Extract from a letter from the 8th Duke of Argyll to early feuers in February 1850.

Transcript: 
Gentlemen,
. . . . . I hereby engage to set about erecting a pier at Kilcreggan suitable for landing light goods and passengers from steam boats at all states of the tide and have it ready for use by June next, if practicable, and thereafter shall uphold a pier at that place and maintain same in repairs. . . . .

Kilcreggan Pier was built in 1850 by the 8th Duke of Argyll as a transport link for the residents of houses built on feued plots along the southern shoreline of the Rosneath Peninsula. It was designed for light goods and passengers and followed the building of a pier at Rosneath in 1845 and Cove in 1848.

Early Usage.
When ferry services were at their height it was one of six piers on the Rosneath Peninsula with many more along the Clyde Estuary. Those at Greenock, Gourock, Craigendoran and Wemyss Bay incorporated prestigious railway terminals with links to Glasgow, Dumbarton, Paisley and beyond. Train journeys from Glasgow were faster than paddle steamers plying the river thereby shortening journey times to the coast. Passenger transfer from the arriving trains to awaiting ferries was expeditiously managed. Thus the era of “Toffs, Trains and Tourists” entered it heyday.

Once built, Kilcreggan Pier was feued with the contract renewed annually. The feuer would then manage the pier on a commercial basis. The original feuer is not known but for twenty years from 1875 years the pier was feued by Mr McAllister, a popular and very busy piermaster. He also feued the adjacent coastal strip to the east which, for a small fee, he made available as a recreational area for visitors.
Ferry passengers using Kilcreggan Pier included Glasgow’s business community to their summer houses. There were also multifarious other users. For example, on one particularly busy Saturday in June 1880 over 1,400 excursionists (day trippers) landed at the pier as part of the Glasgow phenomenon known as heading “doon the watter”. Travellers ranged from dignitaries such as the Marques of Lorne, heir to Rosneath Estate, along with the city dwelling populous. Charitable organisations, church groups and employers, such as the Templeton brothers of Knockderry Castle, organised excursions for their workers and Glasgow’s needy. Many escaped the industrial air pollution during “Fresh Air Fortnight”.
In addition to feued summer residences in Cove and Kilcreggan many of the villas were rented as summer lets to accommodate a booming holiday trade. On the Rosneath Peninsula these visitors could enjoy panoramic views, fresh air and peaceful surroundings which included the benefits of being a temperance area.

Some ferry companies exploited loop holes in the licensing laws to sell alcohol outside normal licensing hours and passengers could get “steaming”. Others applied a ban on “strong drink” to accommodate families and those of a more refined propriety.

In 1897 forty passenger ferries called daily. Along with passenger traffic the ferries also landed light cargo and Royal Mail. It was the piermaster’s responsibility to receive the packages and manage their onward delivery. Cargoes, such as coal, were landed from puffers at the old stone pier to the east in Kilcreggan Bay.

Ferry companies ran on a highly competitive basis with ferry captains under pressure to beat the opposition to the piers thereby providing a faster service for their own passengers. Timetables were largely ignored as the ferry captains, especially owner-captains, raced to gain competitive advantage.

In 1888 a minor collision took place between two ferries vying for priority at Kilcreggan Pier. Similar incidents occurred elsewhere, some more serious. Ensuing court cases, highlighted the dangers and the need for regulation.

The Clyde Pilot Board invited tenders for a signalling apparatus that could installed at each pier giving the pier master the authority to prioritise between competing ferries vying to make their approach. A submission by Alexander Allan of The Allan Line was accepted.
As shown in the image 7, Godspeed, the system was based on three circular windows corresponding to an inshore, middle, and outer vessel directed at the normal angle of approach at each side of the pier. Each ferry could be controlled by the signal shown by its corresponding window. A black signal showed the direction of approach was closed for access, while a white signal showed it was open. When more than one steamer was approaching, the horizontal position of the signal indicated which steamer had been granted permission to berth alongside. Smaller circular holes in the centre of the coloured disk enabled red or white lights to be shone during hours of darkness.

The system was enforced by the Clyde Navigation Act of 1887 and The Clyde Signalling System was commissioned in March 1889.
At Kilcreggan the original signal tower was placed at the east side of the pier. It is visible in some of the images on display but prominent in image 5. Godspeed.

