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1. Title Shipbuilding in Irvine Irvine Shipbuilding and Engineering occupy the site in 1898 until 1904. In 1912 Mackie & Thomson take over the site after selling their Govan shipyard to Harland & Wolff Earliest record of Shipbuilding in Irvine dates from 1759. John Webb forms ship Yard at the Braes. By 1791 there are records of three small shipbuilders at Irvine Charles Samson of Laurel Bank took over the site in the 1830’s. They were successful in building Tea clippers. Cooperative of local workmen take over shipbuilding on the site, but is not very successful McGill & Co took over the site in 1886. the company employed 30-50 men and could build boats up to 100 ft in length Gilkinson Thomson & Co occupy the yard in 1814. In 1819 they build the 1st ship for Alexander Allen of Saltcoats–The JEAN ( 1st cousin of Robert Burns and John Galt) Peter Murchie then took over the site . They developed two berths enabling them to build 2 ships at the same time Clark Marr and Co take over the yard. This was at the time when ships were changing from wood to steel construction. This proved difficult for the company John Gilmour then owned the yard from 1892 to 1894 They built the Clyde canal steamer “Fairy Queen” Tea Clipper Clyde canal steamer Fairy Queen