Editing Wemyss Bay

{{Other uses|Wemyss (disambiguation)}}
{{infobox UK place|
 |country = Scotland
 |official_name= Wemyss Bay
 |gaelic_name=Bagh nan Uaimhean<ref name=aaa>[http://www.gaelicplacenames.org/databasedetails.php?id=395 Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland]</ref>
 |population=
 |os_grid_reference= NS195695
 |longitude= -4.887
 |latitude= 55.884
 |unitary_scotland= [[Inverclyde]]
 |lieutenancy_scotland= [[Renfrewshire (historic)|Renfrewshire]]
 |constituency_westminster= [[Inverclyde (UK Parliament constituency)|Inverclyde]]
 |constituency_scottish_parliament= [[Greenock and Inverclyde (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Greenock and Inverclyde]]
 |post_town= WEMYSS BAY
 |postcode_district = PA18
 |postcode_area= PA
 |dial_code= 01475
}}
'''Wemyss Bay''' {{IPAc-en|ˌ|w|iː|m|z|_|ˈ|b|eɪ}} is a village on the coast of the [[Firth of Clyde]] in [[Inverclyde]] in the west [[central Lowlands]] of  [[Scotland]]. It is in the traditional county of [[Renfrewshire (historic)|Renfrewshire]].<ref>Registers of Scotland. Publications, leaflets, Land Register Counties. http://www.ros.gov.uk/public/publications/leaflets.html</ref> It is adjacent to [[Skelmorlie]], [[North Ayrshire]]. The villages have always been in separate counties, divided by the Kelly Burn.

Wemyss Bay is the [[port]] for [[ferry|ferries]] to [[Rothesay, Argyll and Bute|Rothesay]] on the [[Isle of Bute]]. Passengers from the island can connect to [[Glasgow]] by trains, which terminate in the village at the remarkable [[Wemyss Bay railway station]], noted for its architectural qualities and regarded as one of Scotland's finest railway buildings.<ref>Walker, Frank Arneil (1986) ''The South Clyde Estuary'', RIAS.</ref><ref>Edwards, Brian (1986), ''Scottish Seaside Towns'', BBC Publications</ref> The port is very exposed, so in high winds the ferries must travel up river to [[Gourock]] to dock.

==Etymology==
The name Wemyss is derived from the [[Scottish Gaelic]] ''uaimh'' which means ''cave''.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Wemyss">Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The [[Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs]]). Published in 1994. Pages 342 - 343.</ref> It is believed to be taken from the caves of the [[Firth of Forth]] where the [[Clan Wemyss]] made their home. The chiefs are one of the few noble families who are descended from the [[Celts|Celtic]] nobility through the [[Clan MacDuff]] [[Earl of Fife|Earls of Fife]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Wemyss"/>

The name Wemyss Bay may be associated with Bob Wemyss, who was the owner of a hut on the shore in the 19th century.<ref>http://www.wemyssbay.net/content.php?pg=customcontent&pd=1022</ref>

==History==
[[File:20140311 Wemyss Bay from Cliff Terrace Rd.jpg|thumb|left|Wemyss Bay, view looking south from Cliff Terrace Road, with [[w:MV Bute|MV ''Bute'']] approaching [[Wemyss Bay railway station|Wemyss Bay railway station and pier]].]]
Wemyss Bay was created in the early 19th century as a 'marine village' and watering-place by [[Robert Wallace (MP for Greenock)|Robert Wallace]] of Kelly, whose lands were adjacent to the bay. Wallace became [[Greenock]]'s first MP and was instrumental in establishing the [[penny post]]. [[London]] merchant James Alexander further developed the area by constructing the first steamboat pier, which was swept away by a hurricane in 1856. Its successor suffered a similar fate and was replaced by the current railway terminus and pier.

The opening of the railway connection in 1865 brought even grander houses. Among the village's notable residents included [[Sir George Burns]], who with [[Samuel Cunard]] founded the [[British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company]] (later the [[Cunard Line]]), and his son John (later 1st [[Baron Inverclyde]]) who lived at [[Castle Wemyss]], which stood on Wemyss Point above the bay itself. Alan, 4th Baron Inverclyde was briefly married to the actress [[June Tripp|June]], who was one of [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s earliest leading ladies in the 1927 film ''[[The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog]]''.

===Kelly Estate===
The inventor of paraffin ([[kerosene]]) and industrial magnate [[James Young (Scottish chemist)|James "Paraffin" Young]] had a house at Kelly, and was buried in the old [[Inverkip]] churchyard. [[David Livingstone]] was a friend of Young and a replica of a hut the explorer occupied near [[Victoria Falls]] was built in the grounds of Kelly as a memorial to Livingstone. Kelly House was rebuilt twice, the first structure dating from the 15th century,<ref>http://www.discoverinverclyde.com/historical-interest.aspx</ref> being destroyed by fire in 1740, the second, a [[William Leiper]] building, dating from 1793 and the third and final house also destroyed in a fire in 1913, only having been built in 1890.<ref>[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/40694/details/wemyss+bay+kelly+house/ RCAHMS Site Record, Kelly House]</ref> Blame was laid at the [[suffragettes]] but no evidence was ever found. Kelly remained a burnt out ruin for several years. A caravan park now occupies the estate.

===Other notable buildings===
A memorial on the shore road recalls 'The Gaiter Club', whose members included [[Anthony Trollope]], [[Lord Kelvin]], [[Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston|Lord Palmerston]] and the [[Earl of Shaftesbury]].<ref>Smart, Walter (1968) ''Skelmorlie''</ref>

Neither [[Castle Wemyss]] nor [[James Salmon (1805-1888)|James Salmon]]'s Wemyss House remain, having been demolished in the 1980s and 1940s respectively. Also gone is J.J. Burnet's [[Scottish Episcopal Church|episcopal]] Inverclyde Church, which stood on the shore road of Undercliff Road and was demolished in 1970.<ref>Bertie, David M. (2001) ''Scottish Episcopal Clergy 1689-2000'', T&T Clark, p. 658</ref>

The Castle Wemyss estate and adjoining areas had been sold off in the 1960s to property developers and since then the village has grown considerably, albeit largely a [[commuter town|dormitory settlement]] for Greenock and Glasgow. However several of the fine red [[sandstone]] properties remain and are now seen as renovation opportunities. There is a butcher, newsagent, cafe and fish and chip shop in the village and a pub and cafe in the extensive railway station buildings. Parking your vehicle could be a bit difficult though, as it is a really tight space on the main road through, if you get a space at all. The railway station does have parking at about £3.00 a day.

==Sport and recreation==
Wemyss Bay is host to the Ardgowan Youth Development football program run by parents in the area to fill the role of a local boys team. The team train at the Wemyss Bay Primary astro turf pitch twice a week, to join parents and prospective players are expected to talk to one of the coaches if they or their child are interested in joining.

==Further reading==
Walter Smart's ''Skelmorlie'' (1968) provides an account of both Wemyss Bay and Skelmorlie. ''Gourock, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay from Old Photographs'' (1981) and ''Gourock, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay in Old Picture Postcards'' (1998) are also of interest. All are currently out of print.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* [http://www.wemyssbay.net/ Wemyss Bay local community and business website ]

[[Category:Ports and harbours of Scotland]]
[[Category:Villages in Inverclyde]]