Contribution
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) on securing today’s debate. In my constituency of West Dunbartonshire, local history and strong ties to our past have shaped our communities and towns. In post-industrial areas such as mine, stories of the past are closely linked to identity, pride and local history.
We have a rich industrial heritage, particularly in shipbuilding, distilling and textiles. Local museums remind people of their place in history, while attracting tourism, allowing us to share our story and support the local economy. We are fortunate to have several local museums in my constituency, each offering fascinating insights into our past through social history and local stories. West Dunbartonshire’s story is one of innovation and craftmanship.
Dumbarton castle, owned by Historic Environment Scotland, is one of the greatest visitor attractions of my constituency, and one of only three royal castles in Scotland. Covering 1,500 years of recorded history and military use as recently as the second world war, the “Rock of Ages” exhibition in the Governor’s House Museum connects visitors with artefacts that tell stories of resilience throughout history. For centuries, Dumbarton has stood as a place of strategic importance, later becoming home to the renowned Denny’s shipyard, the engineers of which built celebrated vessels, including the famous Cutty Sark.
In the last surviving building of the Denny’s shipyards sits the Scottish Maritime Museum, known locally as the Denny Tank Museum—a reminder of the area’s rich shipbuilding and engineering heritage. Visitors can learn about the Denny ship model experiment tank, the world’s first commercial ship model testing tank. It is an example of engineering heritage that can inspire the engineers of tomorrow.
In Alexandria, the Vale of Leven Heritage Centre, located beneath the newly renovated library, tells another chapter of our story: textile print blocks, Turkey red cottons and the Argyll motor works. Run by dedicated volunteers and supported by West Dunbartonshire council, it reflects the passion of local people to preserve their history.
Clydebank Museum reopened after refurbishment in August and stands in testament to West Dunbartonshire’s industrial strength and community spirit. The nationally recognised Singer collection tells the story not only of sewing machines that transformed domestic life, but of generations of families such as mine whose livelihoods were tied to the factory floor. Singer’s factory was where my father worked.
Maritime art and model ships recall a town that built vessels for the world, while exhibits such as “John Brown’s shipyard” honour iconic liners, such as the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Yacht Britannia—all of which were Clydebank-built. By bringing these stories together, the museum preserves our past, and shows why continued investment in local museums matters.
At the heart of Dumbarton high street stands Glencairn House, the town’s oldest surviving building, built in 1623 for the seventh Earl of Glencairn. It will be opened to the public this April after a £7.2 million transformation, supported by the UK Government and funded jointly by West Dunbartonshire council and the UK Government. It will serve as a modern combined library and local history museum in the centre of town. The Minister could visit in April, and perhaps even open it. It will bring footfall to local businesses, renewed pride for residents and a reminder that our past belongs at the heart of our communities.
Local museums must be seen as an essential investment in identity, education and local economic vitality. West Dunbartonshire’s story, from ancient rock fortress to global shipbuilding powerhouse, reflects Britain’s story. Let us ensure that local museums have the support they need to keep telling it.