2. Ships

Polmadie to Lake Malawi

In May 2009, a 111 year old ship, built in Glasgow, Scotland, was drydocked on the shores of Lake Malawi in Central Africa, at the start of an ambitious project to restore the vessel to active service and convert it into a floating medical centre. This gallery briefly relates the story of the SS Chauncy Maples from her creation in one of the most unusual of the many shipyards of Victorian Clydeside to the present day. It is hoped that the ship, converted to run on bio-fuel, will soon be able to bring much needed medical assistance in an area where land travel is difficult and the average life expectancy of the native people is only around 36 years.
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In 1903, Alley & MacLellan took over the Shropshire company, Simpson & Bibby, who made steam lorries, and moved the business to Polmadie. After two years development work under Alley & MacLellan's Chief Draughtsman, Mr J Haythorne, the Sentinel Steam Wagon was launched. The Sentinel brand already had a good reputation, and the new lorry was a great success. <br /> <br /> Picture shows an early Sentinel steam wagon supplied to the Prestonpans Soap Works<br /> <br /> ©Scottish Motor Museum Trust. Licensor <a href="http://www.scran.ac.uk">http://www.scran.ac.uk</a>.
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In 1903, Alley & MacLellan took over the Shropshire company, Simpson & Bibby, who made steam lorries, and moved the business to Polmadie. After two years development work under Alley & MacLellan's Chief Draughtsman, Mr J Haythorne, the Sentinel Steam Wagon was launched. The Sentinel brand already had a good reputation, and the new lorry was a great success.

Picture shows an early Sentinel steam wagon supplied to the Prestonpans Soap Works

©Scottish Motor Museum Trust. Licensor http://www.scran.ac.uk.

sentinelsteamwagonprestonpanssoapworks

  • The engineering partnership of Stephen Alley & John MacLellan was established in 1875 at premises in London Road, Glasgow but, soon afterwards, the firm moved to a larger site in Polmadie Road on the south eastern periphery of Glasgow, which was then one of the largest centres of engineering, shipbuilding and manufacturing in the world. Alley & McLellan's works soon become known as the Sentinel Engineering Works and the name 'Sentinel' became, effectively, their trade mark. The Sentinel Works were located close to the huge Govan Iron Works (located in Little Govan, not the Burgh of Govan which was 3 - 4 miles further west and not part of Glasgow at that time. Little Govan is now known as Govanhill). <br /> Govan Iron Works was established in 1839 by William Dixon using coal from several local coal mines founded by his father as fuel for its iron products making processes. The Iron Works had 5 large iron making furnaces which sent up an orange glow in the night skies over a large area of the city. The Govan Iron Works were in production 119 years and they were commonly known as 'Dixon's Blazes' by most of the local population.<br /> A picture of the works can be seen at the SCRAN website (subscription needed to see the picture full size) <br /> <a href="http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-000-124-068-C&scache=2jyz376lyh&searchdb=scran">http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-000-124-068-C&scache=2jyz376lyh&searchdb=scran</a>
  • The Sentinel works was not far from Colville's Clydebridge Steelworks / and the historic Clyde Iron Works in Cambuslang, then the largest steel making complex in Scotland. It was at the famous 18th century Clyde Iron Works that James Beaumont Neilson invented the 'hot blast' process that revolutionised the processing of iron ore on a global basis.