Basic Site Details

Name: Hermitage School
Town, district or village: Helensburgh
City or county: Dunbartonshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: Demolished
Grid ref:
Notes: The new Hermitage School at Helensburgh, erected by the School Board for Row, was opened on Monday. The building is divided into two portions for girls and boys and is Gothic in style; the main frontage is 115 feet in length, and is broken up by turrets, iron-crested steep roof, and central belfry. There are eight rooms in all, so separated by movable partitions that they can be thrown into three large apartments. The upper parts of these partitions are glazed. There are four other class-rooms. The windows are placed high, and are fitted so as to allow heated air to escape without causing a down-draught. The heating is by hot- water pipes. Adjoining are large playgrounds, and a janitor's house. The total accommodation is for 500 children. The architects are Messrs William Spence and Son, of Glasgow. [Building News 6 August 1880 p167]

Demolished all except janitor's lodge.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1Hermitage AcademyYes 

Building Type Classification

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

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 2Argyle Street Original name
Item 2 of 211, East Argyle StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 718791880  
Item 2 of 73 March 1879  Plans dated
Item 3 of 729 May 1893  New wing - plans dated
Item 4 of 727 March 1905  Addition of physics wing and art department - plans dated
Item 5 of 719101911 Addition of gymnasium
Item 6 of 727 February 1911  Gymnasium - plans dated
Item 7 of 7c. 1974 Demolition 

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 10Henry Field SpenceArchitectA18791880 
Item 2 of 10William SpenceArchitectA18791880 
Item 3 of 10William Spence & SonArchitectural practiceA18791880 
Item 4 of 10William LeiperArchitect 1893 New wing
Item 5 of 10Alexander Nisbet PatersonArchitectC1905 Addition of physics wing and art department
Item 6 of 10Campbell DouglasArchitect, ValuerC1905 Addition of physics wing and art department
Item 7 of 10Campbell Douglas & PatersonArchitectural practiceC1905 Addition of physics wing and art department
Item 8 of 10Alexander Nisbet PatersonArchitectD19101911Addition of the gymnasium
Item 9 of 10Campbell DouglasArchitect, ValuerD19101911Addition of the gymnasium
Item 10 of 10Campbell Douglas & PatersonArchitectural practiceD19101911Addition of the gymnasium

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 1School Board of RowClient for original (1879) building and 1893 wing

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1McDonald, William (ed)1999Burgh of Helensburgh Dean of Guild Court Records 1875-1975 Argyll & Bute Council Library & Information Service and Argyll & Bute Archives 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Building News6 August 1880  p167

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 3Argyll & Bute Council ArchivesHelensburgh Dean of Guild 5/1879; 15/1893; 8/1905; 3/1911
Item 2 of 3Mitchell Library GlasgowOffice Plans and drawings of Watson, Salmond & GrayTD 1155/49 
Item 3 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from Fiona Sinclair