India of Inchinnan
India of Inchinnan is one of Scotland's most important and most extraordinary industrial sites.
The country's only industrial A - listed building is owned and occupied by Graham Technology, who wanted to create a European base and inspirational space that would stimulate the innovative brains of Scotland's largest and most successful software and services company.
India of Inchinnan was designed in 1929 by Thomas Wallis of Wallis, Gilbert and Partners and ornamented in the Art Deco Style.
Before the India Company took over the site at Inchinnan, the factory adjoining the later Art Deco structure had been operated as an airship constuctional station. Of the four ships that were built was the giant R34, which made the first ever transatlantic air crossing in both directions in 1919.
India of Inchinnan was formally opened in 1930, by entrepreneur Andrew Melville and the Lord Privy Seal. The plant was ultimately owned by Dunlop. At its height, it employed over 2500 people and was the single biggest employer in the area. The company was not able to compete with the heavily state - subsidised imports from central Europe and the factory was closed on Christmas Eve of 1981.
The building lay derelict for many years and was the victim of vandalism and decay until 1997, which a feasibility study was carried out for the development of the building on behalf of Graham Technology and Renfrewshire Enterprise.
In 1999, Historic Scotland gave approval to the application for grant funding to assist with the renovation and re-creation of the existing structure. Graham Technology purchased the site and set about creating, with the assistance of Glasgow - based architect Gordon Gibb, the powerful European base.
The original facade of the building has been restored and modern extension developed to celebrate the unique and important hsitory of the building. The design was based on the site's extraordinary industrial and aeronautical heritage.
Contact
Victoria
Smith
Greenock Road
Inchinnan
Renfrewshire
Strathclyde
PA4 9LH
Scotland
Tel: +44 (141) 5334000
Fax: +44 (141) 5334199
E-Mail: Susie.amos@GrahamTechnology.com