<br /> <a href="http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image.php?inum=TGSA03577">http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image.php?inum=TGSA03577</a>)<br /> Govan Iron Works, Clyde Iron Works and the famous Carron Iron Works near Falkirk placed Scotland at the cutting edge of these technologies from the late 18th Century to the mid 20th Century. In the wake of these crucial infrastructure plants, a huge band of over 200 iron and steel foundries and a lesser number of forges was built up across central Scotland from the Clyde to the Forth. The diversity and capacity of output from these plants was virtually limitless. Witnessing the foundrymen utilise their considerable skills was aways a fascinating experience. Nowadays, it is difficult to find a jobing foundry in Scotland - the total still existing could probably be counted on the fingers of one hand but the legacy of the past lives on around the globe in the most unexpected laces - on a recent trip to Lucerne in Switzerland, while roaming through the 'old town', I came upon a cast post box with the name 'Carron Ironworks' on its base. For more information on the once huge iron and steel industry in Scotland refer to the following excellent websites:<br /> <a href="http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/clydebridge/">http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/clydebridge/</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.scottishironwork.org/">http://www.scottishironwork.org/</a><br /> Alley & McLellan used a wide array of castings in the steam engines, compressors, valves and many other products that they bult for both land and marine applications
  • Over the last 300 years more than 400 firms have built a total in excess of 25,000 ships in yards along the Clyde, from Rutherglen in the east to Campbeltown in the west. Details of over 22,000 vessels have been assembled into the 'Clydebuilt Ship Database' - a free website created by Bruce Biddulph based on records originally compiled by Stuart Cameron. A team of several dedicated editors have greatly expanded the scope of the database in recent years.<br /> <a href="http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/">http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/</a><br /> <br /> As would be expected, most of the Clyde-built ships were constructed in yards lining the banks of the river. However, Alley & McLellan were responsible for construction of approximately 500 vessels in the Sentinel Works, which is a significant distance from the nearest riverbank. Almost all of these vessels were supplied as 'knock-down vessels' i.e. first assembled at Polmadie using nuts and bolts then knocked down to easily transportable parts and sent to the client's location - often a landlocked lake in a very inaccessible location in Central Africa, South America or elsewhere. There, they were reassembled using local labour, rudimentary resources and rivits. A significant proportion of the vessels built by Alley & MacLellan were barges of various types and sizes. Most of these vessels had no declared name, at least at the time of building. However, one other interesting vessel built at Polmadie about the same time as Chauncy Maples was the paddle tug Blagovestchensk which was despatched to Siberian owners.<br /> SS Chauncy Maple was first assembled at Polmadie in 1897-99 and shipped in approximately 3500 packages to the Zambesi in the SS Hollingside. From there large number of locals were recruited to haul them overland to Lake Nyasa (now Lake Malawi) where the steamer was reassembled using 35,000 rivits. She was named in memory of a missionary, the Right Reverend Chauncy Maples, Bishop of Likoma, who drowned in the lake in 1895. <a href="http://anglicanhistory.org/africa/umca/maples/index.html">http://anglicanhistory.org/africa/umca/maples/index.html</a>)<br /> The vessel entered service in 1902 and picture above shows the SS Chauncy Maples as new on the lake in 1905.
  • This view of the SS Chauncy Maples comes from a history of the Lake Malawi Steamers published by the Malawi Government Ministry of Education and Culture in 1971. Orginally, the Chauncy Maples was built to replace a smaller steamer ,named Charles Janson, whiich had been built by the Thames-based shipbuilder Yarrow & Co in 1884 (Yarrow subsequently transferred their shipbuilding business from Millwall on the Thames to Scotstoun in Glasgow in 1906) After spending 52 years on missionary work, in 1953, the Chauncy Maples was sold to a fishing company and in 1965 she was purchased by the Malawi Railway. Consequently, the ship was significantly altered and her steam engine and boiler was removed and replaced by a Crossley diesel engine. It is stated that the original Alley & MacLellan steam engine was moved to the Lake Malawi Museum at Mangochi.
