​THE LENNOX HERITAGE
SOCIETY
About us:
The Lennox Heritage Society is a local community group that has been meeting for many years. The main aim of the group is to study and celebrate the rich culture, heritage and history of West Dunbartonshire and beyond.
We meet on a monthly basis from September to April and host talks and presentations by invited speakers. Meetings take place in the Concord Centre in central Dumbarton (next to the Denny Civic Theatre) and start at 7.30 pm. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available from about 7 pm at the cost of 40p per person.
New members are always welcome but if you prefer not to become a member, individual sessions may be attended at the cost of £2 per talk.
Latest News
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The Lennox Heritage Society 2023 / 2024 program of speakers got off to a great start on 13th September with Jeremy Watson’s very informative and entertaining presentation entitled “Mysteries of Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven and its Environs” To a capacity audience, Jeremy covered very many local mysteries - some factual and some more shrouded in myth. Jeremy’s comprehensive talk included much of interest to the local community and covered topics such as Glencairn Greit House, the Elephant and Castle, corbels and crests, caves and tunnels (including Havoc Hole), faeries and witches and much, much more. Click the link below to read the fantastic information that Jeremy has compiled on this mysterious subject.
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Jeremy Watson's Local Mysteries Publication
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The LHS welcomes the return of Bruce Keith who informed and entertained us last season with his topic of "Bridgescapes"
We look forward to seeing you all at Bruce's latest talk on "Are We Nearly There Yet?"
Subscription
£10 / year
Visitors
£2 / talk
Program of Talks for 2023 / 2024
The LHS 2023 / 2024 program of speakers is now complete and can be viewed by clicking this link. We look forward to welcoming members both old and new to a series of talks which we hope will prove both interesting and informative to our attendees. The next talk of the season will be held on Wednesday 11th October 2023 - details can be found on the above poster.
West Dunbartonshire's Doors Open Days
Doors Open Days 2022
DOORS OPEN DAYS are held across Scotland every September. In West Dunbartonshire we hold a local programme every two years. We have some great venues, some of which are not well known and not usually open to the public, but with the size of our region, this is a practical way of doing it.
2022 was unusual in that we returned after the long hiatus due to covid. With this in mind, we kept the programme of indoor venues limited and proportionally increased the number of outdoor venues and events.
Our venues were generally well supported. These included the Maid of the Loch, the Alexandria Masonic Lodge, the Denny Tank Museum, the Armed Forces Veterans Association and several churches. Knowetop Community Farm was somewhat under-supported, perhaps due to its hidden location. The two fire stations that were due to participate declined in deference to the death of Queen Elizabeth just shortly before. The churches were amongst those venues which reflected the news of the Queen with floral and other acknowledgements. Exhibitions in some libraries and Clydebank Museum were included.
In order to spread the options for those participating in walks and events, we spread them out during the preceding week and on the main day, the Saturday. Support was good to disappointing. Perhaps the time of day had an impact; perhaps the subjects; perhaps the means and extent of promotion. We continue to learn. Next time Doors Open Day will be bigger and better. We look forward to introducing you to so much more. See you then.
Jeremy Watson
Other items of interest:
Jeremy Watson's website EXPLORE WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE continues to grow. Click the link
The Shipyard Trust has a lot of fascinating information on shipbuilding on the Clyde, including the Leven. If you register with them, you will receive their newsletters. Click the link to The Shipyard Trust
Jeremy Watson has researched and compiled some great information on the subject of "Local Mysteries". Just click the link below.
https://scottishheritage.wordpress.com/2020/08/local-mysteries-of-dumbarton-the-vale-of-leven-and-environs/
Recording our heritage and events: ​
Several of our members research, record and collate the history and heritage of our area. ​​Occasional outings and walks are arranged. We are currently focussing on topics such as the Antonine Wall, where it passes through West Dunbartonshire and recording the Starfish decoy system in the hills above Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven.
Lennox Heritage Society Spring Outing to Glenarn Gardens May 2019
On 7th May 2019, a small group of LHS members went on a very interesting and enjoyable trip to the beautiful Glenarn Gardens in Rhu. After a rather inauspicious wet start to the day, the sun did eventually come out for us and we were met by Glenarn's highly knowledgeable owner, Mike Thornley. Mike gave us a very comprehensive tour of the gardens as well as providing us with some of their history and information about previous owners. Glenarn Gardens have been in the care of Mike and his wife Sue since 1982 and they have completed major restoration work to bring the gardens up to the wonderful condition they are in now. Their work is, of course, very much an ongoing labour of love.
HAVOC at HAVOC HOLE
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Havoc
The sea cliff that edges Brucehill was formed of sandstone set down during the Devonian era approximately 375 – 360 million years ago, and would have been deposited at a time when the area we know as the British Isles was part of a large continent. At its lower edge is Havoc Meadow, home to a myriad of species and beyond that the tidal feeding grounds of many birds on the Clyde. Above it is the now vacant site of Notre Dame School. There is still the derelict chapel and within the horseshoe shaped site there is Craigend, nunnery.
As can be expected the site is now ripe for redevelopment and plans are now in to build houses on it.
What is not being appreciated in the application is the cliff face itself. This is an extraordinary geological feature. On its upper edge are many mature trees, several of which are quite ancient. And these form a valuable habitat and corridor for a variety of wildlife too. From a historical point of view, the most important feature is Havoc Hole. This is a fissure forming a small cave associated with Bruce and Wallace and witches and faeries.
The planning application includes severe interventions on the cliff which would greatly weaken it to a point where it is unlikely to remain standing in its current form; in fact, a note on the submission drawings include reference to it being excavated for infill material elsewhere on the site. This would mean the end of Havoc Hole and the cliff in this area and with that the end of its historical connotations and rich environmental setting. All this because the developers wish to build a SuDS rainwater attenuation pond at this point - rather than elsewhere on the site.
Your Lennox Heritage Society has lodged an objection. It is far from being alone as many others have done so too. A petition is currently running and you can add your voice directly through it.
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Petition · HELP SAVE BRUCEHILL CLIFFTOP AND WOOD - Say no to Easdale developers · Change.org
by Jeremy Watson
Sep 2021
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At the long delayed AGM on 12th April 2023, Jim Crosthwaite was confirmed as our Chairman with Jeremy Watson now Vice Chairman. John Wright was appointed to the post of LHS Treasurer and other committee members include Jim Scullion and Elizabeth Wynne. After a few years break, Elspeth Crocket makes a welcome return as a committee member.
LHS Annual General Meetings
Useful links:
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​​Contact details :
​Chairman : Jim Crosthwaite
email: jcsc20610@sky.com
Telephone : 07969 596545
For further information see :
THE DIARY page of the Lennox Herald.
LHS Lecture
Wednesday, 11th October2023
