Stairlifts Helensburgh - Stairlifts Argyll and Bute

Click here to find new and reconditioned stairlifts in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute

Castle Comfort Stairlifts offers top brand stairlifts, keen prices and fast installs for all those seeking stairlifts in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute. And all work comes with our no-quibble guarantees and famous customer service satisfaction.

Give us a call today on 0141 278 3929  If however, you are looking for fascinating facts about the area then feel free to read on.


Stairlifts Helensburgh - Stairlifts Argyll and Bute

Helensburgh is said to be the second most expensive place to buy property in Scotland.  This little seaside town sits on the banks of the Firth of Clyde and the entrance to the sea inlet of Gareloch.

Helensburgh’s origins started in 1776 when Sir James Colquhorn built spa baths there actually on the original site of Ardencaple Castle.  Today the only part of the castle that remains is the tower which is used as an aid to navigation on the Firth of Clyde.

Once the spa baths were built, Colquhorn built the new seaside town adjacent to the baths that he named after his wife Helen.  He laid the town out in the style of Edinburgh New Town based on a grid system.  He also arranged a ferry service to the other side of the Firth of Clyde so that people could commute from work in Greenock to live in the stylish Helensburgh.

By the end of the 19th century holiday makers were arriving to enjoy this new seaside town by paddle steamer up the Clyde from Glasgow and by rail.  The steamers stopped at Helensburgh and Craigendoran piers.

Helensburgh retains its original charm with wide, elegant tree-lined streets, a long promenade and many green parks and gardens.

Nowadays, Helensburgh is a commuter town for Glasgow as well as attracting tourists.  It is also close to the Naval Base Faslane which is the site where the British nuclear deterrent fleet operate from.  A lot of Helensburgh’s economy depends on the income generated by links with the Base.

Castle Comfort Stair Lifts
If you or a loved one living in Helensborough or the local area has mobility problems, we are just the people to help and advise.  We have been supplying stairlifts to the folks in the UK for virtually 15 years so we know a thing or two about what you’ll need.

There are already around 75 people in Helensburgh who own a stairlift; that’s roughly 2.6% of the retired population in the area.  You can see just how many people use this mode of transport up and down the stairs by checking out our scrolling counter here.

Whilst you’re checking the counter take a look at the services we offer from supply and installation to after sales service.  Don’t worry if you know nothing about stairlifts we have a wealth of information that you can read about including prices, comparison of the different makes and even differing stairlifts for your needs.

Still got questions?  Why not give our local office a call on  0141 278 3929 .

Hill House
Hill House is in the northern part of the town and was built for the publisher Walter Blackie by well-known architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.  Most of the interior rooms and furniture were also designed by Mackintosh.  The house is now owned by the National Trust of Scotland and can be visited throughout the summer and on selected days through the winter.


Loch Lomond
Literally just down the road is Loch Lomond, it’s less than 10 miles away.  Everyone’s heard of Loch Lomond even though it doesn’t boast a mystical monster like its northerly cousin Loch Ness.

Source:Wikipedia 

Loch Lomond is the largest inland lake in the British Isles – its 24 miles long and some almost 1 to 5 miles wide.  It contains 30 plus islands of which Inchmurrin is the largest.  Several are also thought to be man-made from prehistoric times.  Lomond falls within the Trossacks National Park and there is no doubt that it is an area of extreme natural beauty.  It contains 21 Munros or mountains but none of them compete with Ben Nevis further north, the highest mountain in the British Isles.

You’ll find great nature trails and walks in Balloch Country Park at the southern tip of Loch Lomond.

Famous folks from Helensburgh
·         John Logie Baird famous for pioneering the invention of television in Great Britain was born in Helensburgh.  He produced an early greyscale broadcast.  He also tried to create diamonds from graphite and caused Glasgow’s electricity supply to short

·         Fittingly an actor who first made his name on television lives in the area now.  Robbie Coltrane came to fame on our small screens in a number of productions including Cracker, the Gruffalo, Tutti Fruiti, Blackadder’s Christmas Carol and too many more to list.  In latter years he has become renowned for his part as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.  Although his career in both television and films started simultaneously around 1980, he never seems to have left one screen or the other

·         Actress Deborah Kerr probably best remembered for her role in the film The King and I spent the first few years of her life in Helensburgh.  She was nominated 6 times for an Academy Award but never won.  She appeared in a number of successful films including From Here to Eternity, Black Narcissus, An Affair to Remember, The life and Death of Colonel Blimp.  She has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame

Source:Wikipedia

·         Scottish drummer Kenny Hislop is also from Helensburgh.  He joined Midge Ure in Slik and went on to play with Simple Minds for a short time


·         Television director Tom Vaughan grew up in Helensburgh.  He directed the TV series Cold Feet and He Knew He was Right and films What Happens in Vegas and Extraordinary Measures.  He currently has two films in post-production


Just a quick reminder, Castle Comfort Stair Lifts can help everyone find the best stairlift for their needs.  We can even advise about meeting the costs via possible grants or 0% finance options.  You’ll even find a £50 off voucher at the top of this blog to use towards the purchase.  And don’t forget we have a number of reconditioned models which keep the costs down too.

We can have you mobile again in less than half a day – yes that’s the most time it takes to install a stairlift and you could be in control again.  Just call us today on  0141 278 3929 .

Stairlifts Falkirk – Stairlifts Stirlingshire

Click here to find new and reconditioned stairlifts in Falkirk, Stirlingshire


Castle Comfort Stairlifts offers top brand stairlifts, keen prices and fast installs for all those seeking stairlifts in Falkirk, Stirlingshire. And all work comes with our no-quibble guarantees and famous customer service satisfaction.

Give us a call today on 0131 242 0046  If however, you are looking for fascinating facts about the area then feel free to read on.


