Vale of Leven
Encyclopedia
The Vale of Leven is an area of West Dunbartonshire
, Scotland
, in the valley of the River Leven
.
The areas name lends itself to Alexandria's local football club, Vale of Leven F.C.
, the secondary school, Vale of Leven Academy
, and the Vale of Leven District General Hospital, as well as other local organisations.
in the north and the River Clyde
at Dumbarton in the south. To the east are the Kilpatrick Hills
.
The area consists of a number of communities which were historically separate villages but have expanded into one conurbation
. The largest of these communities is the town of Alexandria
, which sits on the west bank of the Leven. Alexandria is connected to Renton
to the south and to Balloch in the north. Across the river from Alexandria is Bonhill
which is connected to Jamestown to the north.
in the 1920s and 1930s, which gave it a radical reputation, with Communism
and Socialism
being popular political philosophies in particular. During that time it was known as one of the "Little Moscow
s" in Britain i.e. an area where the Communist Party of Great Britain
had exceptional strength. The Vale of Leven District Council (which disappeared in the local government
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 coal mining
area. The Communist Party went into serious decline locally in the 1950s under the influence of the Cold War
, more quickly than in some other "little Moscows". However there was an important industrial struggle during the early 1970s when the Plessey
factory experienced a lengthy sit-in, objecting to its proposed closure.
In recent years the Labour Party
has been the main party in the area. The Scottish National Party
has performed quite well at times. The Scottish Socialist Party
also has some support; Jim Bollan
, currently the only SSP councillor in Scotland, sits for the Leven ward on West Dunbartonshire
Council.
, or jeely pieces as they were called locally. Hence jeely eaters. Jeely is Scots
for jam and piece Scots for sandwich.
West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland. Bordering onto the west of the City of Glasgow, containing many of Glasgow's commuter towns and villages as well as the city's suburbs, West Dunbartonshire also borders onto Argyll and Bute, Stirling, East...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in the valley of the River Leven
River Leven, Dunbartonshire
The River Leven is a stretch of water in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, flowing from Loch Lomond in the North to the River Clyde in the South...
.
The areas name lends itself to Alexandria's local football club, Vale of Leven F.C.
Vale of Leven F.C.
Vale of Leven Football Club are an association club based in the town of Alexandria, Scotland, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed the Vale and formed in 1939, they play at Millburn Park...
, the secondary school, Vale of Leven Academy
Vale of Leven Academy
The Vale of Leven Academy is a non-denominational school in West Dunbartonshire in Scotland.- History :It is in Alexandria, on the south of the town near the border with Renton, next to St. Martin's RC primary school. It moved to this site around 1960, with a new building, having previously...
, and the Vale of Leven District General Hospital, as well as other local organisations.
Geography
The Vale of Leven is the area between Loch LomondLoch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
in the north and the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
at Dumbarton in the south. To the east are the Kilpatrick Hills
Kilpatrick Hills
The Kilpatrick Hills are a range of hills in central Scotland, stretching from Dumbarton in the west to Strathblane in the east. Strathblane divides the Kilpatricks from the Campsie Fells to the east, while to the north is part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park...
.
The area consists of a number of communities which were historically separate villages but have expanded into one conurbation
Conurbation
A conurbation is a region comprising a number of cities, large towns, and other urban areas that, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban and industrially developed area...
. The largest of these communities is the town of Alexandria
Alexandria, Scotland
Alexandria is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The town is situated on the River Leven, four miles north-west of Dumbarton.As of 2001, the population of the town is 13,444...
, which sits on the west bank of the Leven. Alexandria is connected to Renton
Renton, Scotland
Renton is a small district in central Scotland. In the 2001 National Census it had a population of 2,138.Renton is particularly famous for the village's association football side. Renton F.C...
to the south and to Balloch in the north. Across the river from Alexandria is Bonhill
Bonhill
Bonhill is a town in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is sited on the Eastern bank of the River Leven, on the opposite bank from the larger town of Alexandria.-History:...
which is connected to Jamestown to the north.
Politics
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 unemploymentUnemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
in the 1920s and 1930s, which gave it a radical reputation, with Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and Socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
being popular political philosophies in particular. During that time it was known as one of the "Little Moscow
Little Moscow
Little Moscow was a term used to describe towns and villages in capitalist societies whose population appeared to hold extreme left-wing political values or communist views...
s" in Britain i.e. an area where the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
had exceptional strength. The Vale of Leven District Council (which disappeared in the local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
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 coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
area. The Communist Party went into serious decline locally in the 1950s under the influence of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, more quickly than in some other "little Moscows". However there was an important industrial struggle during the early 1970s when the Plessey
Plessey
The Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company. It originated in 1917, growing and diversifying into electronics. It expanded after the second world war by acquisition of companies and formed overseas companies...
factory experienced a lengthy sit-in, objecting to its proposed closure.
In recent years the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
has been the main party in the area. The Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
has performed quite well at times. The Scottish Socialist Party
Scottish Socialist Party
The Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
also has some support; Jim Bollan
Jim Bollan
Jim Bollan is a councillor in West Dunbartonshire in Scotland. He is a member of the Scottish Socialist Party, and is at present its only elected representative....
, currently the only SSP councillor in Scotland, sits for the Leven ward on West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland. Bordering onto the west of the City of Glasgow, containing many of Glasgow's commuter towns and villages as well as the city's suburbs, West Dunbartonshire also borders onto Argyll and Bute, Stirling, East...
Council.
Traditions
The inhabitants of the area were traditionally known as jeely eaters, although this term is not now common. This term stems from the Vale men who worked in the town of Dumbarton and the Clyde shipyards. Unlike the Dumbarton men, who could go home at lunch time, the Vale men would bring their lunches with them. Usually this consisted of jam sandwichesJam sandwich (food)
A jam sandwich is usually composed of two slices of bread, butter or margarine, and jam which is normally consumed at lunchtime or as a quick "snack."- Origin :...
, or jeely pieces as they were called locally. Hence jeely eaters. Jeely is Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
for jam and piece Scots for sandwich.