![]() | M018 Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd officesAddress: 1048, Govan Road, Glasgow G51 4XPDate: 1889–91 Client: Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd Authorship: ![]() |
- 1835
- Charles Randolph and Richard S. Cunliffe
establish a small engineering shop in Glasgow. 1
- 1852
- John
Elder joins the company. 2
- 1864
- After taking the
decision to move into shipbuilding in 1860, a shipbuilding and engineering
company is established on the grounds of Fairfield farm near Govan
village. 3
- 1868
- First ship is launched at the
Fairfield shipyard. 4
- 1869
- Death of John Elder. 5
- 1870
- Elder's widow, Isabella Elder, and company partners, her
brother John Francis Ure, and engineering partner, J. L. K. Jamieson seek a
third partner to manage the shipbuilding side of the business. William Pearce (later
MP for Govan, made a baronet in 1887) is appointed. John Elder & Co. is
founded.
6
- 1878
- Ure and Jamieson retire leaving Pearce in sole
charge. 7
- 1886
- John Elder & Co. is re-established as Fairfield
Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd, with limited liability. William Pearce
serves as chairman.
8
- 1888
- Death of Sir William Pearce. His son, Sir William George
Pearce, takes over as chairman. 9
- 1889
- 22 July: Contractor
tenders submitted.
10
26 July: Fairfield's board of directors unanimously agrees to proceed with construction of new offices at their existing shipyard and 'to accept the offers of Messrs Guthrie & Co. for the mason work, Mr James Herbertson for the wright work, Mr James Nicol for the plaster work, Messrs Brown & Young for the plumber work and Messrs A. M. Ross & Son for the slater work'. 11
August: Earliest date of Honeyman & Keppie drawings. 12
14 September: Plans submitted to Govan Dean of Guild Court. 13
25 September: Plans approved by Govan Dean of Guild Court. 14
- 1891
- 7 February: senior staff and invited guests
attend a dinner at the 'scarcely completed' new offices. 15
- 1892
- 1 and 3 March: Latest payments
to contractors.
16
- 1956
- Large two-storey extension at W. end. 17
- 1968
- 'Fairfield becomes the
Govan division of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Ltd.'
18
- 2001
- Office building closed.
19
- 2008
- Conservation report commissioned by Govan Workspace. 20
- 2009
- Building acquired by Govan Workspace. 21
- 2010
- Programme of regeneration set in motion. First phase of
work, emergency repairs, costing c. £1.4 m completed by July. 22
Notes:
1: K. J. W. Alexander and C. L. Jenkins, Fairfields: A Study of Industrial Change, London: Penguin, 1970, p. 11.
2: K. J. W. Alexander and C. L. Jenkins, Fairfields: A Study of Industrial Change, London: Penguin, 1970, p. 11.
3: K. J. W. Alexander and C. L. Jenkins, Fairfields: A Study of Industrial Change, London: Penguin, 1970, p. 11.
4: K. J. W. Alexander and C. L. Jenkins, Fairfields: A Study of Industrial Change, London: Penguin, 1970, p. 11.
5: K. J. W. Alexander and C. L. Jenkins, Fairfields: A Study of Industrial Change, London: Penguin, 1970, p. 11.
6: K. J. W. Alexander and C. L. Jenkins, Fairfields: A Study of Industrial Change London: Penguin, 1970, p. 11; 'Sir William Pearce', www.oxforddnb.com [accessed 15 April 2011].
7: 'Sir William Pearce', www.oxforddnb.com [accessed 15 April 2011]; K. J. W. Alexander and C. L. Jenkins, Fairfields: A Study of Industrial Change, London: Penguin, 1970, p. 11.
8: K. J. W. Alexander and C. L. Jenkins, Fairfields: A Study of Industrial Change London: Penguin, 1970, p. 11; 'Sir William Pearce', www.oxforddnb.com [accessed 15 April 2011].
9: K. J. W. Alexander and C. L. Jenkins, Fairfields: A Study of Industrial Change, London: Penguin, 1970, p. 11.
10: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow: John Honeyman & Keppie job book, GLAHA 53059, pp. 107, 109.
11: Glasgow City Archives Collection: Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd, minute book, UCS 2/1/1, 26 July 1889; John R. Hume, Industrial Archaeology of Glasgow, Glasgow and London: Blackie, 1974, p. 261.
12: See inscription on ground and first-floor plan, Glasgow City Archives Collection: Govan Dean of Guild Court plans, TD1309/G/30.
13: Glasgow City Archives Collection: Govan Dean of Guild Court proceedings, H-GOV 36/2, 14 September 1889.
14: Glasgow City Archives Collection: Govan Dean of Guild Court proceedings, H-GOV 36/2, 14 September 1889.
15: Govan Press, 7 February 1891, p. 2.
16: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow: John Honeyman & Keppie job book, GLAHA 53059, p. 110.
17: Historic Scotland listing description 33356.
18: K. J. W. Alexander and C. L. Jenkins, Fairfields: A Study of Industrial Change, London: Penguin, 1970, p. 12.
19: Robertson McIntosh Consultants, Fairfield, Govan. Conservation and Management Report, 2010, p. 40.
20: Robertson McIntosh Consultants, Fairfield, Govan. Conservation and Management Report, 2010, p. 1.
21: Robertson McIntosh Consultants, Fairfield, Govan. Conservation and Management Report, 2010, p. 1.
22: BBC News, www.bbc.co.uk/news [accessed 28 July 2010].