The history of the Clyde and the great ships that were built there is
well known. Less familiar and equally important, however, is the story
of how the great river was made suitable for shipping. The dredging of
the Clyde and the building of the great docks and quays that line it to
this day remain some of the most impressive engineering feats of the
industrial revolution.
From prehistoric times to the twentieth century, John Riddell explores
fully this fascinating saga, the great monuments of which still define
the city of Glasgow and the towns on the banks of the Clyde. At the same
time The Clyde is also the story of the extraordinary plans and
proposals that were never realised; schemes which stand as a testament
to the power and wealth of Britain's Second City during its Victorian
and Edwardian heyday.