This history in brief was originally compiled for the Profile document and can be seen in full via the menu, under Action Plan.

As an insight into the population and other aspects of life in the Balloch, Haldane and Jamestown in the Parish of Bonhill of over 100 years ago, the following piece of history is noteworthy from The Gazetteer of Scotland, by Rev. John Wilson, 1882.

The spelling of the townships was the spelling used in the 1800s.
 

Jamestown at that time was a hive of industry with 2,170 residents mostly employed in the Printworks that abounded the area. Almost 400 pupils went to Jamestown School. Two years previous to this account Typhoid Fever had broken out in Haldens Mill area with 60 people infected. Six died and the breakout was taken very seriously by the authorities of the time. The outbreak spread no further than this area.

Below are descriptions of the townships from the 1882, Gazetteer of Scotland.

“BONHILL, town and parish in Dumbartonshire. The parish contains also the towns of Alexandria and Jamestown, and the villages of Balloch, Dalvault, and Mill of Halden, and it comprises the upper half of the Vale of Leven, and extends about 3 miles across the foot of Loch Lomond. Acres, 8373...Pop., quoad civilia, 12,524; quoad sacra, 2983. The surface abounds in both natural beauty and artificial embellishment. 9 large print works are within its vale; and Tillichewan Castle, Bonhill Place, Levenfield, Bromley, Balloch Castle, Cameron House, Belretiro, Arden, and other mansions are chief residences. Churches are in Alexandria and Jamestown. There are 2 public schools for 1481 scholars, and 1 of them and an enlargement for 967 are new.”

 “BALLOCH, village on Leven river, near the foot of Loch Lomond, 4  miles north of Dumbarton. It adjoins the junction of Vale of Leven and Forth and Clyde Railways; communicates by a railway of about 7 furlongs with a steamboat pier on Loch Lomond; and has a railway station, an excellent hotel, and a fine suspension bridge. Pop. 159. Balloch Castle, in its vicinity, is a modern seat; and a previous Balloch Castle, now extinct, was a fortified seat of the Earls of Lennox.”

“JAMESTOWN, town and quoad sacra parish in Dumbartonshire. The town stands in upper part of Vale of Leven, 3/4 mile south-south-east of Balloch, and has a post office designated Dumbartonshire, a railway station, extensive printworks, a steepled church of 1869, and a public school with about 388 scholars. Pop. of the town, 2170; of the quoad sacra parish, 2925.”

“DALVAULT, village in Bonhill parish, Dumbartonshire.”

“HALDANE’S MILL, village in Bonhill parish, Dumbartonshire. Pop. 344.”

18th and 19th century

In the 18th and 19th centuries Balloch was an agricultural village with many textile works along the banks of the river down through the Vale of Leven. The fast flowing river Leven was used for the dying and bleaching of textiles.

During the early 19th century, vast improvements were made to the transport network for industry and for leisure.  This led to the expansion of Balloch village and the gradual urbanisation throughout the valley.  The steamboat “Marion” was making excursions on Loch Lomond from 1817 till c.1855. The Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Railway was constructed between Balloch and Bowling with a steamer terminal at both ends.

For those interested in the passenger steamers on Loch Lomond there is an excellent book by Alan Brown covering all aspects of sailings on the Loch from 1818 to 1989 with many pictures and a detailed history. (Published 2000, ISBN 1 85638 028 8)

There is also a first class site at present putting together the complete (or as complete as is possible) history of the Vale of Leven. (http://www.valeofleven.org.uk)  There are many sections of information  completed and recommend you go to this site for detailed information on The Vale.

Twentieth Century

Local transport improvements continued into the 20th century and Loch Lomond became ever popular as a recreational destination for residents of Glasgow, Clydebank, Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven.  Balloch was linked by rail (and road) to Glasgow and Stirling and in 1907 the Dumbarton and Country Tramways Company opened an 11 mile tramline from Dalmuir (Clydebank) to Balloch.  This eventually enabled people from as far away as Wishaw to travel to Balloch and Loch Lomond by tram alone.  The importance of Loch Lomond as a recreational venue and the strategic location of Balloch Castle Park, immediately adjacent to rail, tram, ferry and road terminals prompted Glasgow City Corporation to buy the estate from Mr. Dennistoun Brown’s trustees in 1915 for a sum of £30,000.  It was subsequently opened to the public for recreational use and in so doing it became the first ‘Country Park’ in Scotland serving the large industrial conurbation of Clydeside and beyond.

In the early fifties there was an influx of people from both Gourock and Greenock who moved to Balloch. The majority of these people came for employment in the

Royal Naval Torpedo Factory. Most of these people moved into the newly built Mill of Haldane estate, which had been planned by the then Dumbarton County Council to help facilitate the influx of workers to the area.  At this time there was a great sense of community spirit in Balloch and people took pride in their houses and Mill of Haldane estate was modern for its time.

