The Gourock Ropeworks Co was founded in 1736 in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, Scotland. By the late nineteenth century the company was under the control of Henry Birkmyre (1832-1900) and his brother, John, who had become partners in the firm in 1853. Their father, William Birkmyre, had also been a manager of the company until he retired in 1860.
The late 1880s also saw the Gourock Ropeworks Co Ltd establishing offices and warehouses throughout Britain and South America. Agents were also appointed in Europe and other markets were established in Australia. William Birkmyre, Henry's brother, who had managed the sacking mill at Greenock, was responsible for the establishing a large jute mill in Calcutta, India, in partnership with Henry and John. The firm of Birkmyre Bros (Calcutta) Ltd , which eventually operated the Hastings Mill in Calcutta and two others in Serampore and Bombay, generated an average of £10,358 a year as interest on capital invested in the last 10 years of Henry's life. The company continued to trade until the 1930s.
From the guide to the Records of Birkmyre Brothers (Calcutta) Ltd, jute spinners, Calcutta, India, 1910-1935, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
