Walter Macfarlane & Co.
Iron founders
Walter Macfarlane (1817–1885) established the world-famous Glasgow firm of architectural ironfounders that bore his name, and created his fortune 'by the beauty of his designs and the excellence of the workmanship, coupled with admirable organization'. 1 Macfarlane had been manager of the well-respected Cumberland Foundry's moulding shop (see Moses McCulloch & Co.), but commenced on his own account as Walter Macfarlane & Co. in 1850. 2 His partners included his brother-in-law, Thomas Russell, a future MP, who purchased Ascog House estate in Bute (see Potier, Stewart & Hardie, for John Honeyman's Ascog Hall project, owned separately from Ascog House). 3
The new Saracen Foundry took its name from its first address, and was soon recognised by its peers as the country's pre-eminent 'sanitary and engineering art founders'. 4 Covering 14 acres of Possilpark by 1891, the buildings were designed by James Boucher, whose business partner John Napier Cousland was architect of the original 'Kibble Palace' greenhouse (see Alexander Cousland & Son, wireworkers). 5 Boucher & Cousland also produced plans for Macfarlane's architectural castings, which included 'gutters, roof terminals, balustrades, grates, school fittings', as well as bandstands, fountains and street furniture. 6
Macfarlane's nephew and heir, Walter Macfarlane Junior (1853–1932) 7 oversaw its workforce of 1200 in 1891, and by 1901 the premises had increased to 24 acres in extent. 8 The factory itself was 'a striking demonstration ... of the wonderful possibilities' of cast iron, and its products filled a 2000 page catalogue. 9 'More than any other firm Macfarlane's understood the benefits of a comprehensive catalogue' for their overseas customers, which enabled a worldwide export trade in pre-specified and prefabricated building components. 10 The firm made shell casings and munitions during the First World War, later producing ‘enamelled baths and rainwater goods’ for the 1920s housebuilding campaigns to meet the massive post-war housing shortage. 11
Notes:
1: James MacLehose, Memoirs and Portraits of One Hundred Glasgow Men, Glasgow: James MacLehose & Sons, 1886, p. viii (Introduction).
2: Sheila Hamilton, 'Walter Macfarlane', A. Slaven and S. Checkland, eds, Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography 1860–1960, vol. 1: The Staple Industries, Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1986, pp. 125–6.
3: Scotsman, 16 August 1911, p. 8; Glasgow Herald, 15 August 1911, p. 6b; Ascog House, Ascog, Isle of Bute, www.landmarktrust.org.uk [accessed 15 July 2013]; Landmark Trust, Ascog House and Meikle Ascog, History, pdf document, http://file.datasmart.co.uk [accessed 15 July 2013].
4: Glasgow and its Environs, Glasgow: Stratten & Stratten, 1891, pp. 98–9.
5: Sheila Hamilton, 'Walter Macfarlane', A. Slaven and S. Checkland, eds, Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography 1860–1960, vol. 1: The Staple Industries, Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1986, pp. 125–6; David S. Mitchell, ed., Macfarlane's Castings: Walter Macfarlane & Co., ... Catalogue, Sixth Edition, Edinburgh: Historic Scotland (Technical Reference Series), 2009, vol. 1, pp. x–xi.
6: Glasgow and its Environs, Glasgow: Stratten & Stratten, 1891, pp. 98–9; 'Boucher & Cousland', Dictionary of Scottish Architects, www.scottisharchitects.org.uk [accessed 15 July 2013].
7: David S. Mitchell, ed., Macfarlane's Castings: Walter Macfarlane & Co., ... Catalogue, Sixth Edition, Edinburgh: Historic Scotland (Technical Reference Series), 2009, vol. 1, pp. xv.
8: Henry Dyer, 'Mechanical Engineering', Angus McLean, ed., Local Industries of Glasgow and the West of Scotland, Glasgow: British Association, 1901, p. 85; Glasgow and its Environs, Glasgow: Stratten & Stratten, 1891, pp. 98–9.
9: Henry Dyer, 'Mechanical Engineering', Angus McLean ed., Local Industries of Glasgow and the West of Scotland, Glasgow: British Association, 1901, p. 85; Glasgow and its Environs, Glasgow: Stratten & Stratten, 1891, pp. 98–9.
10: David S. Mitchell, ed., Macfarlane's Castings: Walter Macfarlane & Co., ... Catalogue, Sixth Edition, Edinburgh: Historic Scotland (Technical Reference Series), 2009, vol. 1, pp. iii, xiii–xiv.
11: David S. Mitchell, ed., Macfarlane's Castings: Walter Macfarlane & Co., ... Catalogue, Sixth Edition, Edinburgh: Historic Scotland (Technical Reference Series), 2009, vol. 1, pp. xv–xvi.
