Thomas Blackwood - Shipbuilder

Thomas Blackwood was born in Inchinnan in 1819.  He was the son of Walter Blackwood and his family had farmed the same land at Bottom/ Florish/ Flourish Farm for 400 years.

​

He studied marine engineering and served his apprenticeship in Paisley with Barr & M'Nab. He sailed as guarantee engineer on Clyde river steamers "Lady Brisbane" and "Balmoral".

​

In 1846 he started a marine engineering business in Paisley with Andrew Gordon; Blackwood & Gordon. In 1851 they began building ships. In 1860 they moved their shipyard to Port Glasgow and leased land from Newark Castle.

​

In 1863 the Blackwoods were living in Glencune but by 1868 he had built Woodhall. The house was demolished in 1935 but the Blackwood family had moved out before the turn of the Century.

​

Thomas was a member of the first school board of Port Glasgow, a magistrate and a JP.  He was a member of the Princes Street UP church. He died in 1891 and a monument paid for by his employees was erected in Port Glasgow cemetery.

​

​

​

​

​