Fairfields Shipyards

The launch of HMS DRAGON in this posed picture

Another fine use for some of the shipbuilding heritage and history in Scotland has arrived with the opening of the former head offices and old drawing office of the Fairfields shipbuilding company.

The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company opened its new Govan yard in 1864 and was named after the once agricultural land it occupied.
Fairfields would become the greatest shipyard in a city that was responsible for 20 per cent of global production by 1913.

At its peak, the industry on the Clyde employed 100,000 staff at more than 40 yards.



While shipbuilding of course continues at the Govan yard on a somewhat smaller scale the The A-listed former Fairfields head offices and drawing rooms, which had lain empty for several years, were bought in 2009 by social enterprise Govan Workplace.

The refurbished buildings now provide office space for local businesses and is home to the Fairfield Heritage centre.

Surely a better use than turning it into another shopping centre?

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/in-pictures-fairfields-the-home-of-scottish-shipbuilding-1-3896110#ixzz3mz3l8Msf

PORTSMOUTH SHIPYARD for RENT

WELL I ALMOST FELL OF MY HORSE WHEN THIS ONE DROPPED INTO MY EMAIL INBOX

Looks like the MOD are looking for someone with a good business plan and perhaps some forward orders to complete, to take over the running of this famous old shipyard, with a history going back in the building of ships almost as far back as the shipyards of Leith, with a highly skilled workforce lets hope that someone can come in and keep the men working.

You can find out all about it at the following website

www.shipyardportsmouth.co.uk

The Royal Navy Since 1815 Eric Grove provides a short history of the Royal Navy over the last two hundred years, synthesizing the new work on the subject that has radically transformed our understanding of the story of British naval development.