Stairlifts Falkirk – Stairlifts Stirlingshire

Falkirk sits about halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh though slightly to the north.  It sits at the junction of the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal which has stood Falkirk in good stead over the centuries in terms industry.

This junction has produced one of Falkirk’s most iconic landmarks and attractions of recent times, the Falkirk Wheel.  Essentially it is a boat lift to connect these two canals which had previously been linked by 11 locks.  Where the canals meet there is a height difference of some 24 metres, the equivalent of 8 storeys.

Source:Ruth Harris

Castle Comfort Stair Lifts to the rescue
Imagine if the height difference between your ground floor and your bedroom was that high.  You might need a stairlift for each flight.  Fortunately for many of you who find the stairs daunting or painful or just plain impossible, Castle Comfort Stair Lifts can help.

We can supply and install stairlifts supplied by all the main UK suppliers so there is something to suit everyone’s home and all manner of personal needs.  Believe it or not there are already about 175 people in Falkirk who have succumbed to the charms of a stairlift.  How do we know – take a look at our home page here to see our scrolling counter which keeps count.  So if you’re living in the area and need one, you won’t be alone.

You can review our performance by seeing what others have to say and checking out our stairlift prices.  Of course if you have any queries or need more information, please give our local office a call on  0131 242 0046 .

The Falkirk Wheel
The wheel is something else.  And even it can’t deliver a boat directly from one to the other.  The Union Canal is 11 metres higher than the aquaduct at the top of the wheel so that boats must still go through two locks to descend from this canal to the aquaduct and vice versa.  The aquaduct could not have been placed higher due to the historic Antoine Wall which was built by the Romans.


Then this amazing feat of engineering transports boats up or down that 24 metres so that they can be on their way on the adjoining canal.  The wheel was opened in 2002 as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.

Some facts about the wheel
·         It has a diameter of 35 metres

·         Its balancing water tanks or gondolas contain 80,000 gallons of water

·         The wheel works on the Archimedes’ Principle i.e. when a boat enters exactly the same weight of water is displaced so that it retains its balance

·         It’s the only rotating boat lift in the world

·         The Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire works on the same principle but does not rotate

·         The Falkirk Wheel features on the back of £50 notes issued by the Bank of Scotland commemorating Scottish engineering


Falkirk’s industrial history
During the Industrial Revolution, Falkirk was at the heart of heavy industry in Scotland.  This included the iron and steel industries.  James Watt cast some of the beams for one of his early steam engines here at the Carron Iron Works.  They also manufactured Carronades – smooth barrelled canons - for the Royal Navy and then pillar boxes for all over the UK.  I wonder what they’d have thought of them painted gold to celebrate gold medal winners in this year’s Olympics?

Source:Flickr Matthew Smith

Johnston Press was founded in Falkirk in the mid 1800’s.  Now its headquarters are in Edinburgh and it is still the second largest regional newspaper publisher in the UK.  The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post and The Falkirk Herald are all published by Johnston Press.

Historic Buildings
The A listed Callendar House was built in the style of a French Renaissance chateau complete with turrets.  It dates from the 14th century though little of the original house remains.  It has welcomed some important people through its doors including Mary, Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria.

Source:Ruth Harris

In the 18th century the Forbes family acquired the property.  William Forbes of Carron Iron Foundry bought the property for £100,000.  The house now belongs to Falkirk Burgh Council and has been restored to its former Georgian glory, complete with a fully working kitchen of the period.  It houses the local museum including a history research facility.

The Dunmore Pineapple is described as a folly.  It is the decorative motive on the wall around the gardens of Dunmore House home to the Earls of Dunmore.  A ‘hothouse’ was built into the wall where pineapples were grown.  The hothouse not only had a wall of glass to get heat from the sun, but was helped to keep high temperatures by a furnace heating system built into the wall too.  This system circulated heat from the furnace through the wall cavities which heated the space.

Source:Publicdomain

A few of the famous of Falkirk
·         Robert Barr started his business producing Irn Bru in Falkirk.  This fizzy drink is still the best selling soft drink in Scotland.  It became very popular with foundry workers in Falkirk and Glasgow for quenching their thirst after the hot work in the foundry


·         William Forbes who was the founder of the Carron Iron Works.  Forbes lived in Callendar House


·         Elizabeth Fraser, singer with the Cocteau Twins was born in nearby Grangemouth.  She was once described as ‘the voice of God’ for her beautiful singing voice

·         Forbes Masson actor and writer was born in Falkirk.  He is known for his comic partnership with Alan Cumming and also classical theatre performances


·         Dame Elizabeth Blackadder is a real person from Falkirk not a character in a famous comedy series!  She is the first woman artist to be elected to the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Academy

·         Gold medal gymnast (2002 Commonwealth games) for men’s rings, Steve Frew was born in Falkirk.  Steve has competed for Scotland on more than 100 occasions



Calling Castle Comfort Stairlifts
If you or someone close to you living in this attractive town needs help to get up and down the stairs, we can help.  Castle Comfort Stair Lifts will have a solution to your problem.  We can fit a stairlift in half a day or less and we offer 24/7 aftercare so that you are never left stranded.



Compare the different stairlifts we supply for yourself and if you have any concerns, get in touch.  If you need help with the costs, please take a look at the possibilities of a grant or a 0% finance deal.  You can even use the £50 voucher at the top of this page towards the cost of your chairlift.



If you want to get this started, give us a call on 0131 242 0046 .

Stairlifts Dumbarton - West Dumbartonshire Stairlifts

Click here to find new and reconditioned stairlifts in Dumbarton, West Dumbartonshire

Castle Comfort Stairlifts offers top brand stairlifts, keen prices and fast installs for all those seeking stairlifts in Dumbarton,West Dumbartonshire. And all work comes with our no-quibble guarantees and famous customer service satisfaction.

Give us a call today on 0141 278 3929  If however, you are looking for fascinating facts about the area then feel free to read on.


