The Finnieston Crane

A large cantilever crane known as the Finnieston Crane once stood in Glasgow, Scotland. The largest of the four remaining cantilever cranes along the River Clyde, it is no longer in use but stands as a testament to the city's rich engineering tradition and shipbuilding past. The Finnieston Crane, the last enormous cantilever crane to be constructed on the Clyde, is a remnant of the time when Glasgow's shipyards made it one of the most significant industrial cities in the world.

It was started in June 1928 and finished in 1931 by the Clyde Navigation Trust, which runs Glasgow's port and dock facilities. Under the direction of mechanical engineer Daniel Fife, Carlisle-based Cowans, Sheldon & Company constructed the tower, while Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company constructed the cantilever (Mechanical Engineer to the Clyde Navigation Trust). In 1932, the crane was fully functional.

The historic crane has been preserved as a reminder of Glasgow's strong engineering past and recontextualized, brilliantly contrasting the brand-new, contemporary structures on Clyde's banks, including the Armadillo, The SSE Hydro, The Glasgow Science Centre, and the BBC Scotland offices. A £7 million project to turn a landmark in Glasgow into a popular tourist destination with a restaurant and museum is in the works.

Location: Finnieston Quay, Glasgow G3 8HN, Scotland