Scottish Ironwork
c/o 80 Springwood House
Stirling
Scotland
FK8 2PE

While much of the ironwork has been swept away or fallen into disrepair, a new appreciation of such features has meant that many are being conserved and restored, and are appreciated again for the high level of craft which their production required.

In South America, particularly Brasil, where MacFarlane's castings were common, the name and structures are well known, and in recent years a book has been published celebrating the 'company from Glasgow'.

It is difficult to gain an insight into the man who was Walter MacFarlane, although satirical comment was often less than complimentary.

Whilst he might be considered a man who was caught up in the frenetic industrial activity of his time, he managed to develop his company in such a manner that he outstretched the competition, putting established companies like George Smith's Sun Foundry into the shade.

He was mocked in his arrogance demonstrated by putting his name to every piece of iron to leave his foundry. He might have been arrogant or perhaps justifiably proud of his achievements, but he was certainly a shrewd businessman. His self proclamation and marketing through his prolific publications surely helped to perpetuate the aura which Saracen Foundry developed and even maintains to this day.

In 1817, Walter MacFarlane was born in Torrance, at that time a small village on the outskirts of Glasgow. This was the starting point for a dynasty of Architectural Ironfounders, several sharing his name, which would expand to become one of the most prolific and admired architectural ironfounders the world has seen.

He was born to parents Walter MacFarlane and Agnes Leech in Clachan, just North of Torrance, then a small village outside Glasgow.

After a basic education he entered the employment of William Russell around 1830, a jeweller in the Trongate in his early teens as well as attending night classes at grammer school, and taking an evening course in design. It has been suggested that MacFarlanes attention to detail in his castings were inspired by his early experiences as a jeweller. We can assume that at this time, he also met his future wife Margaret, daughter of William Russell.

He was certainly a lover of fine objects, and in later life became an avid collector.

Around 1833 he left the jewellery business to undertake a seven year apprenticeship to James Buchanan (Blacksmith) in Stockwell Street, Glasgow in 'forged iron'. It is interesting that Walter's first experiences were in wrought iron - could he see the mass production benefits of cast over wrought iron at that stage ? . Somewhat ironically, while the Saracen Foundry always had a blacksmith's shop and incorporated wrought iron components into it's structures where required, the trend for wrought iron in the 1920's and 1930's saw wrought iron come to prominence in the objects provided by Saracen Foundry.

He moved to the Cumberland Foundry of McCulloch & Co (existed 1831 -1868) in the Gallowgate around 1840, eventually rising through the ranks to become the moulding shop manager.

In 1848 he married Margaret Russell, the daughter of William Russell the jeweller. He formed a close friendship with Margaret's (whom he called Maggie) brother Thomas.

The rise of Walter MacFarlane & Company Ltd

Over the winter of 1849 / 1850, Walter MacFarlane went into Partnership with Thomas Russell, his Brother in Law, and his friend James Marshall (1817-1883) who was a Glasgow businessman. In 1851 the company took over an old disused brass foundry in Saracen Lane in the Gallowgate, adopting the street name for the foundry.

The company flourished here and employed 120 people by 1861. It is unclear what products the company was manufacturing at this time. After eleven years at this location, the company outgrew the premises and sought to expand. The company relocated to Washington Street in 1862, to a building designed by the architect James Boucher, who developed a close association with the firm.

The success of the company was such that a decision was made to move to what was at that time a green field site on the outskirts of the city. This was to be the third and final Saracen Foundry, built and expanded to a vast scale.

The partners acquired a number of plots of land at Keppoch and Possil Estate.

Glasgow Streets and Places notes that in 1868 : 'November 16 / 20th November : By feu, John Campbell Esq disposes four plots of the farm of Keppoch to Walter MacFarlane, James Marshall and Thomas Russell partners of WMC. Parts of the land aquired were christened Possilpark and used for a site for the new foundry which had previously stood in Washington Street '.

The Possil Estate and mansion were also purchased from the historian Sheriff Allison, and construction of the third and final Saracen Foundry began. The company relocated from Washington Street in 1872.

The new foundry building was designed by architect James Boucher who had previously designed the Washing Street Foundry in Anderston. This symbiotic relationship also saw Boucher using and designing Saracen Foundry castings in his own projects at 79 Nelson Mandela Place, and 20 St Enoch Square (Teacher's), both 1875. Boucher was also involved in the design of the villa at Coulport for John Kibble (1861), whose conservatory (by Cousland) was enlarged and re-erected in Glasgow's Botanic Gardens as the Kibble Palace (1871-3). Recent research has identified that the components were made by Saracen Foundry.

