There was shipbuilding along the River Leven probably as early as the 15th century. Denny's, the most famous Dumbarton yard,was sited just below the Rock at the mouth of the Leven.
Over 1500 ships were built there between 1844 and its closure in
1963. This innovative company built the world's first turbine
steamer in 1901. Denny's was the first commercial yard to use
a Ship Model Experiment Tank
(now part of the Scottish Maritime Museum) to refine the design of
its hulls.
Members of the Denny family had been involved in shipbuilding in
Dumbarton from the early 19th century. John Denny had built the
first steamship to cross the Channel - the Margery - in 1814.
However, it was William Denny & Sons who operated the most
important yard on the Leven from 1844 to 1963. Always innovators
they were responsible for a number of firsts: in 1878 the
Rotomahana was the first all steel merchant ship; 1901 the King
Edward was the world's first commercial turbine steamer; in 1934
the Robert the Bruce, a car ferry on the Firth of Forth, was the
first all welded vessel as well as the first diesel-electric
paddle. Their ship model experiment tank, (1883) was
instrumental in enabling Dennys' to establish a reputation as
specialist builders of fast cross-Channel steamers. In their final
days they were experimenting with hovercraft.
Until very recently, one Denny's vessel, The Second Snark,
launched in 1938, used by them both as a tender and as a vessel for
private entertaining, cruised out of Greenock. It has now been
retired but is listed on the UK National Register of Historic
Vessels.
Denny's were not the only ships famed for their speed. The tea
clipper Cutty Sark, now under restoration in
Greenwich,was also built in Dumbarton.
Also at Dumbarton (Back to listing)