A history enthusiast has launched a new website to encourage locals and tourists to explore West Dunbartonshire and its fascinating past.

Jeremy Watson, chair of the Lennox Heritage Society, has been busy over the lockdowns setting up the new resource, which is packed with information about the area.

Explore West Dunbartonshire is aimed at both locals and visitors and delves into the region’s remarkable people, places and hidden gems.

Jeremy, of Renton, said: “It serves as a record of all that is to be found here and of our constantly changing townscapes.

“There are many layers to our local history. While it is not a history website as such, it describes a wide array of local places and features and the stories behind them.

“West Dunbartonshire has vast open areas that stretch up into the Kilpatrick Hills and across the muirs, along the River Leven and the Clyde shore and along the shores of Loch Lomond.

View from the Kilpatrick Hills towards the Erskine Bridge and River Clyde.
Jeremy's website explores the history of the Kilpatrick Hills

“At long last, with the restrictions easing just as spring is getting going, there is absolutely no excuse not to get out there. There are so many options right here in West Dunbartonshire.

“Even if you don’t find it easy to get out and about, the website offers an alternative in that you can peruse its pages and will very likely find places and information that are new to you. Perhaps it will inspire you to do your own investigations and research. Each section has links to more on that subject.”

Jeremy, who has been archiving information about the area for the past 20 years, decided to set up the website after Doors Open Day was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

Lennox Heritage Society usually organises the local event, which gives people rare behind the scenes access to key venues, including historic buildings.

Previous years have included Strathleven House, the Maid of the Loch and St Peter’s Seminary.

Jeremy said: “Such programmes in larger centres managed to have a fairly successful virtual alternative but we had little representation on this occasion.

“Yet that has been one of the inspirations of this website. Why not provide a source of information about places that can be visited even outwith a Doors Open Day, or for that matter, any time?

Aerial shots of the Maid of the Loch in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire
The Maid of the Loch is one of the attractions that has proved popular on Doors Open day.

“I’ve been documenting the area for 20 years so I was able to draw on a lot of my archive materials.

“It’s a resource for all sorts of things. School children can use it to look up local history for projects and walkers can find new places to visit. It’s great also for people who can’t get out and about and want to look up places and reminisce.

“There’s an amazing amount of stuff on there.

“As this website grows, it will become a resource for those delving deeper into our environment, particularly the built heritage, but you may find some surprises along the way.

“It includes some examples that have since disappeared, a record of of the recent past, some places that may not be accessible, some walks and some cycle tracks.

“A great deal of research and recording has been done over the years by many people. Links to key sources are provided at the end of each section to give a you a headstart in following up in more depth.”

Topics on the website include information from the area’s rich industrial past, such as the Argyll motorworks, to how to find sites linked to King Robert the Bruce and discovering the area’s cycling paths.

It also has the history of Loch Lomond’s famous bear park, as well as information on how to find the remains of Dumbarton’s old prison.

One of Jeremy’s favourite pieces of history is the Vale of Leven’s Turkey Red past, which is well documented on the website.

Turkey Red was a method of dyeing which came from the east and was brought to Scotland in 1785.

Three firms in the Vale successfully produced and exported Turkey red dyed and printed cottons and became leaders of the industry.

Very little is left to indicate that this huge industry was once there but there are a few signs which hint at the fascinating industrial past of the area.

Visit Jeremy’s website at spanglefish.com/explorewestdunbartonshire/