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Buildings

Basic Site Details

Glasgow Academy
Glasgow
A listed
Scotland
Only façade of Wilson building remains.
Cost of extensive additions by Watson, Salmond & Gray between 1934 and 1939: £100,000.
Personal information from John Watson Junior about later work of Watson, Salmond & Gray.
Originally built as Elmbank Academy or Glasgow Academy, which moved to Hillhead in 1878, whereafter this building became Glasgow High School

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:

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NameCurrent NameNotes
Strathclyde Regional Council OfficesNoSince 1976
Glasgow High SchoolNoFrom 1878 to 1976
Strathclyde HouseYesAfter 1976
Elmbank AcademyNoAlternative original name
Offices of Glasgow City CouncilYes

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

Class classic

ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
SchoolNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

Str Add classic

AddressCurrent AddressNotes
71-83 Holland StreetYes
59-61 Holland StreetYesLodges
120 Elmbank StreetYesAddress given in HS list

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:

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Event TypeFromToNotes
1846Central building built
1867Additions
1875North wing added
1886New blocks (£8,000) - S wing.
1887South wing added
Build/construction18961897New block- N wing.
19051907Assembly Hall
Design exhibited1922Perhaps competition design - for extension?
19291931Science block
19341939Extensive additions, including 18 classrooms, large library, gymnasium, ancillary and administrative accommodation, monumental entrance gateway with two janitors' houses - steel-framed
19381957Reconstruction of main building, dormers on main elevation, new east façade, lodges and claire voyee railing on Holland Street

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.

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PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
Charles Wilson18401846
John Burnet (senior)B1867Addition
Hugh Hough (or Heugh, or Heuch) MacLureC18754-bay wing
James Lymburn CowanD1886New blocks (£8,000) (S wing).
Hugh Hough (or Heugh, or Heuch) MacLureE1887Second wing
James Lymburn CowanF18961897Further new block (on Holland Street) - N wing
Cowan & KnoxG19051907?Assembly Hall
James Lymburn CowanG1905Assembly Hall
Donald McKay Stoddart1922Perhaps competition design - for extension?
David SalmondH19291931Science block
James Henry GrayH19291931Science block
John WatsonH19291931Science block
Watson, Salmond & GrayH19291931Science block
John Watson (junior)I19341939Extensive additions, including 18 classrooms, large library, gymnasium, ancillary and administrative accommodation, monumental entrance gateway with two janitors' houses - steel-framed
Watson, Salmond & GrayI19341939Extensive additions, including 18 classrooms, large library, gymnasium, ancillary and administrative accommodation, monumental entrance gateway with two janitors' houses - steel-framed

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

Child Structures

This structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details):

Child classic

NotesName
CHECK SOURCE OF OBITUARY<br><br>Commission awarded after competition open to all High School alumni, assessed by John Keppie. Described by Keppie in his Proposer's Statement for Cullen's FRIBA papers as "one of the best Club Houses in Scotland".Glasgow High School War Memorial Club House
Glasgow Academy, Gymnasium

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

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AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Glasgow AcademyGlasgow Academy
Hamilton, Sarah L2010Glasgow\'s School Board Heritage: the Challenges of ConservationMSc Dissertation in Architectural Conservation
RSA1922592
RSA1932679
Sinclair, Fiona J, ed1995Charles Wilson Architect 1810-1863: A Question of StyleGlasgow: Park Circus Promotions, 1995p22
Thomson, David1882Memoir of Charles Wilson13 March 1882Proceedings of the Glasgow Philosophical Society
Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)p207, assembly hall. Also for later Watson, Salmond & Gray work

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

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Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Builder1897/10/02LXXIIINew block
Architect and Building News1931Jan-Junp324 (unspecified 'extension')
Building Industries1896/04/15*
Building News1886/03/09*New blocks

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings CollectionGWD/21/1-5 (some drawings and some photographic copies)
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNMRS Photographic ArchiveCopies of plans GWD/86/1/P
Strathclyde Regional ArchivesGlasgow Dean of Guild
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination PapersJames Henry Gray: F no3409 (box 22); John Watson Junior: F no3983 (box 31)
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register33022
Mitchell Library GlasgowOffice Plans and drawings of Watson, Salmond & GrayTD 1155TD 1155/104