If you enjoy stunning Scottish countryside combined with local history, please like the video and drop me a comment! Subscribe to catch my next adventure Feel free to join me on Facebook and Instagram, both Exploring Scotland's History Thanks for watching! If you would like to support the channel, I have a Ko-fi page, thank you x ko-fi.com/exploringscotlandshistory Catch me on my downtime on my sister channel The Celtic She Shed: ua-cam.com/channels/38RJVjMV3-nZfYmJQLqKQA.html
@@ExploringScotlandsHistory Yes it is!! the cemetery wall ran all the way down from the high flats, Tasker Street, Murray Street, Rowan Street the wall runs all the way down to the West station. We used to climb that wall I fell off it many times Yes, it is a VERY large cemetery and very old. Generations of my family are buried there (from 1894) it is one of the largest in Europe
Thank you for this video tour of Greenock. I live in Philadelphia in the U.S., but both of my grandparents were born in Greenock. My grandmother was born in 1909 at 11 Kilblaine St. Her father and grandfather were carting contractors and used cart horses so it was interesting to hear about Ginger, the cart horse. My grandfather, born in 1901 at 6 Carwood St., was a ship modelmaker as was his father. I enjoyed seeing the town and learning some of the history.
As a Greenockian born in 1939 I was thrilled to watch the video on the history of Greenock. I spent most of my life as a heating engineer and James Watt became my guru. When I watch the magnificent steam engines on the beloved Waverley it prides me to think these were the direct result of James Watt’s invention. The engines were built by Rankin and Blackmore in Greenock in 1946 and it is a testament to their engineering that the engines still power the steamer around the coast of Britain every year. Alistair Macleod.
Thank you for braving the awful weather to show us the stunning architecture. The detail is fascinating, the enormous amount of care in creating them shows the sums of money involved at the time. And yes, the modern police station is hideous.
Really interesting actually live in Greenock and did not know a lot of the history you mentioned and have never noticed a lot of the architecture before even though have walked past thousands of times. Sadly Greenock is now the most deprived area in Scotland mainly due to drug and alcohol abuse and also incompetent council decisions but at least we have our history thanks for the video.
Thanks for telling us about Greenock it's good to know that you are going all around Scotland and finding lots of history in those town's/ cities and it's much appreciated 👍
just to point out Lena Zavaroni WAS born and raised in Rothesay on the isle of Bute and has many relations who still live on the island @@ExploringScotlandsHistory
Mmm, no, every source says she was born in Greenock. I said she isn't related to the side of the family who have the chip shops, though her ancestors had origins on Bute . Her 'side' of the family made unfortunate business choices and left Bute for Greenock. @seeifficare
An excellent history of Greenock but as you said sadly the town has died with all the industry gone. One little point, the James Watt Pub was never a bank, it was the General Post Office. Thanks again.
I have lived in Dunoon since 2016, and only ever passed through Greenock. I’ve only paid attention to Fergusons, & the embarrassment of Glen Sannox, & Glen Rosa ships (running 8 years late). I often wondered how prosperous the place once was with it’s ship building & trade, and how let down the residents must feel, with council, & government inaction to improve their community. Greenock has so much that could be celebrated, and tourism hot spot with the right investment. So sad really. Thank you so much for such an interesting video.
Great video. Very informative and excellent presentation and delivery of the rich history (pardon the pun!) of a wee corner of Greenock. Greenock should be celebrating and sharing much more of its interesting history. Thank you❣️
Great video. I am from Oaisley but lived in Greenock for a number if years. I left but always meant to settle there but now live in Ireland. I consider this great town my spiritual home.
When I moved from Ireland, I lived just over a year in Greenock, before heading over the Clyde to Argyll. Greenock could be fab with a wee bit of investment, like most places I suppose!
