As a youngster in the 1950s on holiday on the south end of Arran, one of the treats was to spy and identify the ships that passed in and out of the Clyde. There were Canadian Pacific Empresses, and the occasional Cunarder. One special memory was the brightly-lit Irish boats, heading out at bed-time; my favourite was the Irish Coast with its black funnel with a white V of Coast Lines. The boats were the last of the long dynasty of steamers sailing between Glasgow or Ardrossan to Belfast, Londonderry, or Dublin of Messrs Burns and Messrs Laird. This is not a history of the companies or the ships, but an album of various images from engravings, slides, and photographs of the steamers that I have tried to put in some sort of context. The chronology follows the dates of launching rather than the date of acquisition.

Irish Coast built by Messrs Harland and Wolff, Belfast, in 1951

The shipping enterprise of Messrs Burns extended from coastal traffic to the Cunard Line. At one time they had a near monopoly of the Clyde and West Highland steamers. In 1851, they concentrated on coastal sailings to Ireland and Liverpool. The Burns funnel colour was black The Laird Line can be traced back to the earliest days of steamboats on the Clyde, and provided the Londonderry and west coast of Ireland connection from Glasgow. The Laird funnel colour was white and scarlet in equal proportions with a black top. In 1922, the fleets were combined and until 1929, they all adopted the Laird funnel. In 1929 the funnel colours were changed to scarlet with a black top and the names of the steamers were standardized. In 1936,a narrow blue band was introduced between the red portion, crimson since 1933, and the black top.

Thetis

Thetis, an iron paddle steamer built by Messrs R Napier & Co. in 1845; she was 190½ feet in length, 22½ feet in breadth, and driven by an engine of 430 h.p. She was built for the Glasgow and Liverpool station but in 1846 was moved to the Greenock to Belfast route and passed to Messrs Thomson & MacConnell.

Orion from an old painting

Orion (Illustrated London News)

Wreck of the Orion (Day & Son)

Orion replaced Thetis on the Glasgow and Liverpool station. A product of Messrs Caird & Co. in 1846, she was 210½ feet in length by 27 feet in breadth and powered by engines generations 460 h.p. In June 1850, she was wrecked off the coast of Portpatrick with heavy loss of life, including the brother of the owner.

The Broomielaw from Sailor’s Home around 1870 with Burns’ Penguin near the camera and Laird’s Shamrock, the paddle steamer further down river. Ahead of Shamrock is another smaller Laird steamer. (Becket)

In 1847, a new iron paddle steamer, Shamrock, was built for the Messrs Laird by Messrs Caird & Co. She was 196¾ feet in length by 27 feet in breadth with engine providing 300 h.p. Despite some unfortunate strandings, she survived with the company till 1879. In 1848, a consort of similar dimensions, Thistle, was ordered from the yard of Messrs Napier. She was an unfortunate vessel and had many mishaps including groundings, and on one occasion reached Greenock in a sinking condition. She was lost in 1858.

Elk, Stag, and Lynx from an old painting

Stag (Illustrated London News)

In 1850, the Messrs Burns sold off their Clyde and West Highland services to concentrate on coastal sailings to Ireland and Liverpool. In 1853-4 they had three steamers constructed by Messrs William Denny, Dumbarton, for the Glasgow to Belfast trade. The Elk and Stag were 208 feet in length by 23 feet in breadth while the Lynx was slightly smaller at 202½ feet. They were powered by 2-cylinder engines generating 240 h.p. Elk was wrecked in Belfast Lough in 1859, and Stag was sold to run the blockade in the American Civil War. Lynx lasted on the night mail service until 1869 when she was sold to become a private yacht.

Giraffe from an old painting

Giraffe (Illustrated London News)

In 1860, the Messrs Burns went to Messrs J & G Thomson of Govan for the Giraffe, for the Belfast service. She was 270 feet in length by 26 feet in the beam with engines providing 290 h.p. An over-ambitious daytime schedule was introduced by the company in her first year but the next year she took her position in the overnight service. She was sold in 1862 to run the blockade of the Confederate states with considerable success.

Lord Gough from an old painting

The Dublin crossing from Glasgow was in the hands of the Dublin and Glasgow, Sailing and Steam Packet Co. and between 1862 and 1863, Messrs Caird & Co. built Lord Clyde and Lord Gough for the service. They were 243½ feet in length by 26¼ feet in the beam and powered by engines generating 350 h.p. The Lord Clyde was sold for blockade running and replaced by a newer version that remained with the company until 1889. Lord Gough survived until 1891.

