Port Dundas
Encyclopedia
Port Dundas is an area of Glasgow
, Scotland
, located 1 miles (1.6 km) to the north of the city centre. It lies to the north of Cowcaddens
, and to the west of Sighthill
, with Hamiltonhill
and Possilpark
to the north-west.
in the centre of Glasgow, linking to the adjacent Monkland Canal
. It became an industrial centre in the 19th century, with textile mills, chemical works, granaries, distilleries, glassworks, iron foundries, power stations and engineering works all operating in the area. In 1859, a brick chimney was built at Port Dundas for F. Townsend. At 454 feet (138.4 m) it was the tallest chimney in the world at the time, with an outside diameter of 32 feet (9.8 m) at ground level.
network. The Glasgow Corporation had decided to electrify the network by 1901 for the opening of the International Exhibition at Kelvingrove Park
. A large cooling tower
was added in 1954 and was the largest in Europe at the time. After passing to the South of Scotland Electricity Board
in 1958, it was decommissioned in the 1960s and eventually demolished in the early 1980s.
's St.Rollox Chemical Works, at one time the largest chemical manufacturer in the world closed its plant to the east of Port Dundas in 1964. The M8 motorway was constructed immediately to the south, over the route of the Monkland Canal, in the 1970s, obstructing access to the canal basin. Early in the 21st century, the Forth and Clyde Canal
was restored as a leisure attraction, and the canal and warehouses at Port Dundas were restored as apartments.
for the manufacture of Grain whisky
were installed in both distilleries.
Both distilleries merged in the 1860s and later became part of the Distillers Company in 1877. They were destroyed by fire in 1903 but were rebuilt and reopened in 1913, and rebuilt again in 1916 after being severely damaged by another fire. The distillery was closed for the duration of World War II
. A large modernisation programme was undertaken during the 1970s, when a new grain intake, spirit store, still house, boiler house and dark grains plant were opened.
The Port Dundas Grain Distillery and adjacent Dundashill Cooperage, which manufactured Hogshead
casks and dates back to 1770, are currently owned by Diageo
, and the distillery's large Flue gas stack
dominates the skyline of North Glasgow. It produced Grain whisky
used in the Johnnie Walker
, J&B
, Bell's, Black & White
, Vat 69, Haig
and White Horse
blended whisky brands owned by Diageo. On July 1, 2009, Diageo announced the closure of the Port Dundas distillery, with all production shifting to the company's other Scottish Grain distillery at Cameron Bridge
, as well as the North British Distillery in Gorgie
, Edinburgh, which is jointly owned by Diageo and The Edrington Group
. There are four remaining active Grain distilleries in Scotland: Invergordon Grain Distillery, owned by Whyte and Mackay
, Strathclyde Grain Distillery in the Gorbals
, owned by Pernod Ricard
, Girvan
Grain Distillery, owned by William Grant & Sons
and the Loch Lomond Distillery
in Alexandria.
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...
, located 1 miles (1.6 km) to the north of the city centre. It lies to the north of Cowcaddens
Cowcaddens
Cowcaddens is an area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is virtually in the city centre and is bordered by the areas of Garnethill to the south and Townhead to the east....
, and to the west of Sighthill
Sighthill, Glasgow
Sighthill is a Housing estate in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde.Sighthill is part of the wider Springburn district in the North of the city...
, with Hamiltonhill
Hamiltonhill
Hamiltonhill is a working class district situated between Possilpark and Port Dundas in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde, next to the Forth and Clyde Canal....
and Possilpark
Possilpark
Possilpark is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow, situated north of the River Clyde. Following the closure of the Saracen Foundry in 1967, this section of Glasgow has become one of the poorest in the United Kingdom, with an above average crime rate....
to the north-west.
History
The Port Dundas terminus was established at One Hundred Acre Hill between 1786 and 1790 and was named after Sir Lawrence Dundas, one of the major backers of the Forth and Clyde Canal Company. Port Dundas formed the terminus of a branch of the Forth and Clyde CanalForth and Clyde Canal
The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses Scotland, providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest part of the Scottish Lowlands. The canal is 35 miles long and its eastern end is connected to the River Forth by a short stretch of the River...
in the centre of Glasgow, linking to the adjacent Monkland Canal
Monkland Canal
The Monkland Canal was a 12.25-mile canal which connected the coal mining areas of Monklands to Glasgow in Scotland. It was opened in 1794, and included a steam-powered inclined plane at Blackhill. It was abandoned for navigation in 1942, but its culverted remains still supply water to the Forth...
