As the Industrial Revolution took hold of the world, the Clyde was dredged to make the river deeper. This allowed ships to sail all the way to Glasgow, rather than stopping at Port Glasgow as they had done prior to this. 

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This had two major effects on the city. It turned Glasgow into a strategically important port. However, it also transformed the city’s industry from one of trade to one of manufacturing. The city’s focus moved to steelwork and shipbuilding. Factories and shipyards sprung up, causing a boom in the city’s population. Glasgow reached breaking point as its population soared past 1 million people, almost double what it is today. It was one of the first cities in Europe to reach this population level.

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The Clyde’s reputation and success continued until World War II, when several of the shipyards were struck by the Luftwaffe during The Blitz. This, coupled with post-war competition from other nations, saw a gradual decline of shipbuilding in Glasgow. There are currently only two surviving shipyards, Yarrow and Fairfields, both owned and operated by BAE Systems. One of the old shipyards, the Govan Graving Docks, can still be accessed, with many old remnants of its shipbuilding past intact.

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In recent years, there has been renewed investment in the waterway, thanks to the Clyde Waterfront Regeneration Project. One of the prime examples is the Glasgow Digital Media Quarter located at Pacific Quay. It is home to the BBC and STV, as well as other media companies and hotels. Next door to this is the Glasgow Science Centre, IMAX Cinema and Glasgow Tower.

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There is also a plan to regenerate the Govan Graving Docks with the new Govan Wetlands project. Further west in the neighbouring town of Renfrew, the Braehead Shopping Centre and Xscape Leisure Centre have been built directly across from the King George V Docks. Next to the shopping centre is Clyde View Park. It features statues by artist Kenny Munro, which he designed with the help and input of Renfrewshire’s schoolchildren.

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Of course, a river would not be so handy if there were not bridges to cross it. Thankfully, Glasgow has a staggering 21 bridges crossing over the Clyde, with a 22nd one planned in Govan. These are a mixture of road, rail and footbridges that span not only the river but the last two centuries of the city’s history. You can learn a lot from Glasgow’s history from the various names and designs of these bridges.