Langbank

This article is about the village in Scotland. For the hamlet in Canada, seeLangbank, Saskatchewan.

Langbank
Main Road in Langbank
Langbank Location withinRenfrewshire
Population	870 (2022)
OS grid reference	NS3873
Council area	Renfrewshire
Lieutenancy area	Renfrewshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PORT GLASGOW
Postcode district	PA14
Dialling code	01475
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish

Langbankis a village on the south bank of theRiver ClydeinRenfrewshire,Scotland.It is 9.3 miles/15 km northwest fromPaisley(Renfrewshire) and 3.4 miles/5.5 km east fromPort Glasgow(Inverclyde) on the A8.

History

Langbank evolved as adormitory settlementforGlasgowafter the opening of theGlasgow and Greenock Railwayin 1841, a function it still performs. Prior to that it was a scattered collection of farms with access to the river.An 1800 map makes reference to Longbank. It remains on the busyA8 trunk road,a few hundred yards from the start of theM8 motorway.Langbank railway stationis on theInverclyde Line.

There are two crannogs on the shoreline of the village; Langbank East crannog is at Westferry, by the start of the M8 motorway, Langbank West crannog is immediately beside the A8 dual carriageway opposite Langbank Parish Church. Both crannogs are only visible at lower states of the tide.

Visible along the shoreline west of Langbank and stretching all the way to Port Glasgow are the remains of the timber ponds where the shipyards of the lower Clyde stored timber for use in shipbuilding during the 18th Century.

Landmarks

• Langbank Parish Church (1866) has a spire which was rebuilt three times.
• Formakin House(begun 1903) is a curious mansion which was never actually completed as the owner ran out of money. Features include tiny stone monkeys which clamber over the rooftops and a datestone carved with the date "1694" and the letters "DL" (standing for "Damned Lie" ).
• Finlaystone House(c. 1760) was built as the seat of the Cunningham Earls of Glencairn, but since the 1920s has been home to the MacMillan family and to the chief ofClan MacMillan.The estate is now a popular country park and garden centre. It is located between Langbank,Port GlasgowandKilmacolm.
• Gleddoch Housewas the home of Port Glasgow Shipbuilder, Col. Sir James Lithgow Bt. It is now a hotel and leisure complex.

St Vincent's College

From 1961 to 1978, St Vincent's College was situated in the village. It was aminor seminaryof theRoman Catholic Church in Scotland.It was opened on 3 October 1961.The first rector was Charles McDonald Renfrew, who was aTitular Bishopof Abula and anAuxiliary Bishop of Glasgow.One of its students was theArchbishop of Glasgow,Philip Tartaglia.It closed in 1978 and the students were transferred toBlairs CollegenearAberdeen.The chapel was listed as a category B listed building on 9 August 1995.In 2003, after restoration work byHistoric Scotland,the site was converted into accommodation, but maintained its original outwards appearance.

Governance

Part of thecivil parishofErskine,Langbank also became aquoad sacra parishin the 19th century.

For modern local government purposes, Langbank is part of theRenfrewshirecouncil area.Langbank was previously linked with its nearby and larger neighbour,Houstonbut is now part of a local councilwardwithBishoptonandBridge of Weir(Ward 10). Langbank has its owncommunity council.The community council is chiefly a consultative body, forming a focus for local views, and has no statutory powers of its own.

Gallery

• 
  The Wheelhouse
• 
  Visitor Centre at Finlaystone House
• 
  Langbank West Crannog
• 
  Langbank West Crannog
• 
  Langbank East Crannog
• 
  Langbank East Crannog
• 
  Langbank Parish Church
• 
  Former Langbank East Church, Station Road
• 
  The A8 dual carriageway Langbank Bypass
• 
  The old timber ponds near the village
• 
  The sloping playfield by the railway station

External links

• Langbank Community Portal(Langbank Community Council)
• Finlaystone Estate
• The Finlaystone Timber Ponds