Clyde Shipping Company Tugboat tea towel

Rivers are strange and mythical things. Ancient Romans believed that the god Volturnus controlled the rivers. In Egypt the Nile was presided over by several divine figures. And even in British Folklore we have Old Father Thames. So it's no surprise to hear that the River Clyde is named after a local Celtic goddess, Clota - a name which literally means 'the strongly flowing one'. The second longest river in Scotland, the Clyde runs right through the heart of Glasgow - and it's safe to say that the history of Glasgow is the history of the Clyde.

The Clyde has always been an important waterway, even way back in prehistoric times when it was used by ancient peoples for trade and transport. In the thirteenth century, the first bridge was built across the river, and during the Industrial Revolution, the first attempts were made to make the river more navigable, changing its natural course and increasing its depth.

This was Scotland's shipbuilding heartland - a history celebrated in this stunning tea towel, which shows a Clyde Shipping Company tugboat steaming up the river. The Clyde Shipping Company was the oldest steamboat company in existence, and its tugs were once a regular sight on the Clyde. So whether you're a shipping enthusiast or simply a lover of all things Glaswegian, this tea towel is just the thing to brighten up your kitchen!