Old Photograph Ashton Gourock Scotland

Old photograph of Ashton, Gourock, Renfrewshire, near Glasgow. Scotland. Gourock is 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. Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.



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

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Old Photograph Fishing Boat In The Harbour Lochranza Scotland

Old photograph of a fishing boat in the harbour at Lochranza, Island of Arran, Scotland. Lochranza is the furthest North of Arran's villages and is located in the north western corner of the island. The village is set on the shore of Loch Ranza, a small sea loch. Formerly a herring fishing port, the village economy is now geared more towards tourism after the reopening of the pier in 2003. Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.



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

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Old Photograph Seatown Lossiemouth Scotland

Old photograph of cottages and houses in Seatown, Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland. The Seatown was established at the end of the 17th Century when the old port at Spynie became landlocked. A succession of storms had built up large shingle banks to block the outlet of Loch Spynie to the sea. The merchants of Elgin decided that a new harbour that could berth larger trading vessels at the river mouth was required. The fishermen didn't use the new pier however but continued to sail their boats up to the beach at the Seatown. Seatown is called The Toonie by its inhabitants and sometimes referred to as the Dogwall. This was a reference to dogs-skins that were dried here before being turned into floats for nets.



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

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Old Photograph Harbour Burnmouth Scotland

Old photograph of the harbour in Burnmouth near Eyemouth, Scotland. This is the first village in Scotland on the A1 road, after crossing the border with England. Burnmouth itself is split into two areas: Upper Burnmouth and Lower Burnmouth. Upper Burnmouth is sited at the top of the cliff. Lower Burnmouth is hidden away at the foot of cliff and stretches out along the foreshore. Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.



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

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Old Photograph Ferry Loch Duich Scotland

Old photograph of a ferry boat on Loch Duich near Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland. In 1719, British forces burned many homesteads along the loch’s shores in the month preceding the Battle of Glen Shiel. A legend connected with Loch Duich states that three brothers who went fishing at the loch one night became enraptured by three seal maidens who had thrown off their furs, assumed the likeness of humans, and danced in the moonlight on the sands. The brothers stole their furs, intending to claim the seal-maidens as their wives. The youngest brother, however, moved by the seal girl’s distress, returned her seal skin. For his kindness, the girl’s father allowed the youngest brother to visit the maiden every ninth night. As for the other two brothers, the middle brother lost his wife after the seal maiden he had captured found her stolen fur, while the eldest brother burnt his wife’s fur as a preventative measure, only to burn her accidentally in the process. Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to 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.