  • A later view of the SS Chauncy Maples, dressed overall in celebration of her Golden Jubilee. As can be seen she had changed slightly in her first half century. However, the standard of the ships original steel work was in remarably good condition in 1952 and, substantially it still is in 2009. Undoubtedly, her superb quailty is partly due to the decision to galvanise all of the structural parts before they left Glasgow - a very unusual occurance. It was reflected in the price of the new vessel. Her owners, The Universities Mission to Central Africa, had to pay a total of £16000 for the new ship compared to a cost of under one third for a ship delivered on the Clyde (£9000 for the original build and galvanising with £5500 for shipment from Glasgow to Lake Nyasa and £2000 for reassembly)
  • In the very early years of the 20th Century the Sentinel Works made a gradual transfer to a newer and bigger site just round the corner at 61 - 89 Jessie Street. This imposing building accommodated pattern shop and stores of Alley & MacLellan. It is interesting to note that the company's engineer responsible for the new building was the renowned Archibald Leitch, best known for designing many famous football stadiums around the UK. It was the first steel reinforced concrete building to be built in Scotland and, much later in life, it was 'A listed' - indicating a building of highest architectural / technical importance. After the demise of Alley & MacLellan it was taken over by the engineering company Davy United, a Sheffield based firm,specialising in steel making equipment. This picture shows the building when operated by Davy United.<br /> <br /> ©Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland; SC768161. Licensor <a href="http://www.scran.ac.uk">http://www.scran.ac.uk</a>. <br /> Other pictures of the Sentinel Works can be seen at the SCRAN website
  • In 1903, Alley & MacLellan took over the Shropshire company, Simpson & Bibby, who made steam lorries, and moved the business to Polmadie. After two years development work under Alley & MacLellan's Chief Draughtsman, Mr J Haythorne, the Sentinel Steam Wagon was launched. The Sentinel brand already had a good reputation, and the new lorry was a great success. <br /> <br /> Picture shows an early Sentinel steam wagon supplied to the Prestonpans Soap Works<br /> <br /> ©Scottish Motor Museum Trust. Licensor <a href="http://www.scran.ac.uk">http://www.scran.ac.uk</a>.
  • In 1915 a young Glasgow draughtsman, Arthur Thomson, joined Alley & MacLellan working on the development of a new 'Super Sentinel' wagon. In the following years Stephen Alley (son of the co-founder) was increasingly at odds with his fellow board members over the long term effects of the company's large contribution to the War effort. In 1918 he sold his share in Alley & McLellan and moved the production of the steam wagon to a new factory in Shrewsbury. Arthur Thomson also made the move south and became the chief designer, responsible for developing the 'Super Sentinel' wagon, a typical example of which is shown above. The new outfit at Shrewsbury was initially named the 'Sentinel Steam Waggon Co (with two 'g' in Waggon). The name was changed slightly on a number of occasions and it became part of Rolls Royce in 1971. Its product range developed significantly over the years. See<br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel_Waggon_Works">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel_Waggon_Works</a><br /> <br /> ©Scottish Motor Museum Trust. Licensor <a href="http://www.scran.ac.uk">http://www.scran.ac.uk</a>.<br /> <br /> Go to the following website to read the fascinating story of the Sentinel Steam Waggon No 5676, built in 1924 and now owned by Ken Henderson. It is now based at the Summerlee Industrial Heritage Museum. <br /> <a href="http://www.sentinelsteamwaggon.org.uk/index.html">http://www.sentinelsteamwaggon.org.uk/index.html</a>
  • Lake Nyasa (now Lake Malawi) is about 350 miles long (about 15 times the length of Loch Lomond) and 40 miles across, making it the eighth largest inland lake in the world . Chauncy Maples was originally assembled at Mponda's and is based at Monkey Bay<br /> <br /> As land movement is difficult, the Chauncy Maples, once converted, will greatly improve the distribution of medical care and facilities
  • This public domain picture shows how the appearance of the Chauncy Maples was alterred following her acquisition by Malawi Railways. Her steam engine was replaced by a Crossley diesel about the same time. For some years prior to 2009 the vessel was moored at Monkey Bay serving as a floating bar. <br /> <br /> Although she looks a bit worse for the ware surveys showed that all of the important structure of the ship is in remarkably good condition
  • The stern of MV Chauncy Maples, bumped and battered, but still proudly proclaiming the home port - She has come a long way from Polmadie to Monkey Bay