. It became an industrial centre in the 19th century, with textile mills, chemical works, granaries, distilleries, glassworks, iron foundries, power stations and engineering works all operating in the area. In 1859, a brick chimney was built at Port Dundas for F. Townsend. At 454 feet (138.4 m) it was the tallest chimney in the world at the time, with an outside diameter of 32 feet (9.8 m) at ground level.
Pinkston Power Station
In 1900, the coal fired Pinkston Power Station was built at Port Dundas to generate electricity for the Glasgow Corporation TramwaysGlasgow Corporation Tramways
Glasgow Corporation Tramways were formerly one of the largest urban tramway systems in Europe. Over 1000 municipally-owned trams served the city of Glasgow, Scotland with over 100 route miles by 1922...
network. The Glasgow Corporation had decided to electrify the network by 1901 for the opening of the International Exhibition at Kelvingrove Park
Kelvingrove Park
Kelvingrove Park is a public park located on the River Kelvin in the West End of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, containing the world-famous Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.-History:...
. A large cooling tower
Cooling tower
Cooling towers are heat removal devices used to transfer process waste heat to the atmosphere. Cooling towers may either use the evaporation of water to remove process heat and cool the working fluid to near the wet-bulb air temperature or in the case of closed circuit dry cooling towers rely...
was added in 1954 and was the largest in Europe at the time. After passing to the South of Scotland Electricity Board
South of Scotland Electricity Board
The South of Scotland Electricity Board , was formed as a result of the Electricity Reorganisation Act 1954. On 1 April 1955, the two southern Scottish Area Electricity Boards were merged into the South of Scotland Electricity Board...
in 1958, it was decommissioned in the 1960s and eventually demolished in the early 1980s.
Industrial decline and regeneration
Industry in the area declined through the 20th century. The Monkland Canal was closed to navigation in 1952, and the Forth and Clyde in 1963. Charles TennantCharles Tennant
Charles Tennant was a Scottish chemist and industrialist. He discovered bleaching powder and founded an industrial dynasty.- Biography:...
's St.Rollox Chemical Works, at one time the largest chemical manufacturer in the world closed its plant to the east of Port Dundas in 1964. The M8 motorway was constructed immediately to the south, over the route of the Monkland Canal, in the 1970s, obstructing access to the canal basin. Early in the 21st century, the Forth and Clyde Canal
Forth and Clyde Canal
The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses Scotland, providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest part of the Scottish Lowlands. The canal is 35 miles long and its eastern end is connected to the River Forth by a short stretch of the River...
was restored as a leisure attraction, and the canal and warehouses at Port Dundas were restored as apartments.
Port Dundas Grain Distillery
The area is the site of a former large Scotch Grain distillery, which produced 39 million litres of spirit each year on a 21 acres (84,984.1 m²) site until being closed in 2010. Originally there were two distilleries in the locality, the first was established in 1811 by Daniel McFarlane. Two years later the second one was established by Brown, Gourlie & Co. During 1845 Coffey StillsColumn still
A column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of still consisting of two columns invented in 1826 by Robert Stein, a Clackmannanshire distiller, and it was first used at the Cameron Bridge Grain Distillery in Fife, Scotland. The design was enhanced and...
for the manufacture of Grain whisky
Grain whisky
Grain whisky ordinarily refers to any whisky made from at least some grains other than malted barley, such as whisky made using maize , wheat or rye....
were installed in both distilleries.
Both distilleries merged in the 1860s and later became part of the Distillers Company in 1877. They were destroyed by fire in 1903 but were rebuilt and reopened in 1913, and rebuilt again in 1916 after being severely damaged by another fire. The distillery was closed for the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A large modernisation programme was undertaken during the 1970s, when a new grain intake, spirit store, still house, boiler house and dark grains plant were opened.
