RENFREW FERRIES, Glasgow, July 1981

A BRAND NEW PROFESSIONAL SCAN, NOW WITH ORIGINAL LIVE IN-CAMERA SOUND, of an 8mm film I'd shot on the River Clyde at Yoker and Renfrew, 5 years before these iconic chain-guided ferries were withdrawn by 1986 and replaced with a small pedestrian-only boat. The old ferries had originally worked at Erskine, before the busy road bridge was built.
The oldest ferry dominates most of the film, before the newer reserve ferry (now a music venue permanently docked on The Broomielaw) finishes the film. And a world famous "visitor" gate-crashes the film, near the end.
This new film scan reinstates the original fully-immersive 12-minute edit completed on the film-stock in 1981, as well as the film's original magnetic live soundtrack restored and reinstated for the first time.

[@colincts]

Got this most mornings of life between 81-85 add I served my apprenticeship in paisley ..

[@lorrainehamilton5051]

Great to hear the sounds of the wee Renfrew Ferry again...used it often in the 60's & 70's. Vividly remember the smells too from the engine room, grease and hot oil... 😁

[@alisonlee3314]

Showing my age now. 1981 doesn't seem that long ago.....until I realise it's 40 years!!!!
Thank you for this little gem of a film x
A beautiful piece of history.....The Ferry Inn was hanging on when I last walked that way..... I hope COVID doesn't finish it off 😢

[@janetmackinnon3411]

Ah memories! An the MacPhesons who kept the Ferry Inn in the sixties

[@dorothy8495]

Great video. When I was 12/13, I used to take Renfrew Ferry to go back and forth to Paisley Ice Rink. This video confirms so much of my memory. Thanks for posting this.

[@derrydoire1864]

I was 17 then still in Renfrew hard to believe it’s almost 41 yrs ago

[@TheGrowler55]

I came from the Gorbals and my Wife came from Anderston and we used to get the Ferry to Finnieston and walk to her House in the Sixties and seventies, great times.

[@SandraSmith-vb5pf]

Once upon a time I used to go from Yorker over to Renfrew Swimming Baths on the ferry. Must have been about 1959 -1960s I now live in BATH Somerset 🌬💨💨💨Once Upon A Time🌬💨💨💨🤍🤍🤍

[@MrScotia]

What an absolute gem this footage is. A lot of changes in the area yet still seem so familiar. The last time I crossed the river here was on the Yoker Swan back around the late '90s. Until I read your description I hadn't realized the two ferries served at the Erskine crossing previously. Lovely capture of the Waverley.

[@russellbenton2987]

That takes me back to the days my Mum took me for a cruise on the Clyde to see my Aunt in Yorker ! . Back in the 6-s there always seemed to be something on the river . I think they had to drop the chains to let it past !

[@melciveng]

My Dad would call this the HMS Backenfurrit

[@oddities-whatnot]

Them old cars look like new

[@MrLaydownsally]

They were..

[@petermartin135]

The older ferry had much taller funnels and was steam powered as far as I remember.

[@Pau1Ru55311]

Hi Douglas, loving this. Could you drop me a line at all?

[@daviddack1595]

So long ago, x