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.
West Dunbartonshire's Doors Open Days
Doors Open Days 2022 and 2024
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 program 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:
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
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.
Petition · HELP SAVE BRUCEHILL CLIFFTOP AND WOOD - Say no to Easdale developers · Change.org
by Jeremy Watson
Sep 2021
LHS Annual General Meeting
Useful links:
Contact details :
Chairman : Jim Crosthwaite
email: jcsc20610@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone : 07969 596545
For further information see :
THE DIARY page of the Lennox Herald and the Community Advertiser
Latest News:
The Lennox Heritage Society 2024 - 2025 Program is now ready:
Residents are being given the chance to give feedback on the development of landscaping and paths within the former Exxon site at Bowling.
Follow the link:
This is in-person consultation event took place on Wednesday 7th February between 3pm and However, paper questionnaires are available and can be returned to Bowling Hall with access to the questionnaire also available online via the West Dunbartonshire Council website.
HERITAGE AND PLACE PROGRAMME for central Dumbarton
Please click this link for Jeremy Watson's recent summary of the Heritage and Place Programme for Dumbarton.
LHS Lecture
Program
Subscription
£10 / year
Visitors
£2 / talk
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
The LHS AGM took place on 10th April 2024 at 19:30 hrs. Click the links below for the Agenda, Chairman's report and the Financial Report
Fifth lecture of the 2024 - 2025 Season is:
All welcome and here's looking forward to seeing everybody again and to having yet another successful season with the Lennox Heritage Society!
Click here for a description of some of the many activities and opportunities Doors Open Day has to offer this year!
West Dunbartonshire Arts and Heritage have sent us details of their monthly newsletter. Please click the links for more information:
Our Speakers
Season 2023/2024
Wednesday, September 13th 2023: Jeremy Watson "Mysteries of Dumbarton, the Vale of leven and its Environs"
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.
Jeremy Watson's Local Mysteries Publication
Reviewed by E.W.
Wednesday, October 11th 2023: Bruce Keith "Are We Nearly There Yet?"
The second presentation of the LHS program of speakers 2023/2024 was again very well attended and very well received by the audience. October’s speaker was Bruce Keith, a retired chartered surveyor and chartered environmentalist. Bruce’s talk was entitled “Are We Nearly There Yet?” - a title he said was inspired by childhood journeys with his family in their succession of Wolseley cars. One of the games he and his sister played to while away the journey was to spot the next roadside milestone. Although Bruce’s talk started out on the subject of milestones it expanded into much more including how Scotland was mapped and distances calculated (surprisingly accurately for the time) as well as providing the audience with a historical and very informative tour of Scotland and beyond. Bruce covered many subjects that cannot be comprehensibly covered in this short summary however anyone wishing to find out more should seek out Bruce’s book also entitled “Are We Nearly There Yet?”
Reviewed by E.W.
Reviewed by I.W.
Wednesday, November 15th 2023: Kathy Galloway "This Is Who We Are"
Whether it’s inspired by sorting out a collection of family photographs or by the BBC’s excellent Who Do You Think You Are? series, researching genealogy has never been so popular.
And this was reflected in the full house which welcomed the Lennox Heritage Society’s third speaker of its 2023/24 season, Kathy Galloway, who revealed the results of her own delve into her ancestral history.
With the help of her brother, Callum, (who also attended the talk) Kathy told us of her discoveries and of the book that resulted: This Is Who We Are. For it soon became apparent that Kathy’s family was typical of the majority of those who lived, worked and died in Lowland Scotland. From generations ploughing the soil as tenant farmers in Ayrshire or working as gardeners in the estates around Cardross, to those who moved east to prise a hard living from the West Lothian coal mines, this family represented the social history of most of us.
And even those who seemed to rise briefly above the daily fight for survival, had their own problems and challenges.
Kathy Galloway is an ordained Church of Scotland minister, a former leader of the Iona Community and a charity worker and feminist. In this fascinating social history, she is careful to give equal weight to the fate of the maternal line as well as the paternal and her perceptive insight into the conditions in which Scots lived and worked will resonate with us all.
For those who were unable to attend the talk, her book is available from Wild Goose Publications at www iona books.com
Wednesday, December 13th 2023: Paul Murdoch "The Nature of West Dunbartonshire"
Those of us who have lived in West Dunbartonshire for some years may think that we know our own area pretty well. We all have our favourite walks - whether they’re around our magnificent parks, by the banks of the Leven and the Clyde or up on the moors in the hills which surround us.
