Named after a reasonably great Alexander, Smollett, leader of the then land-owning family in the Vale of Leven. Twenty miles north-west of Glasgow so far enough away for fields and hills but close enough for the former factories on the flow out of Loch Lomond.

There was industry on the River Leven by the late 18th century where they competed on the cotton front with their namesakes in Egypt, probably.

Not for cotton this factory but cars and the clue is under the clock.

Home to Argyll Motors Ltd, they moved to this purpose-built plant in 1906 from their existing operation in Glasgow before they went bust... in 1908.

Bankruptcy was undoubtedly due to the sudden death of its founder Alexander Govan in 1907. Without a driving force, the indicators weren't good and manufacturing stalled etc.

Alexander Smollett? Sound familiar? There's a character in Treasure Island with the same name as played by Kermit the Frog in the Muppets™' version, right film fans?

The ornate, marbled interior remains and it's thought the café occupies the original workers' dining area. The north wing, however, is in need of a bit of TLC or a complete restoration if you'd rather.

That's a bit of a shame because the rear of this is also the view over somebody's back garden fence.

The place now operates as a retail outlet called Lomond Galleries but beyond Paver™s no longer doing a small line in discount Skecher™s and The Works™ supplying you with an out of date Rough Guide™, your attention is likely to be on the building.

Oh! Unless you need a kilt. Yeah, nearly forgot about the kilts and aren't The Works™ stocking way too many of those adult colouring-in books, these days?

There's more indoor shopping to be done at the Antartex Village outlet, an anachronistic curiosity that still seems to warrant a brown sign.

It too has seen better days with advising trippers increasingly apoplectic at the offerings. Despite that, there's a decent line in the discount outdoors, if you look closely, but the reason you're at either is that it's awfy dreich ootside or you're strangely drawn to these places.

Or both?

They both have to compete, you see, with the more modern Loch Lomond Shores. It's just up the road in Balloch and after 15 years and counting, they're finally filling their vast car park.

Most people will bypass Alexandria completely on their way to the B&Bs in Balloch and the boats on Loch Lomond. As a great man called Alexander once said, though, 'There is nothing impossible to him who will try.'

Wise words, indeed, and they're trying their very best here.