Stairlifts Dumbarton

The point where the River Clyde is joined by the River Leven is where you’ll find Dumbarton once the capital of Strathclyde.  Dumbarton means ‘hill fort of the Britons’ so you won’t be surprised to learn that there is an imposing castle built on the protruding crag on the river.  This crag is also known as Clyde Rock.

There’s has been a settlement here since at least the Iron Age.  The name of the town and other evidence suggests that the first settlements were ancient Britons (Celts) who spoke a form of Welsh.

Dumbarton’s chequered career through history shows that the town suffered many losses from the Black Death in the 14th century but that 3 centuries later was an important trading port with the West Indies.  By the beginning of the 18th century it was the biggest glass producer especially for bottles and windows.  During World War II it was heavily bombed as German bombers targeted the shipyards.

Castle Comfort Stair Lifts
We can’t quite boast such a long history but Castle Comfort Stair Lifts has been in business long enough to know a lot about stairlifts.  If you or a loved one is in need of help to climb or descend the stairs, we have a solution.  We have access to stairlifts of all kinds – straight, curved, perch, even bariatric – to make it possible for you to reclaim that upper floor of your home.

With supplies from all of the UK’s manufacturers including one produced especially for us plus reconditioned ones, we are sure to be able to find the right one for you.  Have a look at how they compare to one another and what prices they come in at before making your decision.

There are already over 100 people in Dumbarton who have already discovered how a stairlift can help.  If you want to join the ever-growing numbers, please give our local Glasgow office a call on  0141 278 3929 .

Shipbuilding at Dumbarton
As the glass industry declined in the early 19th century, shipbuilding came to the fore.  This remained the industry focus well into the 20th century.  Dumbarton was home to many shipbuilding yards though many of the smaller ones were swallowed up by larger companies.

Many well known ships were built here but probably the most famous is the Cutty Sark (built by Scott & Linton).  Today you can see the Cutty Sark, a Tea Clipper – fast sailing ships with three or more masts - at a dry dock in Greenwich in London.  The Cutty Sark was the last Tea Clipper to be built and was undoubtedly one of the fastest.

Source:Public domain

At the beginning of the 19th century one of Dumbarton’s longest lasting shipbuilders, William Denny and Brothers built the Rob Roy, named after Scotland’s famous folk hero. The Rob Roy was the first steam powered ferry travelling across the English Channel.  Denny’s are also responsible for the Second Snark which is still in use taking people for trips along the Firth of Clyde.

Source:Wikipedia

Denny’s were famous for their commitment to research and development and gained respect in two particular areas: the development of high pressure turbines and hull stabilisation.  They built a prototype helicopter at the beginning of the 20th century and were later involved in the development of hovercraft i.e. the Denny D2 Hoverbus.

The Scottish Maritime Museum has the original Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank on show which retains many of its original features.  The tank is as long as a football pitch and was used to test ships and their hulls in water and conditions to simulate those they’d meet at sea.

Whisky production
Whisky production grew as shipbuilding faded.  A former Glasgow based distillery, Ballantine’s was moved over to Dumbarton.  They built a large operation on the River Leven where once ship building yards had been.  Hiram Walker brought the distillery over to Dumbarton and the industry grew and thrived in the area until the late 20th century.  Hiram Walker were acquired by Allied Breweries and then taken over by Pernod Ricard.  The distillery was closed in 2002.

Source: Wikipedia

Other distilleries in the area – Interleven and J&B have also closed.  Interleven retains a bottling site and J&B’s site has become a film set.  As one door closes another opens ...

Did you know?
A large flock of Chinese white geese were introduced to the Ballantine’s distillery back in 1959.  At first just 6 birds ‘patrolled’ the distillery but grew to 100.  They became known as the ‘Scotch Watch’ and were used in Ballantine’s advertising for their blended whisky.  They were also quite a tourist attraction.

Dumbarton is now mainly a commuter town for Glasgow less than 15 miles away with the Faslane naval base as the largest local employer.

More did you knows?
·         Scottish poet Robbie Burns was made a freeman of Dumbarton

·         Motor racing driver, Sir Jackie Stewart was born here.  He was nicknamed the ‘Flying Scot’ winning 3 world championships during his driving career from 1965 – 73.  Before becoming a racing driver, Jackie won championships in Skeet Shooting – British, Welsh, Scottish and European.

Source: Wikipedia

·         Author A J Cronin probably best known for his radio and TV scripts for Dr Finlay’s Casebook has links to the town.  His maternal grandfather owned a hat shop in Dumbarton.  Cronin also published novels like The Stars look down and The Citadel which were made into films

·         David Byrne, the founding member of globally successful band Talking Heads was born in Dumbarton.  Byrne, the principal songwriter for the group has won Grammy and Academy Awards and a Golden Globe.  Byrne’s family moved to Canada and then the USA where David was brought up.  He currently lives in New York City but has never applied for citizenship so remains a British Citizen

Flickr:Fred von Lohmann

·         Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand have sampled Talking Heads’ Burning Down the House in their remixed hit song Take me Out

Wikipedia:Shokoishikawa

Dumbarton Castle
We can’t not mention Dumbarton Castle which was built on that volcanic crag.  The Castle defends the meeting point of the two rivers, Clyde and Leven.  There has been a castle here for more than 1,500 years.  The Rock on which the Castle is built rises sheer out of the water and has two points – White tower Crag and the Beak – with amazing views.

Merlin is said to have visited the castle.  Originally a British settlement, it was laid to siege by the Vikings and eventually taken over by Kenneth MacAlpin, King of the Picts when Strathclyde was independent.  Later the castle sheltered David II and his wife, James I was imprisoned here, Mary Queen of Scots also took shelter here before heading for France.  William Wallace may have been a prisoner here too.  The Wallace Tower is thought to be named in his honour.

