Coatbridge, Sunnyside Road, Sunnyside Engine Works

RCAHMS NS76NW 137: Coatbridge, Sunnyside Road/Gartsherrie Road/Russell Colt Street, Sunnyside Engine Works latterly known as Lamberton’s Engineering Works.

1. Background

Sunnyside Engine Works is not depicted on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (1) but is depicted as ‘Sunnyside Engine Works’ by 1898. (2) Around 1880, the Works was bought from William Baird and Co. by Gray, Lamberton and Co. (3) and subsequently, the buildings underwent modification. By 1891 Lamberton and Co. were making stone breakers and patent stone pulverising and crushing machines, as well as coal cutters for the mining industry. (4) The building is now owned by KRG Industries which provides equipment for the oil and gas industry (MS/6313). The refitting of the building by the company and the removal of the two cranes in the Main Range (Building 2) in May 2011 allowed RCAHMS access to this statutory B Listed site.

2.0 Site

The site consists of a group of engineering shops and offices. See DC54401-02; MS6313.

Buildings 1A- 1D see DC 55401

The oldest buildings on the site, centred at NS73174 65680 and NS73218 65648, are of masonry and probably date to the 1870s when the site was owned by William Baird and Co. iron and coal masters. Building 6 at NS73278 65659 was known in the 1960s as the ‘Pattern Shop’ and pre-dates 1898. (5) The buildings and machinery of the Sunnyside Workshops (latterly Sunnyside Engine Works) were in existence by 31 May 1874. (6)

2.1 Buildings 1A1, 1A2 and 1A3 see DC 55401

The workshops form the original functional core of the site, along with Buildings 1B and 1D. The bays’ three west gables indicate that the facades were probably originally of masonry, although this is obscured by the later 19th century range. Buildings 1A1 and 1A2 both show structural aspects illustrating the re-modelling of the building with the addition of the office block after 1898 (Building 3) with blocked windows on the ground floor in current office and cloakroom space (see DP100786, DP100796 and DP100802).

Further evidence, such as the former exterior first floor west facing windows now function as internal lights (see DP100811, DP100812) to the later corridor running parallel to the mezzanine wood and glazed office area at the west end of 1A1-1A3 (see DP093837, DP093838). This office area overlooks the workshop floor and accesses the Main Range (Building 2) gallery area. Remnants of a former stair well can also be seen at the west end of 1A1 replaced by a later staircase in Building 3 (see DP100790, D100791). External windows enclosed by the later Main Range (Building 2) can also be seen at the south west end of 1A1 (DP093805 and DP100795).

2.1.1 Bay 1A1 (DC 55401/1, 1A1)

Summary: Post-1860, pre- 1898 possibly 1870s; re-roofed when building 2 added (1880s)

The west and east gable wall of the masonry built area 1A1 and Bay 1A2 (modified in brick) survive. Bay 1A1 could possibly have been built first with 1A2 shortly after. The east gable of building 1A1 is ‘blind’ although it has a brick-blocked doorway at a now non-existent floor level (see DP093816, DP093829, DP093838; DP093839; DP100820).

Building Bay 1A1’s south (masonry) wall was removed when the Main Range (Building 2) was subsequently added (now open with column support see DP093816 and DP093806) with the insertion of the steel frame and a brick south wall. This followed the later 19th and early 20th century-style construction methods for engineering workshops. The northern row of supports for the gallery is cast iron with remnants of brackets visible (DP093839). Building 1A1’s shared north wall with 1A2 was also opened out to make the space more flexible.

The east gable shows its original roof line, together with blocked windows at first floor level (DP093816, DP100820). The east gable wall is also shared with Building 1C (stair access to office floor area above 1C). The roof was replaced when Building 2 was constructed. The original roof line, visible in the west and east gables, has been replaced with what appears to be a modified ‘double W’ roof truss similar to building 1A3.

2.1.2 Bay 1A2 (DC 55401/1, 1A2)

Summary: Post-1860, pre- 1898 possibly 1870s; ?original roof truss.

The east gable wall is of brick on its upper part and shows evidence of blocked windows (DP093831-2, DP093836) presumably opening onto the former north east courtyard (DC 55401, 7 and now gone). The lower part of its east gable is shared with building 1E. The west end shows evidence the office areas which pre-date the post-1898 additions along the west range. This may slightly post date 1A1.

The roof truss structure is a version of a Fink Truss. This is probably original, predating the current roof trusses in 1A1, 1A3 and 1C.

