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Basic Site Details

Name: The Merchants' House
City or county: Glasgow
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: A listed
Grid ref:
Notes: Sculptor: James Young.

The extensive block of buildings which will constitute the property of the Merchants’ House are intended to be three stories in height, with basement floor and attics. The north-east corner of the new portion of the building will be surmounted by an ornamental tower rising to a height of between 120 feet and 130 feet, whilst on the north-west there will be a tower of smaller dimensions. From West George Street, which will form the principal frontage, there will be two main entrances, one leading to the private and public offices of the company, and the other to the hall, 64 feet long by 33 feet broad, situate on the second floor. A number of retiring rooms for ladies and gentlemen will communicate with the hall; whilst on the eastern side there will be a neat orchestral gallery. The proposed accommodation may thus be briefly described:- On the first floor, a public office and a series of private rooms; on the second, the hall above mentioned, a board room, secretary’s room and a number of private rooms; and on the third, the offices of the head clerk, two public offices and several smaller rooms. Building operations have already commenced. [Builder 3 October 1874 p826]

Building Type Classification

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

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 2George SquareYes 
Item 2 of 2West George StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 3September 1874 Plans approvedPlans approved by Dean of Guild Court
Item 2 of 31875 Design exhibitedCompetition designs
Item 3 of 319071909 Addition of upper storeys, alterations to tower and interior work

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 9Campbell DouglasArchitect, ValuerA1875 Unsuccessful competition design
Item 2 of 9Campbell Douglas & SellarsArchitectural practiceA1875 Unsuccessful competition design
Item 3 of 9James SellarsArchitect, ValuerA1875 Unsuccessful competition design
Item 4 of 9John Burnet (senior)ArchitectB1875 Competition design
Item 5 of 9(Sir) John James BurnetArchitectC19071909Addition of upper storeys, alterations to tower and interior work
Item 6 of 9John Burnet & SonArchitectural practiceC19071909Addition of upper storeys, alterations to tower and interior work
Item 7 of 9William John BlainArchitectC19071909Addition of upper storeys, alterations to tower and interior work - as Chief Assistant to Sir John James Burnet
Item 8 of 9Alexander Buchanan CampbellArchitectD1980s Alterations?
Item 9 of 9Alexander Buchanan Campbell & PartnersArchitectural practiceD1980s Alterations

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts1875   615
Item 2 of 5Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts1876   651
Item 3 of 5McKenzie, Ray2002Public sculpture of Glasgow (Public sculpture of Great Britain series) Liverpool University Press 
Item 4 of 5RSA1875   882 (Campbell Douglas & Sellars)
Item 5 of 5Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)  p176

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Builder3 October 1874  p826 - plans approved
Item 2 of 4Building Industries15 November 1907   
Item 3 of 4Building News4 June 1874   
Item 4 of 4Building News6 April 1877   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 3Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register32689 
Item 2 of 3NMRSA Buchanan Campbell Collection Handlist of drawings
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers William John Blain: L v16 no1128

Images

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