Old Photograph Tower Drive Street Gourock Scotland

Old photograph of houses on Tower Drive Street in Gourock, Renfrewshire, near Glasgow, Scotland. Gourock, a town in the old county of Renfrew. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the East shore of the upper Firth of Clyde. The name Gourock comes from a Gaelic word for " rounded hill ", in reference to the hill above the town. As far back as 1494 it is recorded that King James IV sailed from the shore at Gourock to quell the rebellious Highland clans. Two hundred years later William and Mary granted a Charter in favour of Stewart of Castlemilk which raised Gourock to a Burgh of Barony. In 1784 the lands of Gourock were purchased by Duncan Darroch, a former merchant in Jamaica. From a small fishing village in the traditional county of Renfrewshire, Gourock grew into a community involved in herring curing, copper mining, ropemaking, quarrying and latterly yacht building and repairing. When the competing railway companies extended their lines to provide fast connections to Clyde steamer services the Pierhead was built as a railway terminus. Nowadays a passenger ferry serves Kilcreggan and electric trains provide a service to Glasgow from Gourock railway station at the pierhead. Gourock Outdoor Pool was built in 1909. Gourock Sailing Club was founded in 1894. Clan Darroch links with Gourock began in the later half of the 18th century with Duncan Darroch, 1st of Gourock, who had returned to Scotland after making a fortune in the West Indies. Charlie Barr, was born Charles Barr in Gourock on 11 July 1864. he was an accomplished sailing skipper who three times captained winning America's Cup yachts. Barr died whilst visiting Southampton, England on 24 January 1911, he is buried in Southampton, England. History Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to travel and visit one day.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.