Monday, August 27, 2007

Largs Pencil

Today's pictures are of the Largs Pencil, a monument celebrating the victory of the Scots over the Norwegians in the Battle of Largs in 1263. In fact modern historians think this was much more of a skirmish than a battle and the result would be more correctly identified as a draw.

The monument is actually a round tower with a conical top, but everyone thought, and thinks, it looks like a pencil; so the name has stuck.

The first view is from the South looking North.



The second view is from the North looking South. The large pier in the background is Clydeport, Hunterston, mainly used for coal imports. If you enlarge the photograph, you will also see on the shore beyond the pier, the buildings of Hunterston Nuclear Power Stations.

4 comments:

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

I remember walking down to here when we stayed in Largs, a bit further on is a marina where you can get an ice-cream to fortify you for the walk back.

Marion McCready said...

How interesting, I'm not sure how I've managed to miss this monument despite having being to Largs several times.

Katya said...

I love the monument! It really does look like a pencil! I really like the second picture. What a study in contrasts! The "ancient" monument, the "old" use of coal, and the "modern" nuclear plant!

Is coal used a great deal in Scotland? Surrounded by 20 acres of woods, we have a constant supply of firewood that presents itself each year. (that is, every year, trees fall to the ground, and we have only to cut them into firewood!)

Come to think of it...hmmm...is my Jotul Norwegian? uh, yup, I do believe it is!!!

An Honest Man said...

Sorlil,

Start at Largs Pier and walk down the promenade in a Southerly direction, i.e. towards Hunterston.

Gerald,

We had our ice-creams before we started.

Katya,

Coal is still used by Power Stations and the like, but not so much by households now - much to the benefit of the air quality in the cities!