THE community of Port Glasgow is invited to get involved as the town celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2025.
To mark the historic year, Inverclyde Council has organised various activities and is working with partners to make sure everyone in the community is included. Consultation at the start of the year asked residents what they’d like to see during the year and results have shaped much of the planning.
Included are an extended Comet Festival over the weekend of 21/22 June, incorporating the Port Glasgow 10-kilometre running event; a school arts project; floral displays; commissioning of pipe music; and an exhibition of Port Glasgow images at the Watt Institution.
Other projects including documenting community voices; a Port Glasgow-themed Dungeon and Dragons adventure; and special talks.
Groups, communities, organisations and businesses are all encouraged to get involved by arranging their own projects, with many already planning fringe events to take place in the town around the Comet Festival weekend.
Provost Drew McKenzie said: “This is a terrific milestone and one which gives us an excuse to shine a light on this wonderful town of ours. I am looking forward to celebrating the history of Port Glasgow this year.
“I am sure all Portonians, both near and far, will join me in marking the anniversary of our town and I hope to see many getting involved in all the positive activities.”
The origins of Port Glasgow date back to the late sixteenth century when the authorities in Glasgow purchased land by the village of Newark to establish a port for the city. In 1710, the principal custom house on the River Clyde was constituted at the Port of Glasgow.
The settlement around the port grew quickly and soon absorbed the fishing village of Newark. Newark was a burgh of barony belonging to Hamilton of Wishaw, while Port Glasgow remained under the municipal authority of the City of Glasgow.
Recognising the complexities of this arrangement, an act of parliament was passed in 1775 establishing Port Glasgow as a burgh in its own right. The Port Glasgow (Improvement) Act 1775 defined the burgh’s municipal responsibilities and its authority to raise duty. The Act was passed on 22 May 1775 and Port Glasgow was born.