However, it takes a talk by proud Vale man Paul Murdoch to reveal that this area in our own backyard is truly extraordinary.
Paul delivered the last Lennox Heritage Society lecture of the year to an enthusiastic audience and, with the aid of some of his excellent photographs, showed us just how lucky we are to live where we do.
Educated at the Vale of Leven Academy and with a degree in zoology from Glasgow University, Paul has had a lifelong interest in nature. But nature to him also includes the built environment, local history and folklore as well as birds, bees and beautiful scenery.
In addition to writing for young people and for the Clydesider magazine, he has produced four books of local walks around the area, centred around the four seasons.
Many of these will be well-known to many of us but he succeeds in offering layers of insight, whether to the birds and insects we are likely to encounter or to the local history we will walk by on our route.
With many amusing anecdotes, Paul encourages us to switch off our phones, get out into nature and fully appreciate all there is right here on our doorstep.
His four books - The ‘Nature’ of West Dunbartonshire - Four Summer/Winter/Spring/Autumn Walks are available at the Tourist Information office in Balloch.
Reviewed by I.W.
Reviewed by E.W.
Wednesday, January 10th 2024: Ian Johnson "The Arrival of Christianity and the Church to Dumbarton"
The first Lennox Heritage Society lecture of 2024 was delivered by the Reverend Ian Johnson on Wednesday 10th January to a capacity audience at the Concord Centre. Ian got the year off to a great start with his talk entitled: ”THE ARRIVAL OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE CHURCH TO DUMBARTON”
Ian grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne and studied Mediaevel History at St Andrews University. After working as a banker, he studied Divinity at Glasgow University and then worked as a Church of Scotland minister in Greenock for 16 years. After Greenock, Ian moved onto Dumbarton where he provided leadership and pastoral care to three parishes.
During his introduction, Ian advised us that no-one kept a diary or log of what was happening when Christianity first came to Dumbarton. Nor is there any written record of what the early Church in Dumbarton would have been like. As a consequence, there are inevitably many gaps in this story.
Ian talked us through who some of the people who lived around the junction of the rivers Clyde and Leven were. Interestingly, the first written reference of these people is in a 2nd Century AD work by the Greek geographer, Ptolemy of Alexandria (in Egypt). Ptolemy called them the Damnonii. Subsequent people in this area were known as the Kings of Alt Clut (possibly from about the 6th to 7th Centuries) but it wasn’t until the 10th- 12th Centuries that the wider area became known as Strathclyde. Around the 12th Century, the immediate area was then known as the Lennox and the people perhaps spoke Gaelic. In 1222, when King Alexander II founded the Royal Burgh of Dumbarton, the inhabitants regarded themselves as Scots.
In his very comprehensive and informative talk, Ian advised us how some of the gaps in this history could be filled. He spoke of written sources such as histories, annals and poems and also standing physical remains such as the Govan Stones and the Barochan cross. Ian also spoke of what life before Christianity and Christianity in late Roman and post Roman Britain might have been like. In addition he gave us an insight into what Christian life might have been at other periods of time in the history of Dumbarton. In a very complex but thoroughly researched topic such as this lecture covered, it would be impossible to do justice to and to recount all the points made. However, in his conclusion, Ian acknowledged that it is difficult to say anything definitive about how and when Christianity and the Church came to Dumbarton. He said that it would be reasonable to assume that there would be four or five phases to the process and he listed these phases as:
-
Trade and political encounters with Christians south of Hadrian’s Wall.
-
Missionaries seeking to convert the king, court and peoples of Alt Clut.
-
An official decision by the king and court to become Christian
-
A Christian presence may have remained in the area of the lower Clyde after the Viking sack of Alt Clut and through the Kingdom of Strathclyde and into the 12th Century.
-
It may well have been the case that there was a church presence in Dumbarton at the time that Alexander II established the Royal Burgh.
Finally, Ian stated that there is so much about Dumbarton’s history that we do not know. He said that it is unlikely that more written evidence will emerge. He acknowledged that very little archaeological research has been undertaken and that more could be done at Dumbarton Castle. In addition, work could be done around the church sites on the High Street and in Levengrove Park. However, given all the development that has taken place in those locations, if there was once valuable archaeological evidence there, it may not be there now.
