Govan Graving Docks, 18 Clydebrae Street, Glasgow

An outstanding graving dock complex without parallel in

Scotland.

1869-98, 3 major dry docks, associated quays, capstans

and bollards, pumphouses, workshops and other ancillary

buildings, retaining and boundary walls, ramped accesses

and stairs. The dock walls and quay edges are of grey

granite, the working surfaces whinstone setted, and

retaining walls and ramp sides are of cream sandstone.

Cast-iron gatepiers.

DRY DOCKS

No 1 Dock (at North): by James Deas and Alex Lister,

1869-75 551' long, 72' wide at entrance, depth to sill

22'9". Stepped sides and curved end, unusually curving

towards bottom. 9 sets of stairs with grooves for

materials. Paved base. Modern steel caisson gate to

Clyde. There is a series of associated buildings, mostly

to N; pump house and sluice houses, ashlar on rusticated

base with round-headed openings, with former boiler

house to N and pump room to south. The pumps are

sited below the building. There is a square accumulator

tower with 4 oculi, heightened in brick c.1895. The

sluice houses are small square buildings of similar

construction. At the entrance two hydraulic capstans by

the Anderston Foundry Co.

No 2 Dock (Centre): by James Deas, 1883-6; 575' by 67'

by 22'9". Stepped sides and vertical curved end. 4

stairs giving access through tunnels. Slides for

materials. Steel caisson gate and folding bridge, opening

off Clyde. Small flat-roofed brick pumphouse on S side

of entrance, which is flanked by hydraulic capstans as at

No 1 dock.

No 3 Dock (South): by James Deas, 1894-8; by far the

longest of the three, 880' by 83' by 26'6". Stepped sides

and vertical curved end. 8 stairs give access through

tunnels. Projecting piers in the centre with curved

recesses for caisson, to subdivide dock; caisson now

removed. Steel caisson gate and folding bridge opening

off Prince's Dock canting basin. Associated PUMP HOUSE

(at SE end of site) terra-cotta brick, with red sandstone

dressings, in two sections, eastern flat-roofed with

electric pumps in basement, gantry crane, tiled interior.

Western part wider, pedimented gable, slated roof with

ridge ventilator, housing workshop and hydraulic pumps.

Dated 1895 on cast-iron commemorative plaque.

On North quay, two workshops, one on either side of

No 1 pump house. On West, woodworking shop (formerly

harbour workshop) and offices, 2-storey 14-bay red and

yellow brick with pend at west end and weighbridge (A &

W Smith 1889). On east, mechanics' shop (c.1895), 1

storey 10-bay, red and white brick with iron-framed

round-headed windows and wrought-iron framed roof.

Doors with glazed fanlights on N.

Also series of ancillary buildings ranged round the site,

these of differing dates and built mostly of red or yellow

brick. Small steel Scotch derrick crane at N.