Scotland4me.net Out and About

	Scotland4me.net	'Out and About'
'Helensburgh'
	Helensburgh dates back to about 1600 when Ardencaple Castle was built on the west side of the town. In 1776 a spa was built over it by Sir Ian Colquhoun of Luss who also built a planned town named after his wife Helen. Its success was closely linked to the ferry service which he organised linking Helensburgh to Greenock. This allowed those who could afford it to earn their living on the south side of the Clyde while living on the more attractive north bank. On Helensburgh's waterfront is an obelisk dedicated in 1872 to the second big name to feature in the town's history. This was Henry Bell, who built the first commercial steamboat the Comet to bring customers from Glasgow to his wife's hotel and a pier to land them at. Not far away is a statue commemorating another famous son of Helensburgh, John Logie Baird, one of the fathers of television.
	The Hill House in Helensburgh is considered to be Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s finest domestic creation. Sitting high above the Clyde it is home to original Mackintosh furniture and interior design and also has attractive formal gardens designed recognisably in the Mackintosh style. It is now owned by the National trust for Scotland and can be viewed from 1st April to 31st October during the hours of 1 30 to 5 30 (would recommend that you arrive at least one hour before the doors close). The Hill House as many interesting features and visitors will see which include - * A traditional Scottish home with modern aspirations filled with his furniture. * A stunning example of Mackintosh's domestic architecture and interior design. * Fantastic views from the hill top site that over look the River Clyde.
	The Comet Steamship, Henry Bell in 1808, moved to the modern village of Helensburgh on the Firth of Clyde. His wife was the superintendent of the public baths. Being an energetic lady she kept the principal inn too! In 1812 he produced his steamboat the Comet, of 30 tons burthen with an engine of three horsepower. The Comet, so called from the celebrated comet which appeared at that time (the Great Comet of 1811), was built by Messrs John Wood and Co. at Port Glasgow and made her trial trip on the 18th January 1812. She sailed from Glasgow to Greenock making five miles an hour against a head-wind. In August of the same year Bell advertised the Comet. The advert read to ply upon the Clyde three times a week from Glasgow, "to sail by the power of air, wind, and steam." In September the voyage was extended to Oban and Fort-William. A model of the Comet can be seen in Port Glasgow.
	Glenarn, Rhu Woodland - Open daily 21st March to 21st September and is on mile west of Helensburgh off the A814 in the conservation village of Rhu. Here you will see a special woodland garden with a Himalayan atmosphere. You can walk under superb giant rhododendrons and later look out across the Gareloch
	Sir Iain Colquhoun sold Ardencaple Castle (Ardencaple Castle Light) in 1923 to Mrs. H. Macaulay-Stromberg a wealthy American who restored the castle and lived there until her death, in 1931. The castle then passed to Adelaide Parker Voorheis. Then in 1935 a consortium of developers took the castle over and built a housing estate in 1936-1937 on what used to be the Tower Lawn. The Royal navy then requisitioned the land at the outbreak of World War II in 1939. In 1957 most of the castle was demolished so that the government could build a naval housing estate for nearby Faslane Naval Base. All that is now left of the castle is a tower which was used for military purposes. However, that use has now been outlived too with the tower just providing navigational support for the non-military vessels and is known to many sailers and locals as the Ardencaple Castle Light.
	John Logie Baird was born in August 1888 in Helensburgh on the west coast of Scotland. He lived at The Lodge, which still stands on the corner of West Argyle Street and Suffolk Street. He was the son of a clergyman and was dogged by ill health for most of his life. He nonetheless showed early signs of ingenuity. That is, rigging up a telephone exchange to connect his bedroom to those of his friends across the street. His studies at Glasgow University were interrupted by the outbreak of World War One. Later in life Baird moved to the south coast of England. There he applied himself to creating a television.. His early version was made of odds and ends. However by 1924 he managed to transmit a flickering image across a few feet. Amazingly on 26th January 1926 he gave the world's first demonstration of true television in front of fifty scientists in London. He went on to develop his TV invention further and died in June 1946.
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