Clydebank, Elderslie Shipyard

The Elderslie Shipyard, located on the NE bank of the Clyde to the west of Scotstoun, was developed from 1904 by John Shearer and Co., which had been displaced from its yard at Kelvinhaugh (NS56 NE 5101) by the construction of Yorkhill Quay (NS56NE 1896). Shearer remained in business until 1912 when the firm was bought over by Barclay Curle and Co. to take orders that their existing yard at Clydeholm (NS56NW 82) could not handle. The 3rd edition of the OS 25-inch map (Renfrewshire 1920, Sheet VIII.NE) depicts the graving dock built by Shearer, which was rectangular on plan with a rounded ESE end, and measured 150m in length by 35m in breadth. The dock, which was entered from the WNW, was accompanied by one very large shed immediately to the E and several other smaller buildings. Barclay Curle and Co. built two further graving docks, the first in 1933 and the second in 1965. Hume also noted a number of corrugated-iron clad workshops associated with the docks (Hume 1971: 285). The Elderslie yard was bought by Yarrow and Co. in 1974, outliving the Clydeholm yard which closed in 1967. The yard is now part of BAE Systems Surface Ships (NS56NW 53).

Information from HES Survey and Recording (AMcC) 6 September 2017