CLYDEBANK - Rebirth of the Town that Died
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- Опубліковано 1 сер 2021
- Revisiting a town that suffered greatly after the closure of the Singer Sewing Machine Factory and John Brown's Shipyard. Clydebank didn't exist until these major employers moved into the area, and when they both closed around a century later there was possibly no reason for Clydebank to exist any more. But the town is holding on, barely holding on, some might say, and now fighting back after a bleak period of mass unemployment. After the removal of many of the towns tenements - built for the thousands of workers who moved to the town to work in Singer's or John Brown's - Clydebank not only felt like a desolate place but also looked abandoned. There were huge derelict wastelands where both housing and industrial buildings once were, and Clydebank felt very much like a lost and forgotten place.
But now a huge programme of building is taking place, and where once was John Brown's Shipyard is now an attractive area with walkways and an exciting feel.
In the video I look at the building berths of John Brown's shipyard where the Queen Mary and QE2 were built and launched, and also at the fitting-out basin beside the Titan Crane where both liners were fitted out and finished.
Clydebank suffered greatly when industry abandoned it, but now the town is back. Big time.
I've managed to misspell the word 'sewing' in the aerial photo of the Singer Sewing Machine Factory. Apologies.
You're your own worst critic Ed, great video, subscribed!
Thanks Gavin.
Loved the video and hearing your narration. Brought back memories. Like the Phoenix, Clydebank rises from the ashes. Looks totally different from what it was back in the 70s.
I’m a banky who’s a long way from home, thank you for posting 👍👍👍
Cheers. 👍
Clydebank never died.👍🏴💯
Great video Edd
I remember seeing QE2 in john browns in 1967 as 6 old and size of it stuck my memory till today as we had family trip on the weatherly
My dad worked on QE2 doing painting and decorating great members
great video, I stumbled onto you by watching the Blitz videos of 1941, my dad lived in Scott st Dalmuir , my mother from Oban. Growing up we lived in Dickens Ave, moving to Barns St when I was 9. I worked in the design drawing office at Yarrows and after seeing job opportunities in Australia i went for an interview and got a job at 21 years of age. I emigrated to Australia in 1981, never thinking I would stay there I thought a couple of years maybe?? My dad was 14 when the blitz took place, he would tell many stories some fun others not so
Many thanks.
Ed I totally agree with you the same thing happened in Northern Ireland at Harland & Wolff shipbuilding had 25K workers today there is only a fraction of workers today
Great video... I was raised in Clydebank and we lived at the bottom of Kilbowie Road so we heard the nightshift riveters when John Brown's was very busy. My Dad and older brother worked in Broons and I served my apprenticeship in Singer's from 1968- 72. I was lucky enough to win tickets to the QE2 launch from the Evening Citizen and took my kid brother on the P.S. Caledonia so we saw the launch from the river. My skill set from Singers as a Toolmaker led to a 40 year career in Silicon Valley from 1979 - 2019. I was back a few years ago when the Monte Carlo Rally started from the area you filmed at the Titan. Lots of memories from living in the little town that could...Also played in darts tournaments on the Queen Mary in the 1980's and stayed on her whenever on business in L.A.
Thanks Harry. I'm sure many riveters had hearing problems in later life. Take care.
well done once again Ed, keep up the good work Ed
Many thanks.
Another gem, thanks for your effort. I remember the huge goldfish in the canal at Singers.
Thank you. Yes, I remember the goldfish as well. Wonder why they died out. Maybe there's just one big two-foot-long goldfish in there now!
@@EdExploresScotland I think they flourished there because of a warm water outlet from the Singer factory, so when the factory shut they would've just died off, either that or the pike got them. All the best to you.
Great to see all the new housing going up in clydebank long may it continue for the future
Absolutely. And all we need's more business and employment to go with it.
Hi Ed,
It's lovely seeing the town where I was born and lived. I can't remember much about it but some things have stuck with me. I can remember the swimming baths on Bruce Street I think it was. You could hire trunks and a towel but I was ok, my mum had knit me a pair of swimming trunks which were great till they got wet, then they would stretch like mad. I remember the workers coming in after their shift at John Browns and heading straight to the showers to have a good wash. I remember going on the trams which were still running in the '60s. My dad worked at John Browns and my mum worked at Singers. It's so sad to lose all that industry but I have lots of good memories of Clydebank as it was. I've lived in England now for well over 50 years but I cherish my memories of Clydebank.
