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Clydebank, Kilbowie, John Brown's Shipyard

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Shipyard (19th Century)

Site Name Clydebank, Kilbowie, John Brown's Shipyard

Classification Shipyard (19th Century)

Alternative Name(s) J & G Thomson; Queen's Quay; Barns Of Clyde; Clydebank Shipyard; Clydebank Shipbuilding Yard; Marathon Yard

Canmore ID 43082

Site Number NS46NE 29

NGR NS 49688 69676

NGR Description Centred NS 497 698

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/43082

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Digital Images

View from S showing John Brown's Shipyard (with QE II on stocks) in distance with part of E bank of Black Cart Water in foreground
View from S showing John Brown's Shipyard (with QE II on stocks) in distance with part of E bank of Black Cart Water in foregroundView from ESE showing John Brown's Shipyard (with QE II on stocks) with TSS Shieldhall passingW Yard of John Brown's Shipyard, showing Tower Crane 'B' being erected, no Arrol job. no. given 1959 John Brown and Co Ltd Engineers and Shipbuilders, Clydebank (Misc 194...) Digital copy of photograph of W Yard, showing Tower Crane 'B' being erected. John Brown and Co Ltd Engineers and Shipbuilders, Clydebank. Sir William Arrol Collection Box 16RMS Queen Mary, under construction in John Brown's shipyard, Clydebank. Oblique aerial view of the liner, from SW.John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank, Queen Mary under construction. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.Queen Mary, River Clyde, Clydebank. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing south.Queen Mary, River Clyde, Clydebank. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing east.John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank, Queen Elizabeth under construction. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing south. This image has been produced from a damaged print.View from NW.View from SE.View from SW.View from W.View of crane from E.Clydebank, Kilbowie, John Brown's Shipyard View of ship under constructionGeneral view from NE of cranes, with giant cantilever crane (left), built by Sir William Arrol & Co in 1907. 150-ton capacity, uprated to 200-tons in 1937. Photosurvey 19-FEB-1991View from NW.Interior, view from N.Oblique aerial view of Clydebank centred on John Brown's Shipyard and crane, taken from the SW.Inchinnan, North Section of Black Cart Water View from S showing John Brown's Shipyard in distance with part of E bank of Black Cart Water in foregroundScanned image of colour negative, view of John Brown's Shipyard from E.Digital copy of general view of slipway and derricks. Photographed by Daily Mail (pre-1914). Sir William Arrol Collection Box 18Oblique aerial view centred on Singer Sewing Factory, Clydebank, with the railway station adjacent with John Brown's shipbuilding yard in the background, taken from the E. John Brown and Co. shipyards, Clydebank. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing east.Queen Mary, River Clyde, Clydebank. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing east.John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank, Queen Elizabeth under construction. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north. This image has been produced from a print.Interior, view from N.General oblique aerial view.General oblique aerial view.View from E.View from S.View from S.View from SE showing John Brown's Shipyard (with QE II on stocks) with TSS Shieldhall passingView of W Yard showing 'Arcadia' on slipway at John Brown and Co Ltd Engineers and Shipbuilders, Clydebank. View of Aquitania under construction, Cantilever crane to left (Arrol 150 ton, 1907) Photographed by A Blackadder, W Nile St Glasgow Queen Mary, River Clyde, Clydebank. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-west.View from N.General oblique aerial view.Clydebank, Kilbowie, John Brown's Shipyard, NS46NE 29, Ordnance Survey index card, RectoView of crane from E.Inchinnan, North Section of Black Cart Water View from SSW showing John Brown's Shipyard in distance with part of E bank of Black Cart Water in foregroundElevation, specification details of John Brown Shipyard Cantilever Crane. Insc: 'Titan Crane to lift 150 Tons...Est.[imate] No. None Job No. 390 1906'. John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank, Queen Mary under construction. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing south-east.View from E.View from SE.View from S.Interior, view from N.View of riverside walkway, taken from south east.View of offices from S.View from SE.View from W.View of fabrication shed from E.Interior, view from N.Oblique aerial view of Clydebank centred on John Brown's Shipyard and crane, taken from the SW.John Brown and Company, Clydebank, 150 Ton crane, 1907. This was the first cantilevered crane built by the companyClydebank, Kilbowie, John Brown's Shipyard View of ship under constructionClydebank, Kilbowie, John Brown's Shipyard View of ship under constructionRMS Queen Mary, under construction in John Brown's shipyard, Clydebank. Oblique aerial view of the liner, from NE.Glasgow, Clydebank, oblique aerial view centred on part of John Brown's shipyard with Clydebank Riverside Station adjacent, taken from the NW.Queen Mary, River Clyde, Clydebank. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing south.Queen Mary, River Clyde, Clydebank. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-west.Queen Mary, River Clyde, Clydebank. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing south. This image has been produced from a damaged negative.View of offices from S.View from S.Interior, view from N.General oblique aerial view.View from SE.View of offices from SE.View from SSE showing John Brown's Shipyard (with QE II on stocks) in distanceView from SE showing John Brown's Shipyard (with QE II on stocks)View of bulk iron ore carrier at Clydebank shipbuilding yardView of Aquitania under construction at John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank. Cantilever crane to left (Arrol 150 ton, 1907) Photographed by A Blackadder, W Nile St Glasgow View from SSW.View of 'dolphin' from south.General oblique aerial view.View from N.View of offices from SE.View from SSW.View from SW.View of crane from E.Interior, view from N.Scanned image of Luftwaffe vertical air photograph of the Clydebank area.Clydebank, Kilbowie, John Brown's Shipyard General ViewClydebank, Kilbowie, John Brown's Shipyard General ViewPhotograph of W Yard, showing Tower Crane 'B' being erected on 645 ft crane track and site of Tower Crane D bottom right hand corner, John Brown and Co Ltd Engineers and Shipbuilders, Clydebank. Photograph of W Yard, view showing 60 Ton fixed Tower Crane 'D' being erected, John Brown and Co Ltd Engineers and Shipbuilders, Clydebank. RMS Queen Mary, under construction in John Brown's shipyard, Clydebank. Oblique aerial view of the liner from SW.RMS Queen Mary, under construction in John Brown's shipyard, Clydebank. Oblique aerial view of the liner, from NE.RMS Queen Elizabeth, under construction in John Brown's shipyard, Clydebank. Oblique aerial view of the liner, from S.John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank, Queen Elizabeth under construction. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north. This image has been produced from a print.Detail of drawing office block from N.View of offices from SE.Oblique aerial view.Glasgow, John Brown's Shipyard. View from ESE showing John Brown's Shipyard (with QE II on stocks) with TSS Shieldhall passingView from NE of hammer-head crane. Photosurvey 19-FEB-1991View from SE.View from S.View of fitting out bay from N.Fitting bay and crane from N.RMS Queen Elizabeth, under construction in John Brown's shipyard, Clydebank. Oblique aerial view of the liner, from S.

