Guest, Sign inJoin
Douglas Drive, Red Towers with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers, Gates and WellheadDouglas Drive, Red Towers with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers, Gates and Wellhead · Photo: AlasdairW · CC BY-SA 4.0
–Not graded
History of Helensburgh · Historic Environment Scotland

204 listed buildings, 13 of them in the top category

Historic Environment Scotland counts them inside Helensburgh’s locality, 144 for every 10,000 residents. Of the listed buildings in Helensburgh, 113 are Category B. We have photos of 57 of its listed buildings and 5 old views of the town.

13Category A113Category B6on Gatepiers and Gates
Listed buildings
204
144 per 10,000 residents
Category A
13
national importance
Category B
113
regional importance
Scheduled monuments
0
nationally important sites
In pictures

Helensburgh in 62 photos and old views

Tap a photo to step through them full screen.

8 Colquhoun Street Upper, The Hill House with Outbuildings, Boundary Walls and Gates8 Colquhoun Street Upper, The Hill House with Outbuildings, Boundary Walls and GatesCategory A listedWilliam Street, St Michael and All Angels' Episcopal Church and Church HallWilliam Street, St Michael and All Angels' Episcopal Church and Church HallCategory A listedJames Street, Former la Scala CinemaJames Street, Former la Scala CinemaCategory C listedPrinces Street West, Congregational ChurchPrinces Street West, Congregational ChurchCategory B listedColquhoun Square, Bank of ScotlandColquhoun Square, Bank of ScotlandCategory B listed+57See all photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons and Geograph, copied to our own server, each credited to its photographer with its licence; names open the building’s page or its official list entry.

Through time

Helensburgh from 1890 to 1903

5 old photos and postcards, in date order. All public domain, made before 1950.

Esplanade from pier, Helensburgh, Scotland LOC 3449522005c. 1890
VictorianEsplanade from pier, Helensburgh, Scotland LOC 3449522005Photo: The Library of Congress · No restrictions
Shandon Hydropathic, Helensburgh, Scotlandc. 1890
VictorianShandon Hydropathic, Helensburgh, ScotlandPhoto: Photochrom Print Collection · Public domain
Esplanade and West Clyde Street, Helensburgh1903
EdwardianEsplanade and West Clyde Street, HelensburghPhoto: Unknown photographer · Public domain
Helensburgh From Pier1903
EdwardianHelensburgh From PierPhoto: Unknown photographer · Public domain
Kidston Park, Helensburgh1903
EdwardianKidston Park, HelensburghPhoto: Unknown photographer · Public domain

Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons, copied to our own server. Each credit opens the image’s page with its full description and history.

The map

Where Helensburgh’s history is

Every Category A and B building, monument and historic park.

