Kelvin Dock
Location type
PlaceName and dates
Kelvin Dock (1789-)Description
This disused graving dock on the Forth and Clyde Canal is just east of the Kelvin Aqueduct. The Forth and Clyde Canal Company's shipbuilding yard was based here. Alongside were three building berths. The Swan family leased the dock as Swan & Co (see also Blackhill Locks). From the 1860s until 1921 the Swans, and succeeding builders, built 60 puffers here. The very first puffer, the 'Glasgow', was built here.
Use was made of the canal dropping by a series of locks to the west. To empty the dock pipes carried water to the lower level basin(s).
The dock gates were restored in preparation for the re-opening of the canal.
Tags
Graving dock Puffers Shipyard| Nearby stations Dawsholm Maryhill Maryhill [Temporary] Summerston Kelvindale Maryhill Central Gilshochill Lochburn Kelvinside Kirklee Anniesland Hyndland [1st] Botanic Gardens Hyndland Hillhead [Subway] | Lock 23 [FCC] Lock 22 [FCC] Lock 24 [FCC] Dawsholm Printworks Lock 21 [FCC] Lock 25 [FCC] Dawsholm Viaduct [Gas Works] Kelvin Aqueduct Kelvindale Viaduct [Gas Works] Maryhill Road Aqueduct Maryhill Tram Depot Kelvindale Viaduct [Paper Works] Dawsholm Tunnel Tourist/other Maryhill Locks [FCC] Dawsholm Quay |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
Owner of the Galbraid EstateThe Forth and Clyde Canal passes through the Galbraid Estate between Stockingfield Junction [Canal] and the Kelvin Aqueduct. Land for the canal was bought from Mrs Mary Hill, wife of Robert Graham who established what was at first a village. (Gairbraid House was located next to the later Dawsholm Shed.) The ButneyNamed for the Botany Bay Colony in Australia, convicts were taken by barge from Maryhill to Bowling as the first part of their being transported to Australia. Or so the story goes ... Convicts were transported to Australia between 1788 and 1868, with this portion of the canal being built during that time. A possibly more likely source of the name is that convicts were used as labour on the heavy construction works here, the convicts perhaps been presented with a choice between hard labour here and transportation. |
