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

58 HELENSBURGH GUIDE.
cent stood, in old times, Faslane Castle, tlie foundations of
whicli can hardly now be traced among the mossgrown
stones and grassy hillocks covering its site.
But if there are few ancient buildings, there are many
modern ones well deserving more than a passing glance. At
Shandon there is a collection of villas unsurpassed in beauty
and picturesqueness of situation by any on the Frith of
Clyde; and occupying a prominent position near the loch,
is "West Shandon House, the princely mansion of Kobert
Napier, Esq., a marvel of masonry and decorative art, and
containing an attraction of rare treasures of ancient and
modern art not equalled almost in Scotland, as a private
collection. A greater treat to the art student or vistuoso
than an inspection of Mr. Napier's mansion and collection,
can hardly be enjoyed. There are both abundant modern
curiosities and
*' Fouth o' auld nick nacketts,
Rusty airn caps and anld steel jackets,
Wad hand the Lothians three in tackets
A towmond guid."
The house was built in 1857, but improvements are still going
on. In close proximity, and not much inferior in attraction is
Shandon House, a much older building, sometime the residence
of Walter Buchanan, Esq., M.P. From Shandon to Gare-
lochhead, about two miles distant, the road winds along some
beautiful little bays — in particular we notice Faslane Bay, as
possessing peculiar attractions, and we wonder that it has not
caught the eye of any building speculator as a desirable site
for villas. Here the village of Garelochhead first appears in
view, and a few minutes' walk takes you to tliat memorable
wooden pier where on a quiet Sunday afternoon some
years ago, the battle of the barricades was faught, a battle