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The Clyde Titans

River Clyde, Scotland

By Johnny Graham

June 20^th, 2017

Titans and giants, Scotland’s River Clyde had them a plenty,

Despite myself being born and bred in Renfrewshire my parents roots were firmly planted on the banks of the River Clyde and Govan. They grew up with the shipping giants of the Clyde being launched from her yards till its eventual decline chased people like my father further afield for work. In my father's case to the Hillington based Rolls Royce factory as a machine tool fitter. These giants had lofty names, the HMS HOOD, QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, QUEEN MARY. They also had personal connections with uncles and grandparents working on them and in the tragic case of the HMS HOOD a lucky escape for one grandparent who's rumoured transfer to her during WW2 was delayed long enough to miss her sinking by the German’s BISMARCK with all but 4 hands lost. Yet there was another form of giant whose shadow my parents grew up under.

James Watt Dock Crane, Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland

It’s easy to miss out that the Clyde’s storied and legendary ships had land based brethren that on occasion dwarfed even them, 150ft tall, 800 ton. The Titans.

Titan Crane, Clydebank, Scotland.

Titan Crane, Clydebank, Scotland.

Titan Crane, Clydebank, Scotland.

Titan Crane, Clydebank, Scotland.

Titan Crane, Clydebank, Scotland.

Officially known as Giant Cantilever Cranes the first of which was built at John Brown & Company Clydebank shipyard in 1907 by Sir William Arrol & Co. engineering company. These titans of their era where as great an engineering marvel as Sir William Arrol & Co’s other more famous feats like The Forth Road Bridge. 42 of them were built, some as far away as Australia and Japan. The lion's share 27 ended up on our own shores. Today that number has dwindled and the remaining 4 are now on the River Clyde. Not too long ago it was 5 and that lost titans home was in Govans Fairfield Yards and it was its shadow my parents were born and raised under til it was dismantled in 2007.

Whiteinch Titan Crane, Glasgow, Scotland.

The remaining 4 are all A-class listed buildings and are iconic within not just the Glasgow skyline but as iconic representations of Scotland's shipbuilding past. The original Titan Crane in Clydebank is now lovingly restored and open to the public as a visitors attraction and museum, it’s well worth a visit for the views alone it provides from its lofty heights. The rest are either preserved or derelict and none are functioning.

Finnieston Titan Crane, Glasgow, Scotland.

Finnieston Titan Crane, Glasgow, Scotland.

Surviving Scottish Titans:

Finnieston(or Stobcross) Crane - 1926

Whiteinch Crane - 1920

Clydebank Crane - 1907

Greenock Crane - 1917

© 2026 Johnny Graham

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