Inverkip
from OS NS27-B 1955: Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland
The ancient parish of Inverkip, which included Greenock, rises from the shores of the Clyde and the rivers Daff and Kip join. Its name derives partly from Scottish Gaelic 'Inbhir' signifying mouth of a river or stream - in Scottish Gaelic, it is 'Inbhir-Chip'. Various spellings can be found in maps and documents: Innyr-Kyp, Auld Kirk, Innerkip, Inverkip.
About 1170 Baldwin de Bigres, Sheriff of Lanark, granted to the church of St Mirin and the monks of Paisley Abbey, the Church of Innyrkyp beyond the moors. The pennyland between the rivulets Kyp and Daff was where their church was built.
Inverkip Parish Church
The older part of Inverkip, to the north, runs from the bridge over the Daff on Main Street near the Inverkip Hotel (an old posting house) to the old bridge over the River Kip at Bridgend Cottages. It extends to the coast at the old bridge by Kip Marina inland to the railway line.
By 1188, the church had been built on the site of the present old graveyard. Known as the Auld Kirk, it was the ecclesiastical centre for the Christian population between Kilmacolm and Largs for around 400 years. The current Church was built in 1801 and celebrated 800 years of worship on the 4th June 1988.
The nearby Ardgowan Estate was granted by Robert III in 1403 to his natural son, Sir John Stewart. A descendent, the 3rd baronet, married Helen Houston, heiress to the Shaws of Greenock, in 1730. Their descendants became known as the Shaw-Stewarts. The family line continues to this day and the current owner and custodian is Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart. 12th Baronet of Greenock and Blackhall.
In the 17th century, Inverkip achieved a certain notoriety as the haunt of reputed witches. One of these Innerkyp witches, Marie Lamont, confessed to witchcraft in 1662 and was burned at the stake outside the Auld Kirk.
Inverkip Village has had a rich commercial history over the years from the days of grave-robbers (when a night-watchman had to be on duty at the cemetery) to the flax mill situated in Daff Glen. Various shops on Main Street included a bakery and drapery. The main industry was farming, which still continues to this day.
Main Street
Inverkip Marina and Village
After Inverkip railway station was built in 1865, tourists were able to travel to Inverkip to spend a day at the local beaches. From this area, a modern Marina was built on land excavated by the Royal Engineers during WW2. Construction began in the late sixties along with a new by-pass road almost keeping the original village to itself due to the construction of Inverkip Power Station. The marina was fully completed in 1973 and now holds 600 berths.
The old main thoroughfare is still visible with many original buildings, although the village has increased in population due to modern housing developments on land that was once farmland.
Inverkip has a beautiful coastal walk and cycle route to Gourock and beyond.
Further information:
Image: Bridgend, Inverkip
Copyright images: McLean Museum and Art Gallery: Inverkip Parish Church, Bridgend