Return of the Vulcan
Pictures by Bob Stewart and Brian Cairns
A nineteenth century boat that revolutionised maritime design across the world has undertaken one final voyage and returned to its original home on the Monkland Canal after a £300,000 renovation programme.
The replica
of the
19th-Century
Vulcan, the
world's first
iron-hulled
ship, returned
to the Monkland
Canal at the
Summerlee Museum
of Scottish
Industrial Life
in Coatbridge,
on 27th March
2014.
See Larger picture
Designed as a horse-drawn barge, the vessel once carried passengers between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Named after the Roman god of fire, the design of the 63-foot-long vessel was built at Faskine, near Calderbank. It was launched on the Monkland Canal in 1819, inspiring the development of iron riveted ships and transforming Scotland's shipbuilding industry. The barge was scrapped in 1873.
In 1988, a replica of the Vulcan was constructed in Glasgow and was displayed at Summerlee.
Following an
extensive
internal refit,
the vessel will
take up its new
role as an
innovative and
interactive
educational
exhibit.
Utilising a
range of media
and artefacts,
the attraction
will celebrate
the history of
the canals and
ironworking in
North
Lanarkshire.
When the
attraction is
formally opened
in the summer,
it will
celebrate the
history of
Scotland's
canals,
ironworking in
North
Lanarkshire, and
Vulcan's role in
revolutionising
world
shipbuilding.
Read more in Heritage Lottery Fund
