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 NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | Elmbank Academy | | Alternative original name | | Glasgow High School | | From 1878 to 1976 | | Offices of Glasgow City Council | Yes | | | Strathclyde House | Yes | After 1976 | | Strathclyde Regional Council Offices | | Since 1976 |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | School | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | 120, Elmbank Street | Yes | Address given in HS list | | 71-83, Holland Street | Yes | | | 59-61, Holland Street | Yes | Lodges |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1846 | | | Central building built | | 1867 | | | Additions | | 1875 | | | North wing added | | 1886 | | | New blocks (£8,000) - S wing. | | 1887 | | | South wing added | | 1896 | 1897 | Build/construction | New block- N wing. | | 1905 | 1907 | | Assembly Hall | | 1922 | | Design exhibited | Perhaps competition design - for extension? | | 1929 | 1931 | | Science block | | 1934 | 1939 | | Extensive additions, including 18 classrooms, large library, gymnasium, ancillary and administrative accommodation, monumental entrance gateway with two janitors' houses - steel-framed | | 1938 | 1957 | | Reconstruction of main building, dormers on main elevation, new east façade, lodges and claire voyee railing on Holland Street |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe 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. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | Charles Wilson | | | 1840 | 1846 | | | John Burnet (senior) | | B | 1867 | | Addition | | Hugh Hough (or Heugh, or Heuch) MacLure | | C | 1875 | | 4-bay wing | | James Lymburn Cowan | | D | 1886 | | New blocks (£8,000) (S wing). | | Hugh Hough (or Heugh, or Heuch) MacLure | | E | 1887 | | Second wing | | James Lymburn Cowan | | F | 1896 | 1897 | Further new block (on Holland Street) - N wing | | Cowan & Knox | | G | 1905 | 1907 | Assembly Hall | | James Lymburn Cowan | | G | 1905 | | Assembly Hall | | Donald McKay Stoddart | | | 1922 | | Perhaps competition design - for extension? | | David Salmond | | H | 1929 | 1931 | Science block | | James Henry Gray | | H | 1929 | 1931 | Science block | | John Watson | | H | 1929 | 1931 | Science block | | Watson, Salmond & Gray | | H | 1929 | 1931 | Science block | | John Watson (junior) | | I | 1934 | 1939 | Extensive additions, including 18 classrooms, large library, gymnasium, ancillary and administrative accommodation, monumental entrance gateway with two janitors' houses - steel-framed | | Watson, Salmond & Gray | | I | 1934 | 1939 | Extensive additions, including 18 classrooms, large library, gymnasium, ancillary and administrative accommodation, monumental entrance gateway with two janitors' houses - steel-framed | | John Watson (junior) | | J | 1938 | 1957 | Reconstruction of main building, dormers on main elevation, new east façade, lodges and claire voyee railing on Holland Street | | Watson, Salmond & Gray | | J | 1938 | 1957 | Reconstruction of main building, dormers on main elevation, new east façade, lodges and claire voyee railing on Holland Street | | William McCaig | | J | 1938 | Before 1940 | As 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 DesignsChild StructuresThis structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details): | | Building Name | Notes | | Glasgow Academy, Gymnasium | | | Glasgow High School War Memorial Club House | CHECK 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". |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glasgow Academy | | Glasgow Academy | | | | | Hamilton, Sarah L | 2010 | Glasgow's School Board Heritage: the Challenges of Conservation | | MSc Dissertation in Architectural Conservation | | | RSA | 1922 | | | | 592 | | RSA | 1932 | | | | 679 | | Sinclair, Fiona J, ed | 1995 | Charles Wilson Architect 1810-1863: A Question of Style | | Glasgow: Park Circus Promotions, 1995 | p22 | | Thomson, David | 1882 | Memoir of Charles Wilson | 13 March 1882 | Proceedings of the Glasgow Philosophical Society | | | Williamson, Riches, Higgs | 1990 | Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland) | | | p207, assembly hall. Also for later Watson, Salmond & Gray work |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Architect and Building News | 1931 | Jan-Jun | | p324 (unspecified 'extension') | | Builder | 2 October 1897 | LXXIII | | New block | | Building Industries | 15 April 1896 | | | | | Building News | 9 March 1886 | | | New blocks |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 33022 | | | Mitchell Library Glasgow | Office Plans and drawings of Watson, Salmond & Gray | TD 1155/104 | | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Drawings Collection | | GWD/21/1-5 (some drawings and some photographic copies) | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | NMRS Photographic Archive | | Copies of plans GWD/86/1/P | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | James Henry Gray: F no3409 (box 22); John Watson Junior: F no3983 (box 31) | | Strathclyde Regional Archives | Glasgow Dean of Guild | | |
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