Residents and history enthusiasts enjoyed the end of Dumbarton's 800th anniversary with a royal gun salute.
The town’s octocentenary was marked on July 8, 2022, 800 years since the foundation charter for the Royal Burgh of Dumbarton was sealed by Alexander II in Jedburgh.
The 21-gun salute at the weekend sounded by the 207 Battery Royal Artillery, was led by Provost Douglas McAllister accompanied by Depute Provost John Millar, Lord Lieutenant Jill Young, councillors and members of the police, SFRS and Armed Forces, who all attended to witness the unique occasion.
During the event, Provost McAllister delivered a speech highlighting the significance of the occasion and the history and heritage of Dumbarton.
The momentous occasion which was celebrated at Dumbarton Castle was followed by a civic reception held in West Dunbartonshire Council's headquarters on Church Street.
Provost McAllister said: “This is an extraordinary milestone for the town of Dumbarton and we’re so proud we were able to have this event held in such a historic landmark. I feel very proud to be able to witness this occasion and for the local community to come out and support this was fantastic.
"We’re proud of our heritage and we’re pleased to honour that today with this salute as we look to Dumbarton’s future."
We previously told how a year of celebration is being launched by West Dunbartonshire Council to celebrate the milestone.
Throughout the year, West Dunbartonshire Council’s Arts and Heritage team have been delivering activities which have included a series of successful ‘8 for 800’ talks at Dumbarton Heritage Centre, celebrating some of the most important objects from the council’s museum collections, including rare medieval manuscripts from the archive and the early Christian ‘Skellat bell’ – one of the oldest objects in the collection.
Depute Provost Millar said: “We’re reminded today of all the achievements which Dumbarton has made in the last 800 years. We’ve been at the forefront of many industries and we’ve got so much more to give as a town and as people. This was a historic event and something we can all look back on with pride."
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