Archaeology Notes

Event ID 735193

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/735193

NS56NE 118.00 centred 56090 65463

Not to be confused with Prince's Dock (adjacent to SE), for which see NS56SE 87.00.

NS56NE 118.01 NS 56122 65499 Graving Dock No. 1

NS56NE 118.02 NS 56107 65456 Graving Dock No. 2

NS56NE 118.03 NS 56120 65364 Graving Dock No. 3

Govan Graving Docks, Stag Street, built 1869-98 for the Clyde Navigation Trust.

The first [NS56NE 118.01: Graving Dock No. 1], nearest the river, was constructed between 1869 and 1875, and is 551ft [168m] long, 72ft [22m] wide, with a depth of 22ft 10ins [6.9m] at high tide.

The second [NS56NE 118.02: Graving Dock No. 2] was opened on 13 October 1886, and is 575ft [175.3m] long, 67ft [20.4m] wide, and the same depth as No. 1.

The third [NS56NE 118.03: Graving Dock No. 3] is largest, and measures 880ft [268.3m], 83ft [25.3m] wide, and 26ft 6ins [8.1m] deep. When opened, on 27 April 1898, it could take the largest vessels afloat.

No. 1 had, until 1970, a fine steam travelling crane, the last of its type in the harbour.

J R Hume 1974.

(Location cited as NS 561 654). Govan Graving Docks, Stag street, built 1869-98 for the Clyde Navigation Trust. Three large graving docks, each of which could, when built, take the largest ships afloat.

J R Hume 1976.

This group of dry docks occupies a slight projection from the S bank of the River Clyde within the area of the Lower Harbour and to the NW of Prince's Dock (NS56SE 87.00). Access to No. 3 has been gained by manouvering ships through the canting basin NS56NE 4920.

The 1983 edition of the OS 1:1250 map notes an El Sub Sta [NAT] at NS 56205 65283, to the SW of the entrance-gate to No. 3 dock. Its situation and comparison with other docks, suggest that this building was originally a hydraulic power station, installed to power the lock gates and other machinery.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 15 February 2006.