Old Photograph Coronation Park Port Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of Coronation Park in Port Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland. The park opened to the public in 1937 which explains it's name as the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth as King and Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth and as Emperor and Empress of India took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on 12 May 1937. The bandstand entertainers in the summer included bands such as the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, Parkhead Forge Silver Band and the Clydebank and Govan Burgh Bands.

Memorial to the Clyde Boating Tragedy of 14th September 1947, Coronation Park, Port Glasgow. The Ocean pleasure cruiser left Inchgreen on the morning of 14th September 1947 for a day outing to Ardentinny, Loch Long. There were 23 local men, women and children on board. As the weather deteriorated they instead headed for the less exposed waters of Gareloch. Their day went well, but the weather continued to deteriorate. On the return trip tragedy struck. Suddenly about half a mile south of Roseneath Point, the small craft was swamped by a large wave and it sank within seconds. Only three people survived making this one of the worst pleasure craft disasters in the river's history.
The names of the deceased were:
Nessie Anderson
Marjorie Graham
Margaret Castle
George Graham
Margaret Ann Cathcart
John Graham
George Cumming
Mary McShefferty
Alexander Cumming
Jeannie Melville
Helen Faulds
Robert Hailstones
Robert Melville
John Graham
Thomas Melville
Emily Graham
Janet Neilson
Esther Graham
Margaret Smith
and the boat owner John Travis



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Old Photograph Broadstone House Port Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of Broadstone House on the old Greenock road by Port Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland. John Birkmyre died at the age of 76 in Broadstone House in 1910. John married Helen Maclarty on 29 November 1855 in Port Glasgow. Helen was born in 1835 in Port Glasgow, she died on 1 January 1915. William Birkmyre was born in 1802. He died on 8 January 1862 in Ashgrove, thought to be around the Bouverie Street area of Port Glasgow. William married Margaret Aitken, daughter of John Aitken and Isabella Scotland. Margaret was born in 1804 in Glasgow. She died on 20 June 1883 in Broom Lodge, Kilmacolm. Henry Birkmyre was born in 1832. He died in 1900. Henry married Margaret Somerville daughter of James Somerville and Margaret Scotland on 24 June 1854 in Irvine. Margaret was born in 1831. She died on 26 March 1889. Margaret and Henry were first cousins once removed. Margaret’s grandparents and Henry’s great grandparents were Thomas Scotland and Margaret Clark. Henry and Margaret were the parents of Sir Archibald Birkmyre, who was born on 28 June 1875 in Springbank House, Kilmacolm, and died on 24 June 1935. Archibald married Anne Black. Sir Henry Birkmyre was born on 24 March 1898. He died in 1992. Henry married Doris Gertrude Smith on 7 March 1922. Archy Birkmyre was born on 29 November 1904. He died in 1992. Archy married Doreen Barclay.



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Old Photograph Star Hotel Port Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of the Star Hotel in Port Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland. The hotel was built and owned by Mr Denniston of Greenock and was formally opened on 16th August 1870. The tenant Mr William Shaw entertained the provost and magistrates of Port Glasgow to an elegant luncheon to mark the opening where Mr Adam Patterson proposed a toast to the new hotel and noted it was about 30 years since the town had a first class hotel.



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Old Photograph Kirk Torphichen Scotland

Old photograph of the kirk and cemetery in Torphichen near Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. Torphichen Preceptory is the tower and the two transepts of the church of the Preceptory of the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. The Preceptory was constructed from the late 12th century and comprised an aisleless nave, central tower, transepts and choir. Alongside are the foundations of the Preceptor's quarters, a dormitory, dining hall and kitchen, forming a cloistered courtyard on the north side of the church. The transepts and nave were rebuilt in the 15th century. The nave of the Preceptory was later demolished to make room for Torphichen Kirk which was built on the original foundations in 1756. The kirk is T shaped with three galleries including a laird's loft. The graveyard has a fine collection of 17th and 18th century headstones.



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Old Photograph Caravan Park Auchenmalg Luce Bay Scotland

Old photograph of the Caravan Park at Auchenmalg by Luce Bay in Wigtownshire, Scotland. The bay is 20 miles wide at its mouth and is bounded by the Rhins of Galloway to the west and the Machars to the east. From the 1930s to the 1990s it was a bombing range used for training purposes by Royal Air Force aircraft. Discharged bombs were retrieved by a retired minesweeper based at Drummore.



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