Glasgow Graving Docks

The Clyde Navigation Trust opened its first Graving Dock at Govan in 1875 and a second in 1886. The third and largest, at 880 ft in length, was opened in 1897. The facility was operated by the Clyde Navigation Trust until 1967, when it was taken over by Alexander Stephen and Sons as a ship repair yard, which lasted until 1976. This was subsequently taken over by Clyde Dock Engineering Ltd in 1977 and continued to operate before eventually closing in 1987. I’ve been photographing the Graving docks for a few years and love the derelict beauty of this abandoned place which once teemed with industry. Even now, the stone, iron and even the wood of the docks are in remarkably good condition in a structure built to last and described by Historic Scotland as “An outstanding graving dock complex without parallel in Scotland”.