Records of Andrew Barclay Sons & Co Ltd, locomotive manufacturers and engineers, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland

Archive Collection

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Bookmark:http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb248-gd329

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Reference
Dates of Creation
Name of Creator
Language of Material
Physical Description

Scope and Content

Financial records 1876-1959
Costing records 1898-1959
Engineering records including those of Barclays and the North British Locomotive Co Ltd 1878-1970
Photographs 20th century
Publications and publicity material including catalogues, advertisement books and journals 1912-1970
Armstrong-Whitworth records 1931-1937
Records of John Cochrane and Co Ltd, engine makers, Barrhead including quotation book, letter books, order and cost books, photographs and advertising material 1897-1950
Contract lists for Barclay, North British Locomotive Co Ltd and pre-North British Locomotive Co Ltd 1837-1961
Drawings for locomotives by Andrew Barclay locomotives (including repairs) nos. 66-2377 (incomplete), Dubs and Co (12 drawings), Neilson Reid and Co contract nos. 401-903 (incomplete), Sharp Stewart and Co contract nos. 108-1166 (incomplete), North British Locomotive Co Ltd contracts L14-999 and L1-98 (second series) (incomplete), Armstrong Whitworth and Co contracts DT1-77 plus 7 miscellaneous engines and technical drawings for Andrew Barclay and J Cochrane Standing Engine drawings

This collection is held at Glasgow University Archive Services under the charge and superintendence of the Keeper of the Records of Scotland. A full list of records in this collection can be found on the National Records of Scotland (formerly the National Archives of Scotland) online catalogue under the reference GD329.

Administrative / Biographical History

Around 1840 , Andrew Barclay ( 1814-1900 ) went into partnership with Thomas McCulloch in an engineering business to make mill shafts in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland . Two years later he left to set up on his own and, in 1847, he moved to new premises in the town, which were paid for by the sale of his patent for the manufacture of gas lamps. The money from this sale was not paid however, and consequently the firm, which specialised in winding engines for the local coal industry, was sequestrated in 1848 . Barclay soon recovered from this set back and by 1859, when the company produced its first locomotive, the firm was employing 150 people. By 1870, Barclay's had produced 420 locomotives.

Around 1871 Andrew Barclay established a second locomotive building business, Barclays & Co , for his younger brother, John, and his four sons, James Wilson, Andrew jnr, William and Robert. This business was based at the Riverbank Works, Kilmarnock . This business remained closely associated with that of Andrew Barclay , who provided most of the plant. The firms were declared bankrupt in 1874 and 1882 respectively. In 1886 Andrew Barclay 's business was reconstructed as Andrew Barclay Sons & Co , but Barclays & Co was not revived. Problems were still encountered but in 1892 the firm took on limited liability as Andrew Barclay Sons & Co Ltd . Two years later Andrew Barclay was removed from control of the company by its shareholders. Barclay then sued the company for unpaid wages, eventually settling out of court in 1899. In 1930 , the company took over the business of John Cochrane (Barrhead) Ltd , engine makers, and in 1963 it acquired the goodwill of the North British Locomotive Co Ltd , Glasgow. In 1972 it was acquired by the Hunslet Group of companies, enginners of Leeds, England, and its name was changed in 1989 to Hunslet-Barclay Ltd . The company was still operating in 2001.

Wear, Russell,Barclay 150: a brief history of Andrew Barclay Sons & Co, (1990)

Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography ed. Slaven & Checkland, vol.1 (Aberdeen University Press : 1986)

Arrangement

This material is arranged into series, which consist of numbers of items related by function and/or format. With series, the items are generally arranged chronologically.

Access Information

Requests for access for legal, business or commercial purposes must be referred to Hunslet-Barclay Ltd, Kilmarnock

Acquisition Information

National Archives of Scotland : 1976-1983

Held under the charge and superintendence of the Keeper of the Records of Scotland

Private additional deposits : 1990

Other Finding Aids

Electronic file level list available on the National Records of Scotland online catalogue.

Manual file level list available in the searchroom and at the National Register of Archives in London (NRA36388)

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Conditions Governing Use

Requests for large scale copying must be referred to the Keeper of the Records of Scotland.

Any requests to publish or reproduce documents from the collection must be referred to Hunslet-Barclay Ltd and the Keeper of the Records of Scotland must also be informed.