Loch Thom (Inverclyde)

Lat:55.909 Lon: -4.806

Loch Thom is a reservoir which, since 1827, has provided a water supply to the town of Greenock.

In the late 18th century, Greenock was a rapidly expanding seaport and industrial centre with an increasing demand for water-powered mills. The civil engineer, Robert Thom, after whom the loch is named, prepared a scheme to turn a freshwater lake known as Shaws Water into a reservoir and create the aqueduct which became known as The Cut to supply the town.

Even this water supply proved inadequate for growing domestic demand and, in 1872, another reservoir was created immediately to the east of Loch Thom at Gryffe Reservoir. Together with 13 smaller reservoirs nearby they provide almost 650,000,000 cubic feet (18,000,000 m³) of water supply in total.

Today, as well as providing a water supply, the loch is used for sport fishing and forms part of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

Features of the area

• Loch
• Rural

Inverclyde Group

Inverclyde is one of Scotland’s 32 unitary council areas. It borders Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire, and is otherwise surrounded by the Firth of Clyde.

Prior to 1975 it was in the former county of Renfrewshire, before becoming a district in its own right within Strathclyde Region.

Elsewhere on the BBC

• BBC Glasgow and West Scotland

Elsewhere on the web

• McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
• Wikipedia entry on Loch Thom