Helensburgh

Helensburgh ( Baile Eilidh in Gaelic ) is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies at the transition region of the north coast of the Firth of Clyde in the east coast of the sea arm Gare Loch.

History

In 1757, acquired by Sir James Colquhoun Clan Colquhoun of Luss by Charles Lord Cathcart a strip of land on the north bank of the Firth of Clyde, which came from the estate of the late 1752 John Shaw, 3rd Baronet of Greenock. The area, named after a Gaelic word for a grain mill as Malig or Milrigs, was a largely overgrown with various kinds of broom heath. The new owner took care in the coming years successfully for the convert unproductive area into fertile farmland until then, from an agricultural perspective. Colquhoun also wanted to give rise to the coast a planned city, whose layout was architecturally inspired by the New Town of Edinburgh. Three parallel to each other along the coast running and a series of right angles to run cross streets were square blocks of buildings with an area of two acres. The central intersection was also a square space, the Colquhoun Square, expanded by omitting a field at each of the four corners.

In January 1776 appeared in a Glasgow newspaper ad, which, under generous terms, land would be awarded on a long lease in this new settlement to. Were sought particularly in textile manufacturing and processing trained people. The village was first called in reference to the ancient landscape names, as Muleigh, Maligs Town or simply New Town, later she received, in honor of Colquhouns woman named Helensburgh.

The small settlement first developed only slowly, in 1794 was only about 17 houses built. 1802 Helensburgh was given the status of a Burgh of Barony, similar to a city status and connected with the right to host a weekly market and four annual fairs. But even this could not help the city, its originally intended function as an important location of the textile industry to meet. This should become important on the local market and also in the subsequent period ever.

Instead, put the beginning of the 19th century, a development which characterize the consequences of Helensburgh strong to this day. Merchants and industrialists, especially from Glasgow, Greenock and Paisley discovered the charms of the south-facing location and the soothing sea climate and Helensburgh chose from as a summer resort. In addition, increasingly came Swimmers and so the number of residents increased by the end of the first decade to around 500, during the summer months in 2000. Helpful were the not-too- great distance to Glasgow, the relatively good road access and a daily mail delivery. on.

The shipbuilder, Ingenieuer and temporary Provost ( chief town ) John Bell, who had settled in the city to operate a hotel, took over from the American Robert Fulton whose novel concept steam-powered ships. Bell constructed then its own ship, the Comet. With this he offered from 1912 regular ferry services between Glasgow, Greenock and Helensburgh. With this offering, at the same time the first commercial steamboat operation in Europe, the accessibility Helensburgh improved considerably. This led to the fact that more people another place going about their business, chose the city as a residential area. However, it was not until 1835, before an extension of the original town area was started for the first time, ultimately a sign of how over-ambitious Colquhoun had been plan. The development of the city should strengthen, after the city in 1858 with the opening of the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway was a railway connection. For the year 1860 several times circulating daily ferry connections to Garelochhead, Greenock, Glasgow, Port Glasgow and Rosneath are detected. For now begins, urban expansion drew the architect William Spence. He made sure that the rectangular street system was continued, with few exceptions, planning on the old core out. Spence also designed a series of individual buildings, the Hermitage School and St. Columba Church. It originated as a spacious city with wide streets and ample space for green areas, while also a dichotomy between a of merchants, traders and craftsmen, including a number of gardeners, embossed area along the coast and an environment characterized by generous estate area along the slope.

One of the intended and at later times repeatedly discussed from the beginning expansion of the investor to a regular port remained under ultimately. The existing pier was in the 1830s as one of the most run-down in Scotland. Partial attracted passengers from the onward journey to the next landing in Rhu and the subsequent return to the country the uncomfortable withdrawal in Helensburgh. Finally, in 1860 came a new pier, without the fundamental problems in terms of the required capacities, would have been solved. From 1869 Helensburgh was an important transshipment point for the emerging herring fishery, which only exacerbated the difficult situation for several years. The problem was solved, after several failed attempts, finally through the construction of a new port in 1882, immediately east of the city limits and in the neighboring Civil Parish of the hamlet of Craig Doran. This got a rail connection to the past leadership in the immediate vicinity railway line and there is a train station.

In the area of ​​this station Craigendoran even further leading to the North West Highland Railway in 1894 connected, which bypasses the city center to the northeast and slightly higher up. The in this context, newly built, situated above the town of Helensburgh Upper breakpoint enabled the development of even slightly elevated areas of the urban area and thus particularly those that offered excellent views over the estuary and its surroundings. There emerged a number of villas, their partial unusual architecture is remarkable and which are to be found in such a density only at a few other places in the sequence. In addition to the existing Victorian building and edwardianisch influenced even those came with elements of other styles of architecture such as the Art_Deco. In the 1930s Helensburgh, was first referred to as the Garden City, Garden City as well as due to the spacious tree-lined streets. Two smaller district, emerged in the area of Castle Ardencaple 1919 and in Kirkmichael Estate in 1935, which were inspired by Ebenezer Howard's concept of the garden city, ultimately fell no longer particularly significant.

Helensburgh today

Helensburgh presents itself as a tourist like popular seaside resort with a beach boardwalk and an investor who, however, used the setting of the last ferry in 2012, second only to cruise ships. In this area there is also an indoor swimming pool as well as visually striking, because in the tower of a former church housed the tourist office. Just north of the city limits, already belonging to the neighboring village of Rhu, is a marina for sailing boats and yachts. In the city organized annually Highland Games.

