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Renfrew Ferry
A ferry service had begun by 1614 although the
first public ferry boat was reported to be in use by
1710
between King's Inch and Blawarthill on the north bank.
In 1782 Alexander Speirs, a Glasgow tobacco merchant,
built a mansion on the King's Inch. The path to the
ferry
now ran through his property. In 1787 the family asked
if the ferry could be moved half a mile west, offering
in
return to build two quays, a ferry house and a new road,
the now known Ferry road. The ferry Inn was opened in
1789 and by 1791 the ferry was operating from its new
site.
The ferries still used ropes or chains fixed on each
bank,
at first hauled but hand, but from 1868 by steam-power.
Larger boats were built in 1897 ad 1912.
The ferry was used for mostly workers traveling to the
shipyards and factories on both sides of the river.
The ferry proved of great use during the war of 1941 to
bring fire-engines to Clydebank from Renfrewshire during
the bombing.
By the year 1953 the ferries were not used as much as
the shipyards and factories were closing down. By the
early 1970's most motorists used the Clyde tunnel and
Erskine bridge to cross the Clyde. Thus the decision to
end the vehicle Ferry in 1984 and it became a passenger
ferry.
One of the older Ferries is now docked in Glasgow being
used as a music venue.
Renfrew Ferry has run for centuries, transporting
passengers across the River Clyde to Yoker. As recently
as 1984 a chain operated service was still in use. This
service, which began over 200 years prior in 1782, was
then replaced by a modern passenger ferry. This is one
of the few remaining ferry points for passengers wishing
to cross the Clyde.
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