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By the 1830's dye works had spread along the river from Renton to
Balloch. Individual works included those at Dalquhurn, Cordale, Bonhill, Alexandria, Milton, Dalmonach, Dillichip, Ferryfield and Levenbank. People emigrated from the Highlands, from Ireland and from northern England to staff this industry, and the five villages of The Vale grew. In 1897 several of these works amalgamated as the United
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The Vale of Leven was an area of small farms and relatively low population until industrialisation started with the establishment of a bleach-field at
Dalquhurn, Renton in 1715. Both dyeing and bleaching industries were attracted to the area by the reliable and fast flowing waters of the River Leven.
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finals between them. As well as football teams, The Vale currently is home to the Vale of Leven Golf Club, the Vale of Leven
Cricket Club, the Loch Lomond Rugby Club, a swimming pool, several bowling clubs, and the Vale of Leven & District Angling Club. The latter reflects the River Leven's
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Company. The last dyeworks in the area was the
British Silk Factory which closed in 1980. Current notable employers include Loch Lomond Distilleries, Chivas Brothers distillers, and Aggreko Generators. The tourism and hospitality industries are also important local employers.
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in the south. However, the term "Vale of Leven" or just "The Vale" is commonly used locally to refer to the urban area towards the north of the valley that consists of a number of communities. These were historically separate villages but have expanded into one
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sitting west of Renton. Despite its impressive size, a lack of detailed archaeological investigations make the timing of its inhabitation and many other basic details uncertain, but its close geographical proximity to the major fortress of
Alcluith at
216:, however the Vale of Leven remained a relatively wild area. As an example, in 1230 when the Earl of Lennox granted valuable fishing rights on the River Leven to local monks, he had to promise them protection to enable them to work there. After the
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reorganisation of the 1970s) could have had the distinction of being the only local council in Great
Britain where the Communist Party were ever the largest single party, although unlike most of the "little Moscows" it was not a
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The area is traditionally industrial, based particularly on the dyeing industry, but with the decline of manufacturing in
Scotland has had to look to new areas for employment. The area had exceptionally high levels of
506:
Alcock, Leslie; Alcock, Elizabeth A. (1990). "Reconnaissance excavations on Early
Historic fortifications and other royal sites in Scotland,1974-84: 4, Excavations at Alt Glut, Clyde Rock, Strathclyde, 1974-75".
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The Vale of Leven was a hotspot for the early development of
Scottish football. This relatively small area gave birth to numerous football clubs, of which the most successful were
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centre. After incorporation of
Alcluith's successor state, Strathclyde, into the kingdom of Scotland, the Vale of Leven became the political centre of the
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purchased land in Cardross and the Vale of Leven. He lived and ruled from there until his death in 1329. There is a small
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Train links to Glasgow with railway stations at Balloch, Alexandria and Renton. Bus links to Glasgow via Dumbarton and
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650:"Little Moscows: Communism and Working-Class Militancy in Inter- War Britain</italic>. London: Croom Helm"
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area. The Communist Party went into serious decline locally in the 1950s under the influence of the
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Two major walking and/or cycling routes cross the Vale of Leven. National Cycling Network route 7 (
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crosses the northern end of the valley. There are also many local hill walking routes leading to
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being popular political philosophies in particular. During that time it was known as one of the "
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Changing identities, ancient roots : the history of West Dunbartonshire from earliest times
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had exceptional strength. The Vale of Leven District Council (which disappeared in the
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to the north. The combined population of these areas in 2020 was approximately 22000.
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factory experienced a lengthy sit-in, objecting to its proposed closure.
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The area's name lends itself to Alexandria's local football club,
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in the 1920s and 1930s, which gave it a radical reputation, with
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action associated with the last glacial period in Britain, the
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to Balloch) runs along the length of the River Leven and the
538:. Ian Brown. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. 2006.
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Geographically the valley of the Vale of Leven runs from
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to the west and into the Kilpatrick hills to the east.
294:have been the dominant parties in the area, though
124:in the north. Across the river from Alexandria Is
331:historic recognition as a salmon and trout river.
175:. The western hills form a minor off-shoot of the
112:. The largest of these communities is the town of
685:Forgotten Scotland's Former Football League Clubs
402:The history of the Celtic place-names of Scotland
84:, the name of which derives from the Gaelic term
584:Arthur F. Jones & Graham N. Hopner (1980).
588:. Dumbarton District Libraries. pp. 4–46.
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633:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
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711:The Vale of Leven History Website
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383:runs through the Vale of Leven.
264:Communist Party of Great Britain
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96:is thought to mean elm-water.
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434:Nicolaisen, W. F. H. (2001).
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438:. John Donald. p. 228.
399:Watson, William J. (2004).
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654:American Historical Review
648:Macintyre, Stuart (1981).
599:A., Agnew, John (1976).
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234:Turkey Red
114:Alexandria
88:, meaning
82:The Lennox
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485:1744-5647
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369:Clydebank
363:Transport
324:Renton FC
256:Socialism
252:Communism
169:Dumbarton
151:Geography
130:Jamestown
105:Dumbarton
86:Leamhnach
25:4°34′51″W
493:73549487
349:Cardross
290:and the
277:Cold War
241:Politics
206:iron age
197:hillfort
159:between
74:Scotland
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341:Glasgow
298:of the
281:Plessey
191:History
181:glacial
126:Bonhill
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118:Renton
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689:ISBN
666:ISSN
635:link
617:OCLC
607:ISBN
605:. .
568:link
550:OCLC
540:ISBN
481:ISSN
440:ISBN
417:OCLC
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