kids encyclopedia robot

Rosneath facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Rosneath
Rosneath, Juno & Saturn 24410.jpg
View from caravan site at Castle Point, looking northwest across Rosneath Bay to the pier and village
Rosneath is located in Argyll and Bute
Rosneath
Rosneath
Population 1,260 (2020)
OS grid reference NS 25447 83210
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Helensburgh
Postcode district G84
Dialling code 01436
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
  • Argyll and Bute
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
56°00′36″N 4°48′05″W / 56.009950°N 4.8013940°W / 56.009950; -4.8013940

Rosneath (Ros Neimhidh in Gaelic) is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It sits on the western shore of the Gare Loch, 2 miles (3 kilometres) northwest of the tip of the Rosneath Peninsula. It is about 2.4 miles (4 kilometres) by road from the village of Kilcreggan, which is sited on the southern shore of the peninsula, on the Firth of Clyde.

The Gare Loch narrows at Rosneath to under half a mile (around 600 metres) at a place known as the Rhu Narrows, after the village of Rhu on the eastern shore of the loch.

Rosneath Bay to the south of the village curves eastward to Castle Point, near the site of the former Roseneath Castle, in the grounds of the former Rosneath House which are now occupied by Rosneath caravan park. The coast turns south past Culwatty Bay to Rosneath Point at the tip of the peninsula, which is directly north of Princes Pier in the large town of Greenock, 2 miles (3 kilometres) distant on the southern shore of the Firth.

History

The Rosneath area has been settled from at least 600 onwards, when St. Modan, a travelling missionary, founded a church there. The name Rosneath may have its roots in this era; it is derived from the Gaelic Rossnachoich, meaning "Virgin's Headland." Another account indicates that it may come from Ross-neoth, or unwooded headland. The name has historically been spelled as Roseneath (notably in both the First and New (or Second) Statistical Accounts of Scotland). A more visible example is Roseneath Street in Greenock which overlooks the village and dates from around 1900.

Later, the area was heavily fortified, with Rosneath's own castling joining those of nearby Faslane and Shandon (located at Faslane and Shandon), all of which are long since gone. Rosneath village did not yet fully exist by this time; instead, Rosneath parish was home to many free-standing dwellings, the occupants of which were for the vast bulk of the area's history employed in agriculture and fishing. Frequent shipping services to Glasgow, Greenock and beyond were vital for the local economy until recently.

Rosneath Primary School
Rosneath Primary School

Rosneath Castle was ruined and rebuilt many times; the final rebuilding as Rosneath House came in 1803–06, three years after the previous building burnt down. Located further uphill from previous versions, it belonged to the Duke of Argyll whose family retained it until Princess Louise died in 1939. In stark contrast to the earlier castles, it was in the Romanesque Revival style.

From 1941 to 1945, Rosneath was home to an important naval base, thanks to its location in the well-sheltered natural harbour of the Gare Loch. The Americans used Rosneath Castle as a base of operations. The castle was then abandoned and the remains demolished in 1961.

The Rosneath peninsula was formerly in the traditional County of Dunbarton until local government reorganisation moved it into the Argyll and Bute council area in 1996.

Notable people

  • John Anderson, the 18th century scientist, educational pioneer and radical who founded what became the University of Strathclyde, was born in Rosneath where his father served as minister of the parish church.
  • The founder of the first Rangers F.C. team, Moses McNeil, lived at Clynder, just outside Rosneath. He was buried at the Old Churchyard of Rosneath in 1938. His death went unnoticed at the time by the media and he had nothing to leave in his will. Moses final resting place has been marked with a plaque by Rangers and members of the local community.
  • Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, the daughter of Queen Victoria, was the last resident of Rosneath House.
  • William de Bois Maclaren, publisher, businessman and Scout Commissioner, purchased Gilwell Park in Essex and donated it to The Scout Association in 1919.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Rosneath para niños

kids search engine
Rosneath Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.