Repairs and improvements to the pier were reported in local newspapers after storm damage in 1881 and 1888. In 1897 the pier underwent substantial improvements and was enlarged to what we see today. Some visual evidence of the old structure remains on the shore in the intertidal zone.
After WW2 the Rosneath Estate was sold to a midlands businessman, Noel Woodward. In 1948 he set about dividing the estate into lots to be sold at open auction at the Queen’s Hotel, Helensburgh. Cove and Kilcreggan piers were offered as one unit and sold for £4000, well under Woodward’s valuation. The purchasers, the Richie Brothers, ran the ferry service to Gourock for many years. Richard (Dick) Ritchie became the Piermaster until his death in 1959.

Recent Times.
Although greatly used, by 1963 the pier was in a “very shabby condition”. It was purchased by the Town Council who set about repairs to the pier and improvements to the pier buildings. Additional usage was brought about in the 1960s by MOD employees commuting to the Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport. This required the large CalMac ferries, Jupiter and Saturn to berth alongside the pier and a fleet of about 12 coaches waited by the shops to transfer them by road to Coulport. (Image 8) This continued for 20 years until manpower requirements were reduced as Polaris submarines were replaced by Trident from 1980s.

The shelter was enlarged to its present form in 1965 with the signal apparatus incorporated into the newly created tower. The original cast iron letters of the name board “Kilcreggan” were also transferred. Below the eaves on the south west corner is the hanging bracket of the pier bell which was also transferred to the new shelter. It was sounded during restricted visibility (fog) or as a general alarm. In 1945 it rung extensively by Ivy Sutherland, local school teacher and later Town Councillor to mark the end of WW2.

The bell came from the turret cargo steamer Clan Lamont which was built in 1900 for Clan Line Steamers Ltd. owned by Cayzer, Irvine & Co. of Glasgow. Sir Charles Cayzer (1st Baronet) owned a summer house in Cove, Clevedon, which was retained by the family after his death in 1916. For a time Sir Charles was Provost and was also instrumental in the building of Cove Burgh Hall. It would seem that the bell was donated to the pier by Sir Charles Cayzer, 3rd Baronet, sometime after 1930 when Clan Lamont was sold then scrapped. The bell is now in safe custody and an image is displayed adjacent to the bracket. It is put in place for special occasions. It is 15 inches diameter at the base and 11 ¼ inches hight.

In 1975, with local government reorganisation, ownership of the pier passed to West Dunbartonshire Council and then to Argyll & Bute Council in 1995.
Today Kilcreggan Pier is Category B Listed and the only wooden pier on the Clyde with a regular ferry service and signalling tower.
of Cove and Kilcreggan

Peter Walker - Reminiscence

Kilcreggan Pier.
"I started my job as Piermaster in 1965, the pier was extremely busy. Caledonian Steam Packet Company Steamers plied between Gourock, Dunoon, Kilmun, and Blairmore, as well as cruises to Dunoon, Innellan, and Rothesay etc. The Royal Navy also used the pier by using the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service vessels, such as Fleet Tenders for supplying ships at sea with supplies of food, mail etc., and also they carried personnel to and from submarines and surface vessels. They also carried Coulport personnel to Kilcreggan from Gourock prior to the use of car ferries to do the same when numbers or them increased. These ferries were "Jupiter" "Juno".
A fast RAF ex-air sea rescue launch No. 7001 (nicknamed James Bond) was used to convey Royal Naval Officers to join submarines to train as Commanders, (perishers).
The Paddle Steamers in use when I first came to Kilcreggan were P/S "Talisman", P/S "Waverley" and P/S "Caledonian".
The signal system was in use at Kilcreggan Pier for several years, which would give priority to vessels ap[proaching to the pier. There were 3 signals on each side of the pier. A vessel approaching from Craigendoran would have a white disc showing from the shore side. A steamers coming from Gourock would have a white disc showing from the centre, and steamers from the west would have a white disc showing on the shoe side of the west signals, when a white disc was sowing the two other discs on that side would show black.
In between ferries arrivals I would be delivering parcels and packages and other goods which were landed at Kilcreggan Pier from Gourock. These goods were British Rail Freight. Deliveries were made within a 6 mile radius from the pier, by a long wheel-base Land-Rover and trailer.
Because there are no house numbers in Kilcreggan postal addresses were sometimes difficult to locate and he was fortunate to be able to take advice from the baker, Peter Fleming. The bake house was behind the present bank building and he lived with his family in a flat in Firth View. He started work there at 2.30 every morning baking bread, rolls and pies. (He bought cakes from Gourock brought over by ferry.).
He knew a great deal about the village including residents and their house names and locations. He even knew which quarry provided the stone for many of the houses.
When Peter Walker was unsure of the location of a particular house the baker would draw a rough map with his finger on a thin layer of flour on the breadboard.
Peter Fleming produced an audiotape in which he described all the residents and their occupants along with much additional information. This tape was a very comprehensive verbal account but sadly, over time, it has become lost. "



