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Shandon Hydro - A Scottish Gem
The house was soon sold to a Glasgow based syndicate who
intended to turn it into a hydropathic hotel.
Hydros, providing water cures in a luxury hotel, were particularly
popular in Scotland at this time with more than 20 opening in the latter part
of the 19th century. Shandon
Hydro, as it was called, included a heated salt water swimming pool, Turkish
baths, a bowling green, a croquet lawn, a golf course and tennis courts. There was a library full of popular books and
greenhouses provided fresh flowers.
Smoking was strictly forbidden except in the Conservatory.
Safe pleasure boats were provided on the loch and broughams
or landaus could be rented to take visitors on trips to Loch Lomond or Loch
Long. The Hydro proved extremely
popular, until it was requisitioned early in World War One as an experimental
submarine base and naval hospital.
Although restored to its role as a Hotel between the wars, its position
next to the deep sea-loch on the Clyde made it essential to the navy once again
in 1939. Its popularity declined until
it was destroyed in 1957 to make way for the Faslane naval base.