Been away from Greenock for over 30 years now, but still have connections to the town and visit regularly. Growing up in Tasker Street in Bow Farm area of the town was great as a kid and spent all my childhood playing in the golf course, cemetery and Clyde shipyards, without ever spending 1 minute on video games 😊 People always look on the negative side of the decline in Greenock over the years, but that scenario is replicated throughout the UK and should be taken in that context. Greenock, Gourock and Port Glasgow benefit from being on the beautiful Clyde coast, in the stunning West of Scotland and if you open your eyes to the positives around you, then you will love this area as I still do. Regardless of wherever I’ve travelled throughout the world, the people of Scotland and in particular (I’m biased) the West of Scotland, are the friendliest people I’ve ever met, bar none ❤
I was impressed myself how much history could be squeezed into such a small area. Streets we used to bustle down, head down, only aware of the final destination!
Thank you very much for posting this. I was curious to see where my Grandfather grew up before he emmigrated to Coventry post WW1 😉😅. He was an RAF engineer yet his hobby obsession of building replica ships finally makes sense to this south UK born, now Aussie. So glad I got his surname and not the several generational Ebenezer Dicks from his mother's side 😂. Cheers, I enjoyed your presentation very much.
Lena's family were originally from Rothesay. Their business wasn't overly successful, and they had moved to Greenock before she was born. Zavaronis operate to this day in Rothesay, they are a different branch of the family. Here's my video of Rothesay. ua-cam.com/video/oQSnfwQRzrU/v-deo.html
I would love you to do one on the port of Glasgow ie port Glasgow I was raised there born in greenock in the early 70s worked in greenock docks learned my trade there as an apprentice on amarc Dock the old sugar Dock thanks for the memories
That was brilliant, Julie! I did not know that Greenock had so many history stories within it! I am now avidly awaiting your next video, to keep my wizened old brain cells working! .......Tich.
Fascinating video. I'm from Inverclyde. Port Glasgow to be exact. You said you live in the Dunoon area. You'll probably remember old 80's group Thompson Twins. Back in the day they had a fanclub called Teefax named based on the old Ceefax TV service. I met up with two friends in England where we had a little auction of some Thompson Twins memorabilia between us. Some of the memorabilia was given by the lady who ran the fan club. There were two Teefax fanclub mugs and I bought one. I couldn't believe it when I looked at the bottom of this old 80's mug from 1984 and it said made in Dunoon. I was astounded. My American and Mansfield friend didn't know the significance but I said Dunoon! It's just across the river from me. I was later told there had been a ceramic/pottery place there. A good friend of mine also told me his disgust in the council painting all the emblems on that fountain gold when they were originally done in colour to represent different things.
We lived in Greenock before moving to Oban. That's interesting though that there was a pottery works in Dunoon.... will have to look into that. Thanks for watching!
@@ExploringScotlandsHistory Your welcome I'll need to watch more of your stuff. Even though I've lived here all my life I certainly learned a lot. And it's easy to walk by all this stuff every day and not really take much notice of it and appreciate it. I was so surprised when in Birmingham last year to stumble across a statue of James Watt.
@FeedbackPete1 Hubby is from Gourock, and our walk round Greenock was eye opening for him lol, like you say, we often go past stuff and not notice. And where statues are involved, it's amazing the contribution Scotland had to the world today, statues everywhere!
You two did such a great job on this video. I learned so much .I'm glad you didn't "sugar coat"" some of the finer details... Were some of their trade also coming from the West Indies as well as down south US? Or did I miss you saying this. The buildings are spectacular. Yes one could spend a lot of time there in Greenock admiring the architecture. I am looking forward to the upcoming Watt video. Rest in peace Ginger. Thanks so much for all you do for your audience.
Thanks for watching! Yes, plantations in the West Indias were also used. It's hard to visualise the obscene wealth these folk had, while in Mince Collop Close folk were struggling to thrive!
Lena was born in Greenock. Her ancestors started off in Rothesay, but had flitted to Greenock after a failed business venture. Other members of the family still operate a takeaway in Rothesay, and I personally chatted extensively to them. You are correct about Martin though.
Beautifully narratedsadly our great architecture of theGeorgian andVictorian eras are never appreciated because the modern era is all heads down for the new media world and never up
If you enjoy stunning Scottish countryside combined with local history, please like the video and drop me a comment!
Subscribe to catch my next adventure
Feel free to join me on Facebook and Instagram, both Exploring Scotland's History
Thanks for watching!
