IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Church Place, HELENSBURGH, G84 8DY

According to a church member, the crocuses were first planted in the graveyard of Rhu Parish Church (as it was then) over 100 years ago. They have certainly flourished and provide a great spectacle at this time of year. Rhu and Shandon Parish Church were holding a "Crocus Tea" in their church hall on this particular afternoon.

During the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2019, the church was closed and church services were conducted on line. The idea of having a prayer gate at the church was adopted. Ribbons were provided along with an invitation to take one and tie it to the gate as a symbol of individual prayers, fears, gratitude, loss, remembrance and hope. When the gates were full and restrictions eased, the ribbons were taken down in collaboration with pupils from Rhu Primary School and presented to the minister in the church. They were then given to a local artist, Arian Inglis, who wove the ribbons into a spectacular hanging which is displayed in the church. The prayer gate continues and wooden hearts have been provided to be attached at Christmas and crosses at Easter.

This picture was taken with the Domesday Reloaded project in mind, and was an attempt to recreate an older photograph, which could (at the time) be seen at the BBC's Domesday Reloaded site. For the front of the inn, see also Image The wall that appears in the foreground, on the right, is at the top of the beach. The photograph was taken from a point near the Image

King Edward VII Postbox (he reigned 1901-1910). It is mounted in the wall of the Rhu Post Office which closed in 2018. The wall appears to be considerably newer than the postbox. The Post Office is just west of the Rhu Inn (which reopened in October 2022). Both buildings are in the village of Rhu on the north side of the A814 Gareloch Road.

The cycle path is here shown crossing a Image

On Church Road, Rhu.

The memorial is in the kirkyard of Image (and can be seen in that photograph). For additional context, see Image The main inscription reads: "Here lyes intrred Ann Margrat and Janet McFarlands of Robert McFarland and Margrat of Achavenal 1728" Later additions appear in smaller text below the figures. The three sisters named in the main inscription, Ann, Margaret and Janet, born in the 1680s-90s, are represented in the carving. Searching for further details will turn up a tale about the girls dying for the sake of fashion, from a habit of being too tightly-laced: an implausible story that was clearly inspired by the narrow-waisted appearance of the carved figures, and which no doubt originated as a joke. Auchenvennel (the later spelling) was a farmstead in Glen Fruin; see Image and Image

This memorial, in the kirkyard of Image, depicts three sisters from the farmstead of Auchenvennel (in Glen Fruin); for further details, such as the text of the inscription, and for the folklore that has grown up around the carving, see Image The present view is intended to provide further context, showing the position of the carving on the eastern side of Image (the carved figures are also visible in that photograph, at the extreme left). The arch in the background is now part of the Buchanan Memorial; it is a fragment of the 1763 church that stood here, the predecessor of the present-day church.

The flat stone (actually iron) is located in the kirkyard of Image, and lies to the south-east of the church. The elegantly-carved inscription is worth reproducing in full: "To the Memory of Captain Robert Bain, born May 1788, departed this Life at Fort William, Dec. 1827, aged 39 years. - - • - - C R Bain was appointed by H Bell, to the command of the Comet Steam Boat in 1814, by which Vessel a communication was opened up between the Western Islands of Scotland and Glasgow, through the Crinan Canal in July 1819. He was the first Captain who commanded a Vessel from Sea to Sea, through the great Caledonian Canal, in 1822. - - • - - This was erected as a tribute of honour, for 16 years faithful service, By Henry Bell, Engineer, Helensburgh. - - • - - Cast and completely finished At The Shotts Iron Company's Works John Baird Manager 1829." Henry Bell, mentioned here, is buried not far away in the same kirkyard: Image A Image is displayed on the shore at Helensburgh, about 2 miles away, Image, along with an Image See also Image