IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Lennox Street, DUMBARTON, G82 4LF

Victoria Institute Renton was a local Library now closed without public consultation by W Dunbartonshire Council

It was built in 1887, and it served as Renton Public Library before becoming Renton Mosque (or West Dunbartonshire Muslim Education Society). See Image for another contributor's earlier picture. Part of a house can be seen to its right (north); that was the site of Renton Public Hall, later known as the Roxy Cinema; it eventually burned down (in the 1970s, I think).

Or Tontine Park; it is properly Wylie Park, but the other name seems to be used at least as often these days. I don't have an issue with that usage myself; I mention it here (and in the end-note), for my usual reason: to give a more rounded view, rather than wanting to be didactic. There is a plaque on this side, beside the entrance: Image The links given in the end-note, referring to the Vale of Leven website (always a good and well-informed source) have more on both parks.

See Image for the building in context. The plaque is on that side, just to the left of the entrance.

This path leads from the main road (at this end) to a point near the junction of John Street and Alexander Street. The path may now seem insignificant, but it is the relic of a road that followed precisely this line, and which considerably pre-dates the other streets in the area (of the adjacent present-day streets, only the main road itself is older). Back when it was a road, the path shown here used to continue further in this direction; it led to Dalquhurn House, Dalquhurn Cottage, and the River Leven. When the first-edition OS map was surveyed in 1860, this road was then present, but the nearest buildings to the north were in the vicinity of the present-day leisure centre: Image The continuous, built-up part of Renton did not yet extend this far to the south. The small white building shown right of centre in the present picture, with bins on its near side, is now a private house, but I remember it being a doctor's clinic several decades ago.

Lock-ups at Tontine Crescent, Renton. Just off Main Street.

A pavilion can be seen right of centre (Image), with the top of Image behind it. As the map shows, the picture was taken from the park's western edge, adjacent to and parallel to the railway line.

Just off Main Street

The park is viewed here from beside the main road. An area of housing on the other side of the main road is called Tontine Park, retaining the name of a park that used to be located there (see Image).