Rosneath
Encyclopedia
Rosneath is a village in Argyll and Bute
, Scotland
. It sits on the western shore of the Gare Loch
near to the tip of the Rosneath peninsula
which projects south to the Firth of Clyde
between the Gare Loch and Loch Long
to the west, and about 2 miles (3 km) from the village of Kilcreggan
which is sited on the southern end of the peninsula, on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. The large town of Greenock
is directly opposite on the southern shore of the Firth. The Gare Loch narrows at Rosneath to under half a mile (around 600 metres) at a place known as the Rhu Narrows after the village of Rhu
on the eastern shore of the loch.
As of the 2001 census, its population was 931. Rosneath lies approximately 44 miles from Glasgow
by road. It is situated on the B833, a shoreside minor thoroughfare that serves the peninsula.
onwards, when St. Modan, a travelling missionary, founded a church there. The name Rosneath may have its roots in this era; it is derived from the Gaelic Rossnachoich, meaning "Virgin's Headland." Another account indicates that it may come from Ross-neoth, or unwooded headland. The name has historically been misspelled as Roseneath (notably in both the First and New (or Second) Statistical Accounts of Scotland). A more visible example is Roseneath Street in Greenock which overlooks the village and dates from around 1900.
Later, the area was heavily fortified, with Rosneath's own castling joining those of nearby Faslane and Shandon
(located at Faslane and Shandon
), all of which are long since gone. Rosneath village did not yet fully exist by this time; instead, Rosneath parish was home to many free-standing dwellings, the occupants of which were for the vast bulk of the area's history employed in agriculture and fishing. Frequent shipping services to Glasgow
, Greenock and beyond were vital for the local economy until recently.
Rosneath Castle was ruined and rebuilt many times; the final rebuilding came in 1803, three years after the previous building burnt down. Located further uphill from previous versions, it belonged to the Duke of Argyll
whose family retained it until Princess Louise
died in 1939. In stark contrast to the earlier castles, it was in the Romanesque
style.
From 1941 to 1945, Rosneath was home to an important naval base, thanks to its location in the well-sheltered natural harbour of the Gare Loch. The Americans used Rosneath Castle as a base of operations. The castle was later demolished in 1963.
The Rosneath peninsula was formerly in the traditional County of Dunbarton
until local government reorganisation moved it into the Argyll and Bute council area in 1996.
, 18th century scientist, educational pioneer and radical who founded Strathclyde University, was born in Rosneath where his father was minister of the parish church.
The founder of the first Rangers FC
team, Moses McNeil
, lived at Clynder, just outside Rosneath. He was buried at the Old Churchyard of Rosneath in 1938. His death went unnoticed at the time by the press and media and he had nothing to leave in his will. Rangers FC and the local community intends to recognise the spot with an appropriate monument.
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
, the daughter of Queen Victoria, lived at Rosneath Castle prior to its demolition in 1940.
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It sits on the western shore of the Gare Loch
Gare Loch
The Gare Loch or Gareloch is a sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.-Geography:A sea loch aligned north-south, Gare Loch is 10 kilometres long with an average width of 1.5 kilometres. At its southern end it opens into the Firth of Clyde through the Rhu narrows...
near to the tip of the Rosneath peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
which projects south to the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
between the Gare Loch and Loch Long
Loch Long
Loch Long is a body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The sea loch extends from the Firth of Clyde at its southwestern end. It measures approximately 20 miles in length, with a width of between one and two miles...
to the west, and about 2 miles (3 km) from the village of Kilcreggan
Kilcreggan
Kilcreggan is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.It developed on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde at a time when Clyde steamers brought it within easy reach of Glasgow at about 25 miles west of the centre of Glasgow by boat...
which is sited on the southern end of the peninsula, on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. The large town of Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
is directly opposite on the southern shore of the Firth. The Gare Loch narrows at Rosneath to under half a mile (around 600 metres) at a place known as the Rhu Narrows after the village of Rhu
Rhu
Rhu is a village and historic parish on the east shore of the Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.The traditional spelling of its name was Row, but it was changed in the 1920s so that outsiders would pronounce it correctly...
on the eastern shore of the loch.
