Book highlights Burgh’s proud shipbuilding past

In 1896, twelve ferries carried 2.5million customers annually

A new book has been published which celebrates - and proudly remembers - the history of shipbuilding in Rutherglen.

The Clyde: Mapping The River is written by John Moore and looks at the maps which display the river, as well as several topics connected to the Clyde.

A section of the book deals with Rutherglen, in particular detailing Thomas Bollen Seath, who established a small yard at Rutherglen Quay.

It then details the passenger ferry Artizan, launched by Seath in 1856.

The ferry was a tremendous success, carrying passengers from Rutherglen to the old weir at Glasgow Green, and over one four-month period it carried 36,000 passengers.

This kick-started a 40-year boom period, with over 260 tugs, barges, coasters, ferry boats, and paddle and screw steamers constructed at the yard.

The book writes that the most celebrated vehicles made there were the Clutha ferry boats.

And, by 1896, twelve ferries were conveying in the region of 2.5 million customers each year.

Some of the vessels constructed there went on to enjoy a long life.

Moore writes: “At least one steamer, Enterprize, was sold for assembly in Singapore and the motor vessel Nelcebee, launched in 1883 and reassembled at Port Adelaide, survives today as the only nineteenth-century sea-going commercial steamship extant in Australia, forming part of the South Australia Maritime Museum collection.”

Seath passed away in 1903, although vessels continued to be produced in the area.

The book states: “The Rutherglen yard was taken over by William Chalmers & Co who continued to construct coasting steamers and barges, as well as a string of naval auxiliary boom defences up until 1920.”

However, the book notes that although those heady days are long gone, the Rutherglen Cruising Club still have a jetty in use.

The book is accompanied by a selection of maps and images which highlight the works, railways and business premises that slowly took over the area.

John Moore is a specialist on Scottish cartography and has published widely on the subject over a period of many years, including writing the book Glasgow: Mapping the City in 2015.

The Clyde: Mapping The River is available now through publishers, Birlinn, at www.birlinn. co.uk and through other book stores.

Rutherglen-built The ‘Lucy Ashton’was a paddle steamer and a common sight on Scottish waters during the first half of the 20th century. She was launched in May, 1888 at TB Seath in Rutherglen before being introduced for service Quiet now River Clyde is...