Nowadays there are no traces of the original castle and only the Portcullis and the foundations of the Wallace Tower and the possible foundations of the White Tower remain from the medieval castle built by Alexander II.  The 16th century Guard House is still there and most of the 18th century buildings including the Governor’s House.  The Castle is open to the public daily during the summer and from Saturday – Wednesday in the winter.  Visitors will have to climb more than 550 steps to see the White Tower Crag.  It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument owned by the Scottish government.

Too many steps
More than 550 steps is far too many unless you are really fit.  Remember if even the stairs in your home are daunting, Castle Comfort Stairlifts can help.

We can sort you out with a stairlift suitable for you and your home and have it installed in less than half a day.  After that we have 24/7 after sales care to make sure you are never left stranded.  If you want to know more, please give us a call on  0141 278 3929 .

Stairlifts Stirling – Argyll Stairlifts

Click here to find new and reconditioned stairlifts in Stirling, Argyll

Castle Comfort Stairlifts offers top brand stairlifts, keen prices and fast installs for all those seeking stairlifts in Stirling, Argyll. And all work comes with our no-quibble guarantees and famous customer service satisfaction.

Give us a call today on 0131 242 0046  If however, you are looking for fascinating facts about the area then feel free to read on.


Stairlifts Stirling

Stirling Castle sits majestically on a craggy rock above the city of Stirling, once the capital of Scotland and the Castle was home of the Royal Stewarts.

Stirling itself sits on the boundary between the Scottish Highlands and the Lowlands.  It has been known as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’ through history and also as the ‘brooch’ which keeps these two areas together.

A service in Stirling
What’s keeping your downstairs and upstairs together?  Not a brooch but stairs probably.  If these have become a problem for you then Castle Comfort Stair Lifts has the solution.  We know a lot about stairlifts having set up our business almost 15 years ago and we will have one just right for you.  We have stairlifts for straight and curved staircases and even solutions if there are other problems i.e. if you can’t bend your knees, we have a perch stairlift.  Join the ‘in’ crowd – there are already almost 200 people in Stirling who have discovered that owning a stairlift has improved their lives.  We know because we keep count, you can see for yourselves here.

Check out our prices and the different types of stairlifts.  Still got questions?  Please give us a call on  0131 242 0046 .

Stirling’s History
The first settlement here dates back to the Stone Age and by Roman times, it was important because of its geographical position.  But Stirling is probably best known for the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 13th century.  The Battle of Stirling Bridge (nearby) where William Wallace a national hero, out-witted the English Army which had many more troops than he had at his command.

Source:Public domain

William Wallace is the inspiration for the film Braveheart.  There is now a monument to William Wallace in Stirling.  You can climb to the top – 247 steps - to see amazing views both across the town and to the Ochil Hills and beyond.  Inside the Monument you can listen to William Wallace’s trial by the English King Edward I which resulted in Wallace’s execution.

And it was here about a century later that Robert the Bruce won independence for Scotland at the Battle of Bannockburn.

Walking through Stirling’s Old Town is like a history tour in itself!   Overlooking the main street in the city, Broad Street is:
·         The Tolbooth which was Stirling’s original administrative centre and sight of public executions until the middle of the 19th century

·         Find Mar’s Wark at the top of the street which was the imposing home of the Regent of Scotland

·         A restored nobleman’s townhouse and The Guildhall both dating back to the mid 17th century

·         The 15th century Church of the Holy Rude where King James VI was crowned

Source:Public domain

·         See some of the oldest headstones in Britain in the cemetery next door

·         Find Stirling’s Old Town Jail beneath the castle where you can visit the thick-walled cells and learn about former inmates

·         Visit Stirling Old Bridge in the centre of Stirling which crosses the River Forth to see where William Wallace carried out his great feat.  You can still just see the submerged wooden pillars of an earlier bridge

·         Find Cambuskenneth Abbey on the River Forth where Robert the Bruce held an historic parliament meeting just before the Battle of Bannackburn

·         King James III and Queen Margaret of Denmark are buried at the Abbey

·         Stirling’s 16th century Town Wall is the best surviving town wall in Scotland.  You can follow the route of the wall from the centre of the modern city to the centre of Stirling Old Town

·         The Back Walk goes around Stirling Old Town and Stirling Castle.  Places along this walk offer amazing views of the Highlands peaks

·         The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum has a wide range of exhibits from the historical to the artistic.  There is also a fascinating illustration of Stirling’s story over the past 1,000 years


Stirling Castle
The castle sits on a rocky crag giving a sheer drop on three sides of the building which means it was relatively easy to defend.

The first mention of Stirling Castle occurred in the 12th century when King Alexander I dedicated a chapel here.  The Great Hall was the home of the Scottish Parliament and the Castle was the home of the Royal family.

Royal Connections with Stirling Castle:
·         Alexander 1 died here

·         David I made Stirling a royal burgh

·         William I introduced a deer park to the grounds of the Castle

·         Castle formerly handed to Richard I of England when William was captured

·         William died here too

·         Alexander III laid out the Park for deer hunting in the 13th century

·         Robert II and III both had work done on the Castle during their reigns.  Some of these early parts still survive

·         The Castle was part of the marriage settlement between James II and Joan Beaufort

·         James II lived here with his mother for 15 years after James I was murdered

·         James III was born in the Castle; he was responsible for work to the gardens and the Chapel Royal

·         Margaret of Denmark, wife of James III died here

·         James IV held a full Court at the Castle and made improvements to the buildings

·         After James IV’s death his son, James V was crowned King in the Chapel Royal before he was old enough to walk.  He continued the building works started by his father for his second wife Mary of Guise

Source:Public domain

·         Their daughter Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned in the Chapel Royal and brought up in the Castle

Source:Public domain

·         She went away to France and on her return she married Henry Stuart

·         Their son, James VI was brought up in the Castle even though his parents were estranged, they            both lived there


·         Henry, James VI’s son was born and lived here but died at 18 of Typhoid Fever

·         When James became King of England as well, the family moved to London

·         Charles I, James Vi’s second son visited the Castle

·         His son Charles II visited the Castle; he was the last Monarch to stay at Stirling Castle


Did you know?
·         That at the beginning of the 17th century the town council banned late night drinking because it was offending God and disturbing others?

