Records of Ardrossan Dockyard Ltd, shipbuilders, Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland

Scope and Content

  • Photograph albums c1910-1922
  • Annual reports 1916-1921
  • Photographs of guests at launching parties c1940-1960
  • Photographs of ships' launches c1940-c1962
  • Photographs of ships' interiors 1949-c1960
  • Photographs of ships' machinery c1959-c1960
  • Photographs of ships' decks and holds c1960

Administrative / Biographical History

The firm of Barr & Shearer was established in 1842  at Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland, and changed its name in the 1870s  to become the Ardrossan Shipbuilding Co. In 1891  it acquired limited liability, as Ardrossan Dockyard Ltd, but was dissolved eight years later, at which time a successor company, the Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd was incorporated. During the First World War the new south yard was constructed and from 1919  , Harland & Wolff Ltd , shipbuilders, Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Govan, Glasgow, managed the yard on behalf of the Royal Mail Group. In 1925  a new company, Ardrossan Dockyard Ltd , was incorporated. This company was later placed under the control of Coast Lines Ltd ( a member of the Royal Mail Group) and John G Kincaid & Co Ltd, marine engineers, Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland. In 1930  , the south yard was purchased and closed by National Shipbuilders Security Ltd, London, and, in 1962  , Archibald D Kelly acquired the remaining yard. Archibald Kelly attempted to modernise the yard, but it closed in 1969  .

Ritchie, L A (ed),The Shipbuilding Industry: A Guide to Historical Records ( Manchester , 1992  )

Arrangement

This material is arranged into eight series as described in the scope and content note

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Loan : William Lind : ACCN 0041*

Other Finding Aids

Digital file level list available in searchroom.

Manual file level list available at the National Register of Archives in Edinburgh (NRA(S)2678)

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 normal procedures

Custodial History

Unknown

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

GB 243 TD 518 Records of vessels docked at Ardrossan Dockyard Ltd 1922-1969

Material in other repositories: no material associated by provenance

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

This material is original

Updated by Lesley Richmond , Acting Director, 27 April 2000

Updated by David Powell, Hub Project Archivist, 15 May 2002

Geographical Names

Ardrossan, Scotland