Alexander Stephen and Sons

Alexander Stephen and Sons Limited, often referred to simply as Alex Stephens or just Stephens, was a Scottish shipbuilding company based in Linthouse, Govan in Glasgow, on the River Clyde.

Alexander Stephen (I) began shipbuilding at Burghead on the Moray Firth in 1750.

William Stephen established a firm of shipbuilders at Footdee, Aberdeen in in 1793.

William Stephen (II) commenced shipbuilding at Arbroath in 1814.

William Stephen & Sons, Aberdeen changed to Alexander Stephen & Sons in 1828 and operated at Aberdeen and Arbroath.

Aberdeen operations ceased in 1829. Arbroath yard was sold to William Stephen in 1843; operated till his death in 1857.

Alexander Stephen founded the Panmure Shipyard at Dundee in 1843.

Alexander Stephen established a shipyard at Kelvinhaugh (now Yorkhill Quay) on the Clyde in 1850. Clyde operation moved to a new shipyard built on the Linthouse estate in 1870.

Dundee shipyard was sold in 1893.

In 1966, Stephens was incorporated into Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, and was closed after the latter organisation collapsed in 1971.

Stephens built 139 ships prior to moving to the Clyde. On the Clyde the firm built 693 ships, 147 at the Kelvinhaugh shipyard abd the remainder at Linthouse

It was at Stephens shipyard that Billy Connolly served his apprenticeship as a welder.

References

* [http://www.archives.gla.ac.uk/collects/catalog/ugd/001-050/ugd004.html Records of Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd, shipbuilders and engineers, Linthouse, Govan, Glasgow, Scotland]

External links

* [http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/search.asp The Clyde-built ships data base - lists over 22,000 ships built on the Clyde]