Hugh Kennedy & Sons

Messrs. Hugh Kennedy & Sons, Railway and Public Works' Contractors, Partick and Glasgow.—

    It is particularly interesting in reviewing historically the industries and commerce of this city and district to meet with a firm of such old standing and extensive connections as that of Messrs. Hugh Kennedy & Sons, Railway and Public Works Contractors, of Partick and Glasgow, and to accord to this eminent house that special prominence in these reviews which its influential position so justly demands. This extensive business dates back in its foundation over forty years, when it was established by Mr. Hugh Kennedy, who some seven years ago was joined by his sons.

    This firm has been most intimately associated with some of the largest and most important engineering works that have been accomplished in this district. Amongst the many large contracts that Messrs. Kennedy & Sons have completed may be mentioned the Wemyss Bay Railway, the Greenock and Ayrshire Railway, the Craigendoran Railway and Pier, and numerous other piers on the Clyde, Yorkhill Wharf and other works for the Clyde Trust, those of most recent date being No. 3 section of the Glasgow City and District Railway, which necessitated the tunnelling under the Forth and Clyde Canal and North British Railway, a work which presented many formidable engineering difficulties, but which was accomplished with the greatest skill, and to the entire satisfaction of the company. The principal business of the firm is railway contracting and pier construction. Messrs. Kennedy & Sons have on hand at the present time the No. 2 section of the Greenock and Gourock Railway, which includes a tunnel in solid rock one mile and a half long, and the whole of the new pier at Gourock, both being very heavy undertakings. The quantity of timber for piling purposes alone is enormous in this pier, which extends over the whole of Gourock Bay, a length of about one thousand yards, and inwards towards the esplanade of about one hundred feet.

    The firm occupy very extensive and commodious premises, comprising a large yard and workshops, replete with all the most improved machinery and appliances. There is also a spacious suite of well-appointed offices and counting-house. A large number of skilled and experienced workmen are regularly employed. This of course varies with the amount of work on hand.

    The business in every department is conducted with marked ability, energy, and enterprise. Mr. Kennedy, the head of the firm, is a gentleman occupying a very influential position in social and mercantile circles, and is well known and highly esteemed for his active exertions in promoting the best interests of the trade and commerce of this city and district, and was for five years Provost of the Burgh of Partick, previous to the appointment of Mr., now Sir Andrew Maclean. Mr. Kennedy takes a deep interest in politics, and is an able exponent of Conservative principles, and it is a matter of great regret to the majority of the electors in the Partick division that he has not yet allowed himself to be nominated to represent them in Parliament in the Conservative interest.

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