A Selection of Newspaper Articles

H & G Times. August 8, 1888.
PIER SIGNALS. The pier signal at Kilcreggan was erected on Thursday, under the superintendence of Charles E. Allan. Those at Hunters Quay, Kilmun, Dunoon, and Innellan are intended to be put in position this week.

H & G Times. 26th September. 1888
NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING AT KILCREGGAN PIER. On Friday afternoon, while a number of people were on the pier for the arrival of a steamer, a boy between 7 and 8 years of age, son of a lady at present residing in Kilcreggan, while swinging on the gangway along with a companion overbalanced and fell into the water. Mr McAllister, piermaster, hearing the cries of the people, was soon on the spot, and seeing what was the matter, at once threw off his coat, and at great personal risk jumped into the water, and got hold of the little fellow, and was able to bring him to the end of the pier just in time to save him from being run down by the Meg Merrillies, which was approaching. Notwithstanding the surf from the steamer washing over them, Mr McAllister with great courage held on to the piles and the little boy until assistance reached him. The boy was at once conveyed home, where Dr Alexander was in immediate assistance, and he is now alright. Great praise is due to Mr McAllister, as but for his heroic and timely assistance the little boy would have been drowned.

H & G Times 4th December, 1895
The Pier at Kilcreggan, which has been tenanted by Mr McAllister for nearly 20 years, was advertised lately in the Herald to let from May, 1896, has been taken up by a Mr Craig from Glasgow who at one time had a connection with the tolls around Glasgow. We understand that there is a rise of nearly £100 in the rent of the pier.

H & G Times. Nov 18, 1896.
Kilcreggan Pier. The improvements at Kilcreggan Pier are to be on a more extensive scale than was expected. It is intended to have a new pier-head entirely, 20 greenheart and 30 pitch pine piles will be used in the construction. Iron rails are to be used as diagonals for binding the structure and it is stated that the whole is to be embedded in cement. The gangway diagonals will be strengthened, and it will be April or May before the work is completed.

H & G Times. 5th June 1949.
Retiral of Pier master. Mr Donald McEwan, after forty three years faithful and courteous service as Piermaster at Kilcreggan, retired from that office on Saturday evening. May 28th. And is succeeded by Messrs Ritchie, Brothers., Ferry Masters, Gourock, who purchased Cove and Kilcreggan Piers from the proprietors of Rosneath Estate at a sale recently. Mr McEwan also carried on a successful coal merchant’s business for many years as a side-line, retiring from that some years ago. He was Piermaster at Cove for a time before taking over Kilcreggan Pier, and was succeeded there by a brother. Each of four brothers was then a Piermaster – at Innellan, Lochgoilhead, Cove and Kilcreggan.
H & G Times. April 8 1958.
Death of Well-Known Retired Clyde Piermaster
It is with deep regret we have to record the death of Mr Donald Stewart McEwan, Piermaster, Kilcreggan (retired), which took place at his home, Princes Terrace, Kilcreggan, on Monday, March 30.
Mr McEwan, who was in his 75th year, had not been well for some time, and had been removed to a private home in Glasgow about a month ago, being discharged from there only on Sunday prior to his passing. Being Piermaster for over 40 years he was familiar, popular, well-known and highly respected personality, not only throughout the Peninsula but the whole Clyde area. His occupation brought him in contact with the large travelling public summer and winter, where his devotion to duty, his high sense of responsibility and his ever-willing assistance and advice was warmly appreciated. The summer tourists seeking information about the Clyde, brought a glow of pride to his face; “here he could relate in full and with great emphasis many a good yarn about the good old Clyde Steamers, and the Clyde skippers. As a citizen of the community he was considerate, kind and helpful and ever ready to lend a willing hand, and with less fortunate of his fellow men he had a secret and silent sympathy. He was a founder member of Lodge St Modan, Rosneath, No. 1015, and a member of Lindowan Church of Scotland. In the field of sport, he was an enthusiastic member of the Bowling Club, a carpet bowler, and a well-known West of Scotland curler. In every good cause pertaining to the welfare of the community he was a generous supporter, and his many deeds of kindness and service went without publicity.
On Wednesday, a few minutes after “Talisman,” flying its pennant at half-mast, left Kilcreggan Pier the remains of Donald McEwan were taken from his home overlooking the Clyde and laid to rest in the Barbour Cemetery.