Wednesday 14th February 2024: Elspeth Crocket "To Catch a Queen"
It could have been the attraction of that perennial favourite Mary, Queen of Scots or the opportunity to hear well-known Dumbarton history buff Elspeth Crocket - or a combination of both - but whatever the reason it resulted in the February meeting of the Lennox Heritage Society recording its biggest audience yet.
Elspeth Crocket, a retired modern languages teacher, has long been involved with the Dumbarton Castle Society and admitted that at first she wasn’t particularly interested in the tragic Queen.
“Her story is so well-known that it seems a bit like ‘shortbread tin’ material,” she said. But it was while she was researching Mary’s links to the town’s castle that she became fascinated with her.
“After all, she was just a wee girl,” Elspeth said, “and yet all her life she had been surrounded by chaos and bloodshed. The more I read about those times, the more I was astonished at the amount of upheaval there was and much of it was centred around her.”
The talk took us through the power battles of the time, when Mary was a pawn to be bartered in the marriage market in the struggles between England and France. And, of course, religion had its own part to play as the unfortunate Mary arrived in Scotland just as the Reformation was fast gaining ground. Becoming the focus of John Knox’s rants could be said to be the least of her worries, however, and her short dramatic life ended in all too familiar tragedy.
Elspeth Crocket’s talk, illustrated with fascinating pictures and portraits from the time, brought clarity to what was a fast-moving and often confusing period of history.
And it revealed again - as has been often shown in these talks - what an important part Dumbarton had to play in the nation’s history.
Reviewed by I.W.
Wednesday 14th March 2024: Alasdair Jamison"The Battle of Mugdock and the Survival of Alt Clut, the Kingdom of the Clyde.
Our penultimate speaker of the 2023/2024 season, Alasdair Jamison, is a retired head teacher who was born and brought up in Paisley/Renfrew and who now describes himself as an active amateur archaeologist and amateur historian. He delivered his talk entitled “The Battle of Mugdock and the Survival of Alt Clut, the Kingdom of the Clyde” to a capacity LHS audience on Wednesday 14th March 2024.
We, as inhabitants of the 21st Century, live in very dangerous and worrying times with ongoing conflicts, misery and uncertainty for ourselves and many of our fellow human beings. Alasdair took us back to a much earlier time and into 8th century Scotland. This was a time when populations were very much smaller than they are now. However, as now, there was rivalry, conflict, and bloodshed between the various warring factions. The early Mediaeval period in our history is shrouded in mystery and Alastair acknowledged that his account of the Battle of Mugdock could never fully be recounted accurately. He conceded that others may take a different viewpoint of this battle and the events surrounding it.
The Battle of Mugdock took place in AD 750 and was a battle between the Picts of the north of Britain and the Britons of Alt Clut. The leader of the Picts was a ferocious and fearsome King called Angus MacFergus and it was under his leadership that the Picts became the dominant power in northern Britain. This was a time when warriors did not fight battles on horseback but horses were mainly used for transport. Despite the use of horses, the journey to the battle with the people of Alt Clut was long, arduous and dangerous owing to the terrain, weather and assaults from rival factions along the way.
The final outcome of the Battle of Mugdock was that the forces of the Britons overcame the Picts and Angus MacFergus’ brother Talorcan was slaughtered. Talorcan had been determined to subjugate the people of Alt Clut but he was never able to capture Alt Clut itself (Rock of the Clyde or Dumbarton Rock).
Tuedubur, son of Beli, was the leader of the Britons who defeated the Picts at Mugdock. At the time of the battle of Mugdock, Tuedubur was an old king who had been in power for almost thirty years (this at a time when kingships were short-lived and generally, the kingship ended with a violent outcome) Tuedubur died either at the end of AD 750 or a year or two later.
At the end of Alasdair’s talk, there were many questions and much discussion. Alasdair ably responded to questions but also recommended that for anyone requiring further information, they should perhaps seek out the books of Nick Aitchison.
Reviewed by E.W.
Wednesday 10th April 2024: Trish Robins “The West Dunbartonshire Council Art Collection”
This, the final talk of the current season, was presented by Trish Robins who is WDC Lead Officer Arts and Development. With her background in the History of Art, Trish brought to the large audience in the Concord Centre a fascinating insight into the WDC Art Collection and told us how it has come into being. She also provided much information and background stories for many of the artworks of which she chose to show us, via the medium of slides, some 40 or so pieces from a total collection of almost 500 works of art.