As of the 2001 census, its population was 931. Rosneath lies approximately 44 miles from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
by road. It is situated on the B833, a shoreside minor thoroughfare that serves the peninsula.
History
The Rosneath area has been settled from at least 600600
Year 600 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 600 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Smallpox arrives in Europe for the first...
onwards, when St. Modan, a travelling missionary, founded a church there. The name Rosneath may have its roots in this era; it is derived from the Gaelic Rossnachoich, meaning "Virgin's Headland." Another account indicates that it may come from Ross-neoth, or unwooded headland. The name has historically been misspelled as Roseneath (notably in both the First and New (or Second) Statistical Accounts of Scotland). A more visible example is Roseneath Street in Greenock which overlooks the village and dates from around 1900.
Later, the area was heavily fortified, with Rosneath's own castling joining those of nearby Faslane and Shandon
Faslane Castle, Shandon Castle, and St Michael's Chapel
Faslane Castle and Shandon Castle were two mediaeval Scottish castles which once stood between the towns Garelochhead and Helensburgh, near the shores of the Gare Loch, in Argyll and Bute. In the 19th century, the castles were thought to have dated back to the Middle Ages...
(located at Faslane and Shandon
Shandon, Argyll and Bute
Shandon is a village 4 miles north-north west of Rhu on the Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.Formerly in the county of Dunbartonshire, it developed alongside other similar settlements in the area from a hamlet to a fashionable residential area for wealthy Glasgow merchants.West Shandon House,...
), all of which are long since gone. Rosneath village did not yet fully exist by this time; instead, Rosneath parish was home to many free-standing dwellings, the occupants of which were for the vast bulk of the area's history employed in agriculture and fishing. Frequent shipping services to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Greenock and beyond were vital for the local economy until recently.
Duke of Argyll
Duke of Argyll is a title, created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1701 and in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1892. The Earls, Marquesses, and Dukes of Argyll were for several centuries among the most powerful, if not the most powerful, noble family in Scotland...
whose family retained it until Princess Louise
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
The Princess Louise was a member of the British Royal Family, the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and her husband, Albert, Prince Consort.Louise's early life was spent moving between the various royal residences in the...
died in 1939. In stark contrast to the earlier castles, it was in the Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style.
From 1941 to 1945, Rosneath was home to an important naval base, thanks to its location in the well-sheltered natural harbour of the Gare Loch. The Americans used Rosneath Castle as a base of operations. The castle was later demolished in 1963.
The Rosneath peninsula was formerly in the traditional County of Dunbarton
Dunbartonshire
Dunbartonshire or the County of Dumbarton is a lieutenancy area and registration county in the west central Lowlands of Scotland lying to the north of the River Clyde. Until 1975 it was a county used as a primary unit of local government with its county town and administrative centre at the town...
until local government reorganisation moved it into the Argyll and Bute council area in 1996.
Famous people
John Anderson FRSJohn H. D. Anderson
John Anderson was a Scottish natural philosopherand liberal educator at the forefront of the application of science to technology in the industrial revolution, and of the education and advancement of working men and women....
, 18th century scientist, educational pioneer and radical who founded Strathclyde University, was born in Rosneath where his father was minister of the parish church.
The founder of the first Rangers FC
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
team, Moses McNeil
Moses McNeil
Moses McNeil was a Scottish professional footballer who was one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club. He played as a winger.-Club career:...
, lived at Clynder, just outside Rosneath. He was buried at the Old Churchyard of Rosneath in 1938. His death went unnoticed at the time by the press and media and he had nothing to leave in his will. Rangers FC and the local community intends to recognise the spot with an appropriate monument.
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
The Princess Louise was a member of the British Royal Family, the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and her husband, Albert, Prince Consort.Louise's early life was spent moving between the various royal residences in the...
, the daughter of Queen Victoria, lived at Rosneath Castle prior to its demolition in 1940.
External links
- Map showing Ross Neitt peninsula (Rosneath), circa 1600, National Library of Scotland