Dumbarton

Dumbarton, th.e capital of Dumbartonshire, is a royal, parliamentary, and municipal borough and port situated at the junction of the rivers Clyde and Leven, 14 miles N.W. of Glasgow, The Romans had a naval station here known as Theodosia, which, under the name.Alcluyd, became the capital of the British kingdom of Strathclyde. Later on the town passed into the hands of the Earls of Lennox, who transferred it to Alexander II., when it was erected (1221) into a royal burgh, with the privilege of levying certain tolls on the Clyde navigation. This right was maintained until 1700. The town occupies a semicircular site along the east bank of thc-Leven, which forms a commodious harbour, and a handsome stone bridge connects it with a suburb on the opposite shore. The basaltic rock of Dumbarton, shooting up to a height of over 200 ft., and crowned by a strong castle, commands the port. Since the decay of the glass factories, iron-shipbuilding has become the chief industry, and engages thousands of hands, the Dennystown Forge Company being the principal employer of labour. In conjunction with Kilmarnock," Renfrew, Rutherglen, and Port Glasgow, the borough returns one member to Parliament.