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Renfrewshire Community Plan 2008 - 2017 India of Inchinnan
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The India Tyres factory building in Inchinnan is widely regarded as an art deco masterpiece. It opened in 1930, featuring a white stuccoed exterior with two storeys of metal windows, and was embellished with green, red and black tiles. It was designed by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners of London as office space for the India Tyre and Rubber company. The company was known as "India Tyres".
A grand opening ceremony was held, and 6,000 visitors came to admire the new building and tour the tyre production factory. The local newspaper described the building as "...singularly imposing in structure, embracing the most modern of ideas in architectural construction."
The site of India Tyres had previously been owned by
the William Beardmore Company, who manufactured first airships, and then aeroplanes. They ceased production in 1922 due to a lack of orders. The new industry of tyre production was warmly welcomed.
India Tyres created jobs at a time of economic depression, and such was the success of the company that the 300 original employees increased steadily; to 2,000 by 1954 and later to a high of 3,000. The tyres they produced were recognised as being of a superior quality.
India Tyres closed in 1981 following a decline in the industry. The building lay neglected for many years, despite its status as perhaps the most important surviving art deco building in Scotland. However, thanks to a £7 million makeover the building has now been restored to its former glory and is the headquarters of Graham Technology, an information technology company.
New extensions have been added which were inspired by the site's history - the gondola of the airship and the wing of the aeroplane. The restoration architect was Gordon Gibb of Gibb Architects, Glasgow. In 2005, the building was awarded the "Best Re-Use of an Historic Building" award at the Scottish Design Awards.
For more information on the history of the India of Inchinnan building or other historic buildings in Renfrewshire, please contact the Local Studies Library. You can contact the Local Studies Library by:
- email: locstuds.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk
- phone: 0141 889 2360
- fax: 0141 887 6468
- write to:
Reference and Local Studies Library
Central Library
68 High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BB
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