From Sailor’s Home around 1870, a Burns paddle steamer, likely Buffalo or Llama in the foreground. (Becket)

On the Belfast station, there was some delay in replacing Giraffe as the steamers were purchased off the stocks to run the blockade. The Roe from Messrs Caird & Co. was the first that made in into service in 1864, and she was followed by the Buffalo, Llama and Camel from the same builders, all of similar design to the Giraffe.

Penguin nearest the camera around 1870 with the bow of the paddle steamer in the previous photograph. Laird’s Erin is further down the quay. (Becket)

Penguin was a screw steamer, built in 1864 by Messrs Tod & M‘Gregor for Messrs Burns, and was 220½ feet in length by 28½ feet in breadth, with engines  of 180 h.p. She was intended for the Liverpool station but spent much of her life sailing from Glasgow to Belfast. She was sold in 1875.

Rose at Dublin

Messrs Laird’s Sligo service had a new iron steamer launched as Erin in 1867 by Messrs Blackwood & Gordon in 1867 but shortly afterwards renamed Rose. She was 180½ feet by 24 feet and fitted with a compound engine of 90 h.p. She was sold to the Ayr Steam Shipping Co. in 1883.

Holly off Scotstoun

Holly off Gourock

The Holly was built by Messrs D & W Henderson in 1875 for the service to Morcambe but carried the colours of the St George Steam Packet Co. She was 170½ feet by 23 feet with a compound engine delivering 151 h.p. by Messrs T Wingate. She was sold in 1893.

North Eastern at Ardrossan

The Ardrossan Steam Navigation Co. provided a service to Belfast from Ardrossan, and in 1877, the steamship North Eastern was built for the company by Messrs A & J Inglis. She was 201¾ feet in length and 28½ feet in breadth with a compound engine generating 180 h.p. A sister, North Western was added the following year and both steamers were added to the Burns fleet in 1882 when they were renamed Seal and Grampus respectively. They continued on the Belfast station until 1894 when the Manchester Ship Canal was opened when they sailed to Manchester, and were replaced on the Ardrossan to Belfast route by the Hound. Both Seal and Grampus were sold in 1907.

Mastiff

Mastiff was built for Messrs Burns’ Liverpool service by Messrs J & G Thomson in 1878. She was 230½ feet by 30¼ feet with compound engines generating 220 h.p. In the 1880s she was placed on the Glasgow to Londonderry route, and was sold in 1906.

Laird steamers Turnberry and Azelea (behind) at Ayr

Messrs Laird added two steamers in 1878, Azelea and Cedar; the former from Messrs A & J Inglis, and the latter from Messrs D & W Henderson. They were sisters, 217½ feet by 30¼ feet and powered by compound engines delivering 242h.p. Azelea sailed mainly on the Londonderry route, although latterly she sailed from Ayr to Belfast. She was sold in 1914.

Alligator at the Broomielaw with Sloan’s Medway on the South Bank

Gorilla with Hound astern

Three sister steamers were built for Messrs Burns in 1881 by Messrs Barclay, Curle & Co. The Alligator, Dromedary, and Gorilla had dimensions 250¼ feet by 30 feet with compound engines of 280 h.p.

Brier

In 1882 the Brier was built for Messrs Laird’s Londonderry service by Messrs D & W Henderson 209¾ feet by 30¼ feet with compound engines generating 177 h.p. She was renamed Lairdsoak in 1929, and sold in 1931.

Gardenia at Garlieston

A smaller steel steamer, 1885 Gardenia, was also built for Messrs Laird by Messrs D & W Henderson in 1885. She was 172 feet by 27 feet and her compound engines of 120 h.p. were supplied by Messrs A Stephen & Son. She was sold in 1902.

Hare (Robertson)

Messrs Barclay, Curle & Co. built the 1886 Hare for Messrs Burns’ Belfast route. She sailed initially from Glasgow and when required from Ardrossan. Built of steel, 216 feet  by 29½ feet, she had a triple expansion engine generating 210 h.p. She was sold in 1899.

