Basic Site Details Name: | Workmen's Institute, Quarter | Town, district or village: | Hamilton | City or county: | Lanarkshire | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | | Grid ref: | | Notes: | This new building, the gift of the Duchess of Hamilton, has just been finished in the Quarter district of Hamilton, forming a workmen’s social institute, which so far as Scotland is concerned, must be regarded as largely in the nature of an experiment fraught, if successful, with great possibilities. The institute owes its origin to the practical philanthropy of the Duchess of Hamilton, The intention is to brighten the village life, and to afford a strong and healthy rivalry to the allurements of the public-house. The donor, it is understood, is willing to extend the scope of her beneficence to other needy districts in Lanarkshire ; but, meanwhile, the result of the Quarter is experimental. Mr J B Cromb, Hamilton Palace Estates Office, is the architect. Included in the building, which stands on a. capital and convenient site, are a billiard-room (equipped with the most modern tables), a hall fitted with the necessary requisites for carpet bowls, a shooting-gallery, summer ice-tables, a large refreshment-room, a range of baths, and other conveniences. Then there are also a reading-room and library, a small games- room, a committee-room, and a caretaker's house, Adjoining the institute there is being laid out a large-sized bowling-green, and in this connection it may be explained that the-bowl-house, which has now been completed, forms part of the main structure. The building throughout will be lit with electricity. No expense hae been spared in equipping the institute, and in making all the varied adjuncts attached to it as complete and thorough as possible. [Building News 11 March 1910 p 341]
The institute was opened on 1 October 1910 by the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton. It was generally constructed of brick, rough cast, with red stone dressings and finished in a yellowish tint. The porch was of polished Dumfries redstone. | Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | The Duchess Nina Institute | | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Institute | | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1910 | | Build/construction | | | 1 October 1910 | | Opened | Opened by the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton |
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 | | John Burns Cromb | | | 1910 | | |
ClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes | | Hamilton, Duchess of | |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Building News | 11 March 1910 | | | p341 with plans and illustration | | Building News | 7 October 1910 | | | p507 - opening |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | John Burns Cromb: L v17 no1206 |
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