- Charles Connell and Company
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Charles Connell and Company Former type Private Industry Shipbuilding Fate Closed Successor Scotstoun Marine Ltd (1972-1980) Founded 1861 Defunct 1980 Headquarters Scotstoun, UK Parent Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (1968-1971)
Govan Shipbuilders (1972-1980)Charles Connell and Company was a British shipbuilding company based in Scotstoun in Glasgow on the River Clyde.
History
The Company was founded by Charles Connell who had served an apprenticeship with Robert Steele and Co before becoming manager of Alexander Stephen and Sons Kelvinhaugh yard before he started shipbuilding on his own account at Scotstoun in 1861 initially concentrating on sailing ships.[1]
From 1918 the Company became well known for high quality passenger and cargo ships. The yard closed from 1930 to 1937 due to the Great Depression, before rearmament efforts stimulated demand.
In 1968 the yard passed from Connell family ownership after 107 years and became part of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders.[2]
The Scotstoun yard continued to operate under Upper Clyde Shipbuilders until 1971 when it collapsed[3] and, from 1972 to 1980 as Scotstoun Marine Ltd, a subsidiary of Govan Shipbuilders.
The Connell shipyard closed in 1980 after 119 years of shipbuilding. The site was cleared of craneage although some evidence of the building berths remained visible until ca 2004. Part of the yard's covered facilities are utilised by steel stockholders GKN whilst the riverside berth has been utilised by Motherwell Bridge Engineering[4] for heavy fabrication work.
Connells built a total of 516 ships at Scotstoun. Famous sailing ships built by Connell include the clipper Taitsing. One sailing vessel built by Connell remains in existence, the Balclutha at the San Francisco Maritime Museum.
References
- ^ Royal Commission on Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland
- ^ Government's shipbuilding crisis BBC News, 1 January 2002
- ^ Parliamentary debates Hansard, 4 June 1971
- ^ [1]
External links
Shipyards of the ClydeModern timeline of British shipbuilding companies, 1960-present
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