Trish started her presentation by showing us an oil on canvas painting entitled The Vale of Leven which was painted by Alexander Jamieson in 1929 and portrays a very different view of the Vale as it is now.
Trish then went on to explain how West Dunbartonshire Council acquired their art collection. She pointed out that in 1996, the West Dunbartonshire Council area was formed from the three main urban areas of Clydebank, Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven (as well as other intervening rural areas). Accordingly, the various art collections of these areas entered into the care of West Dunbartonshire Council. In addition to this, Trish informed the audience that artworks have also been obtained from the WDC Educational Resource Collection, by acquisition from donations and also from the purchase of some artworks.
The former Clydebank Council collection held artwork by local artists and artwork relating to the area and local heritage themes including shipbuilding and the Clydebank Blitz. Examples of this artwork would include: Queen Mary on the stocks in John Brown Shipyard, 1930s, an etching by Wilfred Caffartay, and Kilbowie Road, Clydebank, 1970s, a mixed media work by David Mitchell. Of particular note is Burning Town, 1992, oil on canvas by Tom McKendrick. Trish told a rapt audience that the artist chose to depict this scene of the bombing of Clydebank through his mother, Rachel’s eyes. Tom McKendrick’s mother was a 17-year-old auxiliary nurse at the time, and she ran home from work when she saw her town being bombed.
The Dumbarton District collection held work from local artists and notable Scottish artists primarily from the Victorian period. Examples that we were shown were: Dumbarton in Glassmaking Days, 1820s, oil on canvas by Alexander Brown and Portrait of Helen Denny, 1890, oil on canvas by William Ewing Lockhart. Brown’s painting depicts Dumbarton with the prominent conical towers of the glassmaking furnaces. The portrait of Helen Denny, the wife of Peter Denny of the notable shipbuilding family, is depicted sitting contentedly with her knitting.
The Education Resource Collection held works purchased between 1960 and 1990 as part of a national Scottish initiative to create an educational resource for young people.
In this category, Trish showed a slide of a painting by the notable and much admired Scottish artist Joan Eardley. Eardley was known for her portraiture of street children in Glasgow and the slide shown was: Skipping, late 1940s, oil on board.
Of the artworks that have been donated to the WDC collection Trish chose to show: Morning Light, Ardionra Croft, Isle of Iona, 2015, oil on canvas by John Lowrie Morrison and in the category of artworks that have been purchased for the collection, Trish picked out: Largo Harbour, c.1920s, oil on canvas by George Leslie Hunter.
Throughout Trish Robin’s fascinating presentation, she showed the audience slides of many wonderful artworks that perhaps some of those present would not have known were in the possession of West Dunbartonshire Council. Where can we see these artworks and can they be viewed online? Well, the answer that Trish gave was that not all of the artworks can be on show at any one time. Exhibition space is always a consideration and of course security and safe and suitable housing of the artworks are paramount. Some details of where some artworks can be viewed can be found on the West Dunbartonshire Arts and Heritage Facebook page. However, at the time of writing, the whole WDC Art collection cannot unfortunately all be viewed online.
This presentation was a great finish to what has been a very successful season for the LHS and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our speakers and all those who took the time to come to our meetings. We look forward to seeing you all again on Wednesday 11th September 2024 at the Concord Community Centre.
Reviewed by E.W.
Season 2017
Wednesday, 11th January 2017: Fiona Baker "Archaeological work in Dumbarton and district"
This well attended meeting to mark the start of 2017, saw archaeologist Fiona Baker deliver a fascinating illustrated lecture on her work in West Dunbartonshire over the years.
Reviewed by Tommy Crocket
Wednesday, 8th February 2017: Mary Irvine "Margaret Harrison: Campaigning for Peace"
Mary Irvine gave us a very interesting and at times moving and intimate portrait of the life and works of Margaret Harrison and her husband Bobby.
Wednesday, April 12th 2017: Shabnam Komai-Koma
"The Heritage of Iran"
At the last meeting of the season recently, the AGM was followed by a presentation on THE HERITAGE OF IRAN by Shabnan Komai-Koma, an urban designer and architect from Glasgow with Iranian roots.
