Description
Robert Stevenson, great grandson of John Steven, follows the fortunes of Steven & Struthers, one of the many thriving businesses associated with the boom age of industrial Glasgow. Steven & Struthers was founded in 1866 by John Steven, born 1835 and his partner Wilson Struthers. The company prospered and expanded until about 1920. John had a fine town house at 9 Princes Terrace, Hyndland and a comfortable country house, Fernlea, at West Kilbride.
There was a great rush to build warships for the Royal Navy from 1900, as Germany vowed to build a navy that could compare with Britain. Steven & Struthers were sub-contractors to the rising demand for iron ships. They were the largest British suppliers of steam whistles and sirens, also making propellor shafts, propellors and stern posts; if a casting was needed they would produce it. During the First World War, the Clyde was the most important British centre for production of warships: 43% of the tonnage of ships for the Admiralty between 1914 and 1919 were built in Clyde yards.
After 1920 there was a long slow decline, until a mini boom caused by the urgent need for ships for WWII. The last vestiges of the company disappeared in 1961 when they formally ceased trading.
The fortunes of the family of John Steven are followed. His eldest son William died, but his remaining three sons carried on the company after John’s retirement. Now only the magnificent Victorian buildings remain in Glasgow to testify to the enterprise and prosperity. Most dockyards have been filled in, premises have been demolished. But old John Steven had died in 1926 at 90 in Fernlea, in peace, leaving a small fortune behind.
Original published by the author in 2023. This PDF version was created by Robert Stevenson, assisted by John Wotherspoon, in 2025, 112 pages.
