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Greenock, Old West Church
Burial Ground (18th Century), Church (16th Century), Manse (17th Century)
Site Name Greenock, Old West Church
Classification Burial Ground (18th Century), Church (16th Century), Manse (17th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Parish Church Of Greenock West; Old Parish
Canmore ID 41297
Site Number NS27NE 1
NGR NS 2787 7654
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/41297
- Council Inverclyde
- Parish Greenock
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Inverclyde
- Former County Renfrewshire
NS27NE 1 2787 7654.
(NS 2787 7654) Church (NR) (site of) (NAT)
OS 6" map (1970)
(NS 2787 7654) Old West Church (NR) (In ruins) (NAT)
(NS 2787 7654) Old Manse (NR) AD 1625 (NAT)
OS 1:500 map (1859)
Greenock's first church, the "Old West Church" was built in 1591. According to the NSA, an addition was made in 1670, to increase the accomodation, and the ONB states that the burial aisles for the Stewart and Carthburn families were added about 1730. A new church was being built in 1840 (at NS 2733 7634) as a replacement, and though described above as "In ruins", this building was still roofed in 1856. In 1925, the church was dismantled and re-erected at NS 2732 7712; the grave stones from the associated cemetery were also removed.
Though Weir states that the manse was also built in 1591, the date '1625', carved on a coping stone of the NE gable of this two-storeyed house was believed by local informants in 1856 to be the date of erection. (No doubt it was demolished at the same time as the church) the sites of both building being occupied by the Harland and Wolff shipbuilding yards.
J L Dow 1975; NSA 1845 (P M'Farlan); Name Book 1856; D Weir 1829
There is no trace of either church or manse. The sites are now enclosed by modern shipyards.
Visited by OS (JD) 22 July 1955
See NS27NE 178 for rebuilt church reusing original masonry and interior fittings
Simon Green RCAHMS July 2003
NMRS REFERENCE:
Architect: Honeyman, Keppie & Mackintosh 1910 (alterations)
Probably demolished c.1920 and replaced with shipyard.
(Moved 1926 by James Miller)