Ardencaple Castle, Category BCharlotte Street, Park Church (Church of Scotland) and Church Hall with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category BClyde Street East, Cromalt Coach House and Stables, Category BClyde Street East, Rockland Lodge with Gatepiers, Gates and Boundary Wall, Category BClyde Street School with East Lodge, West Lodge (No 38 Clyde Street East) and Boundary Wall, Gates and Railings, Category BClyde Street West, The Esplanade, Monument to Henry Bell, Category BColgrain, Camis Eskan West Lodge with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category BColquhoun Square, Bank of Scotland, Category BColquhoun Square, Celtic Cross, Category BColquhoun Square, The West Kirk (Church of Scotland), Category BDhuhill Drive West, Brincliffe with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category BDhuhill Drive West, Letham Hill, Category BDhuhill House and Conservatory, Dhuhill Drive West, Category BDouglas Drive, Tordarroch with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and Gates, Category BJohn Street Provost Lamp Standards at No 68, Category BJohn Street, Provost Lamp Standards at No 51, Helensburgh Library, Category BKennedy Drive, Cuilvona, Category BKing Street East, Baptist Church, Category BLomond Street, St Joseph's Rc Church with Gatepiers and Gates, Category BOld Luss Road, Helensburgh Cemetery Including Boundary Walls, Lodge, Gatepiers and Gates, Category BPrinces Street East, Helensburgh Central Station Including Platforms, Canopies, Screen Walls and Gates, Category BPrinces Street West, Congregational Church, Category BRed Gauntlet Road, Drumfork House, Category BRhu Road Higher, Dalmore, West Lodge with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category BRhu Road Lower, Cairndhu Lodge with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category BRhu Road Lower, Dalmore Lodge with Boundary Walls and_Gatepiers, Category BSinclair Street, Church of St Columba (Church of Scotland), Category BSinclair Street, Dhuhill Lodge with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category BSinclair Street, Old Millig Toll House, Category BSinclair Street, Victoria Halls, Category BVictoria Road, The Lindens, Category B1 Montrose Street West, Dalfruin with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category B1 Princes Street East and 48, 50, 52, 52A Sinclair Street, Municipal Buildings, Category B1 Rowallan Street, Category B1 Sutherland Crescent Upper, Rhuarden with Conservatory and Gatepiers, Category B10 and 12 James Street, Clydesdale Bank, Category B101 Sinclair Street, Millfield with Gatepiers, Category B107 Sinclair Street, Thornton Lodge, Category B108 King Street West, Carisbrooke with Gatepiers, Gates and Conservatory, Category B109 Sinclair Street, Cawdor Lodge and 111 Sinclair Street, Tower House, Category B11 Glasgow Street and 115 Princes Street West, Wellcroft, Category B113 Sinclair Street, Moorlands with Conservatory and Gatepiers, Category B118 Sinclair Street, Rokneys with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and Conservatory, Category B119 Clyde Street West with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category B121 Argyle Street West, The Lodge, Category B121 Clyde Street East, Category B127 Sinclair Street, Dhuhill and Gatepiers, Category B134 Sinclair Street, Albion Lodge, Category B135 Sinclair Street, Ardluss with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and Gates, Category B14 Millig Street and 43, 45 Campbell Street with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and Gates, Category B14-28 (Even Nos) Princes Street West, Category B146 Sinclair Street, Drum-Millig, Category B148 Clyde Street East, Cromalt House with Boundary Walls and Gatepiers, Category B150 Princes Street West, Rosebank and 17, 19 Campbell Street, Category B150, 152 Princes Street East, Giffnock House with Lodge and Boundary Wall, Category B152 Clyde Street East, Tigh-Na-Mara, Category B154 Clyde Street East, Rockfort and Folly, Category B17 Abercromby Street East, Category B18 Colquhoun Street, Post Office, Category B18 Millig Street, Wester Millig, Boundary Walls, Gatepiers and Gates, Category B186 and 188 Princes Street West, Leewood with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category B19 Abercromby Street East, Category B19-25 (Inc Nos) Colquhoun Square and 46-60 (Even Nos)_Prince's Street West, Category B2 Adelaide Street with Gatepiers and Railings, Category B2 Colquhoun Street Upper, Whincroft with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category B2 Sutherland Street Upper, Terpersie (Formerly Thurloe), Category B20 Millig Street and 33 Queen Street, Woodend with Conservatory, Boundary and Garden Walls, Gatepiers, Gates, Lamp Standard and Garage, Category B20 Queen Street, Ardvuela and Gatepiers, Category B22 Glenfinlas Street Upper, Clunie Hill with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category B22 Millig Street, Category B23 Henry Bell Street, Redcote, Category B24 Clyde Street West, Category B25 Glasgow Street, Category B25 Suffolk Street, Auchenteil with Boundary Walls and Gatepiers, Category B25 and 27 William Street, Category B26 Suffolk Street, Category B3 Easterhill Road, Category B3, 5 Rowallan Street, West and East Gables, Category B31 Montrose Street East, Category B32 Argyle Street West with Gatepiers and Gates, Category B33 Charlotte Street, The Crossways with Gatepiers, Category B34 and 36 Suffolk Street, Kintillo House with Garage, Boundary Wall, Gatepiers, Category B36 Clyde Street West, Category B37, 39 William Street and 71 King Street West, Category B38 and 40 Campbell Street, Burnside, Category B4 Albert Street, Moorgate with Boundary Walls, Category B4 Colquhoun Street Upper, Braeriach with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and Gates, Category B4 Easterhill Road, Dunluce, Category B41 Charlotte Street, Category B41 Colquhoun Street, Galloway Cottage, Category B42-45 (Inclusive Nos) Clyde Street West, Category B43 Charlotte Street, Category B45 Charlotte Street, Category B46 Charlotte Street, Arden and 16 Abercromby Street East, Upper Arden, Category B46 and 48 George Street, Towerville with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and Lodge, Category B47 Charlotte Street , Greenpark, Category B48 Charlotte Street, Hapland Including Boundary Walls and Gatepiers, And Former Coach House, 50 Charlotte Street, Category B49 Colquhoun Street, Pynhannot House, Category B5, 5A (Bermuda) and 7 William Street, Category B50 Campbell Street, Westburn, Category B6 Colquhoun Street Upper, Lynton with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and Gates, Category B6 Munro Drive East, Easterhill, Category B6 Munro Drive West, Strathmoyne with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and Gates, Category B62-66 (Even Nos) Princes Street West, Category B70 John Street, Corner Argyle Street, Category B72, 74, 76 King Street West, Category B76 John Street, Glen Kin with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category B76, 78 Princes Street West and 18, 20 James Street, Category B8, 10, 12 Princes Street West, Category B80 John Street with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers, Category B89 James Street and 13 Queen Street, Lomond School, Category B9 East Abercromby Street, Auchenault and 9 East Rossdhu Drive, Dorrator Including Gatepiers and Boundary Walls, Category B93 King Street East, Victoria Infirmary, Category BDhuhill Drive West, Greycourt, Category ADouglas Drive, Red Towers with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers, Gates and Wellhead, Category ARhu Road Lower, Cairndhu House, Category ARhu Road Lower, Dalmore House, Category ARossdhu Drive West, Longcroft, Category ASinclair Street, Hermitage Park, War Memorial and Walled Garden with Ornamental Gates, Category AWilliam Street, St Michael and All Angels' Episcopal Church and Church Hall, Category A15 Colquhoun Street Upper, The White House with Garage and Boundary Wall, Category A150 Clyde Street East, Rockland and Sundial, Category A17 Upper Colquhoun Street, Drumadoon (Formerly Morar House) with Gatepiers and Boundary Wall and Garden Pavilion, Category A38-40 Sinclair Street, Former Helensburgh and Gareloch Conservative Club, Category A4 Munro Drive West, Brantwoode with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers, Garage and Garden Gate, Category A8 Colquhoun Street Upper, The Hill House with Outbuildings, Boundary Walls and Gates, Category A
Category ACategory B400 m from Dhuhill Drive West, Greycourt
6 of 13Category A buildings stand within 400 m of Dhuhill Drive West, Greycourt, a five-minute walk. So do 19 of the 204 listed buildings.

