The coming of the steamer

At one time the Peninsula and Lochside communities depended mainly on farming and fishing as a livelihood, mostly living in small clustered townships. Gaelic was the usual language, but probably some English was also used. As the area had good communication with the south and east through ferry traffic, there were the services to and from Gourock, Rhu and Ardentinny as well as several others.

Following the introduction of Henry Bell's paddle steamer, The Comet, to the Clyde in 1812, the world's first commercially viable sea-going steamship, it soon became possible for wealthy people in Glasgow, Paisley and other places to travel easily and quickly to various destinations on the Clyde Coast.