·         That Rabbie Burns scratched a verse on the window of an Inn in Stirling about the state of the Castle?

·         That in 1800 when Stirling had a population of 5,000 there were 90 alehouses here?

·         That Stirling was chosen as the site for Scotland’s first ‘new university’ in 1964?

·         That in the Queen’s Jubilee year 2002, Stirling was granted the status of ‘city’

·         That British Champion Jockey Willie Carson comes from Stirling?  He won almost 4,000 races, was British Champion Jockey 5 times and won 17 British Classic races

·         That Kenny Logan, Scottish rugby union player was born here?

·         That a host of ‘then and now’ footballers can claim Stirling as their home town?  They include: Frank Beattie, Alex Bone, Billy Bremner, John Brown, Gary and Steven Caldwell, John Colquhoun, Callum Davidson, Kenny Deuchar, Jamie Fowler, Willie Garner, Gary Gillespie, David Goodwillie, David Graham, Dale Hilson, Willie Irvine, Kevin Kelbie, Andy Kennedy, Stewart Kennedy, Sean Kilgannon, Allan McGonigal, Paul McHale, Kevin McKinlay, Chris Mitchell, Gary Muir, Stevie Nicholas, David O’Brien, John Philliben, Scott Severin, Ray Sharp, John Shaw, Ronnie Sinclair, Jim Thomson, Jo Tortolano and Iain Turner.  Enough for three teams!

Billy Bremner -Source:Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-N0614-0028 / CC-BY-SA

·         That Stirling is also the home town of John Grierson a pioneer in documentary film making?

·         That Muir Mathieson composer of film music calls this his home town?

·         That animation inspiration Norman McClaren is also from Stirling?

·         That assorted Scottish Kings and Queens have connections with Stirling?



Did you know?
That Castle Comfort Stair Lifts can help you regain your independence.  Owning a stairlift is the perfect answer to making the upper floor of your house accessible.  We can make it happen as quickly as you can say William Wallace.  Installations take less than half a day, some less than a couple of hours and our after sales service is excellent.

All you need to do is give us a call on  0131 242 0046 .

Stairlifts Dunfermline – Stairlifts Fife

Click here to find new and reconditioned stairlifts in Dunfermline, Fife 

Castle Comfort Stairlifts offers top brand stairlifts, keen prices and fast installs for all those seeking stairlifts in Dunfermline, Fife. And all work comes with our no-quibble guarantees and famous customer service satisfaction.

Give us a call today on 0131 242 0046  If however, you are looking for fascinating facts about the area then feel free to read on.

Stairlifts Dunfermline

Dunfermline sits on the northern side of the Firth of Forth about 3 miles from the shore.  There has been a settlement here since Stone Age times.  However it didn’t come into its own until the Bronze Age evidence of which has been found in the area including a bronze axe, a gold torc in the parish churchyard.  Bonze Age burials were also found nearby containing a bronze dagger, armlets and a necklace.  Nowadays it is the second largest town in Fife after Kirkaldy some 15 miles to the east.

Dunfermline is home to almost 46,500 people of whom about 9,000 are retired – and not all of them are the proud owners of Bronze Age treasures.  Although some of them might feel as old as that!!!  We know that about 235 of Dunfermline’s population already own stairlifts, that’s about 2.6% of the retired population, the national average.  It’s a sad fact that a small percentage of us will need help getting up and down the stairs as we get older.

Fortunately here at Castle Comfort Stairlifts we can help.  We have a great supply of all the top brands of stairlifts at keen prices that we can install almost before you can say bronze dagger!  What’s more our guarantees are second to none and our 24/7 customer service makes sure you stay mobile.

If you need more information about our prices or our stairlifts, please take a look around our website and if you still have questions please give us a call on  0131 242 0046  

Royal connections
It is Dunfermline’s Royal connections that gained its first acknowledgement.  Malcolm III, King of Scotland married Saint Margaret in Dunfermline in the 11th century.  It was Margaret who established a new church in the town which was later given Abbey status under their son David I.

Copyright:Paul McIlroy

Malcolm and Margaret had six sons and two daughters.  Three of the sons became kings of Scotland: Edgar of Scotland, Alexander I and David I.  Their daughter Edith who was also known as Matilda married Henry I of England whilst their daughter Mary married Eustace III of Boulogne.

Saint Margaret
Margaret was an English princess, Margaret of Wessex.  She was the sister of King Edgar and had been born in exile in Hungary.  Having returned to England, Margaret fled to Scotland when the Normans invaded.

Source;Public Domain

Margaret was responsible for many charitable works including establishing a ferry across the Firth of Forth so that pilgrims could visit the Abbey.  This gave South Queensferry and North Queensferry their names.

Sainthood
Margaret was canonised by Pope Innocent IV in 1250.  Her canonisation recognised her holy disposition and her work with the church to bring about reform and her charity work.  She was interred at Dunfermline Abbey but after the reformation her remains were lost.  Her feast day is now 16 November, the day of her death.

Dunfermline Abbey
The Abbey was established by Saint Margaret although in her and her husband Malcolm’s reign it was a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity.  It was their son David I who established the building as a Benedictine monastery dedicated to the Holy Trinity and his mother.  Today it is a Church of Scotland parish church.

In David’s time its first Abbot was Geoffrey of Canterbury.

Edward I of England held court here at the very beginning of the 14th century.  The building was burned when he left although not all of it was destroyed.  During the Scottish reformation in the middle of the 16th century much of the building was further destroyed.  Fortunately much of its infrastructure including the refectory, rooms above the Gatehouse and the nave remained intact.  A decade later repairs were made to the naive and this part served as a parish church until 19th century.  It is now included as part of the new parish church.

