Scottish Ironwork - Scottish Companies and Foundries

Scottish Companies and Foundries specialising in Architectural Ironwork

Walter MacFarlane & Co Ltd

Glasgow, Gallowgate, Washington Street and Possilpark

Walter MacFarlane & Company Ltd were one of a clutch of Scottish architectural Ironfounders which came to prominence in the 19th Century.

Bridgeton, then Heriot Street, Pollokshields. McAlpine St in the 1930’s

David M Tyre was a designer and Engineer at Saracen, becoming Works Manager.

George Smith & Co Ltd

George Smith & Co Ltd, Sun Foundry

Established by Sun Foundry workers from Glasgow

Son of George Smith (Sun Foundry)

A development of Star Foundry

52 Queen Street, Glasgow

Thomas' son James established the Eagle Foundry, start of Mcdowell Steven’s Milton Foundry and Ironworks.

John McDowall & James Edington

Port Dundas, Glasgow

James of Phoenix Foundry and John of McDowall Steven & Co Ltd

McDowall & Robertson

Port Dundas, Glasgow

First Milton Foundry of McDowall Steven & Co Ltd

3 Corn Street, Port Dundas, Glasfow.

Second Milton Foundry of McDowall Steven & Co Ltd

McDowell Steven & Co Ltd

142 Woodside Road, Glasgow

Third Milton Foundry of McDowall Steven & Co Ltd

McDowall, Steven & Co Ltd

Take over Laurieston Ironworks. Works were set up in Laurieston, Falkirk, in 1904 and the Company became part of Allied Ironfounders in 1929. Laurieston works closed in 1958. Castlelaurie Iron Works was set up by Falkirk Iron Co in 1875 and taken over by McDowall Steven & Co in 1934. Both companies were part of Allied Ironfounders by 1934. The Castlelaurie works closed in 1958. McDowall Steven & Co was incorporated in 1894 with the registration number SC002628, and was dissolved in 1964. Info courtesy of ScaN

Gowanbank Foundry Co

Oakbank Street, Glasgow

Moved to Falkirk as M Cockburn & Co Ltd

Taken over by McDowall Steven & Co Ltd

Roebuck. Garbett & Caddell ; Carron Company Ltd

Walter MacFarlane’s learning ground.

Jackson Hudson & Brown

First evolution of Lion set up by three staff from Saracen. See Company Profile.

Jackson Hudson Brown and Cuthbert

Second evolution of Lion Foundry. See Company Profile.

Third evolution of Lion Foundry. Also see full company profile on Historical profiles page.

Jackson Elphick & Co Ltd

Established by James Jackson of Saracen / Lion.

James Allan Snr & Sons

Charring Cross then Firhill, Glasgow

James Allan began as an ironmonger in the High St in 1836, the foundry being established in 1845.

Ritchie Watson & Gow

Lilybank Road, Eglinton Toll, Glasgow then Falkirk

Cast iron grave markers particularly. Incorporated into Federated Foundries.

Thomas Allan & Sons Ltd

Springbank Ironworks

Taken over by Allan Ure & Co Ltd around 1909. Became a subsidiary of Federated Foundries. Also at Bonlea Foundry Stockton on Tees.

Millar, Crosswaite and Smith

Taken over by Portdownie Iron Works

Now trading as Ballantine Boness Iron Co Ltd. One of the last Scottish Ironfounders making architectural castings.

Clydesdale Ironworks

Wrought and cast buildings, fences, gates etc.

Verandahs a speciality but also standard street furniture and conservatories.

David King & Sons Ltd

Denmark St, Possilpark, Glasgow

Founded by David King, ex manager of Milton Ironworks. Bought Saxon Foundry in 1873. Became subsidiary of Federated Foundries in 1947.

Castle Street, Townhead, Glasgow

Examples in the West End of Glasgow

Charles Laing & Sons Ltd

Beaverbank Place, Edinburgh

Milton Street, Glasgow

Only ornamental products to a small extent.

Firhill Road then Shuna Street, Glasgow

Became Kerr & Co (Maryhill) Ltd in 1904 then became Maryhill Foundry for a while.

Related to Banknock Foundry in Bonnybridge and the Arctic Stove Works in Renfield St. Specialists in stoves.

Later known as Shaw Glasgow Ltd.

Rae Street Foundry then Keppochill Road in 1871

Large general ironfounders – some architectural wares.

Brownlie & Murray Limited

c. 1880’s – 1980’s

Pre-fabricated structures and buildings for the empire.

Some architectural - esp. lamps.

Southbank, Kirkintilloch

Unknown if related to Glasgow - Falkirk Etna Foundry

Edinburgh. 48 N Bridge, also at Westminster, Liverpool and 32 St Enoch Sq Glasgow

Cast Iron Facades and buildings. Possibly out-sourced castings in Glasgow ?

Manufactured Black Boy Fountain at Allanpark in Stirling. Connection with Neilson Engineering family in Glasgow ?

Mackenzie & Moncur Ltd

Balcarres Street, Edinburgh

c.1850’s – 1920’s ?

Specialists in hothouses and conservatories

Cambell & Christie Ironfounders

Manufactured doric colum for Nimveh fountain Bridge of Allan – possibly entire structure ?

Port Dundas Road , Glasgow

Pre-fabricated cast and wrought buildings for export. Very large company.

William Bain & Co Ltd

Cast and wrought buildings.

Products included ornamental work, including bandstands. No connection identified to George Smith & Co Ltd.

Bridges and ornamental work.

Ornamental work - fountains in Italy marked MacNaughtan Fratelli Glasgow.

Dundee Foundry Co Ltd

Mostly steam engines and structural work - manufactured Perth Waterworks in 1831 - the earliest Cast Iron structure / façade ?

Mostly waterworks plant, but significant range of drinking fountains.

Wrought Ironwork. See profile.

James Davie & Sons Ltd

Mostly structural and large ornamental ironwork and buildings - see profile.

Including Bandstands.

Ornamental work on a small scale, including drinking fountains and canopies.

Barrowfield Ironworks Co

Barrowfield Ironworks

Operational latter half of 19th Century. Manufactured general castings, specialised in pre-fabricated iron structures for export.

Grahamston Ironworks

Grahamston Iron Co was founded in 1868 by William Thomson Mitchell. The Company was incorporated in 1959 with the registration number SC034126, and went into liquidation in 1994. (Info courtesy of SCAN )Limited amount of architectural ironwork other than municipal type castings.

Heritage Engineering

Parent Company is The Industrial Heritage Company, own Walter MacFarlane and Co Ltd and McDowall Steven and CO Ltd.

Falkirk Iron Company

Important ironfounders - some ornamental work

Ornamental work - railings etc.

Dobbie Forbes and Co Ltd

Mostly domestic ornamental

Merchiston Foundry Ltd

Mostly domestic ornamental

Mitchell Russell & Co Ltd

Some domestic - ornamental

Smith & Wellstood Ltd

Convoluted history !

Walker, Hunter & Co Ltd

Mostly domestic ornamental

Sturctural and park ironwork

Contractors for Royal Museum, Edinburgh

Not known to be related to Sun Foundry