Hover a dot for its name; tap one with a photo to open it.

204 listed buildings by grade
13 Category A113 Category B78 Category C

Historic Environment Scotland lists buildings in three categories: Category A for buildings of national or international importance (about 7.5% of listed buildings), Category B for buildings of regional importance (about 50%), and Category C for buildings of local importance (about 43%). Listing protects the whole building, inside and out.

Every entry on Historic Environment Scotland’s designations whose point lies inside the NRS 2022 locality boundary. One list entry can cover a terrace or a group of buildings.

Category A

The 13 Category A listed buildings in Helensburgh

Buildings of national or international importance, about 7.5% of all listed buildings; 6 of these stand within 400 m of Dhuhill Drive West, Greycourt. 10 are photographed. Each opens its own page, with the official list entry.

Category B

The 113 Category B listed buildings in Helensburgh

Buildings of regional importance. 46 are photographed.

Show the other 101
Historic streets

Gatepiers and Gates has the most listed buildings

Streets by the listed entries with an address on them. One entry can be a whole terrace, so long rows count once.

Gatepiers and Gates6 listed · 6 II*
6 Colquhoun Street Upper, Lynton with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and Gates
Charlotte Street5 listed · 4 II*
Clyde Street East5 listed · 1 II*
121 Clyde Street East
Clyde Street West4 listed · 2 II*
24 Clyde Street West36 Clyde Street West
Glasgow Street3 listed · 1 II*

Of the 204 entries, 140 are named by a street address; the rest are named buildings such as churches, halls and bridges.

What’s protected

Most of Helensburgh’s listed buildings are homes

Every listed building sorted by what its list name says it is.

Houses, terraces & villas172
Walls, gates & bridges17
Public & civic buildings5
Churches, chapels & priories5
Memorials, crosses & tombs2
Inns, shops & warehouses2
Street furniture1

172 entries (84%) are houses, terraces and villas. 5 are churches, chapels and priories.

Buildings are sorted by words in each entry’s name (church, gate, inn, memorial…): the list’s open data has no building type. An entry named only by its address counts as a house.

Category C

78 Category C listed buildings

This category covers buildings of local importance. Open any building to read its official list entry.