If you would like to support the channel, I have a Ko-fi page, thank you x
ko-fi.com/exploringscotlandshistory
Catch me on my downtime on my sister channel The Celtic She Shed: ua-cam.com/channels/38RJVjMV3-nZfYmJQLqKQA.html
Brilliant wee walk through I’ve often walked about that area looking at the buildings fantastic history thank you
You are welcome! The place is teeming with interesting carvings etc
So interesting! Thank you.
You are most welcome!
I am from Greenock. Born and raised up bow road. Went to St Joseph's and St Mary's.
Love the video.
Glad you enjoyed it! Bow Road is quite close to the big cemetery, isn't it? That's one on my list too!
@@ExploringScotlandsHistory Yes it is!! the cemetery wall ran all the way down from the high flats, Tasker Street, Murray Street, Rowan Street the wall runs all the way down to the West station. We used to climb that wall I fell off it many times Yes, it is a VERY large cemetery and very old. Generations of my family are buried there (from 1894) it is one of the largest in Europe
Lived in Tasker Street and went to St Joe’s too.
Enjoyed my childhood “up the Bow” and wouldn’t change it for anything ❤
I grew up in the area and even worked in a bank in Cathcart street. Moved abroad 30 years ago and loved this.
I'm sure it brought back memories! Thanks for watching.
Thank you for this video tour of Greenock. I live in Philadelphia in the U.S., but both of my grandparents were born in Greenock. My grandmother was born in 1909 at 11 Kilblaine St. Her father and grandfather were carting contractors and used cart horses so it was interesting to hear about Ginger, the cart horse. My grandfather, born in 1901 at 6 Carwood St., was a ship modelmaker as was his father. I enjoyed seeing the town and learning some of the history.
In Kilblaine Street a good bit, right in the centre of town. Will be back to do more in Greenock, hubby still has his family down that way!
Beautiful architecture. Love the pink . So much history. So many details. I learn so much from you both . Thank You both!
The endless sandstone is stunning. It really brightened up a rather dull day!!
You have no shortage of interesting history and architecture for your fascinating channel. Thanks to the two of you for your dedicated work.
You are most welcome! We always say we will do it as long as we enjoy it... we still enjoy it 😉🏴
Love your video on greenock I was born there beautiful place you learned me things I didn't know thanks
Glad you found some new info!!
As a Greenockian born in 1939 I was thrilled to watch the video on the history of Greenock. I spent most of my life as a heating engineer and James Watt became my guru. When I watch the magnificent steam engines on the beloved Waverley it prides me to think these were the direct result of James Watt’s invention. The engines were built by Rankin and Blackmore in Greenock in 1946 and it is a testament to their engineering that the engines still power the steamer around the coast of Britain every year. Alistair Macleod.
Thanks for this! I also have a couple of videos on the Waverley, a fabulous vessel!
Thank you for braving the awful weather to show us the stunning architecture. The detail is fascinating, the enormous amount of care in creating them shows the sums of money involved at the time. And yes, the modern police station is hideous.
It's amazing what can be found in a small area. The police station though 🤮
Really interesting actually live in Greenock and did not know a lot of the history you mentioned and have never noticed a lot of the architecture before even though have walked past thousands of times. Sadly Greenock is now the most deprived area in Scotland mainly due to drug and alcohol abuse and also incompetent council decisions but at least we have our history thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching! I too found it quite amazing as I researched it. The number of times I walked to Morrisons with my head down.....🤣
Thanks for telling us about Greenock it's good to know that you are going all around Scotland and finding lots of history in those town's/ cities and it's much appreciated 👍
It's an addiction Noreen. Can't help researching any place I go 🤣🏴
I am from Port Glasgow and found this really interesting, they say every days a school day.. thank you !
Glad you found something new, we certainly did!
just to point out Lena Zavaroni WAS born and raised in Rothesay on the isle of Bute and has many relations who still live on the island
@@ExploringScotlandsHistory
Mmm, no, every source says she was born in Greenock. I said she isn't related to the side of the family who have the chip shops, though her ancestors had origins on Bute . Her 'side' of the family made unfortunate business choices and left Bute for Greenock. @seeifficare
Very informative thanks folks
You are welcome!
Enjoyed this. We have been to Greenock a few times and there are some lovely buildings and the riverside is worth going to.
