Rothesay

Rothesay, a favourite Scotch watering-place, the capital of Buteshire, is beautifully situated on the north-east shore of the island of Bute (q.v.), 40 miles by water W. of Glasgow and 19 SSW. of Greenock. 'Sweet Rothesay Bay,' rimmed by hills 400 to 530 feet high, offers safe anchorage in any wind, and is spacious enough to contain the largest fleet. Its charming scenery, its bathing facilities, its sheltered position, and the extreme mildness of its climate have rendered Rothesay a resort alike of holiday-makers and of invalids, especially those affected with pulmonary disease. Its linen and cotton manufactures, tanning, and boat-building are almost or quite extinct; and the herring-fishery is now the principal industry. A score of the Clyde steamers touch regularly at Rothesay, whose commodious harbour was constructed (1822-84) at a cost of over £30,000. An esplanade was formed in 1870; and among the chief edifices are the county buildings (1832-67), public hall (1879), aquarium (1876), academy (1869), and Glenburn hydropathic (1843; burned down in 1891, and rebuilt). In the middle of the town are the ruins of Rothesay Castle, founded about 1098, taken by Haco of Norway (1263), the death-place of Robert III. (1406), reduced to ruin (1685), and repaired in 1871-77 by the Marquis of Bute, at a cost of £8000. Rothesay since 1398 has given the title of duke to the eldest son of the Scottish sovereign. Created a royal burgh in 1400, it returned a member from the Union till 1832. Pop. (1821) 4107; (1881) 8329; (1891) 9108. See books by J. Wilson (1848) and Thoms (1870).