A COLLEAGUE was telling me recently about a Viking battle that was fought at Newshot Island, as seen from the walkway at the Beardmore Hotel. I was sceptical at first, but it seems he may be right.

There was a Viking settlement at Dumbarton around the 10th century, and they did encroach further up the River Clyde – much to the consternation of the locals.

The river at that time was split between the north and south channels, with Newshot Island in the middle of the river. Over the centuries the south channel was linked to the island by dykes and causeways and it eventually silted up, leaving the spit or shot protruding into the new main north channel.

Unwittingly the farmers and herders from the Renfrew side had caused a change in direction of the Clyde at this point, with the current and tide forming a large bend to develop from the site of Clydebank College to Dalmuir West.

It proved to be perfect for the building and launching of large ships and in the late 19th century Beardmore’s shipyard did just that. The natural bend enabled big vessels to be launched quickly into the deep channel and the industrial town of Clydebank grew from there.

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Unfortunately, the discovery of asbestos as a fire retardant and insulating material encouraged its widespread use in shipbuilding, and the huge Turner and Newall asbestos factory (1938-1970) was sited in Dalmuir at Cable Depot Road, right next to the shipyard.

The site is close to the Golden Jubilee Hospital but is considered safe if left undisturbed.

With the whole area now being developed, it would be very unwise to build on this known contaminated ground.

Recent reports of toxic dump sites in Coatbridge, where two schools have been affected by blue water, and Shawfield, where the local burn has turned bright green after recent new house building, are a warning to anyone tempted to ignore our dirty industrial past.

Coincidentally, the Shawfield contamination is suspected to come from the former chromium works that was owned by the White family for more than 100 years.

John White (alias Lord Overtoun) owned 2,000 acres of Dunbartonshire and was lauded for his philanthropic acts, one of them being the purchase of Dalmuir Park, when he gifted £5,000 to the Burgh of Clydebank to buy the land in 1906.

On the one hand he was a despotic Dickensian exploiter of working people and sent them, painfully, to an early grave. On the other, he spread his wealth in this area for the benefit of future generations. Rather ironic, don’t you think?