RAILSCOT | Parkhead Forge

Parkhead Forge

Location type

Works

Name and dates

Parkhead Forge (1837-1979)

Served by the The Switchback (Caledonian Railway).
Served by the Glasgow and Coatbridge Branch (North British Railway).
Open on the William Beardmore & Co Ltd.

Description

This forge in Parkhead, north east Glasgow, was built around 1837 for Reoch Brothers & Co. The oldest part was on the south side of New Road by the junction with Old Edinburgh Road. In 1841 David Napier took over the Parkhead Forge.

It grew under William Beardmore [Junior]'s ownership to become a large concern, manufacturing a broad range of products including armaments and heavy steel plate. It was associated with the [Dalmuir Naval Construction Yard]], Inchterf Proving Range and Inchinnan Airship Constructional Station. The larger portfolio extended to battleships, airships, aircraft, taxis and more.

The forge was served by both the Glasgow and Coatbridge Branch (North British Railway) and the The Switchback (Caledonian Railway). The former ran to the north of the site and the latter along the western edge.

Having focused on providing wartime equipment, the company struggled in peacetime. Over expansion and the involvement of Vickers, nationalisation, then Firth Brown saw the site reduced to manufacturing rollers for steel mills and then closure.

External links

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

Nearby stations Parkhead North Parkhead Stadium London Road [Glasgow] Duke Street Alexandra Parade Carntyne Bellgrove Bridgeton [1st] Bridgeton Bridgeton Goods Bridgeton [2nd] Dalmarnock Gallowgate Central Glasgow Green Tollcross	Parkhead North Goods Parkhead Junction [CR] Carntyne Foundry Parkhead Shed Parkhead Junction [NB] Netherfield Chemical Works Haghill Destructor Vinegarhill Switchback Railway Carntyne Railway Wheel and Axle Works Camlachie Foundry Camlachie Foundry [Duncan McArthur] Camlachie Chemical Works Tourist/other Camlachie Signal Box Celtic Park Loch Katrine Distillery
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.

Chronology Dates

/ /1836	John Inglis Reoch Buys land at Parkhead, for the Parkhead Forge.
/ /1837	Reoch Brothers Forging company established at the Parkhead Forge.
/ /1841	David Napier Buys the Parkhead Forge.
/ /1845	William Rigby Becomes manager at the Parkhead Forge.
/ /1848	Robert Napier Buys the Parkhead Forge for his sons James R. Napier and John Napier.
/ /1858	Isambard Kingdom Brunel Launches the SS Great Eastern at Millwall. The engine crank was manufacturer by the Parkhead Forge which was the only works capable of manufacturing such a large item. The forge would later belong to the Beardmores.
/ /1859	Robert Napier Gains sole control of the Parkhead Forge from his sons.
/ /1860	William Rigby Buys the Parkhead Forge.
17/08/1885	The Switchback (Caledonian Railway) London Road Junction [Glasgow] to Parkhead Forge opened.
31/12/1975	William Beardmore & Co Ltd Ceases trading, Parkhead Forge controlled by Firth Brown.