Part Five

JAMES WATT
Ground on the south side of Anderston Walk was feued from John Orr in 1748 on which the Delftfield Pottery, the first factory of its kind in Scotland, was established. The name ‘Delftfield’ derives from Delft, a pottery-town in Holland, famous for its delftware. Access to the Delftfield Pottery, which stood near the Clyde, was via a long narrow lane leading from Anderston Walk. The partners of the firm, which specialised in the production of fine earthenware, were Robert Finlay, Patrick Nesbit, Laurence and Robert Dinwiddie. In later years another partner in the business was Hugh Niven, of whom, the well-known film actor David Niven was a direct descendent.

The Dinwiddies contracted London potters to train the local workforce in pottery manufacture. Following lengthy legal disputes the Delftfield began producing large quantities of delftware, which was sold for export. The business continued to trade under the title of the Delftfield Pottery until around 1823, when the firm merged with the Caledonian Pottery whose business name they adopted when they moved to the latter’s premises in the north of Glasgow.

In 1763, whilst employed by the University as a mathematical instrument maker, James Watt and his wife (Margaret Miller) took up residence in a small mansion house in Delftfield Lane. Whilst history remembers Watt as being mainly associated with steam engines, he took an active interest in the Delftfield Pottery where he became a business partner. One of Watt’s contributions to the firm was a formula he invented for the production of creamware. Watt maintained his investment in Delftfield until his death in 1819.

If there is any credence to the story that, in 1765, Watt had inspiration for his steam-condenser whilst watching a kettle boil, then it is quite reasonable to speculate that he may have found his motivation whilst at his home in Delftfield Lane. The Industrial Revolution is directly attributable to Watt’s steam-condenser, which improved the practical working efficiency of the steam engine. James Watt’s house was removed in 1848 when Delftfield Lane was widened to form the street that now bears his name.

BUCHANITES
Elspeth Simpson gained employment as servant to the owners of the Delftfield Pottery and, in 1760, married one of the potters employed by the firm. Within a few years she started having strange dreams and religious experiences. In 1784, based on the conviction of her religious hallucinations, she founded a sect that became known as the Buchanites. Simpson deserted her husband and, gathering her followers, moved to Irvine, before finally settling at Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, where they lived as a commune. Before she died in May 1791, Elspeth Buchan announced that she was the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, promising that following her death, she would return again to lead her followers. Not surprisingly, she never fulfilled her promise. The leaderless sect dispersed soon after her demise.
 

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James Watt’s House, Delftfield Lane, just prior to its removal in 1848
The reproduction is of a painting by William ‘Crimea’ Simpson.

THE NAPIERS
The history of Clyde shipbuilding is inextricably linked with that of two cousins, David and Robert Napier. David was accredited as being the inventor whilst Robert earned the mantle for quality and reliability.

David Napier opened a foundry at Camlachie in 1814 and when he decided to move to Anderston four years later (1818), his cousin, Robert, acquired the Camlachie property. David Napier procured the Vulcan Foundry, which stood at the foot of Washington Street. In 1821 He purchased Lancefield, a portion of land that lay between Hydepark and Lancefield Streets, from Anne Gillespie, wife of William Gillespie’s second son, James. On this site he erected an extensive engine and boiler works known as the Lancefield Foundry. He next constructed a tidal basin on the riverside to accommodate ships requiring repair and refitting. The basin, known as ‘Napier’s Dock’ was the only dry dock in Glasgow until the Kingston Dock was opened in 1867. On the northern portion of his property, Napier erected a small mansion, which he called Lancefield House, and it was in this residence that most of his family were born. Among his many engineering successes were the main engine castings of the first steamship, the Comet (1812).

After honing his engineering skills at the Camlachie Foundry, Robert Napier, moved in 1828 to take over his cousins’ Vulcan Foundry in Washington Street. He quickly gained the enviable reputation of being the best engineer on the Clyde. Ably assisted by his works manager, David Elder, whom he had employed in 1821, Robert Napier equipped his Vulcan works with heavy tools suitable for the manufacture of large engines. When his cousin David moved to London in 1835, Robert purchased the Lancefield Foundry and the mansion of Lancefield became his permanent residence.

Lancefield House was the setting for a meeting that laid the foundation of what is arguably the most famous shipping line in the world. On 13th July 1839, a breakfast meeting was arranged between Robert Napier, James Donaldson, George Burns and a Canadian, Samuel Cunard. By the time the meeting had drawn to a close Napier had secured the contract to supply the engines that would power the new shipping lines vessels. Cunard proposed that the shipping line should be called ‘British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company’ with such a lengthy title, it is little surprise that the company was eventually dubbed ‘Cunard’.

Interestingly, in the early days of steam the vessels’ funnel was painted, both as a tribute and distinguishing mark, in the colours of the engine builder. And so, the funnels of the first ships of the newly established Cunard Line were painted in the red and black of Robert Napier. As a fitting memorial the Cunard Line still displays Napier’s colours on their funnels to this day.