Royal connections
Today Dunfermline Abbey is a very important Scottish cultural site.  It is recognised as the mausoleum of Scotland's Kings and Queens.  There are more Royal figures buried here with only the exception of Iona.  The list reads like a Who’s Who of Scottish royalty:

Buried at Dunfermline Abbey
·         St Margaret of Scotland and Malcolm III

·         Duncan II and his wife Ethelreda

·         Donald III

·         Edgar of Scotland

·         Alexander I and his wife Sybilla de Normandy

·         David I and his Queen Maud

·         Malcolm IV

·         Alexander III and his wife Margaret of England

·         Elizabeth de Burgh wife of Robert I

·         Robert the Bruce was buried here

·         Matlida, daughter of Robert I

·         Annabella Drummond, wife of Robert II and mother of James I

Source:Public Domain

·         Birthplace of Charles I


Abbot House
Abbott House is just to the north of Dunfermline Abbey and is a Grade A listed building.  The heart of the building is 16th century in origin and is now a heritage centre showing Scotland’s history from early times right through to the 19th century.

Source: Wikipedia 

It is the oldest surviving building in Dunfermline and represents architectural changes from 16th – 20th centuries.  You can still see frescoed wall paintings from the 16th century and a 14th century tracery window.  Various historic specimens have been found in the gardens from pottery shards to coins.

Pittencrieff House
Another Grade A listed building, Pittencrieff house is now a museum.  Originally built in the 17th century, two of its bedrooms now form two long galleries for museum and art space.  A huge repair and refurbishment programme was only completed two years ago even restoring its original lime wash exterior.

Source:Wikipedia

Pittencrief Park which belonged to the house was bought by philanthropist and son of Dunfermline, Andrew Carnegie.  He donated it to the people of Dunfermline to enjoy at the same time as he established the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust for the local people.

Source:Wikipedia User:Kilnburn

The weaver’s cottage where Carnegie was born before his family upped-sticks and emigrated to America is now a museum.  You can see regular weaving demonstrations here.

Famous sons and daughters
·         Carnegie introduces us to the rich and famous of Dunfermline.  Carnegie who was born to a weaver in the town and as already mentioned emigrated with his family to the US.  Carnegie made his money in steel and became a philanthropist in later life wanting to give his fortune back to encourage learning and education.  He donated $10 million to Scottish universities and more to a number of US universities as well as setting up trust funds and libraries

·         Ballet dancer Moira Shearer was born in Dunfermline.  She danced with Sadler’s Wells and became famous for her role in the film The Red Shoes

·         Fiction and Si-Fi author Iain Banks and Ian M Banks are one and the same.  He was born in Dunfermline and now lives in Queensferry.  Banks has published some 29 books and contributed to others

·         Another home-grown talent is the singer and actress Barbara Dickson

·         Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull was born in Dunfermline though he grew up in Blackpool

·         TV presenter Sheena McDonald, TV and film actor Kenneth Cranham, singer with the band Nazareth, Dan McCafferty, Stuart Adamson front man with Big Country

·         Retired footballer Alan Hay, another footballer the late Alex McIntosh, the late Harry Lind a Scottish International Rugby player


If you’ve had to hang up your dancing shoes, or throw off your football boots, we can still help with those stairs.  Give us a call today to learn about reconditioned stairlifts, grants and 0% finance options, so that you too can be the proud owner of a first class stairlift and swish to the top or bottom of the stairs.

Once everything is set up we can install your stairlift in less than half a day and you’ll be mobile again.  Don’t put it off, give us a call today on  0131 242 0046 .

Funny Money and the Bank of England

What happened when Keith from Castle Comfort offered to help ease the financial burden of a stairlift by offering a £50 money back voucher for his customers? Read on to find out.


Many people looking for good value when shopping will be on the look out for those people and companies that look genuine and sound honest in their dealings, whether by phone or in person.

It is our right as consumers to choose who we do business with and most people can spot a rogue trader a mile off. Whether their stock is "knock off" or maybe they give some change back in counterfeit cash leaving the poor shopper out of pocket and ripped off.

According to the BBC 

In 2009, Bank of England figures revealed 566,000 counterfeit notes in the UK. Of these, 95% were twenty pound notes.

So approximately 1 in every 5000 notes is a possible forgery.

Well, what we didn't expect was an email from the Bank of England themselves saying that our novelty notes weren't a laugh at all but could pose the risk of being printed out and used by unscrupulous people as real cash in the shops.  Some people could have printed off hundreds of them and paid cash in fifties for something expensive and in fact the reason for the law being made was because that had actually happened. 

We can see their point, however everyone knows that people always prefer the genuine article than a fake one.

Official protocol from the Bank of England states that we had to remove all the novelty notes from our blog so I cannot show you a picture of one here on this page anymore.  To do so would risk us all doing a few years at Her Majesty's Pleasure for counterfeit note production!   However if you look at the amended and officially allowed £50 voucher above and imagine a picture of our own local Stairlift King (Keith) superimposed on it instead of the Queen you will have an idea of what our funny money looked like.

If you want a genuine no-nonsense stairlift quotation, with no funny business, and to also take advantage of a real £50 money back offer on your order, then speak to us for the real deal.

Just call 0800 007 6959 today. 

 

Kirkaldy – Stairlifts Fife

Click here to find new and reconditioned stairlifts in Kirkaldy, Fife


Castle Comfort Stairlifts offers top brand stairlifts, keen prices and fast installs for all those seeking stairlifts in  Kirkaldy, Fife . And all work comes with our no-quibble guarantees and famous customer service satisfaction.

Give us a call today on 0131 242 0046  If however, you are looking for fascinating facts about the area then feel free to read on.


