Dumbarton, Shipyard

The 1st edition of the OS 25-inch map (Dumbarton 1860, Sheet XXII.6) depicts a ‘Ship Building Yard (Iron)’ on the N bank of the River Leven, immediately S of St Patrick’s Churchyard (NS37NE 15.01).

The yard measured 83m from NNE to SSW by 80m transversely and comprised an open area with ranges of buildings on the NNE and ESE. The yard was formerly James Lang’s Dockyard but it was acquired in 1845 by Archibald and Sons, who were established in 1834 at West Bridgend Yard. In 1867 the yard was extended to the E to take in a small timber yard and a dockyard that included a graving dock. By 1894, however, the yard had begun to specialize in steel steamers and as a result of repair work ceasing the dock was filled in. The shipyard was further expanded in 1910 with the purchase of part of the churchyard. The 3rd edition of the OS 25-inch map (Dunbartonshire 1919, Sheet n022.02) depicts the yard at its largest, measuring some 210m from E to W by a maximum of 156m transversely. It contained numerous buildings, cranes, etc and its internal system of railway tracks was linked to the external network via an entrance to the yard in its NE corner, off Castle Street. A second entrance was located off Church Street, close to the NW corner of the yard.

The yard closed in 1930 and from 1938 was the site of Ballantine’s Distillery (NS37NE 47). Production at the distillery ceased in 2002 and its buildings have since been demolished.

Information from HES Survey and Recording (AMcC) 22 August 2017.