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Buildings

Basic Site Details

Templeton's Carpet Factory
Glasgow
Scotland
The iron work was devised by Alex Harvey, mill engineer, Govan while Leiper deemed himself responsible for the design of the facades only. Part of the building collapsed in high winds during construction, with considerable loss of life. Significantly, the collapse raised serious questions concerning the relative responsibilities of the architect and engineer.

The disaster attracted the attention of the English press with reports in the Manchester Guardian, The Times, and Observer. These noted that about 5.00pm on 1 November 1899 a new mill building in course of erection collapsed in gale force winds. The building, 188 feet by 46 feet, had reached a height of five storeys and much of the brickwork of one external wall fell through the roof of an adjoining weaving shed, killing thirty of the girls working inside and injuring others. Fortunately the construction workers had finishedwork for the day, otherwise the death toll would have been much higher.

A public inquiry was ordered and this opened on 20 December 1889. There was some discrepancy between the engineer and architect employed as to their respective responsibilities and it was further found that deviations had been made to the plans approved by the Dean of Guild Court in respect of the fixing of the joists. However, ther report concluded that the exterior wall would only be unstable during construction and that the completed building would probably have survived unscathed.

Cost of 1980s conversion: £3.7million.

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

Class classic

ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
FactoryNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

Str Add classic

AddressCurrent AddressNotes
London RoadYes
62 Templeton StreetYes
Abercromby StreetYes
Glasgow GreenYes
Fordneuk Street

Events

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

event classic

Event TypeFromToNotes
1889Original building (including mill behind façade)
1889/11/01The Glasgow Mill Disaster. Collapse of external wall
Build/construction1890Rebuilding following collapse
1927New wings, London Road and Templeton Street
19271928Abercromby Street
Design exhibited1929New factory in Craignestock Place
Design exhibited1931Offices and warehouse for James Templeton & Co
1934Templeton Street wing
Design exhibited1934Railway Mill, Bridgeton, extension
1936New wing to Glasgow Green
Plans drawn up1953Plans in hand for extensions
Build/construction1963Factory warehouse
Closed1978
Destruction/demolition19801981Demolition of redundant buildings in central courtyard
Alteration/conversion19821985Restoration of factory and conversion to offices

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.

design classic

PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
Messrs J B Harvey1888cStructure of mill behind the Leiper façade
William Leiper1889Original building and facades.
George Arthur BoswellA19271937Various additions (see events) including 'new factory' in Craignestock Place
George Arthur BoswellB1931Offices and warehouse for James Templeton & Co
George Arthur BoswellC1934Railway Mill, Bridgeton, extension
Ninian Rutherford Jamieson Johnston1934Was responsible for perspective showing 1934 addition (as assistant to Boswell)
James Templeton and Co Ltd ArchitectsCArchitectural practice1953Plans in hand for extensions
David Ralph SamsonGArchitect1963Factory warehouse
Geoffrey James MonroGArchitect1963Factory warehouse
Ian Cruickshank (or Cruikshank)GArchitect1963Factory warehouse
John ForbesGArchitect1963Factory warehouse
Monro & PartnersGArchitectural practice1963Factory warehouse
The Charles Robertson PartnershipFArchitectural practice19821985Restoration and conversion to offices
(Professor) Charles Calthorpe RobertsonFJob architect19831985Restoration and conversion to offices.
Steven AldridgeFJob architect19831985Restoration and conversion to offices

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:

client classic

NameNotes
Templeton, Mr of James Templeton & Co
Scottish Development Agency (SDA)client for 1980s conversion

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

bio ref classic

AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Allen, Nic (ed.)Scottish Architects in Conservationp99
McKean, Charles1987The Scottish Thirties: An Architectural IntroductionEdinburgh: Scottish Academic PressShows Ninian Johnstone perspective pp70, 105
RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970
RSA18891015
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts1929196
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts1934284
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts1931378
Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)pp459, 462

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

period ref classic

Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Architect1889/12/27*
Architect and Building News1937Jan-Junp370
Architect and Building News1934Jul-Decp144
Architect and Building News1936Jul-Decp200
Builders Journal1898/01/12*p488
Manchester Guardian1889/11/02p8 - report on disaster
Manchester Guardian1889/12/23p6 - public inquiry
The Times1899/11/02p5 - report on the disaster
The Times1889/11/04p9 - report on disaster
The Times1890/02/24p4 - inquiry report
Building1968/03/29p154
Builder1953/09/11p413
Manchester Guardian1889/12/21p7 and p8 - public inquiry

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
Strathclyde Regional ArchivesGlasgow Dean of GuildCopies in NMRS (Boswell work)
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSRIAS Collection1 set watercolours and 1 photograph
British CarpetsBritish Carpets drawing archiveCopies in NMRS at GWD 137/1-11 (Leiper work)
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register33857
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection20 drawings by Boswell, 1934. Acc No 1996/12
Professor Charles Robertson\'s CVInformation sent from Professor Charles Robertson to Yvonne Hillyard, October 2010