The Possilpark Saracen foundry itself covered 80 acres, the remainder laid out as streets and dwelling homes, including those owned by the company in Barloch, Denmark and Hawthorn Street.

Standing at this location now, it is difficult to imagine the sheer scale of the construction and the scale of operation. Nothing of the last Saracen Foundry remains other than a few historic photographs, and plates from the company literature. On the side of a tenement near the foundry site, a mural by an unknown artist shows the roots of Possilpark. A fountain canopy stands as a poignant reminder to the great company which was once the heart of the area, and a small bronze plaque erected by Heritage Engineering and Glasgow City Council in 2001 commemorates the foundry.

Surrounding contemporary street furniture pales in relation to the high craft exhibited by the Saracen Foundry.

The ariel view ( right) is the best indication of the operational layout of the foundry.

The foundry utilised the railway for the delivery and export of goods and materials as can be seen from the foundry plan and photographs.

The illustrations showing the interior showroom of the Possilpark foundry (right) gives us a tantalising glimpse of what appears to have been a cast iron treasure trove. MacFarlane's love of the grandiose would suggest it might really have been as grand as illustrations and descriptions suggest. Many, if not all of the products shown in the illustration were certainly manufactured. We are given a further insight as to the style of the showroom by a surviving photograph of the stand exhibited by Walter MacFarlane & Co Ltd at the Glasgow International Exhibition in 1886. It also says much about the wealth and prestige of the company at that time.

Sir William Stirling Maxwell visited the site in 1875, an extract from his diary of November eleventh stating :

'' I was struck with the immense growth of Glasgow on its North side……..we stopped at Walter MacFarlane's Saracen Foundry newly built on the Possil Estate of which he fued 100 acres - a speculation likely to make a great return. The establishment employs from 70 - 80 Clerks, and almost 1400 workmen, and the workshops extend over 8 acres, all under cover. It is a very interesting and picturesque site. Home by the 4.20pm train…….''

The pollution associated with such a massive scale of ironfounding does not go unnoticed however, Walter MacFarlane being nicknamed 'The Laird of Fossiltown'.

The Trustees of Walter MacFarlane noted in March of 1890 that large extensions have been made to the factory, and the tenements owned by the same were in need of repair.

The profile of the company, and the stock of the Partners in Glasgow Society increased considerably during the 1860's. In 1864 Walter MacFarlane I became a member of the town council for three years, and in this year he also became a member of the Institution of Shipbuilders and Engineers.

It is recorded that in 1857 Walter MacFarlane I read a paper to the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh entitled 'Sanitary Arrangements for converting the excrementary refuse, dry garbage, ashes etc of towns into their most valuable purpose''.

Walter MacFarlane I became an avid patron of the arts, and embellished his home, at 22 Park Circus with the highest quality craftsmanship, and plenty of Saracen products of course. The survival of his home at 22 Park Circus in the West End of Glasgow is a tangible link to both Walter MacFarlane and Walter MacFarlane Jnr . The house at 22 Park Circus was commissioned by Walter MacFarlane, and designed by James Boucher, also the architect of both Washington Street and Possilpark Foundries.

When Walter MacFarlane Junior took over the house, he appointed Glasgow Style architects James Salmon and J Gaff Gillespie to redesign some of the interiors of 22 Park Circus, employing sculptors Francis Derwent Wood, Johan Keller and Albert Hodge to undertake the woodcarving, including the new front door.

Partners

Whilst Walter MacFarlane remained the figurehead of the company, his Partners Thomas Russell and James Marshall were intimately involved in the development and running of the business. Each became wealthy men in their own right.

In the 1870's Thomas Russell also provided his adopted town of Rothesay with the gift of a bandstand and lamp standards which ran along the sea front. He also proceeded to tear down the Old Vennel in Rothesay and build new tenements, fronted with the most ornamental Saracen ornamental downpipes.

Something rather odd happened with Thomas Russell which is hinted at in reports of the time, but in usual Victorian candour is difficult to pin down. Elected MP for Bute in 1880, he was mysteriously defeated three months later at re-election due to 'technical business associations'.

