Barclay, Curle and Co
From GracesGuide
Seawind Barclay Curle is a British shipbuilding company.
- 1884 The company was founded as Barclay Curle and Company at Whiteinch in Glasgow, Scotland
- 1818 The company was founded by Robert Barclay at Whiteinch
- 1861 Robert Barclay the founder died.
- 1862 Built new works at Stobcrass with a floor area of 19,000 square feet.
- 1865 See 1865 Clyde Shipbuilders for detail of the tonnage produced
- 1870s - The Stobcross yard had made 22 sailing ships up to this point. In addition, the newer Clydeholm yard delivered its first steamer and so began a fruitful period of steamer building.
- 1880s - The yard built its first steel steamer and continued making steel barques. the yard also made steam yachts.
- 1884 Incorporated as a limited company.
- 1888 Triple-expansion engine with Morton's valve gear for 'SS Circe' [1]
- 1888 Glasgow Exhibition. Description of their exhibits. [2]
- 1889 See 1889 Shipbuilding Statistics for detail of the tonnage produced
- 1900 On the 7th January Archibald Gilcrest, the Chairman died. Born 1822 at Port Dundas Inn, Glasgow. He was also chairman of Sharp, Stewart and Co the locomotive engineers of Springburn. [3]
- 1900s The newer yard began making ever larger liners and cargo-liners, and liner companies from around the world became regular customers.
- 1912 Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, took over the Clydeholm yard. They went on to gain control over the Elderslie shipyard and dry docks and the dry docks in Govan also owned by Barclay's. British India Line became the main customers of the yard, they ordered 17 ships before the outbreak of World War I.
- 1914 Shipbuilders and engineers, identified with the development of the intermediate twin-screw type of passenger steamer and trooper. [4]
- WWI The Clydeholm and West Scotstoun yards produced 57 ships. In addition thirty convoy escort sloops, five "P" class submarine hunters, four river gunboats and six oil tankers. Over 1000 ships were repaired at the yards too. During the First World War the Barclay Curle yard built several Insect class gunboats for the Royal Navy.
- 1920s The yards built eight war replacement "G" class meat carriers. British India then returned as the yard's main customer, and the first of many cargo-liners were built for many different companies. In 1922 the company bought up the Jordanvale yard which was *the next yard along down-river. This yard was then modernised, and went on to produce tramps and coasters.
- 1925 See Aberconway for information on shipbuilding h.p produced in 1904 and 1925
- 1930s The yards began making tankers, and in 1932, they were rationalised. The West Scotstoun and Govan yards now only undertook repair work, with shipbuilding concentrated at the Clydeholm and Jordanvale yards. The yards managed to keep going during the Depression and they made small motor passenger/cargo-liners, tankers and then riveted tramps, cargo-liners and troopships.
- 1940s The yards concentrated on building luxury passenger and cargo-liners, along with general cargo ships.
- 1950s From this point onwards the yards continued making a wide variety of high end vessels for companies all around the world. This included tankers, fish factory ships, bulk carriers and colliers.
- 1961 Shipbuilders, repairers, engineers and dry dock owners. Also manufacturers of office and cabinet furniture for contract work. 3,028 employees. [5]
- 1967 Swan Hunter Shipbuilders closed the Clydeholm yard
- 1968 The North Britain Engine Works of the company awarded contracts for marine machinery. Part of the Swan Hunter Group [6]
- 1968 The company ceased building ships in its Glasgow yard, but continued as a naval engine builder (Sulzer Brothers) until transferring production to naval weapon systems (Sea Dart/Wolf Missiles) in the late 70's, finally becoming an industrial estate in the mid 80's. As part of the Seawind Group, the company retains facilities in Birkenhead, Merseyside, and at Appledore, Devon.
- 1970s The ship repairing yard at West Scotstoun became part of British Shipbuilders in 1977. After this the factory was converted into a guided missile launcher manufacturing plant.
- Note: The company records of the Barclay Curle Glasgow yard from 1852-1965 are held by the University of Glasgow archives.
[edit] Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia
- British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss
- ↑ The Engineer of 11th May 1888 p384+ & p388
- ↑ The Engineer of 1st June 1888 p458
- ↑ The Engineer of 12th January 1900 p44
- ↑ 1914 Whitakers Red Book
- ↑ 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- ↑ The Engineer of 10th May 1968 p725
