Timber ponds

Lovely day and low tide so went to Parklea to take photos of the Timber ponds.

During the19th Century, Port Glasgow became the principal Scottish port for handling timber for shipbuilding. Logs were fastened together and floated to storage ponds where they were seasoned by the salt water until needed. The ponds were square or rectangular and were rented from landowners by shipwrights and timber merchants.

By the mid 19th Century, the advent of iron and steel hulled vessels meant that less wood was needed, and the number of logs brought to the Clyde began to decrease. By 1914, few timber ponds were still in use, but at low tide the stakes which enclosed them can still be seen.

Birds were far out because the exposed wet areas had frozen regardless of it being salt water! Saw in the distance lapwings, redshanks, curlews, oyster catchers and various gulls.