Turnberry at Ayr with Culzean astern

Turnberry was a steel steamship built by Messrs A M‘Millan of Dumbarton in 1889 and acquired that year by the Ayr Steam Shipping Co. She was 190 feet long by 29¼ feet in the beam with triple expansion engines generating 154 h.p. provided by Messrs J. G. Kincade & Co., Ltd. of Greenock. The Laird Line subsumed the Ayr company in 1899, employing the Turnberry on the Ayr to Belfast station. She was renamed Lairdsheather in 1929, and scrapped in 1937.

Cobra (Robertson)

A fast paddle steamer was ordered by Messrs Burns from Fairfield Shipbulding and Engineering Co., Ltd. in 1889 to open a daytime service from Gourock to Belfast and back. The Cobra was of steel; 265¼ feet by 33¼ feet and fitted with a compound diagonal engine of 700 h.p. She sailed for only one year on the route and was sold in 1890.

Adder off Gourock (Robertson)

Adder at Belfast

The Cobra’s replacement was the Adder, from the same builders and 280 feet by 33 feet with a more powerful compound diagonal of 750 h.p., and capable of 19 knots. She sailed initially from Greenock but in 1892, the service was moved to Ardrossan. Adder was sold in 1906.

Duke of Fife

Duke of Fife was built for the Dublin & Glasgow Steam Packet Co. by the Ailsa Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. in 1892. She had compound engines of 332 h.p. and was 244 feet long by 31¾ feet broad. The Messrs Burns took over the company in 1908, when she was renamed Sparrow, and was sold in 1910.

Hound after 1922 (Robertson)

Hound and Dromedary at the Broomielaw

Hound was constructed of steel for Messrs Burns’ Belfast Mail service from Ardrossan by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. in 1893, and her dimensions were 250¼ feet long by 32 feet breadth. Her triple expansion engines provided 350 h.p. She was sold in 1925.

Olive

Messrs Laird’s Londonderry service received a new addition in 1893. Built of steel by Messrs D & W Henderson, Olive was 260 feet in length by 33 feet in the beam with triple expansion engines generating 369 h.p. She was renamed Lairdsbank in 1929 and sold in 1930.

Daisy

The Daisy was built for Messrs Laird as a cattle carrier by Messrs Blackwood & Gordon in 1895. She was 186½ feet by 29 feet and fitted with triple expansion engines of 122 h.p. She was wrecked in 1916.

Lily (Robertson)

Lily at Coleraine

Messrs Laird added Lily in 1896 for the Portrush service. Lairdspool She was built by Messrs Blackwood & Gordon and was 190½ feet in length by 29¼ feet in the beam. Her triple expansion engines powered her with 126 h.p. She was renamed Lairdspool in 1929, ad was sold to Messrs David MacBrayne to become Lochgorm in 1937.

Spaniel

Pointer (Robertson)

Pointer passing Govan

On board Pointer

On board Pointer

Spaniel was the first of two sisters and joined the Burns fleet in 1895. The second, Pointer, followed the following year from the same builders. Built of steel by Messrs A & J Inglis, they were 250 feet by 33½ feet, and fitted with triple expansion engines of 260 h.p. They were placed on the Liverpool service. Spaniel was sold in 1921 to become the Besfast Steamship Co. steamer Caloric. Pointer was renamed Lairdsvale in 1929 and was broken up in 1933.

Magpie (Robertson)

Magpie was another product of Messrs A & J Inglis for Messrs Burns. Built of steel in 1898, she was 265 feet by 33½ feet with triple expansion engines generating 265 h.p. She was placed on the Ardrossan to Belfast service, replacing Hound. After the night mail service from Ardrossan was withdrawn, she sailed to Londonderry and later to Dublin. In 1929, she was renamed Lairdsgrove, and was broken up in 1948.

Puma passing Renfrew

The Dublin & Glasgow Steam Packet Co., known as the Duke Line, had the Duke of Rothesay built by the Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. in 1899. She was 265 feet long by 35¼ feet in the beam with compound engines of 435 h.p. The Line was taken over by Messrs Burns in 1908, giving the larger company access to a Dublin route, and she was named Puma at that time. In 1929, she was renamed Lairdsford, and broken up in 1934.

Lairdsrose (ex Rose) off Bowling

The Rose was the fourth vessel to bear the name in the Laird fleet. She was built by Messrs A & J Inglis in 1902 and was 250½ feet in length by 36 feet in the beam. Power was from triple expansion engines of 330 h.p. Initially she was intended for the Dublin service but later was associated with sailing to Londonderry. Renamed Lairdsrose in 1929, she was broken up in 1949.

