Port Glasgow, The Gourock Ropework

Established in 1797 as a result of a merger between the Port Glasgow Rope & Duck Company (founded 1736) and the original Gourock Company (founded 1777), this firm enjoyed a world-wide reputation in the manufacture of ropes, canvas and sailcloth. At the turn of the 19th century it became particularly well known for its special proofing process of canvas and sailcloth, usually identified by the trademark 'Gourock Al Birkmyre Proofed'. On its closure in 1976, the works complex included a large brick multi-storeyed block, formerly a sugar refinery, and a ropewalk. The ropewalk, which extended along the N side of the Glasgow-Greenock railway, was built partially of random rubble and brick, with a slate roof, and comprised three main sections totalling approximately one quarter mile (400m) in length . The earlier 854 ft (260m) single-storeyed portion was extended westwards, probably in 1840, by the addition of two successively wider units which incorporated upper floors of jack-arch fireproof construction. The extensions were evidently planned for ropewalk machinery, designed and perfected by the company. One such machine, comprising foregear, traveller and top-cart, dating from 1859, remained in situ on the ground floor. At about the same time the first floor was evidently used for making ropes by the 'house machine' method, which dispensed with the need for a long ropewalk. The ropewalk had three trackways, of which the longest was capable of hauling out three-strand ropes of 191 fathoms (348.67m), up to 20 in (0.51m) in circumference of hemp or manilla, and 36in (0.91m) of coir; and the two other tracks, 172-fathom (314m) ropes of manilIa or sisal up to 24in (0.61m) in circumference. The several fixtures along the walks included a variety of pronged gate-rests and stakeposts spaced at appropriate intervals in order to maintain the rope at a 'level lay'.

Information from ‘Monuments of Industry: An Illustrated Historical Record’, (1986).