Our Lady of Lorettos-formerly Dalmuir Parish Church.

[joette]

The above building was built in the late 1890's in Dumbarton Rd Dalmuir.It stands at the corner of Roberts St & just past the Canal Bridge &Duntocher Rd.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow are going to demolish it as it is no longer a viable option to house the Church & St Stephens is close enough to serve the area & is a much more modern building.
I am very distressed &angry over this.West Dumbartonshire Council have tried to stop this happening but Historic Scotland are not interested in preserving this working-class Church.
When it was built it was mainly the preserve of the employees of the Shipyards-Beardmores,Browns.Singers & the Clyde Trust.(my Great-Grandfather Waddell worked for them as did GGGrandfather Greer although they lived in Old Kilpatrick) My Ggrandparents lived(Nairn St) & was there local Church.John Waddell my Great-Grandfather built the wall which surrounds the grounds & despite the Blitz & redevelopment of the area it is still standing.My Great-Uncle Thomas Waddell KIA in 1917 has his memorial inside the Church with others who gave their lives.
I am really angry that they will probably build more houses here.There is almost nothing left of the original Clydebank.No more Singers Clock,no more shipyards.It is so depressing that we are so keen to get rid of our heritage.This is very much MY Heritage in a personal & community context.
My Grandfather & some of his siblings were christened here.My nieces& nephews were christened here when it became a Catholic Church.Made their Holy Communions there & my brother was married there.
I know it's only a wee building but I get a big lump in my throat when I think of it no longer standing.I feel like chaining myself to the railings & as my Great-grandfather built the wall I am sure it would stand firm.

[Miss Poohs]

I'm really upset about this too.

I was christened there back in 1964 when it was Dalmuir Parish church.

Basically it all boils down to cash - and the fact that the church stands on a prime location in Dalmuir.

French St, Castle St (Kitchener St) and Jellico St are all being demolished to build new houses - the church now just stands in the way of progress, and is a sitting duck.

It's a beautiful building and like you say Joette most of old Clydebank just disappeared without a peep - it's a very sad situation.

The church in 1930's

http://theclydebankstory.com/imageview. ... bce81f14ff

The old Clydebank High School is going soon too - the demolition notice was in the Clydebank Post on Wednesday 27th June

[joette]

Great there goes the old Alma Mater as well! St Andrews another great school with a newish building also went for housing.Love the photo which shows of my Great-Grandfather's handywork very well.
I am sooooo mad at this.It just seems that all that matters is houses.I know people have to live but can you imagine the outcry if they decided to pull down St Pauls Cathedral for more housing in Central London?
This Church survived the Blitz too & despite the devastation going on all around it it was built to last.
I can hardly think of anything which is still standing in Clydebank/Dalmuir which is pre1900's.Apart from the houses.Most of the buildings,churches etc have gone!

[Jockbird]

It was only a couple of months ago that I went up to Dalmuir & Clydebank on a nostalgia trip with my Dad and we were standing outside the church as his Granny had lived in Roberts Street for about 20 years. We also wandered round by Jellicoe Street. Those properties tell a story, it's very sad.

As for the School, that's not THE one on Janetta Street/Shelley Drive, is it? My dad and cousin were prefects there. My Dad and I went to the top of the High Park and he showed me all of my Clydebank family history, apart from Boqhuanran Church, as they've got to that already. In time I'd like to show my sons but it looks like developers may have other plans.

Clydebank and Dalmuir have such a story to tell but it's just going to be old postcards, pictures and the internet for our weans to learn it from.

Very sad.

[joette]

Yep you got the school right-my Aunts & Uncles went there as did I & my younger sister & brothers.
West Dumbartonshire to be fair have tried to save the Church but the Archdiocese or historic scotland are not interested.
My Great-Aunt used to live in Roberts St bought a house in Kilbowie Rd which was completely destroyed in the Blitz.
So what Hitler failed to do the authorities are succeeding in doing.
It is just so sad.I think the only thing still standing is the Library & the Town Hall.

[Miss Poohs]

what's the betting their days are numbered too?

[joette]

With all the new houses going up around & about which locals will not be able to afford!! Safe bet!

[Jockbird]

Just spoken to my Dad, he's under the impression the Quadrangle will be ok as it's a listed building, seemingly it's the newer bit of the school, then again the authorities may have changed the rules for listed buildings.

[Miss Poohs]

Well that's what I'm hoping will happen, but looking at the notice it doesn't say anything about a partial demolition, it just says demolition of exisiting school, which more or less give them free reign.

I went to Clydebank High - a few years ago now right enough, but I loved it.

[StewL]

I didnt go the that kirk, later I went to Clydebank High Church?
But it is a disgrace they will demolish it for profits!!!!!

You should see what they did to Perth here in the west in the 70's/80's they demolished most of the old buildings and built office towers. We are not an old place like Scotland, so demolishing the older buildings that we had was a disgrace, just goes to show money doesnt talk it screams. Of course now they realise what a big mistake was made. But it is too late for that now grrrrrrrrr.