Alt Clut

Alt Clut. Rock of the Clyde. , Over the past 1,500 years the rock has served as the centre of the British kingdom of Strathclyde, a medieval frontier post, and on occasion, a royal residence. , , Following the 1715 Jacobite Rising it became a garrison fortress, its impressive defences bristling with guns. , , Did you know? , The rock is around 335 million years old. It was originally a plug of cooled lava blocking a volcano. The softer surrounding rocks have worn away leaving it standing prominently above the estuary. , , 1. Governor's House built in 1735 for John, 8th Earl of Cassilis. , , 2. Guard House: rebuilt in the 16th century. , , 3. Portcullis Arch: built late 14th century. Secured access from the south. , , 4. French Prison and remains of Wallace Tower: Built in 1790 and then used to hold prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars. Wallace Tower, built in the 1400's, may have served as a royal residence. , , 5. Battery: The Duke of Argyll's Battery was named in 1795 when it was upgraded to hold heavier guns. , , 6. Powder Magazine: built in 1748 to hold 150 barrels of gunpowder. , , Key Dates , C.450 , Saint Patrick of Ireland writes to King Ceretic of Strathclyde reprimanding him for raiding his Irish converts. , , 870 , Vikings capture the Rock after a four-month siege. , , 1305 , William Wallace is captured by the keeper of Dumbarton Castle near Glasgow and sent to London. , , 1489 , James IV besieges the castle, then held by the rebellious Earl of Lennox. , , 1548 , Mary Queen of Scots stays at the castle for six months before sailing to France. , , 1730 , Major General Wade orders the wholesale refortification of the castles defences. , , 1941 , German bombs fall on Dumbarton Rock; its first attack in 300 years.