Having lived there myself, I agree! I think a place is what you make it!
An excellent history of Greenock but as you said sadly the town has died with all the industry gone.
One little point, the James Watt Pub was never a bank, it was the General Post Office.
Thanks again.
Ah, yes, it was indeed the GPO, still dealing with plenty of money 💰 🤑
Excellent portrayal of part of Greenock's history very informative and interesting. Thank you ❤
Thanks for watching! It's amazing, the amount of detail on the buildings, and the significance of a lot of things we used to walk past daily!
Thank you! 🏴 I enjoyed this very much
I enjoyed our afternoon, roaming in the rain, to find all these gems!!
This was a great watch. I am from Inverclyde and learned so much in this video. Thanks for your hard work 👍
You are most welcome!
I have lived in Dunoon since 2016, and only ever passed through Greenock. I’ve only paid attention to Fergusons, & the embarrassment of Glen Sannox, & Glen Rosa ships (running 8 years late). I often wondered how prosperous the place once was with it’s ship building & trade, and how let down the residents must feel, with council, & government inaction to improve their community.
Greenock has so much that could be celebrated, and tourism hot spot with the right investment. So sad really.
Thank you so much for such an interesting video.
Great video. Very informative and excellent presentation and delivery of the rich history (pardon the pun!) of a wee corner of Greenock. Greenock should be celebrating and sharing much more of its interesting history. Thank you❣️
You are most welcome. We lived in Greenock, and really didn't appreciate the finer points of it's history until we had escaped 🤣🤣
Great video. I am from Oaisley but lived in Greenock for a number if years. I left but always meant to settle there but now live in Ireland. I consider this great town my spiritual home.
When I moved from Ireland, I lived just over a year in Greenock, before heading over the Clyde to Argyll. Greenock could be fab with a wee bit of investment, like most places I suppose!
Very nice architecture
The detail and symbolism is quite amazing!
Very interesting to learn so much unknown to me about my home town. Thanks very much.
You most welcome, we tend to carry on our business without looking up at times
Been away from Greenock for over 30 years now, but still have connections to the town and visit regularly.
Growing up in Tasker Street in Bow Farm area of the town was great as a kid and spent all my childhood playing in the golf course, cemetery and Clyde shipyards, without ever spending 1 minute on video games 😊
People always look on the negative side of the decline in Greenock over the years, but that scenario is replicated throughout the UK and should be taken in that context.
Greenock, Gourock and Port Glasgow benefit from being on the beautiful Clyde coast, in the stunning West of Scotland and if you open your eyes to the positives around you, then you will love this area as I still do.
Regardless of wherever I’ve travelled throughout the world, the people of Scotland and in particular (I’m biased) the West of Scotland, are the friendliest people I’ve ever met, bar none ❤
Boy you sure are well informed. I will look at my home town now with different eyes and learn to look upwards
I was impressed myself how much history could be squeezed into such a small area. Streets we used to bustle down, head down, only aware of the final destination!
I am from Port Glasgow and found this fascinating
Great! Thank you. History everywhere...
Excellent video! So much history in such a small area too. Thanks for this, especially as the weather was a bit inclement.
It wasn't a brilliant day weather wise. Sometimes you can't wait until a fair day or nothing would ever be done 🤣🤣
@ExploringScotlandsHistory very true! 🤣
I enjoy hearing about the history of Greenock! Now I have to go find it on the map. Thanks for sharing this with us. :)
You are welcome!
Thank you very much for posting this. I was curious to see where my Grandfather grew up before he emmigrated to Coventry post WW1 😉😅. He was an RAF engineer yet his hobby obsession of building replica ships finally makes sense to this south UK born, now Aussie. So glad I got his surname and not the several generational Ebenezer Dicks from his mother's side 😂. Cheers, I enjoyed your presentation very much.
You see.... Edenezer Dicks kinda has a ring to it 😆😆
Lena Zavaroni is from Rothesay
Lena's family were originally from Rothesay. Their business wasn't overly successful, and they had moved to Greenock before she was born. Zavaronis operate to this day in Rothesay, they are a different branch of the family.
