Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co: Difference between revisions
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The following year Fairfields and the other major yards of the Upper Clyde - [[Alexander Stephens and Sons]], [[Charles Connell and Co]], [[Yarrow Shipbuilders]] and [[John Brown and Co]] - were merged to form [[Upper Clyde Shipbuilders]] (UCS). UCS collapsed amid much controversy in 1971, and as part of the recovery deal, Fairfields was formed into Govan Shipbuilders which was nationalised as part of British Shipbuilders. On the breakup of British Shipbuilders under denationalisation, the former Fairfields yards were sold to the Kværner group, as Kværner (Govan). In 1999 the yard passed to BAE Systems via the incorporation of Marconi Marine from GEC-Marconi. It is now part of BAE Systems Naval Ships. | The following year Fairfields and the other major yards of the Upper Clyde - [[Alexander Stephens and Sons]], [[Charles Connell and Co]], [[Yarrow Shipbuilders]] and [[John Brown and Co]] - were merged to form [[Upper Clyde Shipbuilders]] (UCS). UCS collapsed amid much controversy in 1971, and as part of the recovery deal, Fairfields was formed into Govan Shipbuilders which was nationalised as part of British Shipbuilders. On the breakup of British Shipbuilders under denationalisation, the former Fairfields yards were sold to the Kværner group, as Kværner (Govan). In 1999 the yard passed to BAE Systems via the incorporation of Marconi Marine from GEC-Marconi. It is now part of BAE Systems Naval Ships. | ||
==Shipbuilding== | |||
*1870s - The yard mainly made liners for a number of Far Eastern and Australasian companies, many of whom went on to have long term associations with the yard. | |||
*1880s - The yard concentrated on building Blue Riband record breakers.This led on to many orders for express liners although commercially speaking, the faster ships were less effective as the design required a reduction in passenger room. The yard also made steam yachts and coastal and cross-Channel packets. | |||
*1900s - The yard enjoyed many orders from the Admiralty; this enabled it to ride out the cyclical slumps that shipbuilding experienced during the early part of the century. Orders came in for boat destroyers, cruisers, and battleships. Sir William G. Pearce, Chairman of the yard also founded Canadian Pacific Steamships and many Canadian Empresses were made by the yard for them. | |||
*1907 - Sir william G. Pearce died and eventuially Alexander Gracies became the Managing Director. Gracie focussed on continually modernisnig the yard. | |||
*World War I - The yard built 50 warships. | |||
==Sources of Information== | ==Sources of Information== | ||
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfield_Shipbuilding] Wikipedia | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfield_Shipbuilding] Wikipedia | ||
Revision as of 11:01, 9 May 2007
The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited was a British shipbuilding company in the famous Govan area on the Clyde in Scotland.
Fairfields, as it is often known, was a major warship builder, turning out many vessels for the Royal Navy and other navies through the First World War and the Second World War.
The shipyard in Govan was founded in the 1860s as Randolph, Elder and Co, later John Elder and Company. In 1885 the yard was reorganised as the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company. As this company it continued until 1965 when it filed for bankruptcy. In response, the yard was again reorganised in 1966 as Fairfields, under guarantee by the government.
The following year Fairfields and the other major yards of the Upper Clyde - Alexander Stephens and Sons, Charles Connell and Co, Yarrow Shipbuilders and John Brown and Co - were merged to form Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (UCS). UCS collapsed amid much controversy in 1971, and as part of the recovery deal, Fairfields was formed into Govan Shipbuilders which was nationalised as part of British Shipbuilders. On the breakup of British Shipbuilders under denationalisation, the former Fairfields yards were sold to the Kværner group, as Kværner (Govan). In 1999 the yard passed to BAE Systems via the incorporation of Marconi Marine from GEC-Marconi. It is now part of BAE Systems Naval Ships.
Shipbuilding
- 1870s - The yard mainly made liners for a number of Far Eastern and Australasian companies, many of whom went on to have long term associations with the yard.
- 1880s - The yard concentrated on building Blue Riband record breakers.This led on to many orders for express liners although commercially speaking, the faster ships were less effective as the design required a reduction in passenger room. The yard also made steam yachts and coastal and cross-Channel packets.
- 1900s - The yard enjoyed many orders from the Admiralty; this enabled it to ride out the cyclical slumps that shipbuilding experienced during the early part of the century. Orders came in for boat destroyers, cruisers, and battleships. Sir William G. Pearce, Chairman of the yard also founded Canadian Pacific Steamships and many Canadian Empresses were made by the yard for them.
- 1907 - Sir william G. Pearce died and eventuially Alexander Gracies became the Managing Director. Gracie focussed on continually modernisnig the yard.
- World War I - The yard built 50 warships.
Sources of Information
[1] Wikipedia