Glasgow Harbour

A pictorial history

Authors:	Graeme Smith and Mike McCreery
Published:	2025
Format:	Paperback, 128 pages
Size:	168 × 246 × 12 mm

£19⁹⁹

Tax included

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The river that built a city

A richly illustrated chronicle of how Glasgow and the River Clyde became synonymous with shipbuilding excellence and maritime trade, shaping Scotland's industrial heritage.

Glasgow Harbour, the port and shipbuilding centre along the River Clyde from Glasgow Green to the River Kelvin and beyond to Clydebank, became the greatest seaport in Scotland and one of the largest in Britain. Through a mixture of striking illustrations, this book recounts the early history, development, pioneering inventions and importance nationally and internationally of Glasgow Harbour, as well as its regeneration today.

From the seventeenth century Glasgow became one of the major hubs of trade across the Atlantic and to the rest of the world. In the eighteenth century Glasgow adopted new methods to deepen and engineer the River Clyde to make it more useful and the largest and most advanced docks were to be built, with some 12 miles of busy quayside lining the river.

By the nineteenth century Glasgow was also the world-leading shipbuilding centre, including such famous names as Fairfield, John Brown, Beardmore, Barclay Curle, Stephen and Connell. Later Yarrow and Harland & Wolff joined the ranks of shipbuilders, and at its peak over seventy shipping lines operated from the city. Although heavy industry in Glasgow Harbour has shrunk, today much of the waterfront is being regenerated.

Graeme Smith and Mike McCreery tell the fascinating story of Glasgow Harbour from its early days to the present – how 'Glasgow made the Clyde, and the Clyde made Glasgow'.

About the Authors

With experience in building new towns and the renewal of cities and economies, Graeme Smith writes and illustrates city life, growth and changes involving businesses, international trading, education and entertainment. His family has included sea captains, engineers and a marine superintendent.

Mike McCreery is a retired engineer, as photographer and photographic editor. He contributed photographs for Newton Mearns Through Time, published by Amberley.