Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders
Date 2007
Event ID 606261
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Publication Account
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/606261
Wemyss Bay Station and Pier, built in 1865, formed the terminus of a branch of the Caledonian Railway which
served the towns on the south coast of the Clyde. This resort was the steamer terminal for much of the pleasure
sailing on the Clyde operated from both Gourock and Wemyss Bay by the Caledonian Railway fleet.
To meet an increasing demand from holidaymakers the station was rebuilt in 1903 to a design by James Miller
and Donald Matheson with an elegant roof of light ironwork and glass, conveying the impression of airy spaciousness.
A covered way was provided to the steamer berths on the pier so that convenient access was possible in all weathers.
The station was refurbished in 1994 at a cost of £1.8 m and still serves the ferry to Rothesay and the Isle of Bute
and summer excursions. It is one of Britain’s finest stations and was considered by the Railway Heritage Trust as one of
the most remarkable conservation projects to which it had contributed.
R Paxton and J Shipway 2007
Reproduced from 'Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' with kind permission of Thomas Telford Publishers.