Tuesday 18 October 2016

Greenock

After Cromarty, I ended up Greenock bound.

Quite a history this place has.

The Tate & Lyle sugar refinery was based here and ran until 1997. It was closed due to high taxes on sugar cane (mostly from the Caribbean) and quotas enforced by the European Union. The quotas were introduced to protect European sugar beet farmers. Between 1941 and 1946 it had to be rebuilt because of bombing damage.

I have shamelessly been checking out wikipedia for some of my information which correlates with other webpages as well as stories from the residents I've spoken to.....so feel fairly confidence it is correct.

 image from the Daily Record (online)

Greenock was an important player as a world port. Because of this many manufacturing companies grew up in the surrounding areas. The usual works connected with sailing; sailcloth and rope works, sawmills, then of course there was always a brewery, often a distillery, a pottery, as well as a flax mill and a paper mill. Added to that a large cooper works and a straw hat manufacturer.

All in all a very busy place.

If you are interested, then this webpage will give plenty of information even if a little hard to read.

http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/117910

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