From a mine chimney in 1869 to construction during the Great War, we have been building Britain's future heritage from our very first project.
The first commission undertaken by Robert McAlpine following the founding of the company in 1869 was the repair of a mine chimney, similar to the one pictured. Assisted by a single labourer, he was paid the sum of £2.9s
The construction of the Singer Manufacturing factory was the first major building project and took just over two years to build. We were contracted again to build a considerable extension in 1904, and for further rebuilding work in 1906 following a fire.
Housing accommodation represented an important part of Robert McAlpine's early construction work. By 1883 the company had built accommodation at Burnbank, Hamilton and Larkhill. Many of the houses were constructed of concrete, a technology pioneered by Robert to the extent that he became affectionately known as 'Concrete Bob'. He was also renowned for providing individual homes with gardens and this led to the creation of the first Garden City at Clydebank in 1905.
Construction of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway included 82 bridges and viaducts. Robert McAlpine is pictured (fifth from right) with some of his staff and engineers of the Caledonian Railway Company during construction of a viaduct on the Barrmill to Kilwinning section of the line.
Forming part of what is one of the earliest examples of an underground railway in the world, a section of tunnel was constructed starting from just north of the station in Buchanan Street to St George's Cross. The company's first tunnelling project, work also included construction of stations at St George's Cross and Cowcaddens.
Standing more than 30 metres high, this magnificent 21-arch viaduct is part of the 64km Fort William to Mallaig extension of the West Highland Railway.
One of a number of structures constructed along this section of the line, it stands above the Glenfinnan Valley at the head of Loch Shiel.
The reservoir covers an area of more than 48 hectares and can hold in excess of 4.5 billion litres of water. Most of the 764,000 cubic metres of earth removed to create the reservoir was excavated by steam navvies.
Construction of Methil Dock was a huge engineering undertaking carried out in the most extreme conditions imaginable. Operating on a site at the mercy of the ferocious gales that swept up the Firth of Forth, the project involved the creation of 1.6km of sea wall, a dock with a water area of seven hectares, 1,800m of quays a 550m long entrance channel and the complete reconstruction of siding and marshalling yards comprising 40km of railway,
Standing 27 metres high and 140 metres long, the Alwen Dam creates a 4km long reservoir capable of holding 14 billion litres of water. Alwen is just one of many dams and reservoirs constructed by the company.
This section of the Great Northern Railway is a further example of our involvement in the expansion of the UK's early rail network. In addition to the 21-arch Hertford Viaduct, major structures along the route included the 2.5km Great Ponsbourne Tunnel, construction of which required 30 million bricks. A purpose-built brickworks used clay excavated during the project to make many of the bricks required.
The company made an enormous contribution to support of 'Kitchener's Army' during the Great War. Frequently operating close to the front lines, we were involved in the construction of hutted camps and support buildings throughout France, such as this hospital at Etaples. Similar camps were also built throughout Britain.
On the Home Front our support for the war effort also included the constuction of munitions factories to help alleviate the ordnance shortage on the Western Front. As well as plants including Georgetown in Refrewshire and Perivale in London, the company constructed The British Dyes factory at Huddersfield, which was initially used to produce ingredients for explosives. Some 2,000 workers were employed on the project, erecting 130 buildings across a 670-acre site.
The company was also responsible for constructing many aerodromes and associated facilities including the Western Aircraft Repair Depot at Yate and the Loch Doon School of Aerial Gunnery.
The British Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing Company in Derby was typical of many of the contracts undertaken in this period. The factory covered an area of eight hectares and was built for the treatment of aircraft fabric.
A military engineering project of unprecedented size and complexity, we played a significant role in the construction of two artificial port facilities to support the allied forces following the D-Day landings in Normandy.
Familiar to Harry Potter fans the world over, the Glenfinnan Viaduct has been wowing visitors since construction was completed in 1901. Part of a wider West Highland Railway extension, the innovative use of concrete at this scale was an industry first and featured in The American Engineering News in 1899.
The acknowledged home of football for more than three quarters of a century, the construction of Wembley Stadium and the British Empire Exhibition showcased Britain as world leaders in concrete construction.
