Offices that belonged to a shipbuilding company on the river Clyde now provide a home for a heritage centre devoted to the lost industry.
What For many years, Govan in Glasgow was the centre of shipbuilding on the river Clyde, with some of the finest liners, steamships and naval vessels designed and launched there.
Today, the industry is no longer a major force, but the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company offices are a visual reminder of this history. Opened 2014.
In 2009, the building was bought by Govan Workspace, a social enterprise that provides office space to encourage development in the area. A renovation project has turned part of the building into office space and part of it into a heritage centre.
“Fairfield was once the nerve centre of Clyde shipbuilding and the museum celebrates over 150 years of this remarkable and enduring shipyard,” says Abigail Morris, the coordinator of Fairfield Heritage.
“The magnificent boardroom has wooden panelling, which recalls the opulence of the interiors fitted to the Cunarders built in the yard in the 1890s.”
The centre was created with the support of volunteers, many of whom worked in ship- building or on Fairfield-built ships. “It is the first time that former yard workers have had access to the building, which was very much geared towards clients and the general running of the shipyard,” Morris says.
Collections: The museum traces the history of Fairfield from its beginning in 1834 to the present day, using illustrated panels and audiovisuals. Many of the artefacts and memorabilia on display have been donated from former workers and their relatives.
There is also a series of oral history interviews. Glasgow Museums has lent the centre three of its ship models, which were originally displayed in the corridors and boardroom of the building.
“In conjunction with the digital design studio at Glasgow School of Art, Fairfield Heritage has developed an animated 3D history of Fairfield showing 150 years of developments at the Govan shipyard,” Morris says.
“This interactive brings the development of the yard and its influence on the local area to life and enables visitors to explore the history of different parts of the story in detail and with additional text and images.”
Highlights: These include a 5-metre-long lightbox that shows a 1907 map of the Clyde by maritime historian Ian Johnston and industrial heritage expert John Hume with all the shipyards of the day and their timelines.
Help at hand: The heritage centre has one full-time member of staff and about 18 volunteers. Budget The museum is funded by Govan Workspace, but Morris says it will be looking for money to further develop the museum. The capital funding for the £5.8m renovation of the former Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering offices came mainly from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Visitors: Nearly 2,500 visitors between 23 July 2014, when it opened, and the end of the year. In 2015, the target is 5,000. Sticky moments “Our sticky moments have mainly involved the setting up of the AV components of our displays,” Morris says.
“The lack of in-house knowledge and dependence on external consultants has led to additional cost and delay, and the failure to deliver a simple solution.”
Survival tip: The museum was originally planned as a quiet display but, following a strategic review,
Govan Workspace decided to go for a more lively and modern approach to appeal to a younger age group. Morris says that although the review has cost implications, it is important to maintain faith in a vision for the museum.
What For many years, Govan in Glasgow was the centre of shipbuilding on the river Clyde, with some of the finest liners, steamships and naval vessels designed and launched there.
Today, the industry is no longer a major force, but the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company offices are a visual reminder of this history. Opened 2014.
In 2009, the building was bought by Govan Workspace, a social enterprise that provides office space to encourage development in the area. A renovation project has turned part of the building into office space and part of it into a heritage centre.
“Fairfield was once the nerve centre of Clyde shipbuilding and the museum celebrates over 150 years of this remarkable and enduring shipyard,” says Abigail Morris, the coordinator of Fairfield Heritage.
“The magnificent boardroom has wooden panelling, which recalls the opulence of the interiors fitted to the Cunarders built in the yard in the 1890s.”
The centre was created with the support of volunteers, many of whom worked in ship- building or on Fairfield-built ships. “It is the first time that former yard workers have had access to the building, which was very much geared towards clients and the general running of the shipyard,” Morris says.
Collections: The museum traces the history of Fairfield from its beginning in 1834 to the present day, using illustrated panels and audiovisuals. Many of the artefacts and memorabilia on display have been donated from former workers and their relatives.
There is also a series of oral history interviews. Glasgow Museums has lent the centre three of its ship models, which were originally displayed in the corridors and boardroom of the building.
“In conjunction with the digital design studio at Glasgow School of Art, Fairfield Heritage has developed an animated 3D history of Fairfield showing 150 years of developments at the Govan shipyard,” Morris says.
“This interactive brings the development of the yard and its influence on the local area to life and enables visitors to explore the history of different parts of the story in detail and with additional text and images.”
Highlights: These include a 5-metre-long lightbox that shows a 1907 map of the Clyde by maritime historian Ian Johnston and industrial heritage expert John Hume with all the shipyards of the day and their timelines.
Help at hand: The heritage centre has one full-time member of staff and about 18 volunteers. Budget The museum is funded by Govan Workspace, but Morris says it will be looking for money to further develop the museum. The capital funding for the £5.8m renovation of the former Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering offices came mainly from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Visitors: Nearly 2,500 visitors between 23 July 2014, when it opened, and the end of the year. In 2015, the target is 5,000. Sticky moments “Our sticky moments have mainly involved the setting up of the AV components of our displays,” Morris says.
“The lack of in-house knowledge and dependence on external consultants has led to additional cost and delay, and the failure to deliver a simple solution.”
Survival tip: The museum was originally planned as a quiet display but, following a strategic review,
Govan Workspace decided to go for a more lively and modern approach to appeal to a younger age group. Morris says that although the review has cost implications, it is important to maintain faith in a vision for the museum.
