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M018 Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd offices

Address: 1048, Govan Road, Glasgow G51 4XP
Date: 1889–91
Client: Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd
Authorship:

(Office)

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].

'Mackintosh Architecture' led by The Hunterian, University of Glasgow, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council; with additional support from The Monument Trust, The Pilgrim Trust, and the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art; and collaborative input from Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.