River Clyde, Glasgow | Lanarkshire
The River Clyde forms when two streams, the Daer Water and the Potrail Water, join at the aptly named Watermeetings. At this point the Clyde is only eight miles from the Devil's Beef Tub, the source of the River Annan and just six miles from the source of the River Tweed at Tweed's Well.
Victorian industrialists David Dale and Robert Owen built their mills and the model settlement of New Lanark on the banks of the Clyde. The mills harness the natural power of the Falls of Clyde . The famous Cora Linn is the most spectacular of the falls. The mills have became a museum and a World Heritage Site. The waters are still harnessed here, but now to generate hydroelectricity at the power station.
Downstream from New Lanark the Clyde is joined by the Scottish River Avon and then it flows into the West of Scotland conurbation. An artificial loch has been created within Strathclyde Park , between the towns of Motherwell and Hamilton , by altering the course of the river. The river flows on into Blantyre and then Bothwell, where the ruined Bothwell Castle stands on a defensible promontory.
Initially it was trade that drove the rapid growth of Glasgow. Facing the Americas gave the already formidable natural harbour another advantage and tobacco and cotton flowed in massive quantities up the Clyde. The Clyde later became known for shipbuilding and a thriving industry soon replaced the dwindling trade with the Americas. The Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth 2 were both built on Clydebank, along with many other commercial and naval vessels. The Clydebank shipbuilding industry is now a pale shadow of its former self, with just two firms remaining operational. Trade continues but the port has moved downstream into the Firth of Clyde.
Efforts have been made to lessen the impact of the waning of the shipbuilding industry. The Clyde Waterfront Regeneration has attracted large scale investment to an area stretching from Glasgow Green to Dumbarton . Market gardens and garden centres were established on the fertile plains of the Clyde Valley. Tourism brings many visitors to the riverside. In Glasgow, former dockland areas have been redeveloped into smart riverside housing with a range of amenities provided nearby. The Glasgow Harbour project, the Glasgow Science Centre , and the creation of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre are all examples of this push to replace the old decaying industrial sites.
More British Natural features?
1 Response to River Clyde
From Charlotte Smith on 3rd November 2009
it was very informative and easy to read, it gave me the information i wanted and overall it is a great piece!
Other Glasgow Naturals
The Falls of Clyde
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Brit Quote: |
|
On this day: |