Sugar, Ships & Slavery

Greenock would be as well to have an asterisk after its name -  *"in existence entirely due to the proceeds of slavery." Find out more in Volume One. 

Clyde Eldorado tells the stories of those men who came to Greenock to earn their fortunes, and how their influence affected the development of the town and its industries. 

From a small fishing village to leading port, the book describes the fight with Glasgow to gain control of Clyde navigation.

The book also looks at the many families with local connections who had intimate links with the Slave Economies.

The merchants who made their money from supplying dried fish to the West Indies, importing timber, tobacco, sugar, rum & cotton made their mark on the physical environment - building their mansions in the leafy West End of the town. 

The Greenock merchants had a profound influence - many becoming councillors, provosts and Members of Parliament.

The Greenock merchants had fascinating life experiences, often cementing their position by marriage. Many of them hold position and power to this day, as a consequence of money made in the British Empire. 

The book is fully illustrated with maps, photographs, ephemera, newspaper cuttings etc.. many not seen before.