2.1.3 Bay 1A3 (DC 55401/1, 1A3)

Summary: Post-1860, pre- 1898 possibly 1870s with east extension/possible north wall rebuild added by 1912. East wall shared with building 1B.

Bay 1A3 (DP093833, DP093835) has also been rebuilt/extended north in brick and east into the slope and shares the west wall of building 1B, presumably at the same time as building 3A (west of the site, currently administrative offices) was added after 1898 and before 1912. (7) Its east gable is now of brick, with masonry lower courses visible either side (DP100187-8) of the access to building 1D.

This area has a ‘double W’ roof truss and remnants of wagon rails in its east end adjoining area 1D and building 1B. The internal stanchions at the valley between 1A2 and 1A3 are similar to those the stanchions between 1A1 and 1A2.

2.1.4 Building 1B (DC 55401/1, 1B)

Summary: Workshop post-1860, pre-1898, possibly 1870s.

Building 1B is a two-by-one bay masonry building and dates from the 1870s. The date is based on its OS depicted 1898 extent, together with its non-appearance on the 1st edition Ordnance survey 1860 map for Coatbridge. (8)

The main bay has a span of approximately 14.0m (46 feet) and is similar to the 1876 boiler and plate fabrication shop span of the Coburg Dockyard, Port of Liverpool. (9) There are remains of the original travelling wooden crane gantry rails but no evidence of the original crane. It has a wooden Howe Girder truss roof. The scarring of the now removed masonry north wall after 1898 is still visible (DP100806).

There are two recesses visible at the south end of the west wall (DP093841). These may correspond to the hearth chimneys visible on the 1890 engraving of Lamberton’s. (10) The blocked windows in the east wall south end correspond to the style of window shown in the drawing of Lamberton and Company Engineers of c.1890. (11)

2.1.5 Building 1C (DC 55401/1, 1C)

Summary: Stores area, post-1860, pre-1898 (photos P1/1-9)

Building 1C is currently used as a storage area and has a north wall of masonry in its lower half and a brick upper wall with window openings (DP100778). This would have originally opened out onto the former north east courtyard area (area 7), which was partially closed over between 1898 and 1912. (12) The north interior wall of 1C is shared with 3A (the extension/rebuild of Bay 1A3). It also has an east wall shared with 1B1 with a later added brick gable rising from the original west exterior wall head of 1B1. The roof truss is the ‘double W’ type (as building 1A3).

2.1.6 Building 1D (DC 55401/1, 1D)

Summary: Machine Tool shop, post-1860, pre-1898

The Machine Tool shop (DP093848) is a single-storey area with a lean-to roof accessed through the south portion of the former exterior west wall of 1B. It is therefore post-1870, and pre-1898 with pre-1947 lean-to roof (13) on masonry walls (possibly an open yard). This structure is built into a slope and abuts 1A3, 1E and the ground floor of 1C. It also shared the lower portion of the east gable wall of 1A3 which is partly of masonry (DP093871). This masonry outshot is in the general area of the now demolished chimney depicted in an illustration of c. 1890. (14)

2.1.7 Building 1E (DC 55401/1, 1E)

Summary: Post-1898?

Building 1E is accessed from east end of 1A2, adjoins building 1C (ground floor) and can be accessed from a door in the masonry west wall of building 1D. This building has a lean-to roof and the former exterior north corner of building 1C is visible (DP101221). This post- dates 1898. (15) This area is currently used as a workshop but it was not possible to ascertain what its former use may have been.

2.1.8 Building 2/2A: The Main Range (see DC 55401/1, 2A)

Summary: Post-1860, pre-1898, possibly early 1880s; Building 2A: Main range extension post-1898, pre-1912 (DP093812)

The Main Range (see DC 55401, Building 2, DP 093801-8 and DP093810-28) was added sometime in the 1880s. It had been extended to the east by 1912 (16), and further extended by covering over an external yard between 1912 and c.1940. (17)

The Main Range (western end) was probably built by Gray, Lamberton and Co. (18) This brick building is slapped through to (the originally masonry) building and has a metal truss roof and a concrete floor. Some surviving areas of setts which are overlain by the later skimmed-concrete floor of the Main Range is visible at the west end (see DP100794).

