The Slipway Project 14-09-2005

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The £600,000 project to repair and rebuild the Grade A listed building and slipway at Balloch, Loch Lomond, starts on Wednesday 14 September. Work will involve removing the cradle that holds the Maid of the Loch, offsite to a workshop for repair; rebuilding the carriageway on which it sits; refurbishing the winchhouse; overhauling the steam machinery; installing a new steam boiler; and incorporating a visitor interpretative centre.

Colin Paterson CBE, Chairman of the Loch Lomond Steamship Company (LLSC) said “This is a great achievement of us. The slipway is the key to the Maid of the Loch sailing again, but the slipway in itself is a wonderful monument to Scottish engineering”. He added, “We really do appreciate the contributions from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire, and West Dunbartonshire Council that have made this scheme possible”.

The patent slip is a Scottish invention to haul the loch steamers out of the water for their repair. The slipway was built in 1901 with the carriageway by George Halliday of Rothesay and the engine and hauling gear by John Bennie of the Star Engineering Works, Glasgow.

Commenting from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Colin McLean, Manager for Scotland, said “Loch Lomond is famous around the world for its spectacular beauty and natural heritage, but few people realise that it also has an industrial past. This project will ensure that both the local community and visitors to the area are aware of this important part of Loch Lomond’s heritage and will have the opportunity to explore and enjoy it. We are delighted to be able to support it”.

For the first time ever, the Balloch Steam Slipway Complex will be open to the public and be free of charge. Monthly demonstrations in steam are planned. It will be staffed by volunteers from LLSC, a charity, whose Directors and workforce are all unpaid.

“We are delighted that the contract has been won by a Glasgow firm, The Industrial Heritage Company”, said Mr Paterson. “When complete next spring, we will take the Maid out of the water for the first time in 25 years. We will then be going full speed ahead to raise funds to restore the Maid to get her sailing again”.