Some of the world’ s greatest ships were Denny’s-built

A COUPLE of weeks ago in your answer to a query about ships named HMS Malcolm, you stated that the first of the three to bear that name was built in Denny in 1916.

However, I live in Denny, near Falkirk, and I’ve never heard of a shipyard here. – D.

The HMS Malcolm in question was actually laid down in Denny’s shipyard in Dumbarton.

The yard was situated just below Dumbarton Rock.

Members of the Denny family had been involved in shipbuilding in Dumbarton from the early 19th Century.

John Denny had built the first steamship to cross the Channel – the Margery – in 1814.

However, it was William Denny & Sons who operated the most important yard on the River Leven from 1844 to 1963.

They built around 1500 vessels, the best known of which is undoubtedly the Cutty Sark (pictured), the iconic tea clipper completed in 1869.

In 1899, Denny’s launched the steamship SS Sir Walter Scott, which is still afloat and working on Loch Katrine.

The last ship built at Denny’s, the GMV Aramoana, was launched in 1961 and operated as a roll-on roll-off train ferry on New Zealand’s Cook Strait between 1962 and 1983.

If you have a question, write to The Queries Man, The Sunday Post, 2 Albert Square, Dundee, DD1 9QJ.

Please do not send stamped addressed envelopes as I cannot give personal replies.