Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Alt Clut
Rock of the Clyde
— Dumbarton Castle —
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
1. Alt Clut Marker
Inscription.
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.
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
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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.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1715.
Location. 55° 56.164′ N, 4° 33.743′ W. Marker is in Dumbarton, Scotland, in West Dunbartonshire. Marker can be reached from Castle Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dumbarton, Scotland G82 1JJ, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
. (Submitted on September 1, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee.) 2. Dumbarton Castle - Wikipedia. (Submitted on September 1, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
3. The Rock
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
4. The Battery
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
5. The Battery over the River Clyde
Looking in the direction of Glasgow.
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
6. Battery overlooking River Clyde
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
7. Portcullis Arch
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
8. French Prison & Remains of Wallace Tower
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
9. Duke of Argyll's Battery & Powder Magazine
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
10. River Clyde leading out to the Firth of Clyde
Dumbarton Rock Kiosk in foreground.
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
11. Dumbarton Rock Kiosk
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
12. Around the Rock Marker
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, May 31, 2013
13. Dun Breatann - Fortress of the Britons Marker
Photochrom postcard by the Detroit Photographic Company, 1905
14. Dumbarton Castle 1905
Courtesy of the Library of Congress:
Photochrom Print Collection - Library of Congress Catalog: http://lccn.loc.gov/2001705975
Title from the Detroit Publishing Co., catalogue J-foreign section. Detroit, Mich. : Detroit Photographic Company, 1905.; More information about the Photochrom Print Collection is available at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.pgz; Print no. "13088".; Forms part of: Views of landscape and architecture in Scotland in the Photochrom print collection.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 534 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. submitted on September 1, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.