The city is an attractive place to live for people who commute to Glasgow to work, but also for members of the military, because only a few miles north on the eastern shore of the Gare Loch is the naval base at Faslane. The facility is an important economic factor and at the same employer for the people of Helensburgh. The Navy operates in the city, a care center for their loved ones. Helensburgh is considered a relatively expensive residential area. In 2006, real estate prices were, to Edinburgh, the second highest in Scotland.

In its central place function Helensburgh is the main shopping center of the area. In the city is also home to one of the eleven designated as Service Points decentralized focal points of the superior administrative unit Argyll and Bute. Helensburgh is regarded as the second official administrative center to Lochgilphead.

Recent developments show a shift in tourism demand of long-term lingering through to day-trippers. Accordingly, the number of nights and decline in a row, the number of hotels and guesthouses. Also the reason to visit the city went from being, attracted to its location on an estuary tourists towards those who are interested in the architectural features. In particular, here would be the Hill House to call, which is annually recorded around 40,000 visitors and now even drawn for inclusion in the list of world cultural heritage into account. Third, economic feet ecological tourism is seen. An important role is played by the proximity of the city to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, which starts at the height above Helensburgh and directly at the city limits. The town is the starting point of the hole Three Way walking route, a hiking trail, the Gare Loch, Loch Lomond and Loch Long interconnects.

Both the location on the coast area as well as the historic city center should be made more attractive by view of the church. For this to both the promenade and the central Colquhoun be upgraded and remodeled Square. The redesign work is expected to be completed in summer 2014. For the area around the pier itself, and in 2008 abandoned former site of a school the beginning of the 2010s a master plan was created.

Attractions

In the area of the city about two hundred objects are under monument protection. From this fall, in addition to the Hill House already mentioned, twelve more in the highest category "A". These are the St Michael and All Angels ' Church, the War Memorial in Hermitage Park, the villas Dalmore House, Cairndhu House, Brant Woode, Drumadoon, Grey Court, Longcroft, Rockland, Red Towers, White House and the building 38-40 Sinclair Street.

The 1296 first mentioned Ardencaple Castle, enlarged in the 16th century and remodeled late 18th century gave way in the late 1950s the construction of a housing development for marine relatives. From the original system only a single tower remained available, which should serve as a point of ships.

From the ridge above the town there is a wonderful view of the surroundings. To the north, the view of the National Park extends into over Loch Lomond to the Arrochar Alps, in the south, especially from the highest mountain of the city, Ben Bouie from across the Clyde and the rolling hills of southern Argyll.

Management affiliation

At the time of its creation, the area of Helensburgh was in the range of, at that time purely ecclesiastical, Parish of Row and within Dunbartonshire. With the establishment of the Civil Parishes as local government districts in Scotland in 1845, on the basis and with the same first field inventory, Helensburgh came logically to the Civil Parish of Row, renamed in 1927 in Rhu. Due to the Local Government ( Scotland) Act 1929 for the first time was restructured: Helensburgh was the center of Helensburgh District, the more of the, now reduced to a purely statistical function, Civil Parishes included, ranging from the outskirts of Dumbarton up to the northern tip of Loch Lomond. The city itself was given the status of a Small Burgh granted. With the Local Government (Scotland ) Act 1973 the Scottish administration system was reformed once again. From the County of Dunbarton Dunbarton District now as part of the newly introduced Strathclyde region was. The burghs and districts The previous local system disappeared, their tasks now were the new, larger districts and regions. In May 1975, the changes to both the City Council and the District Council of Helensburgh were completed dissolved. Instead, a council was set up to an advisory role is assigned by law primarily.

With the Local Government etc. ( Scotland) Act 1994, the previously existing dual structure was abolished from regions and districts again and instead unitary authorities established in which all local and regional areas of responsibility have been bundled. Helensburgh was the newly created UA Argyll and Bute allocated, which meant at the same time that the city was first isolated in its history, administrative Dunbarton.

Helensburgh is at the local level today an independent Community Council Area, in addition to the actual city also includes the easternmost, sparsely populated area that did not belong to the historical territory of the burghs, but part of the adjoining Parish of Cardross were. There existed until the 2000s an independent Colgrain Community Council. The largest settlement in this area is the now grown together with Helensburgh Craig Doran.

Traffic

Helensburgh has three railway stations on two separate railway lines. The Helensburgh Central Station as a terminal station is one of the two endpoints of the western North Clyde Line, Helensburgh Upper is coming from the north on the West Highland Line. Both routes unite in located on the eastern outskirts Craigendoran station, where the trains on the West Highland Line does not stop there, and run further on Glasgow to Edinburgh. While about half a dozen drive pairs are offered daily on the West Highland Line, the trains on the North Clyde Line every half hour. Helensburgh Upper is also breakpoint at the Caledonian Sleeper, a train running between Fort William and London night train.

Until April 2012 there was a regular ferry service from Helensburgh via the Gare Loch Kilcreggan after the end of the Rosneath Peninsula and on over the Firth of Clyde to Gourock in Inverclyde, but was then reduced for reasons of profitability on the part of Kilcreggan to Gourock.

In the summer months of Helensburgh Pier is within the scope of tours of the Waverley, the last sea-going paddle steamer still active, driven.

Sons and daughters

• Norah Neilson Gray ( * 1882, † 1931 in Glasgow ), portrait painter and important representative of the Glasgow School.
• John Logie Baird ( August 13, 1888 *, † June 14 1946 in Bexhill -on-Sea, East Sussex, England), inventor and television pioneer.
• David MacDonald (1904-1983), Director
• Deborah Kerr ( * September 30, 1921, † October 16, 2007 in Suffolk, England, born Deborah Jane Kerr - Trimmer), film actress.
• James Copeland (* May 1, 1923; † April 2002 in London), actor.
• Morven Christie ( b. 1979 ), film actress