Basic Site Details

Name: Glasgow Academy
City or county: Glasgow
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: A listed
Grid ref:
Notes: Only façade of Wilson building remains.
Cost of extensive additions by Watson, Salmond & Gray between 1934 and 1939: £100,000.
Personal information from John Watson Junior about later work of Watson, Salmond & Gray.
Originally built as Elmbank Academy or Glasgow Academy, which moved to Hillhead in 1878, whereafter this building became Glasgow High School

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 5Elmbank Academy Alternative original name
Item 2 of 5Glasgow High School From 1878 to 1976
Item 3 of 5Offices of Glasgow City CouncilYes 
Item 4 of 5Strathclyde HouseYesAfter 1976
Item 5 of 5Strathclyde Regional Council Offices Since 1976

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1School  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 3120, Elmbank StreetYesAddress given in HS list
Item 2 of 371-83, Holland StreetYes 
Item 3 of 359-61, Holland StreetYesLodges

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 111846  Central building built
Item 2 of 111867  Additions
Item 3 of 111875  North wing added
Item 4 of 111886  New blocks (£8,000) - S wing.
Item 5 of 111887  South wing added
Item 6 of 1118961897Build/constructionNew block- N wing.
Item 7 of 1119051907 Assembly Hall
Item 8 of 111922 Design exhibitedPerhaps competition design - for extension?
Item 9 of 1119291931 Science block
Item 10 of 1119341939 Extensive additions, including 18 classrooms, large library, gymnasium, ancillary and administrative accommodation, monumental entrance gateway with two janitors' houses - steel-framed
Item 11 of 1119381957 Reconstruction of main building, dormers on main elevation, new east façade, lodges and claire voyee railing on Holland Street

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 18Charles Wilson  18401846 
Item 2 of 18John Burnet (senior) B1867 Addition
Item 3 of 18Hugh Hough (or Heugh, or Heuch) MacLure C1875 4-bay wing
Item 4 of 18James Lymburn Cowan D1886 New blocks (£8,000) (S wing).
Item 5 of 18Hugh Hough (or Heugh, or Heuch) MacLure E1887 Second wing
Item 6 of 18James Lymburn Cowan F18961897Further new block (on Holland Street) - N wing
Item 7 of 18Cowan & Knox G19051907Assembly Hall
Item 8 of 18James Lymburn Cowan G1905 Assembly Hall
Item 9 of 18Donald McKay Stoddart  1922 Perhaps competition design - for extension?
Item 10 of 18David Salmond H19291931Science block
Item 11 of 18James Henry Gray H19291931Science block
Item 12 of 18John Watson H19291931Science block
Item 13 of 18Watson, Salmond & Gray H19291931Science block
Item 14 of 18John Watson (junior) I19341939Extensive additions, including 18 classrooms, large library, gymnasium, ancillary and administrative accommodation, monumental entrance gateway with two janitors' houses - steel-framed
Item 15 of 18Watson, Salmond & Gray I19341939Extensive additions, including 18 classrooms, large library, gymnasium, ancillary and administrative accommodation, monumental entrance gateway with two janitors' houses - steel-framed
Item 16 of 18John Watson (junior) J19381957Reconstruction of main building, dormers on main elevation, new east façade, lodges and claire voyee railing on Holland Street
Item 17 of 18Watson, Salmond & Gray J19381957Reconstruction of main building, dormers on main elevation, new east façade, lodges and claire voyee railing on Holland Street
Item 18 of 18William McCaig J1938Before 1940As architect to Glasgow Education Department, collaborated with John Watson Junior on reconstruction of main building, dormers on main elevation, new east façade, lodges and claire voyee railing on Holland Street

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

Child Structures

This structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details):
 Building NameNotes
Item 1 of 2Glasgow Academy, Gymnasium 
Item 2 of 2Glasgow High School War Memorial Club HouseCHECK SOURCE OF OBITUARY

Commission awarded after competition open to all High School alumni, assessed by John Keppie. Described by Keppie in his Proposer's Statement for Cullen's FRIBA papers as "one of the best Club Houses in Scotland".

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7Glasgow Academy Glasgow Academy   
Item 2 of 7Hamilton, Sarah L2010Glasgow's School Board Heritage: the Challenges of Conservation MSc Dissertation in Architectural Conservation  
Item 3 of 7RSA1922   592
Item 4 of 7RSA1932   679
Item 5 of 7Sinclair, Fiona J, ed1995Charles Wilson Architect 1810-1863: A Question of Style Glasgow: Park Circus Promotions, 1995p22
Item 6 of 7Thomson, David1882Memoir of Charles Wilson13 March 1882Proceedings of the Glasgow Philosophical Society 
Item 7 of 7Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)  p207, assembly hall. Also for later Watson, Salmond & Gray work

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Architect and Building News1931Jan-Jun p324 (unspecified 'extension')
Item 2 of 4Builder2 October 1897LXXIII New block
Item 3 of 4Building Industries15 April 1896   
Item 4 of 4Building News9 March 1886  New blocks

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 6Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register33022 
Item 2 of 6Mitchell Library GlasgowOffice Plans and drawings of Watson, Salmond & GrayTD 1155/104 
Item 3 of 6National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection GWD/21/1-5 (some drawings and some photographic copies)
Item 4 of 6National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNMRS Photographic Archive Copies of plans GWD/86/1/P
Item 5 of 6RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers James Henry Gray: F no3409 (box 22); John Watson Junior: F no3983 (box 31)
Item 6 of 6Strathclyde Regional ArchivesGlasgow Dean of Guild