The Cloch Lighthouse

This fine and noble structure is a fairly common subject for west of Scotland Blippers, but since it holds a particular place in my childhood memories, I thought I might be excused another shot of it.

The Cloch Lighthouse sits to the west of Gourock, on the southern side of the Clyde just as this great river turns south and heads for the Atlantic. During WW2 a huge anti-submarine boom net stretched from here to the Gantock Rock on the opposite side at Dunoon. This had the effect of transforming the river between Gourock and Greenock into an invincible anchorage for allied shipping and convoys arriving from America. Several hundred thousand American GIs would pass through this defence en-route to training camps, and preparation for the Normandy Invasion.

As a child I regularly woke to the sound of her great steam-powered fog horn - sadly no longer in use. You can see the aperture, painted black on the base. I've always loved this building - I was even in the 'Cloch' house at high school!

If my numbers ever come up on the EuroMillions, I'll knock on the door and ask the occupants to name their price.