In December 1925 Tillicoultry
Council unanimously decided to "purchase, rent or otherwise acquire
a right of access to Tillicoultry Glen......to be used as a pleasure
ground or place of public resort or recreation".
With the building of pathways
and bridges completed the official opening of the glen took place on
21st August 1926. The plans and layout of the bridges, roads and parapets
was the work of Arthur Bracewell, the Burgh Architect whose idea was
to provide easy access for all to the beauty of the glen. The opening
ceremony was performed by Major A.B. Wardlaw Ramsay who had granted
a right of way over part of his land to the glen. After a musical programme
was given at the Glen a social function was held in the Town Hall at
which Provost Jamieson entertained the Lord and Lady Lieutenant of
the County and other local provost's and ex-councillors.
Click on the map for a larger
version
The opening of the Glen
proved to be a tourist attraction for the town. It was advertised in
the London and North Eastern Railway Guide which extolled the beauties
of the area and encouraged many visitors.
In 1928 the Glen Committee arranged
the first in a series of brass band concerts as a visitor attraction,
engaging a variety of bands from all over Scotland. A subscription
list was opened in 1927 to help pay the remaining costs of the glen
road and this was well supported by Scots who had emigrated to Toronto
when they contributed £60 to the fund. To mark the 3rd anniversary
of the opening of the Glen, in August 1929 the Toronto Scots presented
an indicator to be placed in the Glen showing visitors the
relative positions and distances of visible landmarks.
