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Buildings

Basic Site Details

The Merchants' House
Glasgow
A listed
Scotland
Sculptor: James Young.

The extensive block of buildings which will constitute the property of the Merchants’ House are intended to be three stories in height, with basement floor and attics. The north-east corner of the new portion of the building will be surmounted by an ornamental tower rising to a height of between 120 feet and 130 feet, whilst on the north-west there will be a tower of smaller dimensions. From West George Street, which will form the principal frontage, there will be two main entrances, one leading to the private and public offices of the company, and the other to the hall, 64 feet long by 33 feet broad, situate on the second floor. A number of retiring rooms for ladies and gentlemen will communicate with the hall; whilst on the eastern side there will be a neat orchestral gallery. The proposed accommodation may thus be briefly described:- On the first floor, a public office and a series of private rooms; on the second, the hall above mentioned, a board room, secretary’s room and a number of private rooms; and on the third, the offices of the head clerk, two public offices and several smaller rooms. Building operations have already commenced. [Builder 3 October 1874 p826]

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

Class classic

ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
OfficeNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

Str Add classic

AddressCurrent AddressNotes
West George StreetYes
George SquareYes

Events

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

event classic

Event TypeFromToNotes
Plans approved1874/09Plans approved by Dean of Guild Court
Design exhibited1875Competition designs
19071909Addition of upper storeys, alterations to tower and interior work

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 DouglasA1875Unsuccessful competition design
Campbell Douglas & SellarsA1875Unsuccessful competition design
James SellarsA1875Unsuccessful competition design
John Burnet (senior)B1875Competition design
(Sir) John James BurnetC19071909Addition of upper storeys, alterations to tower and interior work
John Burnet & SonC19071909Addition of upper storeys, alterations to tower and interior work
William John BlainC19071909Addition of upper storeys, alterations to tower and interior work - as Chief Assistant to Sir John James Burnet
Alexander Buchanan CampbellDArchitect198Alterations?
Alexander Buchanan Campbell & PartnersDArchitectural practice198Alterations

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

bio ref classic

AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts1876651
Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts1875615
McKenzie, Ray2002Public sculpture of Glasgow (Public sculpture of Great Britain series)Liverpool University Press
RSA1875882 (Campbell Douglas & Sellars)
Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)p176

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

period ref classic

Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Building Industries1907/11/15*
Building News1874/06/04*
Building News1877/04/06*
Builder1874/10/03p826 - plans approved

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination PapersWilliam John Blain: L v16 no1128
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register32689
NMRSA Buchanan Campbell CollectionBUCHandlist of drawings