H & G Times 4th July 1959.
Death of Well Known Piermaster.
Was Soccer star before the war.
Rosneath Peninsular residents and people living in Helensburgh and in the many other parts of the Clyde, were deeply shocked last week by the death of Kilcreggan Pier master and Senior Magistrate of Cove and Kilcreggan Town Council, Mr Richard “Dick” Ritchie.
Mr Ritchie, who was 47 years of age, had been ill for some time. He went into hospital last November. He returned to Kilcreggan only to re-enter Mearnskirk Hospital Last Week
Services were held on both sides of the Clyde at his funeral. The first of these was at the Pier House, his Kilcreggan home, and the second at Gourock Cemetery.
Mr Ritchie had been Piermaster since 1949. Coming from the well-known family of ferrymasters, he had an extensive knowledge of Clyde waters which proved valuable in war-time when he was appointed boat supervisor for the ministry of War Transport at Gourock.
In pre-war years he was a noted professional footballer, and kept goal for Greenock Morton, Dumbarton and Aberdeen.
He is survived by his wife and two children, a boy aged 12 and a girl aged 10.


Helensburgh Advertiser. 1st May 1963
Big Shake-up for Kilcreggan Pier – Polaris may play a big part.
The shabby pier buildings of Kilcreggan and the weather beaten jetty are included in plans for rejuvenation. Thousands are to be spent- the first real money in years on the last remaining sea link Rosneath Peninsula has with the other side of the Firth – and the villagers are claiming, ONLY GOOD CAN COME OF IT.
The pier itself has been tottering for some time. Since it was brought recently by Cove and Kilcreggan Council careful studies have been made to find how it can be given a new life. Extensive repairs are needed.
A Sandbank contractor, Wm. H. Rankin, has got the job at £4,699. His firm make it a condition of contract that the village bear the expense of workmen’s lodgings. When dates have been worked out he will go ahead.
Every day scores of City businessmen with homes on the Kilcreggan and Rosneath shores use the pier to travel across the Firth by steamer. Bus loads of workmen travel daily in the other direction for the Gareloch boatbuilding yards and Admiralty and oil installations.
But Kilceggan pier is right in the track of the fabulous Polaris development at Coulport and the Gareloch. It could be the gateway for hundreds of workmen from Renfrewshire shores to these multi-million projects.
Plans are also on hand for the conversion and extension of the pier buildings. Office, store, waiting room, toilets with septic tanks and cycle shed are included. The estimated cost is £3,500. The village Council have accepted the plans in principle and negotiations are to be made with the Dunbarton County Treasurer.

Helensburgh Advertiser.
12th, Feb. 1965
NEW PIER HOUSE.
Kilcreggan pier will get a new pier house. Plans are being prepared for a new house and garage to be built and the piermaster’s old house could be converted into public toilets and a cycle shed.
Cove and Kilcreggan Town Council has asked for sketch plans of these proposals to modernise the pier.

Richard Reeve. March 2025.


Acknowledgements:
Gavin Walker, Piermaster
The Rosneath Peninsula Amenity Society
Our Community
Alison Diamond, Curator of Argyll Papers.
Helensburgh Library (Helensburgh and Gareloch Times articles).