The £120,000 centre provides for the first time classroom and workshop facilities for schools, community groups and visitors to the Titan, the crane that helped John Brown's shipyard build the biggest ships in the world last century.

Opening the centre, Graham Mochan, chair of Clydebank Re-built, the town’s regeneration company said: “Today the Titan Crane is an icon of the town’s proud shipbuilding and engineering heritage and Scotland’s most unusual visitor attraction.

“At the new centre school classes and community groups can come and learn more about the Titan Crane and the town’s importance in Scottish and world history, trade and travel.  Having lessons below the Crane will bring many subjects alive. 

“Getting this centre off the ground has been a real partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund, Clyde Waterfront Partnership and Clydebank Re-built. It will help us take the message about the Titan and Clydebank’s story to future generations”, added Mr Mochan.

In addition to an open-plan classroom and workshop area, the centre has a display and exhibition area, including 'smart' board technology allowing lessons to be relayed from the Titan to schools across the country, through the Learning Teaching Scotland Network.

The Titan Education and Visitor Centre - named the Drawing Office, after John Browns famous Drawing Office  -  is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and by the local regeneration organisations, Clyde Waterfront Partnership and Clydebank Re-built.

The HLF has already supported the Titan's education programme and the preparation of primary and secondary teacher and pupil packs on the Titan Crane, based on the new Scottish Curriculum of Excellence. 

Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said:  “This dominant landmark represents the once thriving industrial heritage of shipbuilding on the Clyde. That heritage will now be opened up to new audiences as it brings the history of their community and, in many cases, their families to life. 

“This must be one of the most unusual places to have a classroom. With 800 tons of steel above you, it is certain to delight those that visit.”

Architects for the new Education and Visitor Centre were Collective Architecture, Glasgow and main contractors were Clark Contracts.

The Titan, the only A-listed building in Clydebank, is the last remaining feature of the now-demolished John Brown's shipyard. The former shipyards site on the Clyde is in the midst of major regeneration.

The Crane, the first electrically powered giant cantilever crane in the world, was restored at a cost of over £3 millions, following demand from local people to keep the Titan as a symbol of Clydebank's shipbuilding heritage.    The Titan won the Civic Trust place-making award for Scotland in 2009.  

Visitors can take the lift to the top, learn about the ships that were launched at Clydebank and enjoy the views of the Clyde from the jib platform 150 feet from the ground.  The Titan is open to on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays during June and September and every day in July and August.

Over 29,000 people - including over 150 school classes - have visited the Titan Crane since it opened as a heritage visitor attraction in August 2007.

School and community groups interested in visiting the Crane and the new Education and Visitor Centre should contact Cheryl Dyer on 0141 951 3420 or by email on Cheryl@clydebankrebuilt.co.uk. Read more information about the Titan on the Titan Clydebank website. 

Notes to editors

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. To date it has invested over £500million in Scotland’s heritage.   

Further information

For media enquiries contact John Brown, PR Adviser to Clydebank Re-built and the Titan on telephone: 07881 818 474 / 0141 569 3337 or email: j.brown453@ntlworld.com.

For further information on HLF, please contact Shiona Mackay on 01786 870 638/07779 142 890 (shionamackay1@btinternet.com) or Jon Williams on 0207 591 6035 (jonw@hlf.org.uk).