Clyde Iron Works facts for kids

The Clyde Iron Works was a big factory in Scotland that made iron. It operated for a very long time, from 1786 until 1978.

This important factory was located near the Carmyle and Tollcross areas of Glasgow. It was built by William Cadell and Thomas Edington. They were also involved with the Carron Iron Works in Falkirk. Even the famous inventor David Mushet worked there for a while. During the Napoleonic Wars, the factory made special cannons called carronades.

What Was the Clyde Iron Works?

The Clyde Iron Works was a place where raw iron was made. This process is called ironworking. The factory used large furnaces to melt iron ore.

A Big Change in Making Iron

A very important invention for the Industrial Revolution happened at Clyde Iron Works. In 1828, James Beaumont Neilson successfully used something called the hot blast furnace. This new method used less coal to make iron. It also made the iron cheaper to produce in Scotland. This was a huge step forward for industry!

How Did It Get Its Materials?

From the 1860s, a major railway line helped the factory. The Whifflet Line was built right next to the site. This railway brought Ironstone from an area called Monklands. Coal came from local mines in Lanarkshire, like in Carmyle and Cambuslang. These materials arrived using smaller industrial railway lines. Eventually, these local supplies ran out. Small homes called "Miners row" cottages were built nearby for the workers.

Modern Times and Closure

In 1931, a company called Colvilles took over Clyde Iron Works. They made many modern improvements to the factory. Soon after, in 1939, it joined with the nearby Clydebridge Steelworks. This meant Clyde Iron Works made the hot iron, and Clydebridge Steelworks turned it into finished steel. New furnaces were added in 1948 to help with production.

Working Together

By the late 1900s, the factory was very advanced. It had its own research lab and a small power station. It even had a large gas holder for the gas made during the iron-making process. The factory could send extra electricity to the national power grid. It could also send gas to the Scottish Gas Board.

From the 1940s to the 1970s, Clydebridge and Clyde Iron Works worked closely together. A gas pipeline and a railway bridge were built over the River Clyde. These connected the two factories. Both factories were run by British Steel Corporation from 1967.

Why Did It Close?

In 1977, after 191 years, the Clyde Iron Works closed down. Most of the operations at Clydebridge also stopped around that time.

What Is There Now?

During the 1980s, the old factory site was cleared. Only a few small buildings remained near the M74 motorway. Now, the area is an industrial estate. It's called Glasgow East Investment Park. You might also hear it called Cambuslang Investment Park, even though it's not actually in Cambuslang.

Today, this area is home to the local Royal Mail mail sorting center. It also has the printing facility for newspapers like The Herald and Evening Times. This printing facility opened in 2002.

Other Factories Nearby

Tollcross also had another steel factory. This one made tubes and was part of the Stewarts & Lloyds company. It also closed down and was cleared. Now, homes are built on that site.

Not Connected to Other Factories

It's important to know that the Clyde Iron Works in Glasgow is not connected to other factories with similar names. For example, there's a factory called Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, Minnesota in the USA. That one is now a restaurant. It's also not linked to 19th-century companies like Samuel Osborn & Company from Sheffield.