   Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Site Details | Name: | George A Clark Town Hall | | Town, district or village: | Paisley | | City or county: | Renfrewshire | | Country: | Scotland | | Parish: | | | Status: | A listed | | Grid ref: | | | Notes: | Public subscription initiated in early 1870s. George Clark died in America and left money for the purpose; the Clark family contributed the balance and a competition was held. The assessor was Robert Matheson, and it was won by Rennison & Scott. However the Clark family preferred Lynn's design: the public contributions were returned and the hall built 1878-82.
Paisley.—Last week the foundation-stone of the new town-hall, which is at present in course of erection on a site contiguous to the abbey, at Paisley, was laid by Mrs. Clark, of Gateside, mother of the deceased donor, Mr George A. Clark. After purchasing the site, it was found that the sum in hand would be exceedingly insufficient to erect a hall suitable to the wants of the town, and, therefore, the Messrs Clark, brothers of the deceased donor, offered to defray the additional cost, which it is calculated will be altogether little short of £.50,000. The buildings will consist of a large hall occupying the centre of the block, 130 feet long by 60 feet wide, and affording accommodation for about 4,000 persons —1,400 on the ground floor, 400 in the balcony, and 400 in the upper gallery. There will also be a lesser hall, 53 feet by 30 feet calculated to seat about 300 persons. In addition to these, at the special direction of the deceased donor, there will be a public reading-room, smoke-room, etc. The contractors for the building are Messrs Morrison and Mason, Glasgow. The completion is expected to be in about two years' time. Mr W H Lynn, of Larne, is the architect. The building was illustrated in the Building News, April 5, 1878. [Building News 31 October 1879 p536]
We give this week a view of the minor hall and river front of the above building. The memorial stone of the building was laid on the 22nd of October last by Mrs. Clark, of Gateside, the mother of the originator of the undertaking, and of the Messrs Clark, of the Anchor Mills, Paisley, who are contributing largely towards the carrying out of their brother's intentions. The sum of £20,000 having been bequeathed by the late Mr George A Clark for the erection of a public hall, reading-room, etc, for the benefit of his native town, steps were taken accordingly, and designs for the building were obtained through the medium of competition. The requirements set forth in the instructions to architects being found to be considerably beyond what could be provided for the above sum, the Messrs Clark, rather than curtail the extent of the building which they thought were necessary, have generously supplemented the amount bequeathed by their brother. The cost of the site was £10,000, and the expenditure on the building itself will reach to about £.50,000. In addition to this Mrs. Clark has signified her intention of presenting an organ for the large central hall, and a capital sum with which to endow it. Mr W. H. Lynn, R.H A., of Belfast, is the architect. In a previous number we gave a view of the two principal fronts, and a general description of the building. The work has now been carried as high as the level of the first string-course. [Building News 19 December 1879 p740] | Alternative Names| The following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | | Name | Current name? | Notes |  | Paisley Town Hall | | Original name during initial competition |
Building Type Classification| The building is classified under the following categories: | | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Town hall | | |
Street Addresses| The following street addresses are associated with this building: | | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | Gauze Street | Yes | |
Events| The following date-based events are associated with this building: | | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1864 | | | 1st scheme drawn up - not executed | | 1869 | | | Second scheme drawn up - not executed | | 1875 | | Competition held | Abortive competition | | 1875 | | | Design by Rennison & Scott submitted | | 1876 | | Design exhibited | Design by Rennison & Scott | | 1878 | 1882 | Build/construction | | | October 1879 | | Foundation stone | Foundation stone laid | | Early 1870s | | | Public subscription initiated | | 1894 | | | Decoration of stair | | After 1928 | Before 1945 | | Alterations | | 1937 | | | Designs for chairs for Paisley Town Council |
PeopleDesign 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. | | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | J & J Lamb | Architectural practice | A | 1864 | | First scheme - unexecuted | | James Barr Lamb | Architect | A | 1864 | | First scheme - unexecuted | | James Jamieson Lamb | Architect | A | 1864 | | First scheme - unexecuted | | J & J Lamb | Architectural practice | B | 1869 | | Second scheme - unexecuted | | James Barr Lamb | Architect | B | 1869 | | Second scheme - unexecuted | | James Jamieson Lamb | Architect | B | 1869 | | Second scheme - unexecuted | | John Robertson | Architect | | 1875 | | Competition design - placed second | | William Henry Lynn | Architect | | 1875 | 1882 | Did not win competition but scheme preferred and got the job | | Boucher & Higgins | Architectural practice | C | 1875 | | Competition design - placed third (Higgins responsible) | | Henry Higgins | Architect | C | 1875 | | Competition design - placed third | | Andrew Robb Scott | Architect | D | 1875 | | Won competition but job went to Lynn | | John Albert Rennison | Architect | D | 1875 | | Won competition but job went to Lynn | | Rennison & Scott | Architectural practice | D | 1875 | | Won competition but job went to Lynn | | A & J Scott | Architectural practice | E | 1894 | | Decoration of stair | | George Gibson | Architect | | After 1928 | Before 1945 | Alterations | | John Fraser Matthew | Architect | F | 1937 | | Designs for chairs for Paisley Town Council | | Lorimer & Matthew | Architectural practice | F | 1937 | | Designs for chairs for Paisley Town Council |
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this building: | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Cook, J & J | 1882 | Inauguration of the George A Clark Town Hall, Paisley | | Paisley | | | Cunningham, Colin | 1981 | Victorian and Edwardian Town Halls | | London: Routledge & Kegan Paul | Appendix II: Competition Statistics | | Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts | 1877 | | | | 652, 659 | | Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts | 1894 | | | | 843 (A & J Scott) | | RSA | 1876 | | | | 586 (Rennison & Scott design) | | RSA | 1877 | | | | 902 (John Robertson) | | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p8 |
Periodical References| The following periodicals contain references to this building: | | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | British Architect | 1 February 1878 | | | | | Building News | 31 October 1879 | | | p536 - foundation stone | | Building News | 19 December 1879 | | | p740 and illustration | | Building News | 3 February 1882 | 42 | | page 139 |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this building: | | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 38978 | | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Lorimer and Matthew Collection | | LOR P/26 | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | George Gibson: L no5800 (combined box 101) |
Images © All rights reserved. Building news 3 February 1882, v42, p139. Courtesy of Robert Hill  © All rights reserved. Building news 3 February 1882, v42, p139. Courtesy of Robert Hill.  © All rights reserved. |