In the foreground of the photo stand Timber Ponds that were set up along the southern shore of the River Clyde in the early days of wooden shipbuilding, occupying a 3mile stretch of shoreline between Port Glasgow and Langbank. The industry required vast quantities of thoroughly seasoned timber, and with shipyards occupying most of the shore line from central Greenock to eastern Port Glasgow, demand was prodigious.The ponds prevented the timber from floating away and allowed the logs to be organised according to type, length of seasoning.

Looking beyond the Timber Ponds is the Greenock waterfront and the deep water “Ocean Terminal” now catering for large Commercial and Cruise line Shipping, gone are the day’s of wooden hulled vessels and now no need for the Timber Pond’s that create a spectacular sight all along the shoreline.