HELENSBURGH'S first Provost, steamship pioneer Henry Bell (1767-1830), came to live in the burgh in 1806.
Already a successful businessman, engineer and architect, he built the Baths Hotel (later the Queen’s Hotel) in East Clyde Street to run with his wife Margaret as a spa near the marine villas of the wealthy Glasgow merchants who either lived in the town or kept a mansion as a summer holiday home.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 April 2010 15:17 )
ON August 6 2012 it will be the bicentenary of the first commercial sailing of Henry Bell’s Comet steamship.
Will celebrations be organised, if so by whom, and what will they consist of? The 100th and 150th anniversary celebrations set a high standard to be followed.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 April 2010 15:21 )
THIS exhibition took place from September 13-16 1997 in the Pillar Hall, Victoria Halls, Helensburgh, and was a celebration of the Clyde and all that the river meant to the people of Helensburgh.
A fine working model of the Comet was displayed along with maps, photographs and text tracing the history of the development of the burgh with the coming of steam navigation.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 April 2010 15:22 )
ONE of the Clyde’s worst ever tragedies took place only yards away from Helensburgh pier on Monday March 21 1842, when 20 people died after the steamship Telegraph exploded.
Much of the detail about the tragedy was unearthed by a Bishopbriggs man, Craig Boyd, the great grandson of William Ewing, the Telegraph’s captain and one of the fatalities.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 April 2010 15:22 )
A month-long exhibition at Helensburgh Library in West King Street in February and March 2008 was dedicated to one of the Clyde’s best loved paddle steamers.
It was organised by Marion Gillies, vice-chairman of Helensburgh Community Council, and was inspired by the opening of the new Hermitage Academy building at Colgrain in February 2008.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 April 2010 15:23 )
View this photograph and over 1,000 more at the Heritage Trust Photo Gallery. Visit the gallery.
David Norman will speak about Glen Fruin's Little Secret, the Admiralty Hydro Ballistic Research Establishment, on Wednesday September 29 at 7.30pm at Helensburgh Tennis Club, Suffolk Street.
HELENSBURGH HERITAGE TRUST
Scottish Charity
No SC 024603