Prior to 1898, the main range was a 6-bay building. Its south elevation had 12 tall, wooden-framed windows in the lower part of the brick walls in groups of two. By 1898, the Main Range has clearly been extended east (DC 55401,19 and see DP093820), with the addition of three further sets of double Venetian style windows. The west gable has two rows of glazing. The north ‘wall’ consists of a row of eight steel stanchions (DP093813, DP093806) and (?) re-used cast iron columns and beams (DP100780) forming a gallery area at first floor level which would have provided additional work space. The stanchions at the east of the range are a later addition dating from the covering over of the eastern section between 1912 and 1940 (DP093810).

The Main Range at Sunnyside Engine Works is smaller but similar in style to the Linthouse Engine Works, built for Alexander Stephen and Sons from 1872. (20) Each of the two machine halls at Linthouse, recorded by RCAHMS in 1980, had a span of 16.15m (53 feet) and an estimated length of 73.0m (240 feet). (21) These spans are similar to Sunnyside Engine Works Main Range (Building 2) span dimension of 15.9m, but dissimilar to its length of c.57.0m (although it was 72.5m in length by c.1913). (22) This workshop was built from the 1880s onwards at a time when there was a change from one-storey workshops to more versatile steel-framed engineering shops with columns, roof-trusses and girder spans made of riveted, rolled-steel sections. (23)

2.1.9 Building 3 (DC 55401/1, 3)

Summary: Offices post-1898, pre-1912 includes enlargement/rebuild of bay 1A3

The brick-built office building, building 3, was added to the west elevation at the same time as building 1A3 was extended to the north and east and presumably around the same time as the extension to building 1B (see DC 55401, 4 and 4A). (24)

2.1.10 Building 4 (DC 55401/1, 4). No report.

2.1.11 Building 1B1

Summary: Extended north in brick, between 1898 and 1912 (Building 4, DP093844-45) by approximately 30.0m (95 feet).

This range lost its original clerestorey roof post -1947 (25), presumably as the site extended east. The extension means that the north wall of the original structure has been lost, replaced at lower levels with brick, with some masonry wall remains surviving at the south end of the west and east walls (DP093846).

2.1. 12 Building 4A (DC 55401/1, 4A)

Summary: Southern extension to 1B in brick, post-1898, pre-1912.

Building 4A brought the wall flush with the Main Range and later extension onto Russell Colt Street (DP093847) in the post-1898, pre-1912 period of the site's development.

2.1.13 Building 5 (DC 55401/1, 5)

Summary: Closed over former courtyard, post-1912, pre-1940

Building 5 is the final east extension of the Main Range by covering over an open yard (post-1912 but pre-1940; DP093810). This was extended in brick and corrugated iron with a steel frame following the style of using cheaper and lighter materials in building engineering workshops in the later 19th and early 20th century. This area accesses 1B and 1C. The crane rails were extended and the steel stanchions and are of a different construction from Building 2.

2.1.14 Building 6 (DC 55401/1, 6)

Summary: Re-modelled by 1898.

This originally brick 3-bay partially harled, re-roofed building was known as the ‘Pattern Shop’ in the 1960s, (29) (see DP100810). It was in existence by 1898 and may possibly have been built by Gray, Lamberton and Co. between 1880 and 1898. This is now largely rebuilt at its south end whilst retaining a tall middle bay with its two flanking shorter bays.

2.1.15 Area 7: see Building 1D above; DC 55401/1, 7).

Summary: Pre 1912.

The 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map shows and open area to the north of building 1C. North Lanarkshire Archives material shows a chimney in the same area. This open area had been in-filled with buildings by 1912. (30)

2.2. Building 2 Main Range: Cranes (see annotated sketches DC 55401-2)

Travelling gantry cranes servicing the interior of a building were common by the second half of the nineteenth century. By the 1880s, the availability of light DC electric motors supplanted steam power on overhead travelling cranes enabling wider and more versatile use. (26) The Main Range at Lamberton’s Works contains two overhead travelling cranes.

Crane 1

The 80 Ton capacity electric crane (10 Ton auxiliary) to the east of the Main Range (the eastern end of which was built between 1898 and 1913) was made by the Clyde Crane and Engineering Co. of Mossend, Glasgow (1922-1969) (27) and runs on steel gantry rails. The 80 Ton eastern crane is therefore later than the west Main Range 40 Ton crane. It carries the words ‘British Steel’ and a stylised crown, as well as the ‘Colvilles’ name on the main beams (DP100350), suggesting a date of around 1967. British steel came into existence in 1967, and the Colvilles name ceased to be used as a brand around 1969.

