Pacific Quay
Encyclopedia
Pacific Quay is an area south of the River Clyde
in Glasgow
, Scotland
. It is located at the former Plantation Quay and Princes' Dock Basin. The Princes' Dock Basin was the largest on the River Clyde when it was opened in 1900. It ceased to be used in the 1970s as the volume of Shipping using the Upper Clyde declined with the onset of Containerization
. The site was later used for the Glasgow Garden Festival
in 1988. The former electric generating station and pumping house, "Four Winds" which was used to pump water between the rotundas and generate power for the electric cranes still stands and is now home to a consultant engineers and radio station. Today Pacific Quay includes:
as a ship repair yard, which lasted until 1976. This was subsequently taken over by Clyde Dock Engineering Ltd in 1977 and continued to operate before eventually closing in 1987. Despite forming the proposed site for a new Clyde Ship Trust Maritime Museum, site for the preservation of the City of Adelaide
and later Glasgow's failed bid to host the Royal Yacht Britannia as a museum ship in the late 1990s, the area remains derelict, although a residential regeneration scheme is currently planned for the site.
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is located at the former Plantation Quay and Princes' Dock Basin. The Princes' Dock Basin was the largest on the River Clyde when it was opened in 1900. It ceased to be used in the 1970s as the volume of Shipping using the Upper Clyde declined with the onset of Containerization
Containerization
Containerization is a system of freight transport based on a range of steel intermodal containers...
. The site was later used for the Glasgow Garden Festival
Glasgow Garden Festival
The Glasgow Garden Festival was the third of the United Kingdom's five National Garden Festivals, and the only one to take place in Scotland.It was held in Glasgow between 26 April and 26 September 1988...
in 1988. The former electric generating station and pumping house, "Four Winds" which was used to pump water between the rotundas and generate power for the electric cranes still stands and is now home to a consultant engineers and radio station. Today Pacific Quay includes:
- Glasgow Science CentreGlasgow Science CentreGlasgow Science Centre is a visitor attraction located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is a purpose-built science centre composed of three principal buildings which are the Science Mall, an IMAX cinema and the Glasgow Tower...
- BBC Pacific Quay, BBC Scotland headquarters and studios.
- STV, headquarters and studios for the Scottish ITV network.
- Capital Scotland, radio station.
- Buro HappoldBuro HappoldBuro Happold is a professional services firm providing engineering consultancy, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of buildings, infrastructure and the environment, with its head office in Bath, Somerset...
, consultant engineers. - ChoiceQuote Insurance ServicesChoiceQuote Insurance ServicesChoiceQuote Insurance Services is part of the GAN UK Group, the UK broker division of Groupama Insurances.ChoiceQuote currently employs around 70 staff at its head office in Liverpool, with other branches in Manchester and Glasgow.- History :1995...
, taxi insurance broker. - Digital Design StudioDigital Design StudioThe Digital Design Studio is a research and postgraduate centre of Glasgow School of Art, specialising in 3D digital visualisation and interaction technologies.-History:...
, research and commercial centre of Glasgow School of ArtGlasgow School of ArtGlasgow School of Art is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.-History:It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. In 1853, it changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art. Initially it was located at 12 Ingram...
Govan Graving Docks
To the immediate west of Pacific Quay lies the former Govan Graving Docks. The Clyde Navigation Trust (now Clydeport) opened its first Graving Dock at Govan in 1875 and a second in 1886. The third and largest, at 880 ft in length, was opened in 1897. The facility was operated by the Clyde Navigation Trust until 1967, when it was taken over by Alexander Stephen and SonsAlexander Stephen and Sons
Alexander Stephen and Sons Limited, often referred to simply as Alex Stephens or just Stephens, was a Scottish shipbuilding company based in Linthouse, Govan in Glasgow, on the River Clyde.-History:...
as a ship repair yard, which lasted until 1976. This was subsequently taken over by Clyde Dock Engineering Ltd in 1977 and continued to operate before eventually closing in 1987. Despite forming the proposed site for a new Clyde Ship Trust Maritime Museum, site for the preservation of the City of Adelaide
City of Adelaide (1864)
The City of Adelaide was built in 1864 by William Pile, Hay and Co. in Sunderland, England, and was launched on 7 May 1864. The ship was commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Carrick between 1923 and 1948 and, after decommissioning, was known as Carrick until 2001...
and later Glasgow's failed bid to host the Royal Yacht Britannia as a museum ship in the late 1990s, the area remains derelict, although a residential regeneration scheme is currently planned for the site.