Industry on the River Clyde in the 1960's

[Lynda Bradford]

As you sail down the River Clyde today it is hard to imagine the extent of the industry that dominated the banks of the Clyde at the time when the QE2 was built in the 1960’s and the history of industry on the River. 

The commercial success of Glasgow as a shipping port in the late 19th Century forced the Clyde Navigation Trust to look to expanding port facilities and relocate industry down river to the West of Glasgow.  Although the shipbuilding firms faced difficulties in relocating their yards this gave them the opportunity to expand to meet the demand for larger ships. 

Our Forum member Grill Britannia has given us this link to a Flickr document “Industry on the River Clyde in the early 1960’s.”  I am sure that this will bring back many memories for members who lived in the area at that time and hopefully you can share your memories with us. 

Source:   Scottish Maritime Museum (posted on Flickr.com)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/scottishmaritimemuseum/5571471824/in/set-72157626433663626/lightbox/

http://www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org/

[Twynkle]

This was an incredibly kind gesture of Grill Britannia - Thank you very much for searching for it, specially overnight.
I remember you (GB) saying that along with the publication on Flickr, there's a specific request that the images etc are posted on Flickr under strict copyright.
It will be very important, therefore that no-one replicates images kindly provided for viewing on Flickr without express permission from the  Scottish Maritime Museum publications department.
Crucially, any breach of copyright (e.g via Facebook) can have serious legal consequences.
Rosie.

[riskygizmo]

Another wee clip of a trip Doon the Watter, with some superb glimpses of a very busy river.

[Lynda Bradford]

Fantastic video that shows what a busy river the Clyde was at the time it was produced.  Loved seeing Singer's clock in Clydebank.

[Peter Mugridge]

I never realised that Harlands had yards on the Clyde!

[Tyne Turbine]

Yes Harlands and Wolf is often forgotten about as having a yard on the Clyde.

I have been fortunate to have travelled many times on one of their vessels, the magnificent Clyde steamer Duchess of Hamilton which was completed in 1932. I attach a picture of her leaving Rothesay. She even has a strong link to the QE2 being, with the Paddle Steamer Caledonia, one of the two Clyde steamers present for the launch of the QE2.
 

[Clydebuilt1971]

I never realised that Harlands had yards on the Clyde!

At the time ps Waverley was built A&J Inglis were part of the Harland and Wolf empire.

G

[Clydebuilt1971]

Further to the link given above I have a photo collection that covers some of the areas mentioned. I hope you think this is relevant but here we cover from Bridge Wharf (ie King George V Bridge) to Barclay Curle at Whiteinch.

(1) MACBRAYNES STEAMER KING GEORGE V ARRIVES AT BRIDGE WHARF MAY 1956 FOLLOWING A COLLINS PUBLISHERS CHARTER TO ROTHESAY.
HOURS LATER SHE GROUNDED IN FOG ON SCARBA ON ROUTE TO OBAN AND HAD TO RETURN TO GREENOCK FOR REPAIRS.
(2) FACING DOWN RIVER FROM BRIDGE WHARF WE CAN SEE VARIOUS VESSELS (MOSTLY BURNS AND LAIRD LINES WHO RAN TO IRELAND) - THE AREA ON THE RHS OF SHOT IS NOW DOMINATED BY THE KINGSTON BRIDGE WHILE OUT OF SHOT ON LHS................
(3) USED TO BE THE LOCATION OF GENERAL TERMINUS QUAY - ORIGINALLY OPERATED BY THE LMS RAILWAY - THIS IS WHERE ORE WAS OFFLOADED FOR RAVENSCRAIG STEELWORKS FROM THE 50s UNTIL HUNTERSTON TERMINAL IN AYRSHIRE OPENED IN THE LATE 70s. HERE WE SEE ORE CARRIER SANTA BARBARA UNDERNEATH ONE OF THE THREE OFFLOADING CRANES.
(4) THIS SCENE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE IT DOES NOWADAYS. THOSE OF YOU WHO BOARDED WAVERLEY LAST SAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE LOCATION OF THE SHIP ON THE RHS OF SHOT (HARRISON'S "FACTOR") - THE CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL IS NOW ON THE LHS OF THE SHIP BEING TOWED (NZ SHIPPING Co's HORORATA - BUILT BY A CERTAIN JOHN BROWN SHIPYARD IN 1942). IN THE ERA THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN THE AREA ON THE RIGHT WAS PACIFIC QUAY AND ON THE LEFT WAS QUEENS DOCK (WHERE THE SECC IS LOCATED NOW)
(5) NEXT IS MEADOWSIDE GRANARY WITH VESSEL mv SWAN ALONGSIDE. FAIRFIELDS SHIPYARD IS ACROSS RIVER FROM HERE - THE GRANARY BUILDINGS WERE DEMOLISHED 2001 / 2 TO MAKE WAY FOR LUXURY FLATS.
(6) A VIEW ON FAIRFIELDS FITTING OUT BASIN CIRCA 1963 (JUST ACROSS FROM MEADOWSIDE) WITH BIBBY LINES mv LANCASHIRE FITTING OUT AND AN UNKNOWN VESSEL IN THE BASIN. SHE DOESNT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN BUILT THERE BUT IS MAYBE IN FOR MODIFICATION / REPAIR
(7) FINALLY WE MOVE DOWN RIVER TO BARCLAY CURLE SHIPYARD IN 1957 WITH BRITISH INDIA'S WAROONGA FITTING OUT UNDER THE HAMMERHEAD CRANE (WHICH STILL EXISTS ALONG WITH THE ARCHED ROOFED ENGINE SHED.

