Airship Construction
The site was first used industrially by William Beardmore and Company, who obtained a contract from the Admiralty to build airships in World War I. Airship components were built at William Beardmore's Dalmuir, Clydebank, factory but more land was needed. William Beardmore therefore obtained land at Inchinnan and built the Inchinnan Airship Constructional Station. Building work started in January 1916 to construct the Station, which occupied 413 acres (1.67 km2). Due to the difficulties of getting staff to this isolated location, the company built 52 houses in Inchinnan, at Beardmore Cottages.
A large airship hangar, the Airship Shed, was built by Sir William Arrol & Co. At 720 feet (220 m) long by 230 feet (70 m) wide and 122 feet (37 m) high, it was of comparable size to the Cardington and Howden Airship sheds, which were contemporary. It was designed to accommodate two Class 23 airships side by side; of the class only R24 was built by Beardmore.
A hydrogen production plant, a bottled hydrogen storage area, and various production shops were also built.
William Beardmore successfully built several airships, Airship No. R24, R27, R34 and the R36.
The Admiralty contract was cancelled in August 1919 and no more orders were received. The station closed on 12 October 1922, and the Airship shed and other many other buildings were demolished for scrap.
Read more about this topic: India Of Inchinnan
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