Ian and Angie.
The frontage of the baths still exists, and can be seen on Google Street View, and there are some good photos of the baths in Canmore; for example here's one (you can click 'full screen' and enlarge the image): canmore.org.uk/collection/1173085
Thanks for the Canmore baths image Ed. Very similar to the Bruce Street baths with the balcony and the changing cubicles around the pool.
Iain, that is the Bruce Street Baths; Canmore is the website's name, as run by Historic Environment Scotland. Once you're in the site and search for 'Clydebank' many images become available, and a few of those are of the Bruce Street Baths.
Thanks Eddy, I didn't realise. I will search the site and enjoy the old photos. Thanks for making this vlog. Eddy, it has brought back a lot of memories. I look forward to seeing some more photos from the Cranmore site.
Ian.
Thank you for this video of Clydebank, Scotland! This John Brown & Company was the birth place of Cunard Liner's RMS LUSITANIA since she was launched here in 1906 and ready for her maiden voyage in September 1907 before claiming the Blue Ribbon as the fastest ship in the world, but sadly LUSITANIA was torpedoed and sunk in 18 or 20 minutes before disappearing into the Celtic Sea which is by the southern coast of Ireland. Clydebank will always be Lusitania's birth town along with her third sister ship RMS Aquitania since 1914.
Many thanks for that.
Thanks Ed for your work. I now live in Clydebank and walk this route daily dog walking. I used to watch the progress of the QE2 build from my house in Drumchapel. I since worked at Singers until its closure. I really enjoy sharing your stories of the Clyde and its history and transformations. Thanks again.
Thanks Eddie. Things can only get better.
I really enjoyed the video, thanks. A real walk down memory lane as I have some special memories of Clydebank in the 70's.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks Eddy - very interesting as I've been on the Queen Mary a few times at it's berth in Long Beach, California. And yes it is massive.
It would be nice if she could return to the Clyde.
I never knew on the corner of path I walk often at the mouth of the cart the massive Queen Mary was built. Thanks for posting.
Attended Clydebank Technical College back in the late 70s. Was the begining of the economic decline with very high unemployment.
Hi ed just watch your last video l live east coast but most off My jobs I work with Glasgow boys I find the banter brilliant and funny
Another fascinating video, it would be interesting to know how many ships were launched from the area during all those productive years. I always remember the saying “Glasgow made the Clyde and the Clyde made Glasgow”. It’s nice to see the rebirth of Clydebank, and it will surely attract investment in the area.
Enjoyed the music in the video, I think you would be more than capable of writing a score for a film or series, nice work Eddy.
Take care and till the next time, best regards, Rob.
Thanks, Rob.
I read somewhere that it's peak, 40% of all the worlds' steel hulled ocean going vessels were Clyde built.
@@MultiDrew83
That’s a very impressive statistic, and clearly shows that the Clyde shipbuilding industry was the envy of the world at the time.
@@RG-ja34sep World leaders. Just like cars' quality & reputations are known because of the brand that builds them (i.e Mercedes, Aston Martin etc), ships were gauged on where they were built and Clyde Built was akin to owning a Rolls Royce... Such a shame we couldn't maintain the industry and were undercut but emerging industrial economies like South Korea.
Hello Ed from Perth, Australia. I have just watched your video and enjoyed it immensely. Although I was born in Australia, my parents were Scottish. My mum was from Dumbarton and my dad from Duntocher. I had a quite a few family members worked at Singer's from my Grandad to my mum and even my older brother. Fortunately my parents brought us back to Scotland in 1979 (some might say unfortunately due to social, economic and political changes), but we left again for England a couple of years later and then back to Australia a few years after that. I haven't been back since so this brought back a lot of good memories. Thanks .
Hi David. Many thanks.
Excellent video
Thanks Patrick.
Hi Ed. Was the mighty Hood also built by john Browns. Super skilled workforce. Suppose BAE is some consolation but not as satisfying. Great video.
She was indeed. Many thanks.
Currently building some new high-tech frigates at around 1B quid a piece...
