SMM+S

jimmcginlay

Location: Island of Cumbrae
Firth of Clyde

Since the Island of Greater Cumbrae is self-contained I thought it might be useful to make a single post for the various monuments found on the island.
The B896 which runs around the entire island is around ten miles long and makes for a great days walk (even quicker on bike) with the added bonus of a visit to one of the pubs or cafes in Millport.

The 'Cumbrae Passage' Monument:
Stands in the car park at the slip way and car park of the Largs-Cumbrae Ferry. The sandstone monument portrays two figures linked to the island,
St. Maura, mentioned in chronicles of 546AD who established a hospice on the island, and the Norwegian King Haakon who watched the defeat of his fleet at the Battle of Largs in 1263 from the island. They make a bit of an odd couple but it is a lovely monument.
Sculptor was Matt Baker, more information here:
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/Matt+Baker/7655.html

The Memorial to the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, 1902 - 1904: Located by the B896 just east of the town of Millport, beside the Marine Biology Campus. I am deeply ashamed to say, as a reader of books on Scott and Shackleton, that I had never heard of this expedition led by William Speirs Bruce.

Memorial to Those With No Known Grave:
Beautifully conceived and executed this moving memorial is located on the west coast of the island. The memorial was apparently designed and constructed by local men David Stevenson and blacksmith Ion McBay, the iron panel works beautifully with sea and sky appearing through the figues and is reminiscent of the work of sculptor Jake Harvey.
More information here:
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic3342.html

Painted Cliff:
Located on the north west of the island I thought this deserved inclusion. There are a few painted rock faces around the Firth of Clyde, including a couple of 'John Dory' faces left by American sailors of the Holy Loch U.S. Submarine Base on the Cowal Peninsula. This one wouldn't look out of place on Easter Island.

Midshipmen's Monument:
Finally on the Northern tip of the island this obelisk is a monument to Midshipmen Charles D. Cayley and William N. Jewell of H.M.S. Shearwater who drowned near this point in a boating accident in 1844.

INSCRIPTION READS:
IN MEMORY OF
MR. CHARLES D. CAYLEY
AGED 17 YEARS
AND
MR. WILLIAM N. JEWELL
AGED 19 YEARS
MIDSHIPMEN OF
H.M.S. SHEARWATER
TWO PROMISING YOUNG
OFFICERS DROWNED BY
THE UPSETTING OF THEIR
BOAT NEAR THIS PLACE
17TH MAY 1844
THIS MONUMENT IS
ERECTED
IN TOKEN OF THEIR WORTH
BY
CAPTAIN ROBINSON
AND
OFFICERS
OF THE ABOVE VESSEL