Towns > Helensburgh > 1875 - Battrum's guide and directory to Helensburgh and neighbourhood

HELENSBURGH GUIDE. 17
springs and small streams, and from whence it is distributed
through the town. In March, 1868, the works were for-
mally opened by the lady of Provost Breingan, and since then
there has been an ample supply. Of the permanence of the
supply, it is, perhaps, yet premature to speak, but in point
of quality, it bids fair to equal that of any town, and it is to
be hoped the measure will prove what it is undoubtedly
designed to be — a permanent blessing to the community.
"Under the old charter, the bounds of the burgh extended
from the Glenan Burn to the old Luss road at Drumfork on
the east, and about as far northward as the present line of
King Street. The marches of the barony passes on the
south — in fact, formed the northern boundary; but the
precise line is now somewhat difficult of definition, partly
from the fact of the boundary stones having been removed,
and the discontinuance of the old custom of perambulating
the marches. This was observed annually by the magis-
trates and council in official character, accompanied by a
crowd of boys, who, at each march-stone, hedge, or dike, re-
ceived such an allowance of corporal chastisement, adminis-
tered by the town-officers, as was deemed necessary to impress
the recollection of the boundary line on the memory of the
rising generation. The practice was said to have been most
efficacious in securing a clear and decided recollection of
the old landmarks. In obtaining the Act of Parliament,
.these old boundaries were very wisely extended. It now
reaches from the East Toll, on the one side, to Ardencaple
wood on the other, a distance of nearly a mile, and runs
back from the sea rather more than a quarter of a mile, —
thus covering a very considerable area. The general aspect
of Helensburgh from the water in front is that of a long,
straggling white town, with a screen of hill and wood be-