Old Glasgow Club

Minutes of an Ordinary Meeting of the Old Glasgow Club held at Adelaide’s, 209 Bath Street on Thursday 13 March 2008 at 7.30pm

Attendance

91

Chair

Mrs Forrest

Welcome

Mrs Forrest welcomed existing members, new members and visitors to the meeting.

Apologies

There were apologies from Carol Thomson, Jim Gibson, Brian Henderson, Janette Knox, Graham Smith, Joan Wylie, Margaret Thom, Alistair Ross and Sarah Coyle.

Minutes

The minutes of the last ordinary meeting held on 14^th February 2008, having been circulated, were approved, on the motion of Mr Cunningham and seconded by Mrs Russell. There were no amendments or matters arising.

President’s report

There was no president’s report.

Secretary’s report

Mrs McNae pointed out that the AGM date has been changed to May 1^st 2008 (from May 8^th 2008) in the City Chambers.

The J.A.S.  Memorial Walk will take place on Thursday May 15^th 2008. Mr Peter Mortimer will take us around Dennistoun. No booking is required for the walk. The time and meeting place will be announced at the next Ordinary Meeting and the details will be updated on the club’s website.

The Tappit Hen tournament will be on Thursday 22^nd May 2008 at 6.30 pm in Kelvingrove Bowling Greens. Afterwards there will be a buffet supper in Canvas (across the road from the Greens). Cost £5.00. Please give your name to Mr Sam Gordon tonight if you are interested in coming along. Details will also be on the Website. You don’t even have to bowl if you’d prefer to spectate.

The summer outing is on Saturday 14^th June 2008 to Falkland Palace with a High Tea at the Pitfirrane Hotel, Crossford, Dunfermline. Bookings are being taken tonight and again details are on the website. Tickets cost

£26      (full price)

£23      (concession)

£16      (if you are a National Trust Member, membership card MUST be shown at Falkland Palace)

Speaker

Mrs Forrest introduced Mr Ian Mitchell who, despite having laryngitis, spoke on the topic of Unlocking Maryhill, illustrating the talk with various slides.

Mr Mitchell started by explaining his participation in the Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust. Maryhill Burgh Halls were erected at the junction of Maryhill Road and Gairbraid Street in 1878 whilst Maryhill was an independent Burgh. When Glasgow annexed Maryhill in 1891 the halls lost their civic function but were still in public use until the 1980’s. Since then they have been derelict. The Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust has been set up to restore the “B” Listed building as well as the police & fire stations and swimming pool back to their former glory, as well as providing some community amenities.

The estimated cost of restoration is £6-7 million. The government have already contributed over £1 million through the Cities Growth Fund and it is hoped that Historic Scotland will also contribute. Once restored (hopefully in 2011) the development will provide a community space comprising social areas, a recording studio, a museum, as well as business units and an Olympic standard swimming pool.

The Halls were designed by Duncan McNaughton and decorated by 20 large stained glass panels made by Stephen Adam. These panels depict the various industries found within Maryhill in the 1870’s and the working folk employed by them. They are a unique snapshot of the social history of the area at a time when photography was in its infancy and highlight how many different industries Maryhill sustained. Only one of the panels is currently on public display (in the People’s Palace), the others are in the Burrell Collection archives for safe keeping.

Mr Mitchell then showed us several slides with representations of the stained glass panels depicting a paper mill, a shipbuilding yard, a barge, a textile mill, glass works, engine works, lead works, paint works, brick works, chemical works, timber works, a carpenters yard, ironworks, the railway and the local barracks. In some slides it is possible to make out local landmarks still visible today.

The redevelopment of Maryhill, like other areas of Glasgow, is moving ahead quickly with many old listed buildings being renovated for flats and new social & luxury housing being erected. The rejuvenation of the Forth and Clyde canal has brought boats and tourists into the area resulting in the building of a marina and a new hotel. Maryhill also has many hidden gems such as a MacIntosh-designed Church Hall on Ruchill Street and the old guard house of the Barracks which housed Rudolph Hess for 4 days during the war. Perhaps, one day soon, Maryhill will be called Glasgow’s Venice again.

Currently the interior of the Burgh Halls has been demolished and it is hoped that the glass panels will be incorporated into the renovation within hermetically sealed, toughened glass. The panels can then be viewed for the pieces of art they are and also for educational purposes. Each un-restored panel has been preliminary valued at £125,000, ironic since they were once rescued from a skip. For further information on the restoration project please see www.glasgowwestend.co.uk/IanMitchell/maryhillhallsrestore.php

On Monday 17^th March 2008 images of the stained glass panels will be projected onto the side of the Burgh Halls building.

Mr Mitchell then answered questions from the floor.

Vote of thanks

Mr Robertson thanked Mr Mitchell for his fascinating and illuminating presentation.

Close

Mrs Forrest reminded members of the next meeting on 10th April and wished all a safe journey home.

P. Cairns