First 100 images shown. See the Collections panel (below) for a link to all digital images.

Administrative Areas

  • Council West Dunbartonshire
  • Parish Old Kilpatrick (Clydebank)
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Clydebank
  • Former County Dunbartonshire

Archaeology Notes

NS46NE 29 centred 493 690

NS46NE 29.01 NS 49485 69758 (Titan Cantilever) Crane

NS46NE 29.02 NS c. 49682 69411 to NS c. 49711 69551 Slipway

(Location cited as NS 49 69). Clydebank Shipbuilding Yard, founded 1870 by J and G Thomson. The yard in its present form dates largely from c. 1890-1914, and consisted of two sets of berths on either side of a fitting-out basin. Interesting surviving features are two fitting-out cranes (one of them of 'Scotch derrick' type, and the other hammerhead, built 1905 and 1906), the four-storey brick stores building, and the late 19th century offices. Now an oil-rig building yard.

J R Hume 1976.

Clydebank Shipyard was originally owned by J & G Thomson who had moved to Clydebank in 1870. The yard by the mid-1970s dated largely from the 1890-1914 period, and had two sets of berths either side of a fitting-out basin. Hume lists two interesting surviving features, a fitting out crane (of the 'Scotch' derrick-type) and one giant cantilever crane (built by Sir William Arrol and Company, 1905/6). Hume also notes a 4-storey brick building and late 19th-century offices. The ailing yard was acquired by John Brown & Company, Sheffield forgemasters and armour plate-makers in 1899.

J R Hume, 1976; M R Moss and J R Hume, 1986.

Clydebank Shipbuilding Yard. Being rebuilt by Marathon Shipbuilding (UK) Ltd.

Photos and plans with reporter (J R Hume).

Manuscript records with University of Glasgow [Business Record Centre].

Visited and photographed by J R Hume, University of Strathclyde, 1972.

Information from NMRS MS/749 (Dunbartonshire, Clydebank parish), photographic prints attached (negatives with reporter, J R Hume).

NS 495 700 John Brown's Shipyard has been systematically demolished for redevelopment. A desk-based assessment and walkover survey focusing on the industrial archaeology of the site were undertaken in February and March 2003 to determine what archaeological features from the original 1871 shipyard and earlier might be present.

The Forth and Cart Canal (1840) runs along the E boundary of the site and the mouth into the River Clyde is clearly visible and the infilled canal probably survives. The mouth of the slipways where the Cunard liners were built will be preserved by the new development, and it is likely that remains of the infilled slips survive under make-up deposits. The early 20th-century slipways of the West Yard may also survive, as it is likely the structures were simply backfilled when no longer required. Prior to the development of the site as a shipyard, it is identified as Barns of Clyde from the 16th century, and appears to have been in use only as agricultural land.

Report lodged with WoSAS SMR.

Sponsor: Clydeside Regeneration Ltd.

F Baker 2004

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