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By
the 17th century Dumbarton was an important port with trade routes
going as
far afield as the West Indies.
The first
detailed map of Dumbarton, surveyed in 1777, shows a ship
carpenters’ yard just downstream of the town bridge between the
Quay and the High Street. The town was a major centre for shipbuilding;
a trade that lasted until the Denny yard closed in 1964.
More information on shipbuilding, can be found here
At one point there were 20 shipbuilding yards in the
town
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In 1776 James Dunlop of Garnkirk established
Dumbarton’s 1st ‘industry’--
the glassworks.
In its heyday, from 1800-1830’s, it was one of the
most important glassworks in Britain, producing over 90% of
all glass made in Scotland and employing three hundred
workers.
The 6-acre site and works were owned by the wealthy and
in uential Dixon Family from 1817 until 1831, and by James Christie
from 1837-50.
The three typical glass cones dominated the site, as the industry
dominated the town’s economy.
The glassworks was highly selfsufficient, and owned
five coal-works, four
tramways, two wharves, two bottle works, a brewery, farm and seven
sailing vessels.
By 1850 foreign imports flooded the market and the glassworks were
closed.
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The population of the town was 2541 in 1801
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Robert
Burns visited Dumbarton on 29th June 1787. The full story of
that
visit can be found via the "Dumbarton Connection" button on the Home
Page or click here.
The town he visited would have been very different from the present day
Dumbarton.
The picture below shows the road through Renton, where he visited the
Smollet Monument erected in 1774, and how it looks today, with War Memorial beside it. The three
beehive-like chimneys are those of the Glass Works opened in
1777.
The
town of Dumbarton had a population
of around 2500 in 1800 although many more lived in the surrounding area
Dumbarton
in 1800
Dumbarton in 1818
Present day Dumbarton Town Centre
It is likely that Burns spent
the night in Levengrove House -- situated
in the park between the rivers Leven and Clyde.
Above is the house as it
was around 1875 : sadly it is no longer there, although the park
is
and is well worth a visit.
The site of the house is shown
by the picture on the right
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Between what once was Woolworths and Greggs the Bakers stands the
oldest house in Dumbarton. Glencairn Greit House was built
as the town house of the Earls of Glencairn and later the Dukes of
Argyll.
Although in poor physical condition, this is a good example of 17th
century Scottish domestic architecture, and Dumbarton would have
had several similar houses. It stood beside the Mercat Cross, and
faced up Cross Vennel, later called College Street.
The ground floor is characterised by
three round arches and a
fourth that opens to a vaulted passage, Quay Pend, leading to
the River Leven. (see below)
The upper fl oors have been much altered and under-used.
After recent use as a gas showroom and by social services, the
ground floor is now used as offices.
Glencairn House as
it is today
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