Napier Street was named after Robert Napier, 'The Father of Clyde Shipbuilding' whose shipyard was here from 1842 to 1900.
He was born in Dumbarton in 1791 and after serving his apprenticeship in the family's engineering firm, he worked for the famous lighthouse engineer Robert Stevenson before going into business for himself in 1815.
In 1821 he leased the Camlachie works in Glasgow from his cousin David and started building land engines.
Within two years he won his first marine contract to build the engine for the steamer 'Leven' for Dumbarton shipowner James Lang.
He secured more important contracts including the East India Company's new ocean-going paddle sloop 'Berenice' but his most famous work was for Samuel Cunard.
Napier established his own shipbuilding yard at Govan and built many famous vessels including 'Leviathan', 'Persia' and 'Black Prince.'
His greatest gift to shipping was the men he trained over the years, among them his cousin William Denny, John Elder (who established Fairfields with Charles Randolph) and James and George Thomson, whose shipyard became John Brown's.
Napier House was a lodging house for seamen whose ships were berthed on the Clyde or under repairs at the Govan Dry Docks.
William James Anderson, its architect, used an experimental design.
The building was partly steel framed using concrete without designed reinforcement.
It is of an Art Nouveau Glasgow style.
The top floor became Govan's first telephone exchange.
It was built between 1897-99.
Robert Napier was honoured by many countries except Britain, but when he died in 1876,
1400 of his workforce attended his funeral at the Parish Churchyard in Dumbarton.
I think this says much more about the man than any words could.
Incidently, the building is where the legendary ex-World Champion Boxer, Benny Lynch (02/08/15 - 06/08/46), was taken ill from to the Southern General Hospital where he died.
*
*
TAKE ME BACK TO
THE GOVAN HERITAGE TRAIL INDEX PLEASE.
TAKE ME BACK TO
THE LANDMARKS INDEX PLEASE.
Take me back
Please send notice of any broken links or design faults to editor@sunnygovan.com.
