Timber Ponds

This part of the River Clyde, along the estuary mudflats from Kelburn in Port Glasgow to Langbank, is an area that was used as Timber Ponds. They were created in the early 18th century to store and season timber imported from Europe and North America. Timber including pitch pine, yellow pine and oak were in great demand by the local shipbuilders in Port Glasgow.

The timber was seasoned by the salt water until needed by local shipwrights or sawmillers. The ponds prevented the timber from floating away and allowed the logs to be organised according to type, length of seasoning, and ownership. Extreme weather could result in the logs breaking free of the ponds, closing the river until they were recovered. Remnants of the timber ponds still exist in the lines of vertical wooden posts sticking out of the mud.