Collection of material relating to D & W Henderson Ltd, shipbuilders, repairers and marine engineers, Glasgow, Scotland

Scope and Content

Miscellaneous notes and documents relating to D & W Henderson Ltd and its predecessor companies including:  

  • Notes on vessel particulars 1834-1931
  • Contract notebook 1873-1882
  • List of vessels built 1834-1891
  • Pencil sketch of Meadowside Dry Dock 1951
  • Shipyard plans 1880
  • Unpublished company histories with maps and illustrations1991-1993
  • Genealogy charts for Henderson, Todd and McGregor families, 20th century
  • Pay rate notes 1946-1991
  • Foreman lists 1991
  • Photographs, late 20th century

Administrative / Biographical History

In  1834  , David Tod and John MacGregor founded the shipbuilding firm of  Tod & MacGregor in Glasgow, Scotland. Tod and MacGregor had previously both worked as engineers for David Napier, engineer and shipbuilder in Glasgow. Tod and MacGregor's first works were at Clyde Foundry, Anderston, Glasgow, although the business later moved to Mavisbank Quay, Glasgow. The business moved to the Meadowside yard, Partick, Glasgow, in  1846  . In  1856  ,  Tod & MacGregor absorbed the neighbouring yard of  T B Seath & Co . In  1858  ,  Tod & MacGregor opened the Meadowside Dry Dock. In  1873  , the business was bought as a going concern by David and William Henderson, the new company was called  David & William Henderson & Co . The business was incorporated as a limited liability company and  David & William Henderson & Co Ltd in  1900  and, in  1919  , was taken over by  Harland & Wolff Ltd ., shipbuilders, Belfast, Northern Ireland. In  1935  the company went into voluntary liquidation. In  1936  ,  D & W Henderson Ltd was formed, this business concentrated solely on the repair and conversion of ships.  D & W Henderson Ltd was closed by  Harland & Wolff Ltd in  1962  .

Vessels up to No. 154 (  1873  ) were built by Tod & MacGregor; vessels from No. 155 (  1873  ) were built by David & William Henderson Ltd.

Arrangement

The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Gift : Mr Gifford : July 1987 : ACCN 0187

Other Finding Aids

Catalogued as part of the Gifford Collection, GB 248 UGD 239

Digital file level list available in searchroom

Manual file level list available at the National Registers of Archives in Edinburgh (NRA(S)3049) and London (NRA15348, 15409, and 21083)

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the University Archivist

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use & condition of documents

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 248 procedures

Custodial History

Donated by Mr Gifford, former works manager of Firth of Clyde Dry Dock Co Ltd and D & W Henderson Ltd. The collection is catalogued and forms part of the Gifford Collection along with material relating to  Firth of Clyde Dry Dock Co Ltd .

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

GB 248 UGD 239/1 Records of D & W Henderson Ltd

Material in other repositories: no material associated by provenance

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

This material is original

Amended by Sam Maddra, Assitant Archivist, 4 October 2017.

Geographical Names