Hi Ed, think you might need to do Visit no.3 in the future! A few wee things...you mentioned the housing being built on the old JB site, it is going to be mostly Private Housing (the attractive buildings overlooking the waterfront) with some medium rise flatted properties for Social Housing...not overlooking the waterfront. New Health Centre under construction to replace the current 1970's one which is now woefully inadequate, however the new HC will have less facilities eg no xray department, present HC had an excellent xray facility but it has recently been closed down and now if patients need an xray they have to wait for an appointment at the hospital. New Care Home for the Elderly is also under construction. West Glasgow College (Clydebank) Campus and the new Leisure Centre already open, again a replacement for the now demolished Playdrome but with fewer facilities - much smaller pool, no Indoor Bowling which was a big loss to the community as the Indoor Bowling Club at the Playdrome had a long well used history. The new road heading west you mention connects on to Dumbarton Road, beside the old Caledonian Railway Bridge. Further extensive development is planned right along the waterfront past Dalmuir to Dumbarton. Despite all the new buildings being erected there is considerable local concern over the lack of Public Transport to serve the new developments, the Bus and Train Station are a significant distance from the riverside development with no plans as yet to reroute public transport, none of which goes along Glasgow Road at present. It is indeed great that the derelict land is being developed AT LAST, but there are problems still to be resolved before "we locals" start fully rejoicing. And another major construction project scheduled to begin is the new road bridge to be built between Yoker (just beyond the Rothesay Dock) and Renfrew, which many folk feel will herald the demise of Clydebank Shopping Centre as it will facilitate travel from the Clydebank area to Braehead. Its All Change...but Time Will Tell how successful it all is. Definitely a call for Video no.3 in a couple of years' time?
Many thanks Lorraine. I did eventually follow the riverside walkway that heads west from the crane, but it just fizzled out. Look forward to another visit.
brilliant video
i live here in clydebank my grandad painted warships when he was younger but not in clydebank but though i share that with you Ed your videos are very intresting
Cheers mate 👍
@@EdExploresScotland i would love to go exploring as well with you
Great Video Ed!! You mention the Cart, how about a video exploring the White Cart? Steeped in history with some old mills and water powered industry, was even mentioned in Burns poem Gallant Weaver... Also the Snuff Mill Bridge was used by Burns on his way to and from Glasgow when it was the main crossing and route towards Ayr...
Where Cart rins rowin' to the sea,
By mony a flow'r and spreading tree,
There lives a lad, the lad for me,
He is the gallant Weaver.
I love my gallant Weaver.
I'm always on the lookout for new video ideas. Many thanks.
@@EdExploresScotland Yeah, the old river cart is good one, especially from Waterfoot right downsteam through Busby and past Cathcart and to Pollok House.
When we would come on holiday we would go to Clydebank to do shopping we liked to go to the Wavlery Centre so many shops
My mum & dad took me to (if memory serves me right), view the fittings of the QE2 before it was launched, then it's launching.
My daughter worked on the titan crane when it was a budgie jump one day they were all wearing fancy dress eg pop eye a chef officer ect sea themed wel. On this particular day a dog on the other side of the clyde had fallen down to the bank and was barking and stranded well they got the same rowing boat that they used to get the people that done a jump and rescued thedog the clydebank newspaper done a article covering it they had a photo the person dressed as the officer his surname was hood, headlines read hoodive thought in this day and age pop eye would be rescuing a dog on the river Clyde 😊
Wow, you really composed that music? Who is singing it? It’s amazing.
I'm afraid that's me singing too. Jack of all trades, master of none. Thank you.
Great video Ed what did you work as if you don't mind me asking
Unfortunately I never had what you might term a trade and just did a whole variety of jobs. There seems to be less of an emphasis on lifelong trades these days and in some cases folk are carrying out work that at one time would have involved more than one trade. Jack of all trades. And maybe that's an issue. Take care.
@@EdExploresScotlandJack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.
Don’t ever worry about missing out on an apprenticeship.
Have they managed to get the walkway and cycling bridge installed over the Black Cart? the one that fell over on the transport.
I'm not sure. I only went as far as the mouth of the Black Cart Water, where it meets the Clyde. Sorry.
Bridge has now been installed but don’t think it’s open yet
Hope alls well Ed, no new video releases this week ?
Just having a wee rest. My body is starting to feel old. That said, I'll be uploading a video tomorrow. Be patient my friend.
I used to go to the Co-Op on the top floor and pay £2.50 a month for the hire of a DVD player
Funny how things change over the years. We used to go to a corner shop and pay for our TV, although I'm not sure if it was a hire or hire purchase.
I do enjoy your videos, your manner is respectful and humble, but I thought you lingered on the 'working life' subject at the expense of history and visuals.
You could be right Neil. It's always a balancing act. Take care.
Town that Died? You mean the local authority stabbed it to death.