11 March 2009: Govan Shipyard

Govan shipyard was founded as Randolph, Elder and Company (later John Elder and Company) in the 1860s. The yard built up an excellent reputation for the construction of compound engines (which they had invented) and naval vessels. It won many contracts from abroad including four ships for the American Confederates who used them as blockade breakers during the American Civil War (1861-5).

After Elder died in 1869, the yard was run by Sir William Pearce, and in 1885 it became known as the Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company. Construction of a long string of successful ships of various types, from ocean liners to aircraft carriers, allowed the shipyard to become one of the most important in the world.

The fortunes of the Clyde flourished in the mid twentieth century, as the shipyards played a vital role repairing damaged ships and building new vessels to equip the Royal Navy during the Second World War. This continued into the 1950s, but when recession struck the industry was forced into a dramatic decline. Even nationalisation in 1977 failed to save many of the yards and a large number of companies were forced to withdraw from the river.

From the 1960s to the 1990s, Govan shipyard changed hands several times, most notably in 1988 when it was sold to the Norwegian company Kværner.  It is now owned by BAE Systems and Vosper Thornycroft, in a partnership called BVT Surface Fleet Limited.

The image here, taken by the RAF in 1950, shows the shipyard operating at its peak.