1872 was an eventful year for the company, relocating to Possilpark and also welcoming Walter MacFarlane Jnr to the company. It is generally accepted that having no children of his own, Walter MacFarlane 'adopted' his nephew and namesake as his own son. Educated at Glasgow Academy and then Glasgow University, Walter Macfarlane Jnr (1853 - 1932) was destined to perpetuate his uncles business and expand it to it's peak. However, Mr John Winstanley has advised us that he is a descendant of Walter MacFarlane through his daughter Mary who was disowned by her father for marrying a turner. No mention of this daughter is made in any legal documents.

By 1880 Walter Macfarlane Jnr had become a partner in the company, the year previous an advertisement was placed in the London / Edinburgh Gazette to the effect noting that Walter MacFarlane Snr, James Marshall and Thomas Russell were to retire as of 31.12.1879. The debts etc. of the company transferred to Walter MacFarlane jnr and Robert Fulton, both of whom were 'long connected with the business''.

The Second Age

In 1880 also, Walter MacFarlane II married the daughter of William Cross, Seedsman, subsequently having one son, whom of course was named Walter MacFarlane (WM III) and five daughters.

When his uncle died in 1868, aged 68, Walter MacFarlane II was left very much to develop the business, Thomas Russell having also died in 1863.

Walter MacFarlane Snr was buried in the Necropolis, Glasgow, his monument bearing a bronze portrait by the sculptor Bertram MacKennal. On his death, Walter MacFarlane Snr in his will requested a Trust be established, comprising :

Andrew McConie (Engineer - Glasgow)
Walter G Blackie (Publisher - Glasgow)
James Reid (Engineer - Glasgow)
Walter Wingate Gray (Haddington)
Walter MacFarlane Jnr

According the subsequent minutes of the Trustees meetings, Walter Blackie and Walter Gray declined the invitation, although Gray's name later appears as attending further meetings. He advised his Trustees of his intention to pay his wife £1000 on his death followed by an annuity of £3000, and her residence in their home of 22 Park Circus. His 'effects' were passed to his ''nephew and adopted son'' Walter MacFarlane jnr. An impressive survey of the contents of the house was undertaken in November 30th 1885 for valuation of the estate.

His estate assets are noted in the minutes of the Trustees, and include :

150 Shares in Moffat Hydro
33 Shares in Kilmacolm Hydro
50 Shares in Glasgow Public Hall Ltd
200 Shares in Lambhill Cemetry Company Ltd

And property comprising :

97-103 Barloch Street
Denmark Street
125-183 Hawthorn Street
Saracen Pottery Company
Lairs in Necropolis and Sighthill Cemetries

It would appear the Margaret MacFarlane was subsequently unhappy in Park Circus, asking in January 1887 if she can leave 22 Park Circus as ''the associations are to much for me''. The Trustees thought it best if she stayed in residence and decided to reduce her rent in an attempt to get her to stay. She writes to the Trustees from Moffat in August 1887 saying she wished to be at Park Circus 'as little as possible''.
On January 28th 1888 she advised her intention to move in May. The Trustees decided to try and sell the house for around £15,000 or secure a rent of £650 per year.

Whatever happened subsequently, she seems to have changed her mind, and was still living in the house in 1896, when she was asked to start paying rent again. Correspondence ensued and a deal was proposed in February 1898 by the Trustees. Whatever happened in the intervening period is unclear but there are hints of acrimony. In any case Walter MacFarlane jnr moved into 22 Park Circus in 1898 at a rate of £100 per annum, which was then reduced to zero two years later. It is not known from the irregular Trustees meetings thereafter what happened to Margaret MacFarlane, except that she died on May 3rd 1916. The Trust was eventually wound up in May 1916.

By the 1890's the Saracen Foundry was a major employer, providing work for around 1200 people. In this period Walter MacFarlane II became president of the Ironfounders of Scotland. Following in his Uncle's philanthropic footsteps, he gifted land for the construction of Possilpark Library in 1909.

The foundry continued in operation in the early 20th Century, but saw a decline in the industry and demand for such ornamental cast ironwork. The company became part of Allied Ironfounders in 1965, and was absorbed into Glynwed in 1966. The foundry at Possilpark eventually closed in 1967. The company name was bought by Glasgow firm Heritage Engineering in 1993. With an extensive archive, this company specialises in the conservation and restoration of architectural ironwork, and continues to manufacture many of the original designs of Saracen Foundry.

An incredible story and an incredible legacy.