St Patrick's Rock

St Patrick's Rock[1] or St Patrick's Stone[2] is located in the River Clyde (NS461724) close to the Erskine Bridge and the old Erskine Ferry on the Renfrewshire side of the river.[3] It is reputedly the location from which the 16 year old Saint Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates whilst he was fishing.[4] The rock is covered at high tide and it is also the location of a navigation light known as St Patrick's Light.[5]

St Patrick's Rock and light.

History

Saint Patrick was born in Roman Britain in a place as yet unidentified with certainty. His father, Calpurnius, was a decurion. At the age of 16, Saint Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates whilst he was fishing and taken to Ireland where he remained as a captive for six years.[6] He eventually returned to Ireland where he had a major role in converting the Irish to Christianity.

The legend is said to have arisen or was first recorded in the 19th century.[7] The Old Kilpatrick area began to be associated with St Patrick in the 10th century.[8]

His home was at a place known as 'Bannavem Taberniae' which the etymologists John Irving identifies with the local place name of Bonnaughton.[9]

Description
St Patrick's Light at high tide with St Patrick's Rock submerged.

This small rock is exposed towards low tide and is partly covered by the navigation aid known as St Patrick's Light.[10] Running down to the rock from the Renfrewshire shore is the remnants of the old North Jetty. It at present lies on the edge of the deeper waters of the River Clyde at this point that remain inundated even at low tide.

St Patrick's Light

St Patrick’s Light (NS 46109 72428) is of 20th century, post WWII[11] origin and stands atop a large cast iron gas cylinder which once fuelled the light until solar panels were added as an alternative power source.[12]

The North Jetty

This ruinous jetty is around 60m in length and ends at St Patrick's Rock. It was constructed with a rubble core and once entirely surfaced by facing blocks. A narrow culvert once ran along the median line. The jetty once extended a further 20m and also had another navigation beacon at its terminus. The second beacon and jetty extension no longer exist.[13] The jetty was one of a pair with the remnants of the other lying on the northern side of the Erskine Bridge.[14]

St Patrick's Rock
Location of St Patrick's Rock, Renfrewshire

Micro-history

Saint Patrick's church at Old Kilpatrick is said to have been built on a bed of Irish soil and the near by St Patrick's Well or the Trees Well provided water to the people of the town for many years, however it is now covered over.[6]

See also

References
Notes
  1. Bruce, John (1893). History of the Parish of West or Old Kilpatrick. John Smith & Son. p. 60.
  2. Moore, John (2017). The Clyde. Mapping the River. Birlinn. p. 195. ISBN 978-178027-482-9.
  3. "Zoomable OS map 1944-1967, with Bing opacity slider". National Library of Scotland. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  4. Bruce, John (1893). History of the Parish of West or Old Kilpatrick. John Smith & Son. p. 60.
  5. "Saints in Scottish Place-Names". Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  6. Bruce, John (1893). History of the Parish of West or Old Kilpatrick. John Smith & Son. p. 60.
  7. "Saints in Scottish Place-Names". Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  8. "The north jetty and St Patrick's Light". Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  9. "Notebook Irish saint was born in West Dunbartonshire - Daily Record". Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  10. "Saints in Scottish Place-Names". Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  11. "The north jetty and St Patrick's Light". Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  12. "Canmore - North Jetty, Erskine". Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  13. "Canmore - North Jetty, Erskine". Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  14. "The north jetty and St Patrick's Light". Retrieved 13 July 2018.
Sources
  1. Bruce, John (1893). History of the Parish of West or Old Kilpatrick. John Smith & Son.
  2. Moore, John (2017). The Clyde. Mapping the River. Edinburgh : Birlinn. ISBN 978-178027-482-9.

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