Shandon- The old Pier Traditional Cache

A series of drive by caches near sites of the historic piers on the Clyde and its surrounding lochs. This cache is a small clip lock box with logbook (please bring something to sign the log) some small swapables and space for geocoins and travelbugs etc.

Shandon, a place in Rhu parish, on the E shore of the Gare Loch, 4½ to 5½ miles NW of Helensburgh  Its name Gaelic  sean-dun, means' old fortress'.

 West Shandon, a fine Elizabethan edifice of two stories, with a lofty turreted tower, was commenced in 1851 as the seat of Robert Napier, Esq. (1791-1876)

This magnificent building was the home of Robert Napier, the greatest figure in Clyde shipbuilding and marine engineering in the mid-19th century. After Napiers death West Shandon was converted to the Shandon Hydro Hotel a luxury hotel and Turkish bathhouse.

 During World War One the Hydro became a hospital, and in World War Two it was used by the army. In 1951 it became a hotel again, but in 1957 it was closed and demolished finally by 1960 when it was then used for a number of years as a caravan park.

 Napier also commissioned the pier around the same time for his good friend Henry Bells’ ship ‘The Comet’(amongst others) to dock.

image circa 1908

The pier which can be seen in the photographs was finally demolished in 1980 with Shandon church beyond. This church is still in place but was converted into a house a year after the pier was destroyed.