All 78 Category C listed buildings, A to Z
Bust of John Logie Baird, West Esplanade, West Clyde Street, HelensburghClyde Street East, Queen's Court (Formerly Queen's Hotel) and Provost's LampsClyde Street East, Rockfort Lodge, Boundary Walls and GatepiersClyde Street East, Tarandoun Cottage with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and GatesFlywheel and Anvil, East Bay Esplanade, East Clyde Street, HelensburghHelensburgh Pier, excluding public toilet building, West Clyde Street, Helensburgh.Imperial Hotel, 12 Clyde Street WestJames Street, Former la Scala CinemaKing Street West, West King Street Hall (St Columba's Hall)William Street, St Michael and All Angels' Episcopal Church Rectory1-14 (Inclusive Nos) Glenan Gardens, Argyle Street West10 Argyle Street West and 52, 54 Colquhoun Street, Rosemount with Gatepiers, Gates, Boundary Wall and_Coach-House10 Queen Street, Westward103 Sinclair Street, Rowanmore with Boundary Wall and Piers104 Clyde Street East105, 106 Clyde Street West106 Sinclair Street108 and 110 Clyde Street East, Rimsdale and Traigh-Na-Mara with Stables, Boundary Walls and Gate116 Sinclair Street, Former West Highland Railway, Helensburgh Upper, Station Master's House122 Clyde Street West and 2 Sutherland Street127 Clyde Street East132 Sinclair Street, Ballytrim and Gatepiers149-151 (Odd Nos) Clyde Street East and 1-3 (Odd Nos) Glenfinlas Street15 King's Crescent (Formerly Towerville Lodge)153 Clyde Street East and 2 Glenfinlas Street16 Clyde Street East and 7-9 (Odd Nos) Maitland Street165 Clyde Street East Corner Adelaide Street17 William Street17 and 19 (Odd Nos) John Street17, 18 and 19 Clyde Street West18 Abercromby Street West, Summer House19 Havelock Street19 Suffolk Street and 1 Sutherland Crescent Lower19, 19A, 19B Montrose Street East and 26 Havelock Street217 Clyde Street East, Willowbank and Boundary Walls22, 24, 26, 28 King Street East, Alma Place, 13 Charlotte Street, 38 Grant Street22-34 (Even Nos) Sinclair Street22A Suffolk Street23 Glasgow Street23 Suffolk Street, The Grange with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers and 39 Millig Street, The Ingle24 Queen Street with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers and Coach House25 Queen Street with Boundary Wall25-27 (Odd Nos) King Street West, Strathclyde Regional Council Registry Office27 John Street29 Glasgow Street29 Montrose Street East and 4 Adelaide Street Upper29 and 31 Campbell Street3 Craigendoran Avenue30-34 (Even Nos) Princes Street West32 Queen Street, Deanston with Gatepiers32-44 (Even Nos) John Street33-41 (Odd Nos) Sinclair Street36 Argyle Street West, Westways38 Argyle Street West, Garthland4 Clyde Street East, Tourist Information Centre (Bell Tower of Former Parish Church4 Glasgow Street, Craigbank4 Sutherland Street4-9 (Inclusive Nos) Craigendoran Avenue44 Charlotte Street46-56 (Even Nos) John Street5 Argyle Street West51-55 (Odd Nos) King Street West and 53 James Street56 William Street, Upper Ericstane with Screen and Boundary Wall and 7 a Montrose Street West, Lower Ericstane57 Princes East and 17-21 (Odd Nos) Lomond Street6 Queen Street, Haywood and Sundial6 Sutherland Crescent Lower6 Sutherland Street60 Clyde Street East61-65 (Odd Nos) Princes Street West and 22-28 (Even Nos) John Street62 Colquhoun Street, Kildare Lodge with Boundary Wall and Gatepiers7 Sutherland Crescent Lower73-79 (Odd Nos) Princes Street West74, 76, 78 King Street East77 James Street, Methilfield82 and 84 Clyde Street East9 Argyle Street East93 Sinclair Street95,96 Clyde Street West, Flower Bank
Conservation areas

3 conservation areas cover 32% of Helensburgh

Areas the council protects as a whole: demolition and changes to how buildings look need consent, and trees are protected.

Upper Helensburgh 1970161 ha
Hill House, Helensburgh 19709 ha
Helensburgh Town Centre 19705 ha
175 hain conservation areas, of 544 ha inside the locality.

The first, Upper Helensburgh, Hill House, Helensburgh and Helensburgh Town Centre, were designated in 1970; the newest, Helensburgh Town Centre, in 1970. 118 of the 204 listed buildings stand in one.

Historic Environment Scotland’s conservation areas layer, supplied by councils (incomplete in places, so a page fact, never graded). Hectares are the part of each area inside the locality.

How the list grew

More than half of Helensburgh’s listed buildings were added in one year, 1993

The year each building now on the list was first listed.

1993 · 1681971 · 18
19501960197019801990200020102020

The first 18 entries were listed in 1971, 6 of the 13 Category A buildings among them. 168 came in 1993. Only 1 has been added in the last 15 years.

Born here

13 notable people born in Helensburgh before 1900

Their lives on one timeline, earliest first.

