Talk by Colin Findlay: History of Local Iron & Steelmaking

On 8th. February 2024, Heritage Society member Colin Findlay gave a talk in Rutherglen Library on the history of the local iron and steel making industries. Colin worked at British Steel between 1972 and 1981, latterly as Clydebridge steelworks Plate Mill and Shearline Engineer. In 2000 he started writing a history of the Scottish steel industry which developed into a website. He has also researched local, industrial and coal mining history and is co-author of A History of Coal Mining in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.

An audience of 16, comprising Heritage Society members, website subscribers and guests, enjoyed Colin's informative talk, which featured some dramatic photographs of the Clyde Iron Works, and the steelworks at Clydebridge and Hallside.

Above, Colin giving his talk on the history of the local iron and steelmaking industries in Rutherglen Library.

Photo: Carrick McDonald

Colin told us how the steel produced locally was of the highest quality, being used for the construction of the Forth Bridge as well as for ocean liners including Lusitania, Mauretania, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and QE2.

His talk also included brief biographies of some 19th century 'local heroes' of the industry: David Mushet and J. B. Nielson whose innovative production methods gave Scotland a huge competitive advantage in ironmaking, and James Reilly (pictured right) who pioneered the adoption of steel for shipbuilding.

Colin charted the fortunes of the UK steelmaking industry through both World Wars, when steel was in huge demand and large numbers of women were employed in steelworks to do the jobs of men who had been called up. He also recounted the industry's eventual decline due, in no small part, to the availability of cheap steel from China.

Above, women workers pictured at the Clydebridge Steelworks in 1916. This remarkable colourised photograph is one of many excellent images which Colin used to illustrate his talk..

Image credit: Colin Findlay

We are very grateful to Colin for giving us this very informative and richly illustrated talk.

© 2024 by Rutherglen Heritage Society.

James Reilly image courtesy of Colin Findlay

Further reading

Colin Findlay's Scottish Steelworks History website. Click here.

Download a copy of A History of Coal Mining in Rutherglen and Cambuslang by Colin Findlay, Bob McDonald and Joe Cunningham, 2020. Click here