The Glasgow Examiner of 16th October 1847 provides an interesting insight into the working environment at the Vulcan and Lancefield Works. The article reads,

“The works are admirably conducted, the machines are of first rate quality, and many of them were constructed within the works, and of a description to be found nowhere else. They are kept in first-rate order, and everyone about the extensive works seems perfectly master of his department. The only noise is that of the machines and hammers, not an idle, much less and improper word is heard. The men are respectful to strangers, and all being at their work. Many of them have high wages…..”

Many of the engineers who began their careers with Robert Napier went on to achieve fame in the shipbuilding industry. Included in the list were such notables as Charles Randolph and David Elder, founder of Elders of Govan. On Randolph’s death in 1868, William Pearce who was manager of Napier’s was invited into partnership at Fairfield, he became the sole partner and, like Napier, he did much to enhance the reputation of ‘Clyde Built’. The Napier’s were a family of engineering innovators. James and William owned the Swallow Foundry, which was situated near the Vulcan Works in Washington Street. It was James Napier who invented the tubular boiler in 1830.

David Napier died in 1869 in London. Robert Napier passed away in his eighty-sixth year, on 23rd June 1876, at West Shandon, on the Clyde. The Napiers played a tremendous role not only in the employment and growth of Anderston, but in enhancing the reputation of Glasgow and the Clyde. The title ‘Napier’s Hydepark Windlass Engine Works’ was still clearly visible on the exterior of the company’s Hydepark Street building when it was demolished during the late 1990’s.

TOD & MACGREGOR
Tod and MacGregor entered David Napier’s employment at Camlachie and accompanied him when he relocated to Lancefield. When the duo set up business on their own account in 1833, Napier offered to sell them his Lancefield Works as he was considering moving to London. The partners preferred to start on a smaller scale and opened a workshop in Carrick Street under the title of ‘Tod & MacGregor Engineers’. Within a short period of time they opened the ‘Clyde Foundry’ a massive engine and boiler works, in Warroch Street. In 1838, just opposite Lancefield Dock, they constructed their first iron ship. The business was transferred to Meadowside, Partick, in 1844. Perhaps the best-known ship produced by the company was the ‘Lady Nyasa’ built at the request of David Livingstone and destined to sail the Zambezi.

CLYDEBANK
In 1828 Robert Napier brought James and George Thomson into his employment. In 1847 the two brothers set up in business on their own, establishing the Clyde Bank Foundry at Finnieston. They moved to the south of the river five years later, eventually relocating to a new site further downriver in 1871 which, they called Clyde Bank, after the name of their original premises at Finnieston. The shipyard gave its name to the Burgh of Clydebank that grew up around the works. This company was the embryo of the world-famous shipbuilders, John Brown & Co. of Clydebank.

BARCLAY CURLE
John Barclay feued ground at Stobcross in 1818 where he opened a shipyard. He constructed two small slips capable of accommodating vessels of up to two hundred tons. His son, Robert, inherited the property in 1845, and was later joined by Robert Curle and James Hamilton. The designation of the company was changed to Barclay Curle & Company. Recognising the potential for ship repair, Barclay developed that side of the business. In particular he secured extensive orders for the repair of American built vessels thus, managing to keep the Stobcross slips busy. The launch of a five hundred ton, wooden ship, the ‘City of Glasgow’, in 1848, proved to be an event of such importance that a public holiday was declared. When the company removed to the Clydeholm yard in 1855 the ‘Clyde Trustees’ purchased the Stobcross yard. Robert Barclay was the first president of the Scottish Shipbuilders Association’ a position he held for two years.

LOCOMOTIVES
Walter Neilson, born in 1819, was the founder of the Hydepark Locomotive Works. Details surrounding the formation of the company are obscure, but Neilson must have demonstrated considerable enterprise, at the tender age of seventeen, he is listed as a partner in the firm of ‘Mitchell & Neilson’ whose premises were in McAlpine Street. The McAlpine Street property was retained for offices, while the works section of the firm appear to have been in operation at Hydepark Street in 1837. It is unclear if Neilson combined the dual role of partner and apprentice with the firm, even less is known of his partner, James Mitchell, other than that he was connected with the Camlachie foundry in 1848.

The name Neilson & Company first appears in 1837, when the firm are recorded as having an engine works on the west side of Hydepark Street, near the Clyde, with a boiler yard in Finnieston Street. Initially the company manufactured stationary and marine engines until they began specialising in the manufacture of locomotives. The first locomotive rolled off the production line at Hydepark Street in 1843. Unfortunately, little technical detail is known of the locomotive.

Shortly after the appointment of Henry Dubs as works manager in 1858, the firm, unable to find space for expansion, moved their operation to Springburn. Dubs was given full responsibility for the layout of the new premises, which retained the name ‘Hydepark Works’. The transfer of machinery and equipment from Anderston must have been quite an attraction. Horse-drawn wagons assisted by large gangs of employees pulling on ropes hauled the machinery from Hydepark Street all the way to Springburn. Neilson retired from active involvement with the Hydepark Works in 1872. In 1903 the firm became known as Neilson, Reid & Co. and in time amalgamated with two other locomotive manufacturers to become the North British Locomotive Co. Ltd. At the peak of production the company was the largest locomotive builders in Europe, employing in excess of eight thousand workers. The N.B. Loco closed during the early 1960’s

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