Here's my video of Rothesay.
ua-cam.com/video/oQSnfwQRzrU/v-deo.html
Lovely bit of local history. I've passed through here on my trips but never saw any of this.
Thanks for watching!
I would love you to do one on the port of Glasgow ie port Glasgow I was raised there born in greenock in the early 70s worked in greenock docks learned my trade there as an apprentice on amarc Dock the old sugar Dock thanks for the memories
Port Glasgow is on my list. The whole area has so much history!
That was brilliant, Julie! I did not know that Greenock had so many history stories within it! I am now avidly awaiting your next video, to keep my wizened old brain cells working! .......Tich.
Awh, thanks! I rather enjoyed this one!!
Thank you. You convinced me to stay put on Greenock instead of hustling over to Glasgow when our celebrity cruise docks there in May.
It's a great place! Can I recommend the Maclean Museum too. It will be on the map they give you when you disembark.
Fascinating video. I'm from Inverclyde. Port Glasgow to be exact. You said you live in the Dunoon area. You'll probably remember old 80's group Thompson Twins. Back in the day they had a fanclub called Teefax named based on the old Ceefax TV service. I met up with two friends in England where we had a little auction of some Thompson Twins memorabilia between us. Some of the memorabilia was given by the lady who ran the fan club. There were two Teefax fanclub mugs and I bought one. I couldn't believe it when I looked at the bottom of this old 80's mug from 1984 and it said made in Dunoon. I was astounded. My American and Mansfield friend didn't know the significance but I said Dunoon! It's just across the river from me. I was later told there had been a ceramic/pottery place there. A good friend of mine also told me his disgust in the council painting all the emblems on that fountain gold when they were originally done in colour to represent different things.
We lived in Greenock before moving to Oban. That's interesting though that there was a pottery works in Dunoon.... will have to look into that. Thanks for watching!
@@ExploringScotlandsHistory Your welcome I'll need to watch more of your stuff. Even though I've lived here all my life I certainly learned a lot. And it's easy to walk by all this stuff every day and not really take much notice of it and appreciate it. I was so surprised when in Birmingham last year to stumble across a statue of James Watt.
@FeedbackPete1 Hubby is from Gourock, and our walk round Greenock was eye opening for him lol, like you say, we often go past stuff and not notice. And where statues are involved, it's amazing the contribution Scotland had to the world today, statues everywhere!
Thank you for this. So much I never knew. A fine goodbye for me in Ontario.
Thanks for watching!
You two did such a great job on this video. I learned so much .I'm glad you didn't "sugar coat"" some of the finer details... Were some of their trade also coming from the West Indies as well as down south US? Or did I miss you saying this.
The buildings are spectacular. Yes one could spend a lot of time there in Greenock admiring the architecture. I am looking forward to the upcoming Watt video.
Rest in peace Ginger.
Thanks so much for all you do for your audience.
Thanks for watching! Yes, plantations in the West Indias were also used. It's hard to visualise the obscene wealth these folk had, while in Mince Collop Close folk were struggling to thrive!
Another really interesting video. Have you ever been to the Paisley Abbey?
Many times, before UA-cam. None since, so far....
@@ExploringScotlandsHistory It is a stunning place. It's not far from me.
There will be many residents in Greenock who have not got a clue about this histoy!
We are all too busy at times to really stop and look around us, and question things too....
Lena Zavaroni is from Rothesay. Martin Compston is from Greenock.
Lena was born in Greenock. Her ancestors started off in Rothesay, but had flitted to Greenock after a failed business venture. Other members of the family still operate a takeaway in Rothesay, and I personally chatted extensively to them.
You are correct about Martin though.
Can you do Largs
That's a place I will certainly consider. Thanks for the suggestion.
Beautifully narratedsadly our great architecture of theGeorgian andVictorian eras are never appreciated because the modern era is all heads down for the new media world and never up
Tbf, I lived here and rarely lifted my head, due to the incessant rain 🌧 🙃
you have a very soft voice but thanks for the history lesson
You are welcome!
Thank you for showing the flag of Scotland on you vids not like those from outwith, britnats, who use a union flag on theirs 👍
No a big fan of the jack 🏴🏴🏴🏴