Cardross, Argyll

Geilston House, by Cardross, owned by the National Trust for Scotland

Cardross (Scottish Gaelic: Càrdainn Ros)[1] is a large village with a population of 2,193 (2011)[2] in Scotland, on the north side of the Firth of Clyde, situated halfway between Dumbarton and Helensburgh. Cardross is in the historic geographical county of Dunbartonshire but the modern political local authority of Argyll and Bute.

Cardross Village took its name from an historic parish where King Robert the Bruce once lived. The Parish of Cardross stretched in area from the River Leven on the west side of Dumbarton to Camus Eskan (near Helensburgh), and also included the village of Renton in the Vale of Leven.

The original piece of land known as ’Cardross’ (Scottish Gaelic: Càrdainn Ros) is at the eastern edge of the historic parish and the western point of the confluence of the rivers Clyde and Leven at the town of Dumbarton, facing across to Dumbarton Rock and Castle. Today the land sits on the edge of Dumbarton’s Levengrove Park[3].

History

The settlement of Cardross developed around a 17th-century church. The mother kirk of Cardross Parish had been relocated 3 miles west from its medieval site on the western bank of the River Leven to support a fledgling ferry community on the northern bank of the River Clyde in 1653.

Today no remains of the original Cardross Village church can be found but the Graveyard is still in use and contains several 17th century gravestones. [4]

Robert the Bruce purchased the portions of lands of Pillanflatt from the Earl of Lennox, lying on the western bank of the River Leven, Dunbartonshire, in the Parish of Cardross, in 1326. In 1329, he died at the manorial house that he built there.

A field on the bank of River Leven, called the Mains of Cardross, is thought to have been the location of his royal manor, none of which remains today.[5] In 2017, Dumbarton Football Club’s proposed new stadium was refused planning permission, with one of the objections being its likely placement on the medieval Bruce site. [6]

Natural History

2 km north-west of Cardross is a peninsula called Ardmore Point. This privately owned area of land has a nature trail and is considered a Regionally Important Geographical Site (RIGS) due to unique rock formations including an exposed sea cliff.[7] It is a popular fishing and bird-spotting area[8][9] and grey seals can also be seen here.[10]

Facilities

Commercial

There are a number of businesses, including a sawmill, car mechanic, a Co-operative Food Store [11], newsagents, pharmacy, post office, plumber's merchant, an Indian style take-away, a couple of hairdressers, soap shop and a jewellers.

Ardardan Estate[12] is a working farm with a farm shop, plant nursery and tea room and is situated outside Cardross near Ardmore Point, but closer to the town of Helensburgh.

Sports

The town possesses a golf course, bowling, tennis and football clubs. Paul Lawrie won the Scottish Professional Golf Championship which was held at Cardross Golf Course in 1992.[13]

Education

Cardross has its own pre-school and primary school.

Transport

Cardross railway station has direct links to both Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley stations on the North Clyde Line; the station is operated by Abellio ScotRail.

A bus service is provided by First Glasgow.

Tourist attractions

Geilston Garden, a National Trust for Scotland property, is located on the north west edge of the village.

There is also a ruined church, which was bombed in May 1942 during World War 2. The reason for Cardross being targeted by German bombers remains unclear, locals have speculated buildings in the village might have been mistaken as a shipyard or an oil storage facility. [14]

Religion

The village has two places of worship: Cardross Parish Church (Church of Scotland) and a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to Saint Mahew. The original parish church was bombed during the Second World War and its ruins are located next to the former Church of Scotland manse.

Listed Buildings/Structures

There are nearly fifty listed buildings/structures in Cardross, two of which are category A.[15]

Some structures of note:

  • The 14th century St. Mahew's Chapel. Most recently restored in the 1950s as a Catholic church which remains in use.[16]
  • The former St. Peter's Seminary, designed by Gillespie, Kidd & Coia, is situated to the north of the village; it is closed to the public. Abandoned in the late 1980s, it is in a state of dilapidation, particularly internally. In early 2015 the site was handed over to the NVA with the intention that part of it will become an arts venue.[17]
  • The ruined 15th-century Kilmahew Castle that was built by the Napier Clan is situated just north of the village.
  • The main road through the village goes over Moore's Bridge(1688).

Notable residents

  • A. J. Cronin, the celebrated doctor and writer, was born in Cardross in 1896.
  • The BBC sports presenter Hazel Irvine lived in Cardross during her youth.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Scottish Government Scots Gaelic Translation List" (PDF).
  2. ↑ http://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-scotland.php?cityid=052001
  3. ↑ "Levengrove Park".
  4. ↑ https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/cardross-p235071
  5. ↑ Strathleven Artizans: Robert the Bruce King of Scots
  6. ↑ https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/dumbarton-fcs-new-stadium-jeopardy-10697880.amp
  7. ↑ The Geology of Ardmore Point
  8. ↑ https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=fishing+ardmore+point&aq=f&aqi=g-v1&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=3788568279b141cc&biw=1280&bih=665
  9. ↑ "Clydebirds". Clydebirds. Archived from the original on 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  10. ↑ "Ardmore Point, near Helensburgh". Walkhighlands. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  11. ↑ https://finder.coop.co.uk/food/store/G82-5PD/main-road
  12. ↑ Ardardan Estate: Welcome to Ardardan
  13. ↑ Cardross Golf Club Web Site
  14. ↑ http://www.helensburgh-heritage.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=861:memories-of-the-cardross-blitz&catid=88:military&Itemid=462
  15. ↑ List of listed buildings in Cardross, Argyll and Bute
  16. ↑ http://www.stmahew.rcglasgow.org.uk/ourchurch
  17. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30815285

Sources

  • "Ardardan Estate: Welcome to Ardardan". Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  • "Strathleven Artizans: Cardross". Archived from the original on 20 January 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  • "Area Profile of 46 Ward Cardross (Argyll and Bute 2001 Census Factsheets)". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
  • "The Geology of Ardmore Point" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  • "Strathleven Artizans: Robert the Bruce King of Scots". Archived from the original on 11 November 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  • "Hermitage Academy web page". Archived from the original on 2007-10-10.
  • "Cardross Golf Club". Archived from the original on 2008-05-11.
  • "Historic Scotland's Statement of Significance for St. Peter's" (PDF). Retrieved 31 December 2010.

Coordinates: 55°58′N 4°38′W / 55.967°N 4.633°W / 55.967; -4.633

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