George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
Katherine Arthur Behenna
Herbert Guthrie-Smith
Horatio Scott Carslaw
Allan Douglass Mainds
Norah Neilson Gray
Richard Finlay
Jack Strong
Tina Gray
John Logie Baird
Jack Buchanan
John Inglis Gilmour
Viola Paterson
1800182518501875190019251950
John Logie Baird
John Logie Baird1888–1946 · Scottish inventor, demonstrating the world's first working television…
George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll1823–1900 · Scottish peer, Liberal politician and writer on science, religion, an…
Norah Neilson Gray
Norah Neilson Gray1882–1931 · British artist of the Glasgow School (1882-1931)
Jack Buchanan
Jack Buchanan1891–1957 · British actor, singer, director and producer (1891-1957)
Herbert Guthrie-Smith
Herbert Guthrie-Smith1862–1940 · New Zealand farmer, author and conservationist (1861/2–1940)
KB
Katherine Arthur Behenna1860–1924 · Scottish-born US painter (1860-1924)
Horatio Scott Carslaw
Horatio Scott Carslaw1870–1954 · British mathematician (1870–1954)
Jack Strong
Jack Strong1884–1971 · Australian rules footballer (1884-1971)

Everyone born in Helensburgh → Birthplaces from Wikidata; portraits from Wikimedia Commons.

Towns its size

Helensburgh has the 4th most Category A buildings of 139 towns its size

Scottish towns of 6,000–35,000 people, by Category A listed buildings.

Lanark25
Dumfries22
St Andrews20
Elgin13
Helensburgh13
Montrose11
Musselburgh11
Kelso10
Haddington9
Linlithgow9
Dalkeith8
Dunbar7
#16 of 139for listed buildings per resident (144 per 10,000). Kelso, Kirkwall and Haddington lead.

Only Lanark, Dumfries and St Andrews have more. Helensburgh is level with Elgin. The typical town its size has 1.

Neighbours

Listed buildings in the places around Helensburgh

TownPeopleListedCategory AHistory
Helensburgh14,12820413—
Greenock42,87011215—
Gourock10,072630—
Alexandria6,260242—
Port Glasgow14,260193—
Balloch and Haldane6,000132—
Bonhill8,60872—
Dumbarton21,027496—
In brief

Helensburgh in brief

The official list counts 204 listed buildings in Helensburgh, 13 of them in the top category, including 8 Colquhoun Street Upper, The Hill House with Outbuildings, Boundary Walls and Gates. Dhuhill Drive West, Greycourt sits at the heart of it all, with 6 of the town’s Category A buildings within 400 m. Only 3 of the 139 towns nearest its size have more Category A buildings. Its older streets lie in 3 conservation areas, the first designated in 1970.

Of the whole list, 84% are houses, terraces and villas. John Logie Baird (1888), George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll (1823) and Norah Neilson Gray (1882) are among the 13 people born here before 1900. More than half went on the list in a single year, 1993: 168 of 204.

Questions about Helensburgh’s history

How many listed buildings are there in Helensburgh?

Historic Environment Scotland lists 204 buildings inside Helensburgh’s locality: 13 Category A, 113 Category B and 78 Category C.

What are the Category A listed buildings in Helensburgh?

13, including Dhuhill Drive West, Greycourt, Douglas Drive, Red Towers with Boundary Wall, Gatepiers, Gates and Wellhead, Rhu Road Lower, Cairndhu House, Rhu Road Lower, Dalmore House, Rossdhu Drive West, Longcroft and Sinclair Street, Hermitage Park, War Memorial and Walled Garden with Ornamental Gates.

Which street in Helensburgh has the most listed buildings?

Gatepiers and Gates (6), Charlotte Street (5) and Clyde Street East (5) have the most listed entries named by an address. One entry can be a whole terrace.

How many conservation areas are there in Helensburgh?

3, covering about 175 hectares of the town. The largest are Upper Helensburgh and Hill House, Helensburgh.

When were Helensburgh’s buildings listed?

The first in 1971; the most, 168, in 1993.

Are there old photos of Helensburgh?

Yes: 5 public-domain photos and postcards from 1890 to 1903, all on this page.

Who was born in Helensburgh?

Among people born before 1900: John Logie Baird (1888), George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll (1823), Norah Neilson Gray (1882), Jack Buchanan (1891) and Herbert Guthrie-Smith (1862).

Helensburgh has no History Grade.

Listed buildings, scheduled monuments, gardens and designed landscapes, battlefields, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites: Historic Environment Scotland, Open Government Licence v3.0. Check an entry on Historic Environment Scotland’s portal before relying on it.

Sources: Historic Environment Scotland designations (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, gardens and designed landscapes, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the NRS 2022 locality boundary · Historic Environment Scotland conservation areas (compiled from councils; October 2026). All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.