St Patrick's Rock facts for kids
St Patrick's Rock, also called St Patrick's Stone, is a special rock in the River Clyde in Scotland. It's near the Erskine Bridge in Renfrewshire. People believe this is where Saint Patrick was kidnapped when he was 16 years old. He was fishing when Irish pirates took him away. The rock is usually covered by water when the tide is high. There's also a light on it, called St Patrick's Light, to help boats navigate.
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The Story of St Patrick's Rock
Saint Patrick was born a long time ago in Roman Britain. No one is completely sure where he was born. His father, Calpurnius, was an important Roman official.
When Patrick was 16, he was fishing near this rock. Suddenly, Irish pirates attacked and took him away. They brought him to Ireland, where he was held captive for six years. After escaping, he later returned to Ireland. He played a huge part in teaching the Irish people about Christianity.
The story of St Patrick's Rock likely became popular in the 1800s. The area around Old Kilpatrick has been linked to Saint Patrick since the 900s. Some experts think his childhood home, called 'Bannavem Taberniae', might be a place nearby called Bonnaughton.
What St Patrick's Rock Looks Like
This small rock can be seen when the tide is low. A navigation light, called St Patrick's Light, sits partly on top of it. Near the rock, you can also see parts of an old structure called the North Jetty. The rock is right on the edge of the deeper parts of the River Clyde. These deeper parts stay underwater even when the tide is low.
St Patrick's Light
St Patrick's Light was built in the 1900s, after World War II. It stands on a large iron cylinder. This cylinder used to hold gas to power the light. Now, solar panels have been added to provide power instead.
The North Jetty
This old jetty is about 60 meters long and reaches St Patrick's Rock. It was built with a core of rocks and covered with stone blocks. A small drain used to run down the middle of it. The jetty was once even longer, extending another 20 meters. It also had another navigation light at its very end. These extra parts of the jetty and the second light are no longer there. This jetty was one of two; the other one's remains are on the north side of the Erskine Bridge.
Interesting Facts
It is said that St Patrick's church in Old Kilpatrick was built on Irish soil. Also, a nearby well, called St Patrick's Well or the Trees Well, gave water to the town for many years. However, this well is now covered over.