The illustrated lecture was most informative and considered changes to conservation of historic buildings in Iran, since the revolution almost forty years ago.
Next season’s programme is being considered by the committee and details will be made available as soon as possible.
Season 2015/2016
9th December 2015: David Harvie, "The Happiness of Christmas.........."
At this meeting of the Lennox Heritage Society, local historian and community activist, Dave Harvie, addressed members and guests on the subject of ‘gout’.
Illustrating his talk with an array of cartoons going back 200 years it seemed that this painful misfortune was confined to the upper classes renowned for high-living with rich foods and gallons of port on a regular basis. Aristocracy and politicians featured prominently in the satirical artwork and Dave provided a list of eminent figures who were known to have suffered the affliction ………. Before appending his own at the bottom of the list.
Denying that he was a bon viveur, he had suffered gout for many years and research and monitoring of his diet had led him to believe that, in his case, a penchant for shellfish, particularly crab, was his personal trigger for an onset of misery. Daily medication has kept ‘the gout’ at bay for a few years, so it may be that there is no need to cut down on Christmas treats.
Reviewed by Tommy Crocket
13th January 2016: Elspeth Crocket, "The French Connection: Dumbarton Castle"
At this Lennox Heritage Society meeting, former OLSP teacher Elspeth Crocket presented a lecture on ‘Dumbarton Castle: The French Connection’, to a capacity audience in the Concord Centre.
Concentrating to a great extent on the events of The Auld Alliance between Scotland and France, Elspeth outlined the fact that 14,000 Scottish soldiers left from the Castle over the years to support Joan of Arc in her struggles and to support the French against England in The Hundred Years War. Mary Queen of Scots provides perhaps the most well-known link between the Castle and France but in reality this was very short lived. Using excellent illustrations from various sources Elspeth went on to describe the importance of the town and the castle to the lucrative wine trade with Bordeaux and explained how this came about, to the great benefit of Dumbarton.
The French Prison played an important role in the Napoleonic Wars and it was even considered at one point as a suitable residence for the captive Bonaparte. One of the best known residents of the prison was General Simon, reputed to have hired a brass band to escort his party to The Elephant Hotel for a farewell banquet on his release from captivity.
Following the presentation most of the audience participation was concerned with the lack of present day exploitation of this magnificent resource in the economic development of the town as a tourist magnet. A subject for another talk?
Reviewed by Tommy Crocket
Reviewed by Tommy Crocket
10th February 2016: Hugh McArthur, "Arthurian links with Dumbarton, the Rock and the local area".
At a very well attended meeting in the Concord Centre Hugh McArthur, historian for Clan Arthur, returned to bring members up to date with his recent studies and publications regarding the legendary King Arthur.
Hugh put forward his case for Loch Lomond being the site of the famous lake associated with the King of the Britons. In his King Arthur and the Lake: A Secret History of Loch Lomond, he argues that Inchcailloch island in the loch is an island of ‘ancient religious femininity’ and fits in with being the true Avalon. He points out the loch is bounded to the north by the Rock of Britain, to the south Dumbarton Rock, which he terms the Fortress of the Britons, and to the west by Arthur’s mountain (Ben Arthur or The Cobbler) and can be traced in a ninth century text as the first wonder of Britain.
He claims the site of four battles fought by King Arthur are in the area and the Arthurian knight Lancelot du Lac may have lived at Ring Point on the loch shore. Arthur’s 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th victories were won at Glen Douglas, Loch Lomond, according to historian W.F. Skene.
Illustrating the lecture with a series of maps and photographs he referred to researches and speculation of a range of academics and ancient writings to offer his fascinating theory before taking a variety of questions from the audience who were keen to snap up copies of three of his publications on the subject.
Hugh's website can be found at: http://www.clannarthur.com/allpages/sonsofarthur.htm
Wednesday, 14th September 2016: West Dunbartonshire Women's History Group
"The Changing Roles of West Dunbartonshire Women Throughout the Second World War (1939-1945) Project"
First talk of the new season was well attended and proved very interesting and beneficial to both the Society and the West Dunbartonshire Women's History Project, as members of LHS agreed to be interviewed regarding their personal wartime memories for the Project. Lorna Stevenson presented an inspiring talk on the Project.
Reviewed by Tommy Crocket