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Greenock (Grianaig in Scottish Gaelic but pronounced Green-ock in Scots language) is a town - population around 46,000 - located on the West Coast of Scotland with views across the Firth of Clyde to the Cowal Peninsula and the Isle of Bute. It is situated on the south side of the River Clyde at the Tail of the Bank where the river expands into a broad estuary on its long journey to the Irish Sea. The origin of the town's name is uncertain but locally it is accepted that it derives from a large green oak tree formerly situated in the centre of the town at a spot now marked with a horseshoe. The derivation of the name is perpetuated in local song - The Green Oak Tree - and is echoed in street names and by many local businesses.
Greenock was founded as a fishing village sometime prior to 1592 when it split from the nearby Inverkip parish and it is thought that it grew up around the chapel of St Lawrence of which traces remained until 1760 and which gave its name to St Lawrence Bay. In the early 1600s the first pier and breakwater were built at Greenock and shipbuilding, which began largely along the foreshore, evolved rapidly. Ultimately the town played a large part in Clydeside's role as the shipbuilding capital of the world for the better part of a hundred years. The first real harbour was built in the years to 1710 and the following year the first of the Clyde's well known shipbuilding firms, Scott's was established. It was to produce ships for 277 years until its closure in 1988.
Greenock's most noted son is the engineer James Watt. James Watt's improved steam engine transformed the world of work, and was the key innovation that brought forth the Industrial Revolution. It made possible the construction of new factories that, since they were not dependent on water power, could work the year round, and could be placed almost anywhere. Work was moved out of the cottages, resulting in economies of scale. Capital could work more efficiently, and manufacturing productivity greatly improved. The importance of the invention can hardly be overstated for it gave us the modern world.
Following the Act of Union between Scotland and England in 1707 Greenock prospered as it became the main port on the West Coast of Scotland. It traded all over the world most importantly with the Americas where it imported tobacco and also sugar from the Caribbean with sugar refining commencing in 1765. By the end of the 19th century around 400 ships a year were transporting sugar from Caribbean holdings to Greenock for processing in 14 sugar refineries with the most famous refinery being Tate and Lyle which survived until 1997 when closure brought to an end the town’s connections with sugar manufacture.
Greenock suffered badly during the Second World War as its anchorage at the Tail of the Bank became the base for the Home Fleet as well as the main assembly point for Atlantic convoys and was therefore a priority target for enemy action. There was a close association between Greenock and the Free French Forces as many of the Free French naval vessels sailed from the town. This was marked after the war by the construction of a monument – the Cross of Lorraine - at the top of the Lyle hill which dominates the town and provides fine views across the Tail of the Bank anchorage.
Greenock was home to many shipbuilders in the late 1800s and further dock improvements were undertaken however today the only shipbuilder still in operation on this stretch of the Clyde is further upstream at Port Glasgow. Greenock remains however a significant port and the Ocean Terminal at Prince’s Pier is the main container terminal for the West of Scotland and has daily feeder links to international shipping services via Southampton, Liverpool and Belfast. It is also becoming increasingly popular as a regular port of call for cruise liners visiting this part of Scotland.
The McLean Museum collections reflect not only the rich history of the area but also in their breadth and diversity the town's position as a major trading port. The residency project will focus on these aspects of the Museum collections.