Story of strange array of timber posts sticking out of the River Clyde near Glasgow


(Above image is a capture of the timber ponds looking west.)

This evening, I am focusing on a unique legacy of Scotland’s industrial past as manifested in the extensive collection of wooden poles sticking out of the River Clyde near Port Glasgow, about 20 miles N.W. of Glasgow city.

 
The poles cover a 2.5 mile long section of the Clyde from Port Glasgow to Langbank.They were established in the early 18th century in tandem with the development of a shipbuilding industry in the area, Vast quantities of tree length logs were imported from North America and stored in the timber ponds where they were preserved and seasoned in the salt water until deemed ready for use in ship construction.

Dredging of the River Clyde gave ships access further upstream which led to the progressive eclipse of shipbuilding and port facilities in Port Glasgow. The last wooden ship was built on the Lower Clyde in 1859.

The poles are best viewed at low tide. Visitors should start at Newark Castle and walk east, along the river bank.


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