Tiger in Oban Bay when cruising the west highlands

Another vessel acquired by Messrs Burns when they took over the Dublin & Glasgow Steam Packet Co., was the Duke of Montrose, built by the Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. in 1906. She was 275 feet long by 36½ feet beam with compound engines of 282 h.p. She was renamed Tiger in 1908, and Lairdsforest in 1929, though was sold the following year.

Viper off Ardrossan

Viper at the Caledonian Pier, Ardrossan, with Duchess of Argyll

Viper leaving Ardrossan for Belfast

The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd.in 1906 produced the triple screw turbine steamer Viper for the Ardrossan to Belfast daylight service. She was fast, capable of 22 knots with her turbines generating 950 h.p., and her dimensions of 315 feet in length by 39½ feet in the beam allowed for a passenger capacity of 1,700, twice that of the fast paddle steamer Adder.

Woodcock (Robertson)

Lairdsloch (ex Partridge) with Lairdsglen at the Broomielaw

Also in 1906, Messrs John Brown & Co. Ltd. produced two sisters for Messrs Burns Ardrossan to Belfast night service. They were Woodcock and Partridge and had dimensions 270½ feet by 31 feet with compound engines of 297 h.p. The Woodcock was renamed Lairdswood in 1929, and sold the following year, while the Partridge became Lairdsloch and lasted till 1936 when she was broken up.

Hazel

Hazel off Scotstoun

Messrs Laird’s Hazel was best known as sailing from Ardrossan to Portrush. She was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. in 1907, and her dimensions were 260¾ feet by 36 feet. She was sold in 1919.

Lairdsglen (ex Maple) at the Broomielaw

Maple was built for  Messrs Laird by  the Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, Troon, in 1914 as a replacement for Azelea. She was 261 feet in length by 36¼ feet in the beam with engines generating 467 h.p. She was renamed Lairdsglen in 1929, and was scrapped in 1951.

Lairds Isle leaving Ardrossan

Lairds Isle

Lairds Isle off Ardrossan after 1936

On the Ardrossan daylight service, Viper was sold in 1920, and no turbine replacement was added until 1932 when the Channel steamer Riviera was purchased by Burns & Laird Lines Ltd., and renamed Lairds Isle. The Riviera was built by Messrs W. Denny & Bros. in1911 and was 316 feet long by 41 feet in the beam. Her three turbines generated 850 h.p. She was scrapped in 1957.

Lady Louth off Gourock (Robertson)

Lairdsburn (ex Lady Louth) at the Broomielaw

The British and Irish Steam Packet Co. Ltd. steamer Lady Louth was built by the Ardrossan Dockyard Co., Ltd. in 1923, and in 1930, she was acquired by the Burns and Laird Lines Ltd. and renamed Lairdsburn. She was 276½ feet by 37½ feet and had triple expansion engines generating 336 h.p. provided by Messrs J G Kincaid & Co. Ltd. Lairdsburn was scrapped in 1953

Royal Scotsman

Royal Scotsman at Glasgow with Irish Coast for Dublin astern

Royal Ulsterman

In 1936 Burns & Laird Lines Ltd. added two motorships, Royal Ulsterman and Royal Scotsman. From Messrs Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast for the Belfast route. They were 228¾ feet long by 37¼ feet broad, and were sold in 1967.

Emerging from World War 2, Lairdshill, Lairdsglen and Lairdsrose can be seen at the Broomielaw in October 1945 (Ships and date determined by Colin Campbell)

The Broomielaw on 27th August, 1951 with Lairds Loch, Royal Ulsterman, Lairds Moor, Lairds Ben, and Lairdsburn (Ships and date determined by Colin Campbell)

Broomielaw in 1951 with Royal Scotsman, Lairds Loch and Lairdscraig with Irish Coast for Dublin further down the quay

The Scottish Coast, built by Messrs Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast in 1957 and seen here at Glasgow on August 25 of that year

C. Campbell and R. Fenton, “Burns and Laird,” Ships in Focus,, Preston, 1999.

C.L.D. Duckworth and G. E. Langmuir, “Clyde and other Coastal Steamers,” T. Stephenson & Sons Ltd., Prescot, 1977.