Glasgow Sherbet Factory Ruins

It’s easy to bypass this small plaque situated alongside the River Kelvin. It marks the reported location of where the Glasgow Sherbet Municipal Works once stood. A few walls from the supposed factory are scattered across the site.

A sign near the ruins describes an explosion that occurred at the factory around 1906. It’s said that the aftermath could be seen all the way from Port Glasgow. The plaque states that the site was “one of the leading producers of sherbet in the world.” That is until a young apprentice named Bert dropped a glass of Pinappleade in Powder Room B, resulting in a massive explosion. 

According to the plaque, “The resulting mix of sherbet and fuzzy liquid caused a foam explosion which could be seen from Port Glasgow and was to rewrite the town planning rulebook on the placement of sherbet factories.”

It goes on to state that children from all across the city were brought in to devour the mountain of sherbet foam. 

However, very little documentation exists proving the explosion occurred, or that the factory even existed, however, the tale makes for great local folklore.