A pier at Bridgeness first appeared on a map of 1775. Its small harbour, shown in the picture here, was used by vessels employed in the coal trade. It also welcomed boats carrying eggs from the Orkney Islands.
Later Bridgeness and (further east along the shoreline) Carriden became a centre for shipbreaking. Nearby was a pottery business.
In the foreground of the picture is a chimney belonging to the old Victoria Sawmills. The business’s offices – designed by Hippodrome Cinema architect Matt Steele – were demolished in 2020. The lintel – bearing the name of the sawmills – has been retained to be shown on the foreshore.
Today, the harbour has been filled in. Remains of concrete blocks, rubble and large stones (which may have formed part of the harbour walls) still exist.
In recent years, new paths have been developed along the coastline as part of the John Muir Way. The scrubland near the shore has also become a haven for wildlife.
Shipbreaking at Bridgeness
The first ship to be broken up at Bridgeness was Chongar in 1893.
Local historian Christine Simm has been researching the history of the shipbreaking operations. She said: “The company operating the business was John S. Turnbull, Glasgow. They broke up a further six ships before the company’s name was changed name to the Forth Shipbreaking Company which continued until 1920.
“After the First World War, various other companies also worked along the shore either at Bridgeness or Carriden, mainly on German torpedo boats and similar small craft.
“From around 1922, the Forth Shipbreaking Company became P & W MacLellan and they continued to break ships up to 1978, when Daltons took over until the business finally closed in 1985.”
Christine added: “In just over 100 years more than 400 ships ended their days on the mud of the Forth at Bridgeness or Carriden. Everything from submarines and trawlers to destroyers and cruise liners. The largest ship to come to Bo’ness was in 1936, the 27,000 ton Columbia which had been the largest ship afloat in the world when she was launched as the Belgenland in 1917.
“The metal and other materials retrieved during the breaking was mainly sold for scrap, but a lot of the furnishings and odd bits and pieces ended up gracing houses throughout the town.”
BENCHES AND THE EINSTEIN CONNECTION
Around the Bridgeness and Carriden area today are iron benches, based on seats which once graced the Belgenland liner. The ship – used by Albert Einstein – was broken up here in Bo’ness.
As part of a community art project, Ballantine’s foundry in Bo’ness made copies of the Belgenland benches and added in plaques developed by local community groups. The benches now offer great views across the Forth.
You can watch a film about the project here:
“In just over 100 years over 400 ships ended their days on the mud of the Forth at Bridgeness or Carriden. Everything from submarines and trawlers to destroyers and cruise liners.”
Christine Simm
This content was produced for Sustrans Scotland as part of the Scottish Greenways Programme, in association with Falkirk Council and Great Place Falkirk.
Sustrans is a registered charity in England and Wales (number 326550) and Scotland (SC039263) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England No 1797726 at 2 Cathedral Square, Bristol, BS1 5DD.
Kinneil 
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