Burgh Boundary Stones of Helensburgh

There appeared and joined in the Procession:
Messrs Robert MacLellan and Peter MacLellan Ground Surveyors on behalf of Sir James Colquhoun of Luss Barlonet, the superior of the Burgh and Proprietor of the lands adjoining, except at the Eastern Boundary or Duke's Road.

Parties present

James Smith Esquire Provost along with Bailllies James Bain and James Benzie, John MacMurrich a Councillor and Duncan Turner Clerk to the Burgh.Messrs Robert MacAuslane formerly farmer in StuckJohn MacNaught Gardener at Rockbank Robert Colquhoun Feuar Robert Cochran Feuar, all of whom were examined as witnesses and concurred in identifying as they went along the Boundary lines specified in the Charter and large stones of wrought freestone having BB cut thereon were placed at proper places and distances to show the Boundaries.

There were also present
Messrs John Walker
John Hunter
Robert Glen
James Colquhoun
Malcolm MacGregor
Peter Macfarlane
– all feuars

Messrs Henry Colquhoun Junr
John Macfarlane Junr
James MacLure Carter
James Lindsay Grocer
Duncan MacKinnon
John Bain Shoemaker
Andrew MacLellan, son of Robert MacLellan, Land Surveyor
Daniel MacLeod, Tailor
William Bain, Porter
Robert Taylor, Joiner
James Buchanan, Wright
Archibald Colquhoun Wright
Robert and John his sons
John Batteson Teacher
Lorne Campbell Reid
Robert and Malcolm Walker, sons of John
Walter Bain Wright. - Besides a great many other young and middle aged persons to witness the proceedings.

1. The parties commenced at and proceeded from Sinclair Street, now the new line of Road to Lochlomond, eastward along the line of the old march hedge of Milligs Farm and placed the first stone at "Craigknow" twelve feet to the west  of the third street leading up west of the Mill Burn.
2. The next stone was placed Laigh on the west side of the March dyke between Milligs and Stuckleckie farms, two feet to the west of the fifth Street from the Burn.
3. The third stone was placed on the north side of the upper termination of the said march dyke, being two hundred and seventy-nine feet west of the Southwest corner of the large new lodging presently possessed by Captain Johnston
4. The next stone was placed on the north side of the continuation eastward of the dyke below the grounds formerly called     the ward, at the present hedge running down to the public high way along the shore.
5. Continuing eastward the next stone was placed on the upper side of the Dyke where it joins the old Road leading from Clyde to Lochlomond commonly called the  Duke's Road.
6. Then proceeding southward along the Duke's road the next stone was placed on the west side of that road six hundred and seventy-eight feet from a stone to be fixed at the east end of the house known as Parkend  House, fronting the High Road.
7. The next stone placed at the east gable of Parkend House six hundred and seventy-eight feet from the stone last put in.
8. 8. Then crossing the road and proceeding southward the last stone in the eastern lines was placed in the March Dyke bounding the lands of Craigendoran belonging to Mr Dennistoun near to the seashore.
9. The parties present then proceeded along the public road from the eastern extremity of the Burgh, to the westmost Boundary at the Bridge opposite the property now of Mr Gemmill, and placed the first stone of the western Boundary on the South side of the  Bridge ten and a half feet from the Stone to the Centre of the arch.Then proceeding northward along the side of the Burn of     Glennan , and Messrs. Robert Colquhoun and Robert Cochrane feuars and old men being examined on the ground, they stated that the late Mr Moses Gardner, the former proprietor of Mr Gemmill's property has altered the course of the Burn adjoining to that property, and this appearing to be obvious also from the old plan of the Burgh produced, the Court reserved till a future day to have the present extent of the alteration ascertained by measurements and to place Boundary Stones so as to mark the grounds actually contained in the Charter. The witnesses likewise stated that the course of the Burn had not been altered in any other place.
10. 10. Proceeding therefore along the Burn northward, the next stone was placed on the north side of Prince's Street, twenty-four feet nine inches east of the centre of the Burn (which centre is the boundary at the present wooden bridge).
11. The next stone was placed within the limits of Mr Russell's enclosed feu, at the north-west extremity of this western line of boundary, on the east side of the Burn ten and a half  feet from John Macauslane's Dyke to the east and fourteen feet from that dyke to the boundary, viz the middle of the Burn.​
12. Now proceeding eastward along the line of the old march fence of the two Milligs and  Glennan, which was identified by the said Robert Colquhoun and Robert Macauslane, the  next stone was placed on the west side of John Street at the eastmost gable of John  Macauslane's house.
13. Following the said old line of march eastward, the next stone was placed on the east side of Colquhoun Street, along the west side wall of Robert Lennox's tenement, ninety feet and one half from the stone so placed to the stone at the northwest corner of King Street.
14. And to complete the whole, the last stone was placed at the end of the old hedge on the west side of Sinclair Street (now the new line of road to Lochlomond, one foot in off thestreet .

There was a regatta at Helensburgh on the occasion attended by the Northern Yacht Club, and James Smith Esquire the Provost, with his cutter the Amethyst won the cup presented by Sir Michael Shaw Stewart Baronet.

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Postscript
Only 2 burgh boundary stones are known today. One is in Garrawy Glen, probably on its original location. The other is in the garden of the house at 39 Millig Street – probably not on its original location! Furthermore the 2 stones differ from one another in several  respects, such as size, shape and engraving. In particular the one at 39 Millig Street has the date 1816 clearly engraved on its top, whereas the minutes referred to in the article above lists the boundary stones in 1833. It seems quite possible therefore that boundary stones were put up more than once.
Stewart Noble
January 2024