Port Glasgow 250

During 2025, Port Glasgow celebrates its 250th anniversary.

To mark the historic year, Inverclyde Council has organised various activities and is working with partners to make sure everyone in the community is included. A consultation at the start of the year asked residents what they’d like to see during the year and the results have shaped much of the planning.

These include:

An extended Comet Festival on 21 and 22 June covering the full weekend and incorporating the Port Glasgow 10k
An arts project with schools in Port Glasgow
Bespoke floral displays in the town
Commissioning of pipe music
An exhibition of Port Glasgow images at the Watt Institution

A wealth of other projects will also be delivered by the council including documenting community voices; a Port Glasgow-themed Dungeon and Dragons adventure; special talks and more. Groups, communities, organisations and businesses are all encouraged to get involved by organising their own projects with many already planning fringe events to take place in the town around the Comet Festival weekend.

Port Glasgow Origins.

The origins of Port Glasgow date back to the late sixteenth century when the authorities in Glasgow purchased land by the village of Newark to establish a port for the city.

In 1710, the principal custom house on the River Clyde was constituted at the Port of Glasgow.

The settlement around the port grew quickly and soon absorbed the fishing village of Newark.

Newark was a burgh of barony belonging to Hamilton of Wishaw, while Port Glasgow remained under the municipal authority of the City of Glasgow.

Recognising the complexities of this arrangement, an act of parliament was passed in 1775 establishing Port Glasgow as a burgh in its own right.

The Port Glasgow (Improvement) Act 1775 defined the burgh’s municipal responsibilities and its authority to raise duty.

The Act was passed on 22 May 1775 and Port Glasgow was born.