Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Site Details Name: | Templeton's Carpet Factory | City or county: | Glasgow | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | | Grid ref: | | Notes: | The iron work was devised by Alex Harvey, mill engineer, Govan while Leiper deemed himself responsible for the design of the facades only. Part of the building collapsed in high winds during construction, with considerable loss of life. Significantly, the collapse raised serious questions concerning the relative responsibilities of the architect and engineer.
The disaster attracted the attention of the English press with reports in the Manchester Guardian, The Times, and Observer. These noted that about 5.00pm on 1 November 1899 a new mill building in course of erection collapsed in gale force winds. The building, 188 feet by 46 feet, had reached a height of five storeys and much of the brickwork of one external wall fell through the roof of an adjoining weaving shed, killing thirty of the girls working inside and injuring others. Fortunately the construction workers had finishedwork for the day, otherwise the death toll would have been much higher.
A public inquiry was ordered and this opened on 20 December 1889. There was some discrepancy between the engineer and architect employed as to their respective responsibilities and it was further found that deviations had been made to the plans approved by the Dean of Guild Court in respect of the fixing of the joists. However, ther report concluded that the exterior wall would only be unstable during construction and that the completed building would probably have survived unscathed.
Cost of 1980s conversion: £3.7million. | Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes |  | Factory | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes |  | Abercromby Street | Yes | |  | Fordneuk Street | | |  | Glasgow Green | Yes | |  | London Road | Yes | |  | 62, Templeton Street | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes |  | 1889 | | | Original building (including mill behind façade) |  | 1 November 1889 | | | The Glasgow Mill Disaster. Collapse of external wall |  | 1890(?) | | Build/construction | Rebuilding following collapse |  | 1927 | | | New wings, London Road and Templeton Street |  | 1927 | 1928 | | Abercromby Street |  | 1929 | | Design exhibited | New factory in Craignestock Place |  | 1931 | | Design exhibited | Offices and warehouse for James Templeton & Co |  | 1934 | | | Templeton Street wing |  | 1934 | | Design exhibited | Railway Mill, Bridgeton, extension |  | 1936 | | | New wing to Glasgow Green |  | 1953 | | Plans drawn up | Plans in hand for extensions |  | 1963 | | Build/construction | Factory warehouse |  | 1978 | | Closed | |  | 1980 | 1981 | Destruction/demolition | Demolition of redundant buildings in central courtyard |  | 1982 | 1985 | Alteration/conversion | Restoration of factory and conversion to offices |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes |  | Scottish Development Agency (SDA) | client for 1980s conversion |  | Templeton, Mr of James Templeton & Co | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Allen, Nic (ed.) | | Scottish Architects in Conservation | | | p99 |  | McKean, Charles | 1987 | The Scottish Thirties: An Architectural Introduction | | Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press | Shows Ninian Johnstone perspective pp70, 105 |  | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | |  | Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts | 1929 | | | | 196 |  | Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts | 1931 | | | | 378 |  | Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts | 1934 | | | | 284 |  | RSA | 1889 | | | | 1015 |  | Williamson, Riches, Higgs | 1990 | Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland) | | | pp459, 462 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Architect | 27 December 1889 | | | |  | Architect and Building News | 1934 | Jul-Dec | | p144 |  | Architect and Building News | 1936 | Jul-Dec | | p200 |  | Architect and Building News | 1937 | Jan-Jun | | p370 |  | Builder | 11 September 1953 | | | p413 |  | Builders Journal | 12 January 1898 | | | p488 |  | Building | 29 March 1968 | | | p154 |  | Manchester Guardian | 2 November 1889 | | | p8 - report on disaster |  | Manchester Guardian | 21 December 1889 | | | p7 and p8 - public inquiry |  | Manchester Guardian | 23 December 1889 | | | p6 - public inquiry |  | The Times | 4 November 1889 | | | p9 - report on disaster |  | The Times | 24 February 1890 | | | p4 - inquiry report |  | The Times | 2 November 1899 | | | p5 - report on the disaster |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes |  | British Carpets | British Carpets drawing archive | | Copies in NMRS at GWD 137/1-11 (Leiper work) |  | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 33857 | |  | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Drawings Collection | | 20 drawings by Boswell, 1934. Acc No 1996/12 |  | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | RIAS Collection | | 1 set watercolours and 1 photograph |  | Professor Charles Robertson's CV | Information sent from Professor Charles Robertson to Yvonne Hillyard, October 2010 | | |  | Strathclyde Regional Archives | Glasgow Dean of Guild | | Copies in NMRS (Boswell work) |
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