Year of celebration to mark Port Glasgow's 250th anniversary
The community of Port Glasgow is invited to get involved as the town celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2025.
To mark the historic year, Inverclyde Council has organised various activities and is working with partners to make sure everyone in the community is included. A consultation at the start of the year asked residents what they’d like to see during the year and the results have shaped much of the planning.
These include:
- An extended Comet Festival on 21 and 22 June covering the full weekend and incorporating the Port Glasgow 10k
- An arts project with schools in Port Glasgow
- Bespoke floral displays in the town
- Commissioning of pipe music
- An exhibition of Port Glasgow images at the Watt Institution
A wealth of other projects will also be delivered by the council including documenting community voices; a Port Glasgow-themed Dungeon and Dragons adventure; special talks and more. Groups, communities, organisations and businesses are all encouraged to get involved by organising their own projects with many already planning fringe events to take place in the town around the Comet Festival weekend.
Provost Drew McKenzie said: “This is a terrific milestone and one which gives us an excuse to shine a light on this wonderful town of ours.
“I am looking forward to celebrating the history of Port Glasgow this year.
“I am sure all Portonians, both near and far, will join me in marking the anniversary of our town and I hope to see many getting involved in all the positive activities.”
The council is encouraging local community groups and organisations to get involved in spreading the word about Port Glasgow 250 by using our bespoke branding.
Designed with strong geometric images to mimic the panels used in shipbuilding and the now iconic Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow sculpture, the artwork uses a variety of primary colours to reflect the beautiful landscape around Port Glasgow as well as a spark of red for industry.
A free toolkit including a variety of formats for use across print, digital and social media, is available from corporate.communications@inverclyde.gov.uk This is also the email for groups to use if planning anything to be included in the programme.
The origins of Port Glasgow date back to the late sixteenth century when the authorities in Glasgow purchased land by the village of Newark to establish a port for the city.
In 1710, the principal custom house on the River Clyde was constituted at the Port of Glasgow.
The settlement around the port grew quickly and soon absorbed the fishing village of Newark.
Newark was a burgh of barony belonging to Hamilton of Wishaw, while Port Glasgow remained under the municipal authority of the City of Glasgow.
Recognising the complexities of this arrangement, an act of parliament was passed in 1775 establishing Port Glasgow as a burgh in its own right.
The Port Glasgow (Improvement) Act 1775 defined the burgh’s municipal responsibilities and its authority to raise duty.
The Act was passed on 22 May 1775 and Port Glasgow was born.
Click the links on this page to visit Discover Inverclyde and find out what’s going on to mark Port Glasgow 250.