Callum, draper. About 1841, a branch of the Western Bank of Scotland was opened,—first under the management of Mr. Alexander Campbell of Roseneath, then of Mr. John Robson, and afterwards of Mr. Robert D. Orr, who continued in it till the suspension of that establishment. In 1857, the Clydesdale Banking Company opened the premises held by the Western Bank, with the enterprising agent of the closed establishment, Mr. Orr, as their manager, and shortly afterwards they built the handsome offices now possessed by them in James’ Street.
In 1856, the Union Bank of Scotland opened a branch, under the management of their present agent, Mr. William Drysdale, long the esteemed provost of the burgh; and in 1861 they opened their present elegant and commodious establishment in Colquhoun Square.

——————

There is but one other public building, the Town Hall, where the corporation meets, and the courts are held; but it presents no claim to architectural exterior or internal convenience. It has been long a standing joke, till, “as ugly as the Town Hall,” has almost turned into a proverb. It was originally a theatre; appears to have been built early in the present century, and, in the palmy clays of the drama, was well supported and liberally patronised by the surrounding country gentry. But the stage has long been darkened; the curtain has fallen for ever. A wall has been run up dividing the proscenium from the remaining part of the house. The whilome pit and boxes now form the body of the Court Hall, where the audience listen to the practical effusions of town-councillors instead of the eloquence of Shakespeare; and the gallery is devoted to rats and spare lumber. Behind the scenes were sometimes retailed grocery goods; now, telegraphic messages are despatched to the ends of the earth; while the ground floor, sacred of old to descending and ascending ghosts, and the tomb of Thespian brigands and murderers, is transformed into police cells. Truly a change has passed over all!

The educational wants of the community have not been neglected, any more than their religious wants. There are institutions and academies adapted to every class of society, and some of them of the highest character.

Amongst other objects worth a visit in Helensburgh, is the Cemetery. Helensburgh being only a quoad sacra parish of recent date, no provision was made in connexion with the church for a burying ground, and, till recently, the only place of interment was at Row, a distance of rather more than two miles. But as, independently of the distance, the parish burying ground was inconveniently small and disgracefully kept, and such a memorial of apathy and niggardliness of the kirk-session, that it was resolved, some six or seven years since, to erect a cemetery at the east extremity of Helensburgh. The ground has been tastefully laid off and enclosed; a superintendent’s house has been built within it, and such rules and regulations adopted, as will secure its future maintenance and good preservation. A considerable part of the ground is devoted to raising nursery plants and flowers, which form an interesting feature to visitors, and the thorough order and neatness in which the whole is kept, reflect the highest credit on Mr. Craig, the superintendent. Already one end of the ground is occupied by many very handsome tombstones, some of them the work of Mossman, and placed with great regard to position and order. The locality of the cemetery is good, and the soil of a light, gravelly nature, and drained to a great depth.

The only drawback is the inconvenient approach to it. A continuation of the present line of King’s Street would lead directly to it; but this street not being fully opened eastward, the access is by the Dumbarton Road, as far as Drumfork toll, and then up the old Luss road. The roads are bad, and the distance is thus nearly doubled. A little effort would secure an excellent approach, and we hope that such an effort will soon be made.

The fine southern exposure, more than once alluded to, and the shelter which it enjoys from east winds, not only make Helensburgh a desirable summer residence, but pleasant winter quarters. To invalids, it is often recommended by medical men of the highest authority, in preference to any place in the west of Scotland. Although not possessing many of the attractions of its distinguished English rival, still there is no modern Scottish town that can nearly approach to it.

There is no trade of any importance carried on in Helensburgh: it is almost entirely dependent on its visitors for prosperity and increase. This migratory population not only creates a demand for every kind of necessary, but is the means of supplying the wants of a class of the population whose time is divided between boating and fishing. A number of the adult population are engaged in herring and deep-sea fishing for a considerable portion of the year; and another part derives a livelihood by attendance on the demands of pleasure and fishing parties during summer, following other callings in winter. There is commonly a good supply of whiting, cod, flounders, and other sea-fish, on the coast, and any of the experienced boatmen can readily conduct a picnic or piscatorial party to some favourite spot, where, at least, a modicum of success is obtainable. On a quiet summer’s afternoon, the whole bay and loch seem studded with such small craft, in groups of half a dozen or more, at every haunt where fish are traditionally or actually found. Whether the success is at all commensurate with the numbers of sport-seekers, we cannot find any reliable means of determining, as anglers’ statements of their prowess are proverbially to be received cum grana salis. There is also, during the early months of the year, pretty fair sea-trout fishing to be obtained by trolling in the loch.

There are several pleasant strolls and carriage drives in the immediate vicinity of Helensburgh. The three principal roads lead eastward, towards Dumbarton; west, to Gareloch; and north, to Luss. The scenery on each of these is varied in character, and they possess respectively points of interest different from each other. The west road leads wholly along the banks of the loch, and brings the tourist within view of many bits of admirable water scenery. It is full of windings, and the various little bays of the loch, and their background studded with villas, rising amongst the trees in terraces, and crowned with the hills, like Swiss villages, are favourite haunts of sketchers and painters in summer holidays. The east, on the other hand, after leaving Helensburgh, passes through a fine agricultural country. There are few houses, save farm homesteads, along the way; but the farms are in the highest state of good management, and the land generally well cultivated. The scenery is irregular; tracts of even land, stretching away back to the hills, belts of wood above these, and the bare hill tops, on the one hand; and corn land sloping down to the river, strips of meadow along the river bank, the Clyde, and its opposite shores, on the other hand, make up the picture. The road to the north presents rather a steep ascent for the first mile or two; but after this is conquered, and the tourist fairly reaches the region of the heather, he will not regret his past labours. Turning round, you command a view of almost the whole Firth of Clyde, with parts of its lochs, and its numerous villages and towns; and beyond these rise the blue hills of Arran, sharply outlined against the sky. A few steps further on in front, brings you in view of Lochlomond, in silvery repose, with its lovely islands and wooded heights, on the farther side of which the mountains of Stirlingshire and Perthshire fill up the background. In addition to these short walks, there are various other places of interest in the neighbourhood worthy of a visit from the stranger, and which deserve more than a passing notice. Some of them are little known, save to the enthusiastic botanist or pedestrian. Others, memorable in history and tradition, we purpose at fuller length to notice; and our reward will be sufficient if we induce those who have hitherto found a difficulty in filling up a leisure hour, to explore these spots, and find interest and instruction in them.

    


All Rights Reserved
The Grian Press