Blochairn Iron Co

Iron Masters, of Glasgow

1850s Blochairn Iron Works was established for the manufacture of wrought iron. The works were located on the site of the former Blochairn House (built 1765) and on the route of the Monkland Canal.

1857 The Blochairn Iron Co ran into financial difficulties during the 1857 crisis, and struggled on until 1867

1866 "The Copartneries which carried on business as Iron Masters and Quarry Masters, at Blochairn and in Glasgow, under the firm of The Blochairn Iron Company, and as Coal Masters and Fire Clay Manufacturers at Heatheryknowe, under the firm of The Heatheryknowe Coal Company (and of which two Companies Thomas Brownlie, sometime Iron and Coal Master in Glasgow, now deceased, and the subscribers, William Broom and Thomas Hannay, were sole partners), were dissolved as on 1st September, 1866, by mutual consent of the said William Broom and Thomas Hannay, the surviving partners, and of the trustees of the said deceased Thomas Brownlie.

All debts owing by the said Companies will be paid by the said William Broom and Thomas Brownlie, younger, at their office, 182, Hope-street, Glasgow, and the said William Broom and Thomas Brownlie, younger, are also authorised to receive and discharge all debts due to the said Companies, The Blochairn Iron Works, stock in hand, and plant, and the goodwill of, the business of the said Blochairn Iron Company/as Iron Masters, and their brand, having been purchased by Robert Hannay, Esq., of Rusko, the said business will in future be carried on under the firm of Hannay and Sons.

The said William Broom and Thomas Brownlie, younger, will carry on the business of the late Companies as Coal Masters, Fire Clay Manufacturers, and Quarry Masters, under the firms of The Heatheryknowe Coal Company and The Blochairn Quarry Company."

1867 the works were taken over by Hannay and Sons, whose aim was to break into the expanding malleable iron market created by the demands of the Clyde shipyards.

The Hannays erected puddling furnaces and finishing equipment, and initial development was so rapid that the works became the largest of their kind in Scotland.

1875 Expenditure was so lavish that the company encountered financial difficulties; the works closed down about 1875.

1880 The Steel Company of Scotland purchased the Blochairn Iron Works, previously operated by Hannay and Sons. The aim had been to close the works and move the equipment to Hallside. However, after James Riley had examined the works, he persuaded the directors to convert the works to production of Siemens open-hearth steel. 8 furnaces were erected. James Riley was responsible for many important developments in the making and rolling of steel.

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