Outside the park, Balloch had continued to develop and new industries had become established in the Vale of Leven to replace the declining textile industries.  The trams had been replaced by  buses, with the rail line to Stirling closing in 1957 and transport by car was on the increase.  By the 1970’s tourism had become a major industry in the Loch Lomond area and the Vale of Leven had become a tourist gateway to the Highlands.

Present Day, 21st Century

The area offers a few small shops, pubs, restaurants and hotels some having been recently refurbished.  A newly opened village square opposite the shops adds an attractive focal point to the main street.

Balloch’s location is ideally placed as the Gateway to Scotland's first National Park  Balloch has been chosen to house the headquarters of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority. Balloch being at the southern end of Loch Lomond is close to the urban conurbation of  Vale of Leven and Dumbarton and is easily accessible from the south via the A82 and from the east on the A811 road from Stirling. It is 8 miles from the National Motorway Network (M8). It’s just 20 minutes from Glasgow International Airport.

1.1.  Key Features in Balloch

   • Loch Lomond    • Balloch Park    • Balloch Castle    • River Leven

  • Loch Lomond Shores   

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is the largest fresh water Loch in Great Britain.  The southern shores of Loch Lomond open onto a broad, fertile valley that wends its way alongside the fast flowing River Leven.  Several small villages overlook the river including Balloch. The River Leven runs into the Clyde at the ancient Royal Burgh of Dumbarton.  

The well known Paddle Steamer “Maid of the Loch”  carried passengers on the loch from 1953 until the Autumn of 1981. The ‘Maid’ stopped off at Luss and other well known villages on the Loch shores. She is now being refurbished and it is hoped to restore her to her former glory. Presently she is moored at Balloch and is used as a restaurant.

For decades, visitors have taken trains, cars or buses to Balloch to enjoy cruises on the Loch or to walk in Balloch Castle Country Park and take in the magnificent views.  

Sweeney’s Cruises who operate three passenger boats can be seen cruising around the loch. Many Bus Tour Companies stop here for their passengers to cruise the Loch with Glaswegians and locals alike going on trips.  They cater for weddings, conferences or corporate entertainment.

Balloch Park

In 1915 Glasgow Corporation bought the Balloch Estate from the trustees of the late Mr. A. J. Dennistoun-Brown. It was decided that approximately 200 acres of this estate would be set aside for public use by Glasgow citizens.  At this time it was known as Loch Lomond Park.  In 1980 the castle and grounds were designated as a country park to be managed by Dumbarton District Council.  

Balloch Park is seen as one of Balloch’s greatest assets.  The park is situated north of Balloch Road and enjoys magnificent views over both the River Leven and Loch Lomond.  It is used daily by the community   The need for security is paramount.  It has an outdoor centre that is used by visitors and by the Education Department but it is hoped that the Countryside Rangers will work with the Primary Schools organising walks, events and explaining environmental issues to encourage youngsters at a early age to have a sense of ownership of the Park which might discourage vandalism in future years.

The recent Community Futures survey has highlighted the need for park wardens to curtail anti social behaviour in the park, especially in the evenings.  Benches and tables for visitors have recently been installed at various locations. New paths, a clearance of the undergrowth, mostly Rhodiidendrons has taken place and a modern public toilet has been installed within the old boathouse.  All this funded through a lottery grant of £2.4m

Balloch Castle

The castle is set in mature parkland overlooking Loch Lomond, is category A listed and is currently owned by Glasgow City Council and leased in 1975 to West Dunbartonshire Council.  The park is now managed as part of the Loch Lomond Regional Park jointly by West Dunbartonshire Council (unitary authority successor to Dumbarton District Council) and the Loch Lomond Park Authority.

At present, part of it is used for a visitor centre and it also houses the Planning Department of the Interim Committee, Visitor Services, Projects and Countryside Resource Teams of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs Interim Committee. The building is in need of complete restoration and funding is being sought to this end.

On spring or high tides the river can back up to Renton.   The river Leven carries salmon and sea trout which are migratory fish. It also carries a large amount of eels which are migratory.  Large shoals of flounders and Rough fish swim as far as the barrage.  These have come down from Loch Lomond which are quite a concern to the local anglers and from April onwards lamprey tend to make up into fresh water – the River Endrick.  There exists a problem of litter i.e. shopping trolleys, mattresses and various waste being deposited in the River Leven

There is an existing cycle and footpath which runs the total length of the River Leven from Balloch Park to Dumbarton and is part of the Cycle Path Network 7.  The West Loch Lomond Cycle Way links to Tarbet. To access the National Park site and more of their publications click on the link below. 

'''''''This info will be moved to a more visible area in the web site later in the tourist section''''''.

 Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park