Dalmuir Shipyard

Location type

Works

Names and dates

Dalmuir Naval Construction Works (1907-1930)
Dalmuir Shipyard (1934-1980)

Served by the Arnott, Young & Co Ltd.
Open on the William Beardmore & Co Ltd.

Description

This shipyard was built for William Beardmore and Company specifically to build naval vessels due to his connections with Admiralty and ownership of the Parkhead Forge, construction of other ships would also be undertaken. It was on the north bank of the River Clyde by Dalmuir and north of the Newshot Island bend. The site reached from the Clyde Navigation Trust's Dredger Works, to the west, to the Clydebank Engineering and Shipbuilding Works to the east. Construction work began in 1900 with the first vessel (HMS Agamemnon) launched in 1906.

The engine works was west of the trust's works, the fitting out basin was at the west end of the main site with sheds on either side, particularly stretching out to the east. The yard had slips to the east, one of which was covered by an immense gantry. Unusually for a Clyde shipyard the slips faced upriver taking advantage of a bend in the river.

A 150 ton hammerhead crane, by Benrather Maschinenfabrik AG of Dusseldorf, was provided on the west side of the fitting out basin. Number 2 berth had an Arrol Gantry - a 755 ft long overhead shipbuilding gantry by Sir William Arrol over its length, perhaps the most iconic feature of the yard. (In 1908 Arrol erected a similar but larger structure for Harland and Wolff over slips nos 2 and 3 of the Queen's Island shipyard). Arrol also built the various steel sheds around the site.

The yard was developed alongside the brand new Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway Dalmuir [CR] station (later Dalmuir Riverside). Sidings on the south side of the line served the site. There were two point of entry initially, one at the west end, crossing Beardmore Street by a level crossing, and another to the east via exchange sidings which also served the Clydebank Engineering and Shipbuilding Works. The North British Railway did not have access.

The shipyard was provided with materials by the rest of the Beardmore empire. Engine parts, castings, guns and heavy plate came from the Parkhead Forge.

Aeroplanes were also manufactured here and seaplanes, which was appropriate as the yard had built the first true aircraft carrier HMS Argus.

The works expanded to the west of the fitting out basin, absorbing the Dredger Works and further slips at the east end, launching downriver.

Beardmore worked with Vickers and some vessels from the Barrow Shipyard were fitted out in Dalmuir.

In the Great War ships, submarines, tanks and aircraft were built at the works.

After the Great War the yard was struggling for orders. Locomotive manufacture took place in the 1920s. Perhaps the most unusual order was the manufacture of the Bennie Railplane. The works closed 1930/1931 after being bought by National Shipbuilders Security Ltd to be closed.

The site was split. From west to east it became ROF Dalmuir, Arnott, Young & Co Ltd's Dalmuir shipbreaking scrapyard, Turners Asbestos Cement Works and a Post Office cable depot.

The slips fell within the cement works portion and the large gantry was demolished.

During the Second World War the fitting out basin was used an auxiliary fitting out basin for John Brown of Clydebank.

Arnott Young used the fitting out basin to strip vessels, reversing the construction process. Hulks were taken to Troon Harbour. The site was also used to dispose of locomotives and wagons. The sidings on the south side of Dalmuir Riverside being the reception area. A new line was laid south from this directly into the scrapyard.

The scrapyard closed around 1980 and was demolished by 1987.

The main site became the Health Care International Hospital and is now the Golden Jubilee National Hospital .

Tags

Shipyard

Aliases

Arnott, Young and Co [Dalmuir] Dalmuir Naval Construction Yard

External links

Canmore site record
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map

Chronology Dates

  /  /1900William Beardmore [Junior]
Buys land on the north bank of the River Clyde at Dalmuir for building the Dalmuir Naval Construction Works (Beardmore's shipyard). Beardmore had taken over the Govan Shipyard [1st] site as a stopgap.
  /  /1902William Beardmore & Co Ltd
Construction of Dalmuir Naval Construction Works (Beardmore's shipyard) begins.
  /  /1905William Beardmore [Junior]
The new site of the Dalmuir Naval Construction Works required closure of the repair works of the Clyde Trustees which were relocated to Renfrew.
28/05/1905Govan East Iron Shipbuilding Yard
William Beardmore puts yard up for sale having made the transfer to the Dalmuir Naval Construction Works.
  /  /1907Dalmuir Dry Dock Co
Established by William Beardmore & Co Ltd alongside the Dalmuir Naval Construction Works (Beardmore's shipyard). Dock not built.
  /  /1908William Beardmore & Co Ltd
Construction of Dalmuir Naval Construction Works (Beardmore's shipyard) complete.
  /03/1930National Shipbuilding Security Ltd
Registered, and buys the Dalmuir Naval Construction Works (Beardmore's shipyard) of William Beardmore & Co Ltd.
09/09/1930National Shipbuilding Security Ltd
Closure of Dalmuir Naval Construction Works (Beardmore's shipyard) announced.
  /  /1933National Shipbuilding Security Ltd
Negotiations with the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co for a merger with the Dalmuir Naval Construction Works (Beardmore's shipyard).
  /10/1934William Beardmore & Co Ltd
Dalmuir Engine Works closed, Diesel engine production moved to Dalmuir Naval Construction Works (Beardmore's shipyard).
  /08/1987Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Sidings at the former Dalmuir Naval Construction Works (Beardmore's shipyard), by this time owned by Arnott, Young and Co, shipbreakers, fall out of use.

Books


Beardmore Aviation: The Story of a Scottish Industrial Giant's Aviation Activities

Beardmore Built HMS Argus 1914 to 1947: The World's First Flat-Top Aircraft Carrier

Beardmore Built, The Rise And Fall Of A Clydeside Shipyard.

Beardmore: The history of a Scottish industrial giant