Sorry for the capitals but the text was copied from a presentation I compiled for various clubs during 2010/11.

All photos from the Climie Collection apart from the first which is by Bobby Sinclair.

More to follow as long as you're interested!

Gav 

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks Gav for posting this treasure trove of information! These photos bring to life the the details of the industries on the Clyde that we can see on the Flickr link that Grill Britannia had provided in #1

Brilliant! 

[Grill Britannia]

This was an incredibly kind gesture of Grill Britannia - Thank you very much for searching for it, specially overnight.
I remember you (GB) saying that along with the publication on Flickr, there's a specific request that the images etc are posted on Flickr under strict copyright.
It will be very important, therefore that no-one replicates images kindly provided for viewing on Flickr without express permission from the  Scottish Maritime Museum publications department.
Crucially, any breach of copyright (e.g via Facebook) can have serious legal consequences.
Rosie.

Hi Rosie,
Just to clarify the position re. the images on Flickr. There was simply no option to download them as this had been disabled by the Scottish Maritime Museum. Not sure about the copyright issues though as the document from which the images had been scanned would appear to be over 50 years old?
Great that your enquiry on Friday night has generated a great discussion about the shipyards as I remember them when sailing down the Clyde in the 60's on the Burns and Lairds Line vessels from the Broomielaw.
Big thanks to Lynda for putting the link onto the Forum so quickly.
Catherine

[Clydebuilt1971]

Lets continue our voyage where we left off the other day (without the capitals this time!):

(1) King George V Dock - Vessel El Kanemi (formerly mv Silverdene) and Clan Line's Clan MacLaren lying astern (Greenock Dockyard 1946). This dock was opened in 1931 and was supposed to have been the first of a series of new docks to be built but the depression put paid to that and KGV was the only one ever built.
(2) Stern Trawler Othello completing at Yarrows in 1965. Yarrows didnt only produce naval vessels!
(3) Elderslie Drydocks - a trio of Blue Funnel Line vessels in for overhaul. This yard was bought by Barclay Curle in 1914 and after BC closed in 1967 they survived long enough to be bought by Yarrows in '74. (photo by Bobby Sinclair)
(4) Looking downriver at the approximate location of the Renfrew Ferry slip. In fact the grassy area just in front of the Ferry Inn can be seen on the left with Simon's Lobnitz shipyard behind. They built dredgers and various other vessels including the preserved former Glasgow Corporation Sludge Carrier ss Shieldhall - which still operates occassional excursions from Southampton. The vessel being assisted upriver by a Clyde Shipping Co tug belongs to Shaw Saville line.
(5) Well this yard needs no introduction on this forum! Its 1959 and veteran vessel Halcyon (built in Hull in 1903) passes Browns just as the tugs are preparing to move tanker mt British Queen from her berth. QE2 was a mere glint in her designers' eye......  (photo by Bobby Sinclair)
(6) Heading further down river to around Erskine where we see a still familiar sight on the Clyde to this day. CSP paddler Waverley heads downriver with a good crowd on. This photo probably dates from the 60s.
(7) Scotts of Bowling - not to be confused with Scotts of Greenock but equally as famous! This yard concentrated on tugs and assorted smaller vessels such as coasters and puffers. Here we see newbuild coaster Storm fitting out with ICI's explosives carrier Lady McGowan on the slip to left of shot. She was a product of Scotts in 1952.
( We end this section at the Dunglass Oil Terminal - just a little further downriver from Scotts. Two tankers lie alongside - the first being the 1954 Swedish built Varanger with the 1952 built Astrid Elisabeth astern of her (also Swedish built) - judging by the "reek" the Elisabeth may be preparing to get underway!

Thats all for now - hope you like what you see!

Gav 

[Twynkle]

Lets continue our voyage where we left off the other day (without the capitals this time!):....
.....Thats all for now - hope you like what you see!

Gav 

Certainly do - like it a lot! Thanks so much Gav. The numbers and size of the ships never cease to amaze me as to how they all fitted on a river that's by no means wide above the Dunbarton 'mountain'! (Same on the Tyne, I expect, too)
As we sailed down river, it was difficult not to feel really sad that none of the big ships, 'born and made on the Clyde' could ever return home...
Coming from the river where many of the Clydebulit, Tyne and Belfast etc ships discharged and loaded their cargo - from what I remember they looked pretty huge there too!
It's hard to believe that the two way system and swinging worked on the Clyde, or maybe it wasn't as necessary as it was on the frequently dredged, foggy Mersey?
http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1237

[Lynda Bradford]

This article "The Port of Glasgow view from 1909" gives a bit of history into how the work done to deepen and straighten the river and the building of the quaysides contributed the the history of Clydeside.  Some good black and white photos as well

http://www.gjenvick.com/PortsAndHarbors/Glasgow/1909-ThePortOfGlasgow.html#axzz2cDXiB0WA

[CAP]

Link to the Glasgow Waterfront Heritage site

Glasgow Waterfront Heritage Site - Home

[Jeff Taylor]

Harlands had a long association with the Clyde as they lacked the ability to build turbines at the time and sourced the center low pressure turbines for the three Olympic Class ships from John Brown.  After WWI they heavily pushed diesels to partially overcome this weakness.