Skip to Main Content

Buildings

Basic Site Details

Glasgow Public Halls
Glasgow
A Listed
Scotland
See also separate entry for the original Mitchell Library, adjoining.

Cost: £80,000. Sculptors: John and William Mossman. Bought by the Corporation of the City of Glasgow, 1889. Cost of work c.1910 (additions, alterations and remodelling, and organ case): £23,000. Organ case of Austrian oak, 75 feet long by 40 feet high, and one of the largest in Europe. Burnt 2 November 1962 and site absorbed into Mitchell Library.

Alternative Names

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

Alt classic

NameCurrent NameNotes
Mitchell Theatre and LibraryYes
Mitchell Library and TheatreYes
St Andrew's HallsNo
St Andrews Halls

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

Class classic

ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
HallNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

Str Add classic

AddressCurrent AddressNotes
Berkeley StreetYes
Granville StreetYes
Kent RoadYes
North StreetYes

Events

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

event classic

Event TypeFromToNotes
1873Original Cunningham design - before job taken over by Campbell Douglas
Foundation stone1875/05/22
Opened1877/11/13
1901a1910bAdditions; alterations and remodelling of Grand Hall; new Austrian oak organ case
1962/11/02Gutted by fire
Scheme accepted1969/10Approval given for extension scheme
Build/construction1972/061980Reconstructed. Mitchell library extended and halls restored.
Opened1982/11/03Extension formally opened by HRH Princess Alice. Mitchell now largest public reference library in Europe.

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
Campbell DouglasA18721877Cunningham of Liverpool took the design to sketch-plan stage; the degree to which his scheme influenced the final design is not known, but Campbell Douglas was his 'associate' from the beginning
Campbell Douglas & SellarsA18721877Cunningham of Liverpool took the design to sketch-plan stage; the degree to which his scheme influenced the final design is not known, but Campbell Douglas was his 'associate' from the beginning
James SellarsA18721877Cunningham of Liverpool took the design to sketch-plan stage; the degree to which his scheme influenced the final design is not known, but Campbell Douglas was his 'associate' from the beginning
John CunninghamC1873Original design - before job taken over by Campbell Douglas
William Leiper1898Redecoration
Alexander Beith McDonaldB1910cOrgan case
Glasgow Office of Public Works Architectural Department (later Glasgow Corporation City Engineer's Department)B1910cAdditions; alterations and remodelling of Grand Hall; new Austrian oak organ case
John Alfred Taylor HoustonB1910cAdditions; alterations and remodelling of Grand Hall; new Austrian oak organ case
(Sir) Frank Mears & PartnersHArchitectural practice19661980Reconstructed. Mitchell library extended and halls restored. Appointed in 1966 to prepare plans for extension, working with librarians.
Horace Arthur Rendel GovanHArchitect19661980Reconstructed. Mitchell library extended and halls restored. Partner in charge.
Robert James NaismithHArchitect19661980Reconstructed. Mitchell library extended and halls restored. Only minor role - Rendel Govan in charge.
Hugh William Jack CrawfordHArchitect19691980Reconstructed. Mitchell library extended and halls restored

Clients

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

client classic

NameNotes
Glasgow Public Halls Company

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

bio ref classic

AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Allison, William A G1978The Mitchell Library, Glasgow: The Old and the NewGlasgow District Libraries
Glasgow District Libraries1982The Mitchell Library
Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts1875617 ('the late John Cunningham' - posthumous exhibit) and Campbell Douglas & Sellars)
Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A1996A History of Scottish Architecturep583
McKenzie, Ray2002Public sculpture of Glasgow (Public sculpture of Great Britain series)Liverpool University Press
RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970
RIBA1975RIBA Directory of practices
Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)p279

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

period ref classic

Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Builder1875/05/22XXXIII
Building News1876/12/08*
Builders Journal1898/01/12*Leiper work
RIBA Journal1910v17London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary
Builder1877/12/01XXXV
British Architect1880/01/02*
Architects Journal1912/01/03*Organ case

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination PapersJohn Alfred Taylor Houston: L v2 no155 (microfilm reel 29) & F no1794 (microfilm reel 14)
Courtesy of Margery DobsonInformation via \'Contact Us\' on websiteSent May 2012
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register33036