  • Recently Chauncy Maples has had an external facelift (Monkey Bay in January 2008) as the campaign starts to raise funds for her conversion to a floating medical centre. <br /> <br /> Some other good recent pictures of the Chauncy Maples can be seen at the following website<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chauncymaples/page5/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/chauncymaples/page5/</a><br /> <br /> Two charities - the Chauncy Maples Malawi Trust in UK and the Chauncy Maples Malawi Trust in Malawi are raising funds to achieve this worthwhile aim. All monies that they raise will be matched by equal funds from the Government of Malawi.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.chauncymaples.org/about/default.php">http://www.chauncymaples.org/about/default.php</a>
  • Picture from the Chauncy Maples Malawi Trust's Flickr website (link below)<br /> <br /> The windlass at the bow of the Chauncy Maples was used for raising the anchor and making fast her mooring lines. It is one of the original bits of equipment supplied with the ship in 1899. <br /> <br /> The windlass was built by Thomas Reid & Son (Paisley) Ltd, one of many companies founded in the 19th C to supply deck equipment for ships built on the Clyde and elsewhere.<br /> <br /> Sadly, after trading on Clydeside for well over a century the firm of Thomas Reid & Co (Paisley) Ltd went into receivership in late 2008. The Thomas Reid builder's plate on Chauncy Maples windlass can be seen here:<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chauncymaples/3272132899/sizes/o/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/chauncymaples/3272132899/sizes/o/</a>
  • Alley & MacLellan's former Sentinel Works, Jessie Street, Glasgow on 14th June 2009. <br /> <br /> In 1917 Alley & McLellan became part of Lord Invernairn's (William Beardmore) vast industrial conglomerate. Beardmore's owned the Dalmuir Naval Construction Works, the huge Parkhead Forge which produced armoured plate and large scale naval ordnance and the Inchinnan Airship Construction Works. Beardmore's empire employed over 40,000 people on Clydeside at its peak and it was linked to Vickers of Barrow-in-Furness of which Lord Invernain was a director. However, the vast Beardmore group suffered badly in the great Depression that blighted the UK economy during the 1920s and 30s and Alley & MacLellan regained its independence in 1937. At later times it was related to two other well known Clydeside engineering firms - Glenfield & Kennedy of Kilmarnock and G & J Weir (now the Weir Group) of Cathcart in Glasgow. <br /> <br /> Sadly, as Chauncy Maples looks set for a great revival, the site of her builder's Glasgow works is not a pretty sight in the 21st Century. Although the former workshops (on the right of this picture) seem to be well maintained (externally) and still in use, the same cannot be said for the pioneering buiding at the west end of the site ...........
  • Alley & MacLellan's former Sentinel Works, Jessie Street, Glasgow on 14th June 2009. <br /> <br /> A view of the former pattern shop of Alley & MacLellan, the building is now severely vandalised and neglected and must be regarded as under threat despite its listed status
  • Alley & MacLellan's former Sentinel Works, Jessie Street, Glasgow on 14th June 2009. <br /> <br /> The pattern drawing office, shop and store is an 'A' listed building as the first steel reinforced concrete building in Scotland. However its advanced state of dereliction must pose a significant threat to its future.
  • The Chauncy Maples is not the only Scottish-built vessel to have sailed on Lake Malawi. Others include the Domira of 1887, built by Matthew, Paul & Co of Dumbarton, the stern wheel paddle steamer Monteith and the screw steamer Queen Victoria, both built by Glasgow-based shipbuilder Ritchie, Graham & Milne in 1896, Stairs by Kincaid in1898, the screw steamers Mpasa and Vipya built by A & J Inglis in Glasgow in 1934 an 1943 respectively and the Ilala II, the largest vessel om the lake when she was delivered from Yarrow's shipyard in Scotstoun in 1951. Ilala II (pictured above) is still sailing on the Lake in 2009. See other recent pictures of Ilala at <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.geoffstravelscrapbook.co.uk/main/images/malawi/malawilake04.jpg">http://www.geoffstravelscrapbook.co.uk/main/images/malawi/malawilake04.jpg</a><br /> <br /> and<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.geoffstravelscrapbook.co.uk/main/images/malawi/malawilake05.jpg">http://www.geoffstravelscrapbook.co.uk/main/images/malawi/malawilake05.jpg</a><br /> <br /> <br /> Another Yarrow product on the lake is the cargo boat Mkhwazi which took up service on the lake in 1955.
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