Langbank
| Langbank | |
| Renfrewshire | |
|---|---|
 Main Road in Langbank | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 55°55’26"N, 4°35’10"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 973 |
| Postcode: | PA14 |
| Dialling code: | 01475 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Renfrewshire |
Langbank is a village on the south bank of the River Clyde in Renfrewshire. The name is plain Scots - ‘long bank’. It is 9 miles northwest of Paisley and 3½ miles east of Port Glasgow on the A8.
History
Langbank evolved as a commuter village for Glasgow after the opening of the Glasgow and Greenock Railway in 1841, a function it still performs. Before that it was a scattered collection of farms. An 1800 map makes reference to 'Longbank'. It remains on the busy A8 trunk road, a few hundred yards from the start of the M8 motorway. Langbank railway station is on the Inverclyde Line.
Visible along the shoreline at Langbank are the remains of the timber ponds where the shipyards of the lower Clyde stored timber for use in shipbuilding.
Sights about the village
- Langbank Parish Church (1866) has a spire which was rebuilt three times.
- Formakin House (begun 1903) is a curious mansion which was never actually completed as the owner ran out of money. Features include tiny stone monkeys which clamber over the rooftops and a datestone carved with the date "1694" and the letters "DL" (standing for "Damned Lie").
- Finlaystone House (c. 1760) was built as the seat of the Cunningham Earls of Glencairn, but since the 1920s has been home to the MacMillan family and to the chief of Clan MacMillan. The estate is now a popular country park and garden centre. It is located between Langbank and Kilmacolm.
- Gleddoch House was the home of Port Glasgow Shipbuilder, Col. Sir James Lithgow Bt. It is now a hotel and leisure complex.
- St Vincent's College Chapel, a category B listed building,[1] was the chapel of a Roman Catholic seminary operating from 1961 to 1978, when the students were transferred to Aberdeen. In 2003, after restoration work by Historic Scotland, the site was converted into accommodation, but maintained its original outwards appearance.[2]
Gallery
-
The Wheelhouse -
Visitor Centre at Finlaystone House
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Langbank) |
- Langbank Community Portal (Langbank Community Council)
- Finlaystone Estate
- Gleddoch Plantation
References
- ↑ St Vincent's College Chapel - British Listed Buildings
- ↑ The Free Library by Farlax retrieved 17 September 2013