Gourock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gourock
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 Gourock Bay |
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 Gourock
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| Population | 10,210 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NS 24200 77000 |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GOUROCK |
| Postcode district | PA19 |
| Dialling code | 01475 |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
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Gourock (
i/ˈɡʊərək/ GOOR-ək; Scottish Gaelic: Guireag [ˈkuɾʲak]) is a town in the Inverclyde area of Scotland. It used to be a popular seaside resort. Today, it is mainly a place where people live.
Gourock is connected to Greenock. It has a train station and ferry services. These ferries take people across the Firth of Clyde.
Contents
History of Gourock
The name Gourock comes from a Gaelic word. It means "pimple," which refers to the hill above the town.
Early Times and Growth
In 1494, James IV of Scotland sailed from Gourock. He went to deal with rebellious Highland clans. Later, in the 1600s, William and Mary gave Gourock a special charter. This made it a Burgh of Barony. This meant it had some rights to govern itself.
In 1784, Duncan Darroch bought the land of Gourock. He was a rich merchant from Jamaica. He built Gourock House. This land later became Darroch Park, which is now Gourock Park.
Gourock started as a small fishing village. It grew into a busy community. People worked in herring curing, copper mining, and making ropes. Later, they built and repaired yachts.
Steamer Era and Railways
A sad event happened near Gourock in 1825. The steamer PS Comet (II) crashed with another ship. About 62 people lost their lives.
Railway companies built lines to Gourock. They wanted to connect to the Clyde steamer services. The "Pierhead" was built as a train station. Today, a passenger ferry goes to Kilcreggan. Electric trains also run to Glasgow from Gourock railway station.
The main office for David MacBrayne Ltd is at the pier. CalMac runs a passenger ferry to Dunoon. Another car ferry service runs from McInroy's Point to Hunter's Quay.
Gourock as a Resort
Gourock was very popular for tourists in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many people visited it as a seaside resort. Some old buildings from that time are now gone. These include The Bay Hotel and The Ashton.
The town has continued to grow. New homes have been built near Castle Levan. This old castle has been restored. It is now used as a bed and breakfast.
Places to Visit in Gourock
Gourock has one of Scotland's few outdoor swimming pools. The Gourock Outdoor Pool was built in 1909. It uses cleaned sea water and is heated. The pool was updated with a new leisure centre. It now has a bigger gym and easy access.
Kempock Stone
The ancient Kempock Stone is on a cliff. It is also known as "Granny Kempock Stone." People used to believe it brought good luck. Sailors going on long trips would walk around it seven times. Couples getting married also did this for good fortune.
Steps lead up from the street past the stone. They go to Castle Mansions and St John's Church. The church's crown steeple is a famous landmark in Gourock.
Kempock Street
Kempock Street is the main shopping street. It has many different shops. You can find a small supermarket, gift shops, cafes, and restaurants.
At the end of the street, there is a statue. It shows a "Girl on a Suitcase" with a bucket and spade. People call her "Wee Annie." This statue reminds us of Gourock's past. It was a place where holidaymakers started their trips "doon the watter" (down the water). The artist Angela Hunter created this statue in 2011.
Gourock also has a golf course. It stretches from Trumpethill to Levan estates. The Municipal Buildings are now a business centre. They were finished in 1924.
Royal Gourock Yacht Club
Gourock has a large yacht club. It is called the Royal Gourock Yacht Club. It started in 1894 as Gourock Sailing Club. In 1900, it became Gourock Yacht Club. It received its "Royal" status in 1908.
Clan Darroch's Connection
Clan Darroch has a long history with Gourock. It began with Duncan Darroch in the late 1700s. He became rich in the West Indies. There is a story that when he was young, he snuck into Gourock House garden. He promised to buy the estate one day. He bought the Barony of Gourock in 1784.
The current head of the Scottish clan Darroch is Claire Darroch-Thompson. She is the 8th of Gourock.
Industry in Gourock
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Besides tourism and fishing, Gourock's main industry was repairing small boats. It also had businesses called chandleries. A rope-making company started here but later moved.
More recently, Amazon.com opened a large distribution centre. It is located at Faulds Park, an industrial area south of the town.
Areas of Gourock
Ashton
The promenade at Ashton is part of the Inverclyde Coastal Path. It is a nice place for walks.
McInroy's Point
McInroy's Point is a small piece of land. It is on the west side of Gourock. A pier was built here around 1973. This is where Western Ferries leave from. The port has grown and now has two ramps for ferries. Ferries from here go to Hunters Quay near Dunoon.
| Preceding station | Ferry | Following station | ||
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| Terminus | Western Ferries Ferry |
Hunters Quay |
Midton
Midton was once home to the Drumshantie Rifle Range. In the mid-1900s, many temporary houses were built here. These were called "prefabs." They helped with housing shortages after the war.
Trumpethill
Trumpethill is a residential area. It is located between Midton and Levan. It lies north of the Gourock Golf Club.
Famous People from Gourock
- Iain Banks (1954–2013), author
- Charlie Barr (1864–1911), yachtsman and three-time America's Cup winner
- Nicky Low (1992– ) footballer
- Neil Munro (1863–1930), author
- Fiona Ritchie (1960– ), radio broadcaster
- William Somerville Shanks (1864–1951), artist
- Melissa Stribling (1926–1992), actress
- Sir Ernest Woodroofe (1912-2002), chairman of Unilever
- George Wyllie (1921–2012), artist
See also
In Spanish: Gourock para niños
