Charles Connell and Company
Encyclopedia
Charles Connell and Company was a British
shipbuilding company
based in Scotstoun
in Glasgow
on the River Clyde
.
Kelvinhaugh yard before he started shipbuilding on his own account at Scotstoun in 1861 initially concentrating on sailing ships.
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
.
The Scotstoun yard continued to operate under Upper Clyde Shipbuilders until 1971 when it collapsed 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 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.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
shipbuilding company
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
based in Scotstoun
Scotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
on the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
.
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 SonsAlexander Stephen and Sons
Alexander Stephen and Sons Limited, often referred to simply as Alex Stephens or just Stephens, was a Scottish shipbuilding company based in Linthouse, Govan in Glasgow, on the River Clyde.-History:...
Kelvinhaugh yard before he started shipbuilding on his own account at Scotstoun in 1861 initially concentrating on sailing ships.
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
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, before rearmament efforts stimulated demand.
In 1968 the yard passed from Connell family ownership after 107 years and became part of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
Upper Clyde Shipbuilders was a British shipbuilding consortium created in 1968 as a result of the amalgamation of five major shipbuilders of the River Clyde in Scotland...
.
The Scotstoun yard continued to operate under Upper Clyde Shipbuilders until 1971 when it collapsed and, from 1972 to 1980 as Scotstoun Marine Ltd
Scotstoun Marine Ltd
Scotstoun Marine Ltd was a shipbuilding company in Glasgow, Scotland, on the River Clyde, formed in 1972 to operate the former shipyard of Charles Connell and Company following the collapse of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders into which it had been amlgamated. Scotstoun Marine Ltd operated as a subsidiary...
, a subsidiary of Govan Shipbuilders
Govan Shipbuilders
Govan Shipbuilders Ltd was a British shipbuilding company based on the River Clyde at Glasgow in Scotland. It operated the former Fairfield Shipyard and took its name from the Govan area in which it was located.-History:...
.
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
GKN
GKN plc is a multinational automotive and aerospace components company headquartered in Redditch, United Kingdom. The company was formerly known as Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds and can trace its origins back to 1759 and the birth of the Industrial Revolution.GKN is listed on the London Stock...
whilst the riverside berth has been utilised by Motherwell Bridge Engineering 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
Balclutha (1886)
Balclutha, also known as Star of Alaska, Pacific Queen, or Sailing Ship BALCLUTHA, is a steel-hulled full rigged ship that was built in 1886. She is the only square rigged ship left in the San Francisco Bay area and is representative of several different commercial ventures, including lumber,...
at the San Francisco Maritime Museum.