Crane 2

The west crane (40 Ton capacity, 10 Ton auxiliary; see DP100364, DP100375, DP100396-9, DP100402-03, DP100406-06, DP100408-09 and DP100432) is an electrically driven, steel plate, riveted, fish-bellied crane. It is unclear by whom it was built. This crane is in the oldest section of the Main Range and runs on steel gantry rails. During demolition of this crane on the 26th and 27th May 2011, it became clear that it was of heavy construction, made from ¼ inch (6.35mm) steel plate with ‘Dalzell Steel’ and a small, crown trademark visible (DP100419). All the plates of the main beams were machine riveted (DP100418). There was no crane maker’s name plate visible.

The series brush DC motor (DP100372, DP100376, DP100393-5) was by The Lancashire Dynamo Motor Co. Ltd and carried a maker’s plate with the date of 1927. The crane power resistor (DP100368) was by The Rheostatic Co. of Slough, a company set up in 1921. It is unknown is such a crane would be retrofitted with updated electrical equipment thus allowing for an earlier date of the beams and the cross traveller. On balance, it would seem that the crane dates from the late 1920s.

A photograph taken during the survey carried out by Hay and Stell (28) of the Linthouse Engine Works, Govan Road, Glasgow shows two fish-bellied cranes. No details of the cranes were gathered during the survey, but the machine hall was built in 1872.

3.0 Conclusion

The Sunnyside Engine Works is a rare survival in the Coatbridge area of a 19th century engineering workshop. It exhibits the changes in engineering workshop design over the period 1870s to 1890s. The site has undergone many changes due to the flexibility that such buildings need to have to adapt with the changes in processes and technology.

The main reasons why overhead travelling cranes do not survive, despite having been in existence in great numbers at one time are:

• Upgrade

• Change of motive power results in modernisation

• Cutting up for scrap when they are no longer needed

• Industrial decline in heavy industry and the subsequent demolition of the buildings in which they were contained

References

(1) 1st edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1860, sheet VII.12)

(2) 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1898, sheet VII.12)

(3) Listed in William Baird and Co Valuation Roll (un-paginated), “Ironworks Workshops etc. continued” 1875-6, “D. Gray & Co. Lease 5 years from May 1875” with the rents listed for each of the 5 years, average of annual rent of £1000 (Glasgow University Archives, UGD 164/2/5/1), listed under ‘Ironworks Workshops etc. as ‘Sold to D Gray & Co.’ with a ‘Leaving Value’ listed as £15300. No Leaving Value is listed as of 31 May 1880 suggesting it was sold by that date. William Baird and Co. continued to own the housing to the north of the engine works. A subsequent heading ‘Sunnyside Workshop etc. Implements’ under 1878-9 are listed as “sold to [G?] Lamberton”, Glasgow University Archives, UGD 164/2/5/1)); also compare drawing of Lamberton’s and Co. Engineering Works by Benson, Hilton and Son, artists and engravers, Bradford, Yorkshire c.1890, North Lanarkshire Archives: UB 1115 and 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1898, sheet VII.12).

(4) Post Office Directory of Glasgow, 1881-2, 1006; The Advertiser, Saturday May 29th 1880, page 2: ‘Coatbridge...Improvement in the Engineering Trade’. This piece also mentions that ‘The works have just been purchased from the Messrs Baird, and Messrs Gray, Lamberton and Co. contemplate making general additions and alterations, so as to afford increased facilities for the speedier execution of the increasing orders.’

(5) Information from Alan Purdie, KRG Industries, June 2011.

(6) Listed in William Baird and Co Valuation Roll (un-paginated) under “Ironworks Workshops etc. continued” as having a book value of £12096 14s. 7d as of 31 May 1874 and a book value of £15788 10s. 0d by 31 May 1875 (Glasgow University Archives, UGD 164/2/5/1)). There is a further reference to a ‘Coal Cutting Machine Shop’ by 31 May 1873 (Listed in William Baird and Co Valuation Roll (un-paginated) under “Ironworks Workshops etc.” as having a book value of £85 4s 2d as of 31 May 1873 (Glasgow University Archives, UGD 164/2/5/1)) but it is unclear if this is the Sunnyside Workshop under construction.

(7) See 2nd and 3rd editions Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1989 and 1913, sheet VII.12)

(8) 1st edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1860, sheet VII.12); 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1898, sheet VII.12)

(9) Fitzgerald, R. S. ‘The Anatomy of a Victorian Crane’ in Industrial Archaeology Review, XX11.2 (Spring 1990), 186, 190.

(10) See drawing of Lamberton’s and Co. Engineering Works by Benson, Hilton and Son, artists and engravers, Bradford, Yorkshire c.1890, North Lanarkshire Archives, UB 1115 (copy in RCAHMS MS6313).

