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Alexandria >  Google™ Map May 2016+  West Dunbartonshire Coat of Arms

alexander (personal name) Unknown . Population - 13,444.

Scotland Flag UK > Scotland > West Dunbartonshire

May 2016+

West Dunbartonshire Coat of Arms

Named after a reasonably great Alexander, Smollett[1], 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's under the clock.

Alexandria - Argyll Motors Ltd
Alexandria - Argyll Motors Ltd 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.

[1] For film fact fans, there's a character in Treasure Island with the same name as played by Kermit the Frog in the Muppets™' version.

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.

Alexandria - Inside Argyll Motors Ltd
Alexandria - Argyll Motors Ltd

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

Alexandria - Rear of Argyll Motors Ltd

The place now operates as a retail outlet called Lomond Galleries but beyond Pavers™ no longer doing a small line in discount Skechers™ and The Works™[1] supplying you with an out of date Rough Guide™, your attention is likely to be on the building.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.

[1] They're 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.

Alexandria - Antartex Village

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.

Balloch - Loch Lomond Shores
  Loch Lomond Brewery (Lomond Industrial Estate)

Local beer producers of both the traditional and the crafty variety. You can stock up in their shop and they host regular beery events.

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.

  Loch Lomond Distillery (Lomond Industrial Estate)

Small, three-still setup producing grain and malt whiskies. They'll even let small groups of you in for a tour and uisge tastings but you'll need to give them a ring first.

Alexandria - Loch Lomond Distillery

Having spent quite a bit of time in the area, these are just the empties from last Saturday night, probably.

What's What
 Loch Lomond Brewery
 Loch Lomond Shores
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