Stairlifts Kirkaldy – Stairlifts Fife

Kirkaldy is the biggest town in Fife with a population of almost 50,000.  Of these about 9,500 are retired and about 245 own stairlifts.

It’s a sad state that sometimes as we get older mobility becomes a problem, but thanks to Castle Comfort Stair Lifts this doesn’t have to be a major problem.  We can supply a range of stairlifts to fit your needs so that you or your loved one living in the area can regain their independence and get up and down those stairs safely.

Our website is a comprehensive guide to the range of stairlifts we stock and prices.  So please have a look round and any questions, please give our local office a call on  0131 242 0046  .

Big names from Kirkaldy
Adam Smith - Kirkaldy’s most famous son is Adam Smith also known as the ‘father of modern economics and capitalism’ following the publication of his The Wealth of Nations’, acknowledged as a ‘great work’.   Smith is still thought of as one of the most influential thinkers in economics today.

Smith was born in Kirkaldy and was a bright scholar, leaving for Glasgow University to study moral philosophy when he was 14.  He won a Snell Exhibition given annually to a student of Glasgow University to study at Balliol College Oxford.  Smith went on to teach at Glasgow University.  He was described as a typical and rather eccentric absent-minded professor.

Robert Adam - the 18th century architect and interior designer was also born in Kirkaldy though he was brought up in nearby Edinburgh.   He eventually took over his father’s architecture business and made both his brothers partners.  They developed the ‘Adams style’ of neoclassical design which included decorative motifs from classical Rome, pilasters, painted ornaments i.e. swags and ribbons, pastel colour schemes.  Their first big job as a partnership was for Hopetoun House near Queensferry.


Sandford Fleming - founded ‘standard time’ was also born in Kirkaldy.  As a young man he emigrated to Canada where he worked as a surveyor.  In 1876 he proposed that standard time was adopted i.e. a local time for cities in the various time zones.  It wasn’t until some 50+ years later that towns around the world accepted this standard time.

Liberal MP David Steel, The Lord Steel of Aikwood - was born here too.  Steel was leader of the Liberal Party until its merger with the Social Democrats Party in 1988; he has served as an MP and an MP for Scottish parliament and since 1997 he has been a member of the House of Lords.

Gordon Brown - who succeeded Tony Blair, was the Labour Prime Minister until 2010 when the coalition government gained powers and David Cameron became Prime Minister.

Source:Wikipedia Off2riorob

Industry in Kirkaldy
The harbour at Kirkaldy in the 16th century ensured that it was an important trading post.  The main regions traded with included the ‘Low Countries’ i.e. Belgium, The Netherlands and parts of Northern France and Western Germany as well as Luxemburg; the Baltic Region including Scandinavia, Russia, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; and England.

Salt, coal mining, nail making and linen were the most prominent industries in the area.  Yarn for the linen was imported from Germany.  The production of linen later developed into floor cloth production and eventually to linoleum manufacturing.  Linoleum production became the town’s biggest industry in the mid 20th century which also grew the local population.

Now the industry in the town is mainly either retail or service industries but linoleum is still produced here – though the operation is much smaller than in its heyday.

In 2011 the harbour reopened to cargo ships allowing Carr’s Flour Mills to import wheat for flour under an agreement between their parent company, Forth Ports and Transport for Scotland.

Kirkaldy Bay
The small sandy cove of Kirkaldy Bay faces onto the Forth of Firth.

Source:Wikipedia

The Links Market
Every year for a week around Easter, Kirkaldy holds the Links market.  It is reputedly the longest street market in Europe at almost one mile along the Esplanade.  It has a number of attractions including ‘thrill rides’, roller coasters and sideshows.

This is the legacy of the weekly market that was held here in the 14th century which was probably more of a trade and farmer’s market than it is today.

A little local history
Ravenscraig Castle - this ruined castle can be found just outside Kirkaldy.  It was built by James II for his wife Mary of Gueldres and also as a defence for the Firth of Forth and to some extent the harbour at Kirkaldy.  The castle was finished after the death of James II and was indeed Mary’s home until her death.  James III ‘swapped’ it for Kirkwall Castle and the Earldom of Orkney.

Source:Wikipedia User Otter

Kirkaldy Museum and Art Gallery - this museum and gallery which is currently closed for refurbishment is all tied up with the floor cloth industry.  It was donated by John Nairn son of manufacturer Michael Nairn and opened by John Blyth another cloth manufacturer and grandfather of Michael Portillo.

Wikipedia Source:Kilnburn

It houses a permanent exhibition of the town’s industrial heritage, paintings of the Scottish Colourists and famous local pottery, Wemyss Ware.  All worth seeing when it reopens in Spring 2013.

Sailor’s Walk - can be found on Kirkaldy’s High Street.  It is two 17th century houses with origins two centuries earlier.  These two houses were once four dwellings.

Wikipedia Source:user:kilnburn

Did you know?
Just a couple more famous folk with connections to Kirkaldy:
·         Actor Ewan McGregor studied drama at the Adam Smith College here
·         The Proclaimers also attended this college
·         The Danish children’s author, Hans Christian Anderson visited Kirkaldy

Source: Public Domain

·         Base guitarist with Coldplay, Guy Berryman was born in Kirkaldy
·         Richard Park was the headmaster on the BBC’s Fame Academy.  He is also Chief Exec at Global Radio and was born in Kirkaldy
·         Author of The 39 Steps John Buchan grew up here
·         Artist Jack Vettriano was born in Methil, just 8 miles from Kirkaldy
·         Professional golfer Peter Whiteford is from Kirkaldy as is professional ice hockey player, Adam Walker
·         Footballer Colin Cameron currently playing for Cowdenbeath is from here
·         Kirkaldy is also home town to darts champion Jocky Wilson

If you don’t have the agility of the sportsmen of the area anymore, don’t forget that Castle Comfort Stairlifts can help.

