| About Dumbarton |
| History |
| Famous People from Dumbarton |
| Search Zone |
| Dumbarton's History Dumbarton stands on the River's Leven and Clyde, approximately 16 miles from Glasgow, downstream. Dumbarton Castle dominates the town and can be seen from just about ever vantage point locally.
The Castle, known to the locals as the Rock, placed Dumbarton on the map in the 8th and 9th centuries when Dumbarton was the capital of Strathclyde. Dumbarton earned the prestigious title of Royal Burgh in 1222. The long history of the town is very much reflected in the sometimes turbulent history of Dumbarton Castle. King Henry Vlll once commented that Dumbarton was the key to the realm. The famous Castle witnessed many historic events, which included the departure for France of Mary Queen of Scots at the tender age of six. The Castle remains one of Scotland's official Royal Fortresses along with others such as Stirling and Edinburgh. |
The shipbuilding industry and the then new marine engineering industry came to Dumbarton in the early 1850', and established a base on the banks of the River Leven. This caused a meteoric rise in the population of the town and saw a rapid expansion and development in other secondary industries, which supported shipbuilding. Over the next 150 years, many ships were built, of all types and classes. In 1869 the famous clipper Cutty Sark was constructed by Scott & Linton and completed by William Denny & Bros., the builders of the first ocean going merchant vessel with a full steel hull. William Denny & Brothers, closed its gates for the last time in 1963. They were the last shipbuilding yard in the town Blackburn Aircraft at Dumbarton produced the famous Sunderland flying boat which saw service in WWII between 1939 and 1945. In 1963 they built a hovercraft for service on the River Thames. |
| More information on Dumbarton Castle. |
|
| Cinemas |
| Flight Info |
| Coach Info |
| Rail Info |
| Taxi's |