(11) Ibid.

(12) See 2nd and 3rd editions Ordnance Survey 25-inch maps (Lanarkshire, 1898 and 1913, sheet VII.12)

(13) RCAHMS aerial photographic image CPE/SCOT/UK/281, Part 1, 26 August 1947, frame 5120.

(14) See drawing of Lamberton’s and Co. Engineering Works by Benson, Hilton and Son, artists and engravers, Bradford, Yorkshire c.1890, North Lanarkshire Archives, UB 1115 (copy in RCAHMS MS6313).

(15) 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1898, sheet VII.12)

(16) Ibid.

(17) 3rd and 4th editions Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1913 and 1940, sheet VII.12)

(18) See drawing of Lamberton’s and Co. Engineering Works by Benson, Hilton and Son, artists and engravers, Bradford, Yorkshire c.1890, North Lanarkshire Archives, UB 1115 (copy in RCAHMS MS/6313); The Advertiser, Saturday May 29th 1880, page 2: ‘Coatbridge...Improvement in the Engineering Trade’. This piece also mentions that ‘The works have just been purchased from the Messrs Baird, and Messrs Gray, Lamberton and Co. contemplate making general additions and alterations, so as to afford increased facilities for the speedier execution of the increasing orders.’

(19) 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1898, sheet VII.12); See drawing of Lamberton’s and Co. Engineering Works by Benson, Hilton and Son, artists and engravers, Bradford, Yorkshire c.1890, North Lanarkshire Archives, UB 1115 (copy in RCAHMS MS/6313).

(20) Hay, G. D. and Stell, G. P., Monuments of Industry, 1985,121.

(21) Ibid.

(22) Taken from dimensioned drawing supplied by KRG Industries Ltd.

(23) Hume, J. R. The Industrial Archaeology of Scotland, Volume 1: Lowlands and Borders (Batsford) 1976, 24-5.

(24) See 2nd and 3rd editions Ordnance Survey 25-inch maps (Lanarkshire, 1898 and 1913, sheet VII.12)

(25) RCAHMS aerial photographic image CPE/SCOT/UK/281, Part 1, 26 August 1947, frame 5120.

(26) Information from Alan Purdie, KRG Industries Ltd, 25 May 2011.

(27) North Lanarkshire Archives (ref: Ub1115; 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1898, sheet VII.12); 3rd edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1913, sheet VII.12)

(28) Fitzgerald, R. S. ‘The Anatomy of a Victorian Crane’ in Industrial Archaeology Review, XX11.2 (Spring 1990), 186. See drawing of Lamberton’s and Co. Engineering Works by Benson, Hilton and Son, artists and engravers, Bradford, Yorkshire c.1890, North Lanarkshire Archives, UB 1115 (copy in RCAHMS MS/6313).

(29) Clarke Chapman, A Brief History http://www.pharoah.co.uk/groups/history-cc.htm [accessed: 23 February 2011].

(30) Hay G. D. and Stell, G. P., Monuments of Industry, (RCAHMS) 1985,121.

Glossary of terms

Carriage: the wheeled components of a crane allowing movement along crane beams or the crane gantry rails

Controller cabin: the area in which the operator of a crane sits, modern overhead cranes tend to be operated from the ground

Crab: moving hoist of an overhead travelling crane

Crane rail: rails on which the carriage carrying the main crane beam or beams runs

(Cross) traveller: the carriage/beams on wheels (on which the crab sits) which move along the main crane beams of an overhead travelling crane and perpendicular to the crane gantry rails

DC or Direct Current motor: converts electrical power into mechanical power and used where variable speed required

Fish belly crane: a crane member where the main beam’s lower end curves like a fish’s underside.

Gantry crane: also referred to as a portal crane. This is a type of overhead travelling crane where the rails are on the floor of the workshop space rather than in the walls above the windows of a workshop

Hoist: a drum driven by a prime mover or motor. Usually a steel rope runs over the drum allowing the lowering and lifting of material

Overhead travelling crane: lifting plant with powered hoist which can be mounted onto a crab which can traverse a workshop. The rails on which the crane runs tend to be above window height in a workshop or can be on the shop floor. See Gantry crane

Rheostat: electrically operated instrument that controls current by varying its resistance

Rivet: a mild steel bar with a conical cap which is driven hot into steel plates to hold them together. Rivets have been super-ceded.

Visited by RCAHMS (MMD), March and May 2011.