The Port Dundas Grain Distillery and adjacent Dundashill Cooperage, which manufactured Hogshead
Hogshead
A hogshead is a large cask of liquid . More specifically, it refers to a specified volume, measured in either Imperial units or U.S. customary units, primarily applied to alcoholic beverages such as wine, ale, or cider....
casks and dates back to 1770, are currently owned by Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
, and the distillery's large Flue gas stack
Flue gas stack
A flue-gas stack is a type of chimney, a vertical pipe, channel or similar structure through which combustion product gases called flue gases are exhausted to the outside air. Flue gases are produced when coal, oil, natural gas, wood or any other fuel is combusted in an industrial furnace, a power...
dominates the skyline of North Glasgow. It produced Grain whisky
Grain whisky
Grain whisky ordinarily refers to any whisky made from at least some grains other than malted barley, such as whisky made using maize , wheat or rye....
used in the Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch Whisky owned by Diageo and originated in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country with yearly sales of over 130 million bottles.-History:Originally known as Walker's...
, J&B
Justerini & Brooks Whisky
Justerini & Brooks is a blended Scotch whisky. The company is owned by multinational Diageo plc.J&B Rare Blend, the standard J&B whisky brand, is a blend of 42 Scottish malt and grain whiskies....
, Bell's, Black & White
Black & White (whisky)
Black & White is a blended Scotch whisky. It was first produced by the London-based whisky blender founded by James Buchanan. Originally known as House of Commons , its nickname, referring to the black and white labelling, was eventually adopted as the official brand instead.The brand's motif Black...
, Vat 69, Haig
Haig (whisky)
-History:The dimpled bottle was then introduced in the 1890s. This bottle became so well-known and important to the brand that it was registered as a trademark in the USA in 1958 by Julius Lunsford....
and White Horse
White Horse (whisky)
White Horse Scotch Whisky is a blended Scotch Whisky from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. It was first produced by James Logan Mackie in 1861. In 2006, White Horse won blended whisky of the year in Murray's 2007 Whisky Bible.-Composition:...
blended whisky brands owned by Diageo. On July 1, 2009, Diageo announced the closure of the Port Dundas distillery, with all production shifting to the company's other Scottish Grain distillery at Cameron Bridge
Cameron Bridge
Cameron Bridge is a village in the conurbation of Levenmouth in Fife, Scotland. It is near to the village of Windygates and only 2 miles west of the town of Leven. A distillery was established in the 19th century by the Haig family, which is now part of Diageo...
, as well as the North British Distillery in Gorgie
Gorgie
Gorgie is an area of west Edinburgh, Scotland, located near Murrayfield, Ardmillan and Dalry. It is home to Tynecastle Stadium, home of Scottish Premier League side Heart of Midlothian Football Club, and the North British Distillery, which creates a distinctive odour in parts of the area.The area...
, Edinburgh, which is jointly owned by Diageo and The Edrington Group
The Edrington Group
The Edrington Group Limited is a major Scotch whisky company involved in blending, bottling, distributing and marketing. It produces several well-known brands, including The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark, and premium single malts The Macallan and Highland Park...
. There are four remaining active Grain distilleries in Scotland: Invergordon Grain Distillery, owned by Whyte and Mackay
Whyte and Mackay
Whyte and Mackay Ltd is a Scottish company producing alcoholic beverages. It was founded in 1844 and is based in Glasgow. Since May 2007, Whyte and Mackay has been owned by United Breweries Group, a large Indian conglomerate....
, Strathclyde Grain Distillery in the Gorbals
Gorbals
The Gorbals is an area on the south bank of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. By the late 19th century, it had become over-populated and adversely affected by local industrialisation. Many people lived here because their jobs provided this home and they could not afford their own...
, owned by Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is a French company that produces distilled beverages. The company's eponymous products, Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis, are both anise-flavoured liqueurs and are often referred to simply as Pernod or Ricard...
, Girvan
Girvan
Girvan is a burgh in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 8000 people. Originally a fishing port, it is now also a seaside resort with beaches and cliffs. Girvan dates back to 1668 when is became a municipal burgh incorporated by by charter...
Grain Distillery, owned by William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons Ltd. is an independent, family-owned Scottish company which distills Scotch whisky and other selected categories of spirits. It was established in 1887 by William Grant, and is now run by the descendants of the founder. It is the largest of the handful of Scotch whisky...
and the Loch Lomond Distillery
Loch Lomond Single Malt
The Loch Lomond Single Malt is a Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky produced by the Loch Lomond Distillery in Alexandria, Scotland, near Loch Lomond.-Fictional depiction:...
in Alexandria.