3rd Helensburgh Hometown - Places of Interest

In Town

Hill House-Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Hill House Helensburgh Now revered, not only as an architect of great importance, but also as a fashion icon. Mackintosh created The Hill House (in1903) in Upper Colquhoun Street for the Blackie family of Glasgow. CRM liked to mix tradition with innovation. The house is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland and is open to the public in the afternoons from Easter - October. For more information phone 01436-673900

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Templeton Library

The original library was once the home of the Templeton family who gifted it to the town of Helensburgh with the proviso that it would be used to provide reading materials for the inhabitants without prejudice to position or wealth.

The town now has a new library building which opened in October 1998.

The library has a good stock of books and is often the home to exhibitions of literature, photography and technical curios.

Every Saturday there is a storytime session for children and visiting authors hold seminars for groups of school pupils.

There is one PC available for public use and more are planned for the future.
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Hermitage Park - War Memorial

This lovely secluded spot in the Hermitage Park has for many years provided a place of peacefulness and tranquility where townsfolk can grieve the dead of two World Wars or, more simply, find time to collect their private thoughts.

Every year the town holds a memorial service here to commerate the town's own war heros. On Armistice Day veterans and children's organisations stand side by side in honour of the dead.

Unfortunately in recent years vandalism has had such a disasterous effect on the fabric of the memorial that the local authority have decided to keep it under lock and key. It is hoped that a way will be found to open it up to the townsfolk again.
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Opening Soon

John Logie Baird's House

The inventor of television lived in a house in Argyle Street in Helensburgh.

The house is of great interest as it was there that the young Logie Baird carried out his early experiments.

The John Logie Baird Trust have purchased JLB's birthplace from the last inhabitants. They now plan to develop it into a museum to celebrate the life of their hero.

There have been several objections from near neighbours which may delay the development for some time.
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Ardencaple Castle

Ardencaple Castle was built by the MacAulays of Ardencaple, Dunbartonshire who are believed to be of Irish origin.

'Awlay Macawlay of Ardincapill' appears in The General Band of 1587 as a vassal of the Duke of Lennox. Alexander de Ardincaple who lived during the reign of James V was the first to adopt the name MacAulay.

The MacAulays kept the land at Ardencaple until they were sold by the 12th chief Aulay MacAulay to the Duke of Argyll in 1767. The ruins of the castle can still be seen in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, today.
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Near Town

Cove Conservation Park

Small animals in their natural habitat make a visit to this small, family run venture particularly suitable for children. Schools are welcome to pre-arrange visits and the staff will be pleased to supplement learning routines.

Halloween is a special time at Cove when the local Scouts and Guides dress up as ghouls and goblins to terrorise the paying guests.
Open to the public all year round. For more information phone 01436-850123
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