Give us a bell if you want cost effective suggestions for purchasing your stairlift from our own brand to reconditioned chairs.  Don’t forget the possibility of a grant or 0% finance and of course our generous £50 off voucher which you’ll find at the top of this page that can be used towards purchase.  You’re nearly there – just give us a call to finalise things on  0131 242 0046  .

Stairlifts Clydebank -Stairlifts West Dunbartonshire

Click here to find new and reconditioned stairlifts in Clydebank,West Dunbartonshire  

Castle Comfort Stairlifts offers top brand stairlifts, keen prices and fast installs for all those seeking stairlifts in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire. And all work comes with our no-quibble guarantees and famous customer service satisfaction.

Give us a call today on 0141 278 329  If however, you are looking for fascinating facts about the area then feel free to read on.


Stairlifts Clydebank

Clydebank as its name suggests can be found on the northern bank of the River Clyde.  It is part of Greater Glasgow and less than 10 miles from both Erskine and Renfrew.  In fact Clydebank is in what was once known as the ancient kingdom of Strathclyde.

Castle Comfort Stairlifts, Scotland
Speaking of artefacts, are you part of the 19.4% of Clydebank’s population who have reached retirement age?  Fortunately only a small percent of you will lose your mobility and need the help of Castle Comfort Stair Lifts.  We know that there are already around 228 people in Clydebank who own stairlifts to help them get up and down the stairs.

If gives back some independence and allows those who suffer this way a safe means of transport on the stairs.  We’ve been supplying stairlifts for about 15 years now and know from personal experience what a difficult time it is when a stairlift is necessary.

Our local Glasgow office can advise you or your loved one in the area about the best stairlift for them and their home.  We can also help with advice on funding your purchase from reconditioned versions to 0% finance options and grants advice and help too.

If you’d like to know more, please give our local office a call on 0141 278 329

Clydebank’s history
So with a geographical hold on Clydebank, what else is known about this town?  Well the Roman Antoine Wall which crosses Scotland in much the same way as Hadrian’s Wall crosses northern England, runs through part of the town.  This wall denoted the borders of the Roman Empire in the north and is now a World Heritage Site.

From rural and agricultural beginnings Clydebank grew in the industrial revolution of the 18 – 1900s as shipbuilding became big along the Clyde.  In fact the town got its name from the shipyard of the same name.  At first workers were ferried to the shipyards by paddle steamers and then tenement buildings were built to house the workers.  Consequently Clydebank was born.  Next came the railways and then the Singer Manufacturing Company arrived building a large sewing machine factory in the town.

The John Brown Shipbuilding Company was the largest and was responsible for building many well-known ships including RMS Lusitania and the Queen ships, Mary, Elizabeth and the QE2.  The company became part of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders and closed in the year 2000.

Source:Wikipedia

Did you know?
That Clydebank had a Blitz?  In 1941 Luftwaffe bombers targeted Clydebank and the surrounding area.  The town and the shipyards took some serious hits as did an armaments factory, an oil depot and the Sewing Machine factory.  The raid lasted for two days in March and during that time more than 500 civilians were killed and more than 600 seriously injured


The Titan Crane which stands where the shipbuilding company once was has achieved Grade A historical building status.  It has been refurbished and visitors can look around this cantilever crane over long weekends during the summer months.  It is one of 4 left on the banks of the Clyde; the others are at Stobcross, Scotstoun and Greenock

Source:Stephen Sweeney

Clydebank’s shopping centre sits on both banks of the Forth and Clyde canal.  The canal and banks have been upgraded and are now user-friendly and incorporate many projects from local schools like the Goldfish Story.  There are also the Bankies Benches which are heated granite seating to allow their use all year round.  During this refurb in 2008 a competition was introduced for a pedestrian bridge design to link the two parts of the shopping centre.  The award winning canopy bridge – the ‘swan in flight’ - which now allows this access was designed by local architects RMJM

Source:Dave Souza

The Forth and Clyde Canal was once home to monster goldfish.  The Singer factory on the canal’s banks used water from the canal to cool their machinery and the water pumped back in was hot.  Stories say you could see steam coming off the canal.  Goldfish lived in the canal – there are various stories about where they came from – and because of the temperature grew large.  Some were said to be more than a foot long – or is that just a fisherman’s tale?

Dragon’s Den’s Duncan Bannantyne was born in Clydebank.  Bannantyne is an entrepreneur and investor who owns several health clubs, spas and hotels

Source: Wikipedia

Footballer Alan Gow comes from Clydebank.  Gow started his career playing for the ill-fated Clydebank FC who went into administration in 2002 (and have since reformed).  He’s also played for Falkirk FC, Notts County and Glasgow Rangers


Actor James Cosmo was also born in Clydebank.  He’s appeared in many films including Braveheart, Highlander, The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby, the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.  He is a fan of Glasgow Rangers


·         Lead singer with Wet, Wet, Wet, Marti Pellow is from Clydebank

Source:Wikipedia

·         New York Times Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and editor James Reston came from Clydebank.  Reston’s family emigrated to the USA in the 1920’s.  During his career Reston interview John F Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev and was a good friend of Henry Kissinger

·         Gavin Millar made a name for himself as a film critic and later directing films and TV films such as Pat and Margaret, Foyle’s War and Housewife, 49

Getting up and down those stairs
Remember if stairs are a problem for you, we can help.  We have a wide range of stairlifts on offer from UK manufacturers and we even have our own brand now.  Take a look at what previous customers have said about us and our stairlifts and see how they compare.  Prices are clearly listed on site so that you know exactly what it will cost you.

Remember we are only a phone call away even after your stairlift is installed.  Speaking of installation once everything is agreed and in place, we can get your chairlift installed in less than half a day.  With a 24/7 after sales service too, we make sure you’re never stranded at the top or the bottom.

Do a little online browsing at our stairlifts today and then call our office to place your order or ask questions on 0141 278 329 .