Port Glasgow Railway & Hood's Well

Railway services were first introduced at Port Glasgow in March 1841 when the Caledonian Railway Company's Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock railway, built at a total cost of £814,000 was opened to traffic. The initial station was fairly basic, and in 1858 various improvements were carried out, including the removal of the goods department to the East end of the town, and a wooden bridge was thrown across the line which, it was said: "will greatly add to the comfort, and especially promote the safety of passengers, who have had to cross the rails often in perilous conditions and, but for the constant vigilance of Mr Hood and his staff of Officers, accidents might readily have occurred."
The photograph shows the station before further extensive alterations were carried out between 1913 and 1914.

Mr James Hood was either a guard or inspector before becoming station master at Port Glasgow station. On his retirement money was collected with the intention of buying him a gift.
At his request the money was put towards a drinking well in the station grounds for use by the general public, it was aptly called Hood's Well.

The well was once again uncovered in 2001 when work was being carried out on the retaining wall beneath Highholm Primary School which was in danger of collapse.

Unfortunately it was vandalized after being found and a part is now missing

Photographed here Is Mr William Crawford who is the Chairman of the Port Glasgow Central West Community Council, and Mr Sid Singh who is employed by Mowlem the company who is currently undertaking the work to reinforce and repair the retaining wall.He is also responsible for finding the well.

The picture to the left shows the station in 1962. It was taken from a footbridge that run across the line at the west end of the station. (see first picture on page above) This foot bridge has since been removed. Also in this shot you can see the Star Hotel and the front of Hamiltons first church in Princes Street. Bouverie street is visible on the hill behind.

To the right is a photograph taken from as close to the same position as was possible in 1994

The photograph shows the changes to the platforms and also the line which by this time had been electrified. Some of the buildings in the back ground have also been removed.

Some pictures of the station taken in 2002 which was also the year that the station was treated to it's last modernisation.

These pictures show you what is currently visable of the well in 2005.

This page last modified on Sunday, January 16, 2005

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