IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Whiteford Avenue, DUMBARTON, G82 3JR

This is the lower endpoint of the path, where it meets Whiteford Crescent. Click on the end-note title for other pictures of the route.

As the end-note says, the steps, and not just the path, are shown on the map. Click on the end-note title for other views of the route.

This memorial, near the eastern edge of Dumbarton Cemetery, commemorates the sculptor William Young; there is a bronze medallion likeness of him at the top of the structure. For a closer look at the inscription and the angel, see Image

For the whole structure, see Image William Young was from Stevenston (Image) in North Ayrshire. He trained as a sculptor in Greenock, and some of his work appears in that town's own cemetery (see http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Greenock-Cemetery for an article about Greenock Cemetery). After spending some time in Australia, William Young moved, in about 1857, to Dumbarton; he died there on the 15th of May, 1882, aged 54. The memorial has a human-sized warning angel (this gives some indication of the monument's overall size), with a bronze medallion likeness of Mr Young above it.

This obelisk is located near the eastern boundary of the cemetery. The main inscription is as follows: "George Burns, in memory of his beloved wife Agnes Melville Burns who died at Dumbarton July 9th 1883 in the 62nd year of her age. Also the above George Burns, for many years J.P. and A.S. for the County of Dumbarton, who died at Dumbarton June 12th 1884, aged 85 years". ["J.P. and A.S.": Justice of the Peace and Assistant Sheriff; specifically, he became an Honorary Sheriff-Substitute of Dumbartonshire.] The inscription goes on to commemorate Mary Burns, sister of Agnes Melville Burns. On the side of the monument, it is recorded that George's parents and sister "are interred in the churchyard of Dumbarton"; that refers to the kirkyard, now largely cleared away, of the parish church: http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Dumbarton-Cemetery#the-parish-churchyard George was born in Renton in 1799; he was the nephew of the shipbuilder James Lang, by whom he was employed for a while. George later went into business for himself as an ironmonger. Despite some financial reverses (caused by failures of banks in which he had invested) George was soon able to leave off his work, and to live quite comfortably for many years on the proceeds of his properties and other investments. He married his cousin, Agnes Melville Burns.

The fountain stands in the northern half of Image The inscription on the near side is extremely worn in places, but the sense of the text makes it possible to fill in the gaps (compare the inscription at Image). "Erected by the London-Dumbartonshire Association President – Sir Iain Colquhoun, Bart, KT, DSO, LLD, Lord Lieutenant of Dumbartonshire to the honoured memory of those of the county who lost their lives by enemy action 1939-1945" The far side of the fountain (shown in Image) bears the very worn remnants of a crest and a Latin motto: Image [Although it is not recorded on the inscription, the memorial was unveiled in September of 1949. Sir Iain Colquhoun had been Lord-Lieutenant of the county from 1919 until his death in November 1948, but was succeeded in that role by Major General Alexander Telfer-Smollett, who performed the unveiling of the memorial.]

This is the same fountain as shown in Image, but viewed from the other side; see that item for further details. For a closer look at the detail on this side, see Image

This photograph is a close-up view of the fountain that is shown in Image; these details are indistinct unless, as in this case, the angle of the sun's illumination is favourable. The motto appears to read "Fide Fortuna Fortes". The elephant with the "castle" (or tower) on its back features in the Dumbarton arms, which "were registered in the Lyon Office in or about AD 1672. This was the year in which was passed the important Act which confers on the Lyon King of Arms the right to grant arms to 'virtuous and well-deserving persons'"; specifically, the Dumbarton arms are described as follows: "Azure, an elephant passant argent, tusked or, bearing on his back a tower proper". (See Image for another representation.) Their origin is obscure. They are said to "appear upon the burgh seal appended to the document relating to the ransom of David II, son of Robert the Bruce, at the end of his eleven years of captivity dating from the battle of Neville's Cross", that document being dated 1357. [The above details about the Dumbarton arms are from "The Dumbarton coat-of-arms" (1909), by Archibald Macdonald.]

John McLeod was born on the 1st of March 1838, and died on the 8th of August 1888. This memorial to him was erected by his widow Lily S. McLeod, and it stands near the eastern driveway of the cemetery. John was a native of Dumbarton; he was the second son of the Dumbarton timber merchant William McLeod. As Town Architect, he was responsible for designing several of the impressive monuments that can be seen elsewhere in this cemetery. [He is not to be confused with the Oban-born John MacLeod who lived in nearby Renton, and who also worked as an architect: Image]

Quite a few examples of Common Spotted-orchid were in the tall grass beside the path. The steps that are just beyond the bend are better seen in another view: Image Click on the end-note title for other pictures of the route.