Titan Clydebank
Encyclopedia
Titan Clydebank is a 150 feet (45.7 m) high cantilever
crane
that was built in 1907 in Clydebank
, Scotland. It was designed to be used in the lifting of heavy equipment, such as engines and boilers, during the fitting-out of battleships and ocean liners at the John Brown & Company
shipyard
, then the biggest shipbuilding group in the world. It is now a tourist attraction.
based engineering company, Sir William Arrol & Co.
in 1905. Titan was completed two years later.
In the late 1960s, the yard was incorporated into Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
(UCS), which collapsed in 1971. It was bought from the receivers by the Marathon Manufacturing Company for oil rig construction. In 1980 Marathon sold the yard to the French company Union Industrielle et d’Entreprise (UiE). UIE's owners, Bouygues
Offshore closed the yard in 2001 and the site was earmarked for redevelopment.
In 1988 the crane was recognised as a Category A Listed historical structure. The urban regeneration company Clydebank Re-Built started a £3m restoration project in 2005, and the crane opened to the public in time for its 100th birthday in 2007. Following the removal of the Titan crane at Govan, four of these giant cantilever cranes remain on the River Clyde
. The others are at Stobcross (the Finnieston Crane
), Scotstoun
and Greenock
.
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
crane
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
that was built in 1907 in Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
, Scotland. It was designed to be used in the lifting of heavy equipment, such as engines and boilers, during the fitting-out of battleships and ocean liners at the John Brown & Company
John Brown & Company
John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a pre-eminent Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm, responsible for building many notable and world-famous ships, such as the , the , the , the , the , and the...
shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
, then the biggest shipbuilding group in the world. It is now a tourist attraction.
History
A £24,600 order for the crane was placed with a DalmarnockDalmarnock
Dalmarnock is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde. It is bounded by the Clyde to the south and east, Parkhead to the north, and Bridgeton at Dunn Street to the north west...
based engineering company, Sir William Arrol & Co.
Sir William Arrol & Co.
Sir William Arrol & Co. was a leading Scottish civil engineering business founded by William Arrol and based in Glasgow. It built some of the most famous bridges in the United Kingdom including the Forth Bridge and Tower Bridge in London.-Early history:...
in 1905. Titan was completed two years later.
In the late 1960s, the yard was incorporated into Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
Upper Clyde Shipbuilders was a British shipbuilding consortium created in 1968 as a result of the amalgamation of five major shipbuilders of the River Clyde in Scotland...
(UCS), which collapsed in 1971. It was bought from the receivers by the Marathon Manufacturing Company for oil rig construction. In 1980 Marathon sold the yard to the French company Union Industrielle et d’Entreprise (UiE). UIE's owners, Bouygues
Bouygues
Bouygues S.A. is a French industrial group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France. Bouygues is listed on Euronext Paris exchange and is a blue chip in the CAC 40 stock market index. The company was founded in 1952 by Francis Bouygues and since 1989 has been led by his son Martin...
Offshore closed the yard in 2001 and the site was earmarked for redevelopment.
In 1988 the crane was recognised as a Category A Listed historical structure. The urban regeneration company Clydebank Re-Built started a £3m restoration project in 2005, and the crane opened to the public in time for its 100th birthday in 2007. Following the removal of the Titan crane at Govan, four of these giant cantilever cranes remain on the River Clyde
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....
. The others are at Stobcross (the Finnieston Crane
Finnieston Crane
The Finnieston Crane is a crane and landmark in Glasgow, Scotland. It is now disused but is retained as a symbol of the city's engineering heritage.- History :...
), Scotstoun
Scotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
and Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
.
Tourist attraction
Tour parties can now access the jib and motor house during the summer. Access during the winter is by appointment only.See also
- Samson and GoliathSamson and Goliath (cranes)Samson and Goliath are the twin shipbuilding gantry cranes situated at Queen's Island, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The cranes, which were named after the Biblical figures Samson and Goliath, dominate the Belfast skyline and are landmark structures of the city....
- the iconic gantry cranes at John Brown's sister yard in Belfast