Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire

Alexandria

Smollett Fountain, Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria shown within West Dunbartonshire
Population 13,444 (2001 UK Census)
OS grid reference NS3980
Council area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ALEXANDRIA
Postcode district G83
Dialling code 01389
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Alexandria (Scots: The Vale,[1] Scottish Gaelic: Alexandria[2]) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The town is situated on the River Leven, four miles (6 km) north-west of Dumbarton.

Demographics

In 2001, the population of the town was 13,444. It is the largest town in the Vale of Leven, the others being Balloch, Bonhill, Jamestown and Renton; their combined population is over 20,000.

Economy

The town's traditional industries, most importantly cotton manufacturing, bleaching and printing, have been phased out. The town was redeveloped in the 1970s with a new town centre layout and traffic system. Local landmarks include Christie Park, and the Fountain in the town centre. Lomond Galleries on North Main Street is a former car factory with an impressive dome and an even more impressive marble entrance hall and staircase. It was originally built in 1906 as the Argyll Motor Works, for Argyll Motors Ltd. A carving above the entrance shows one of the company's cars. After the car production ceased in 1914 it was used by the Admiralty for the manufacture of torpedoes, which were test-fired in Loch Long, and in the early 1970s was the scene of the Plessey sit-in.[3]

Transport

Alexandria sits on the former A82 main road between Glasgow and Loch Lomond. There are regular bus services on the route and the town has a railway station on the rail line between Balloch and Glasgow Queen Street.

The town is reputed to be the only UK town with a railway station and a pub in the middle of a roundabout. A. J. Cronin's uncle owned a pub in Bridge Street. Alexandria Library is located on Gilmour Street.[4]

Sport

The town is home to Vale of Leven football club, who play at Millburn Park. The club were a dominant force in early Scottish football history, winning the Scottish Cup in 1877, 1878 and 1879, and were founder members of the Scottish Football League.

Gordon Reid, born in Alexandria, has won the Wimbledon Tennis Men's Wheelchair Doubles, with his partner Alfie Hewett, three times (latest victory 14th July, 2018).

References

  1. ↑ List of railway station names in English, Scots and Gaelic Archived January 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba - Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland - Database". gaelicplacenames.org. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  3. ↑ "Argyll Works". West Dunbartonshire Council. Archived from the original on 2013-08-28. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Alexandria Library". West Dunbartonshire Council. Retrieved 11 June 2013.


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