Glasgow City Chambers

History

The need for a new city chambers had been apparent since the 18th century, with the old Glasgow Tolbooth at Glasgow Cross becoming insufficient for the purposes of civic government in a growing town with greater political responsibilities. In 1814, the tolbooth was sold – with the exception of the steeple, which still remains – and the council chambers moved to the public buildings in the Saltmarket, near Glasgow Green. A subsequent move took the city council to the city and county buildings between Wilson Street and Ingram Street in 1844. In the early 1880s, City Architect John Carrick was asked to identify a suitable site for a purpose-built City Council Chambers. Carrick identified the east side of George Square, which was then bought.

Following a design competition, the building was designed by the Scottish architect William Young in the Victorian style and construction started in 1882. The building was inaugurated by Queen Victoria in August 1888 and the first council meeting held within the chambers took place in October 1889. An extension connected by pairs of archways across John Street was completed in 1912

The new City Chambers initially housed Glasgow Town Council from 1888 to 1895, when that body was replaced by Glasgow Corporation. It remained the corporation's headquarters until it was replaced by Glasgow District Council under the wider Strathclyde Regional Council in May 1975. It then remained the Glasgow District Council headquarters until the abolition of the Strathclyde Region led to the formation of Glasgow City Council in April 1996.

Architecture

Exterior

The building is in the Beaux arts style, an interpretation of Renaissance Classicism incorporating Italianate styles with a vast range of ornate decoration, used to express the wealth and industrial export-led economic prosperity of the Second City of the Empire. The exterior sculpture, by James Alexander Ewing, included the central Jubilee Pediment as its centrepiece. Although originally intended to feature a figure symbolising Glasgow 'with the Clyde at her feet sending her manufactures to all the world', the Pediment was redesigned to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It depicts Victoria enthroned, surrounded by emblematic figures of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales, alongside the colonies of the British Empire (mostly British India). Ewing also designed the apex sculptures of Truth, Riches, and Honour, and the statues of The Four Seasons on the Chamber's tower. The central apex figure of Truth is popularly known as Glasgow's Statue of Liberty, because of its close resemblance to the similarly posed, but very much larger, statue in New York harbour.

Interior

:Here's the Bird that never flew :Here's the Tree that never grew :Here's the Bell that never rang :Here's the Fish that never swam

The ornate banqueting hall, which is 33.5 m long by 14.6 m wide and 15.8 m high, is decorated with huge murals by the Glasgow Boys. The room hosted Nelson Mandela and Sir Alex Ferguson when they received the Freedom of the City in 1993 and 1999, respectively. The Council Chamber is clad in Spanish mahogany panelling and its windows are made of Venetian stained glass.

In popular culture

The building was used as a stand in for the British Embassy in Moscow in the film An Englishman Abroad in 1983, and as the Vatican in Heavenly Pursuits in 1986. It was also used for the film The House of Mirth in 2000 and featured more recently in the television series Outlander.

Gallery

File:Glasgow City Chambers The Council Chamber.jpg|The Council Chambers File:Glasgow City Chambers The Banqueting Hall.jpg|The Banqueting Hall File:Glasgow City Chambers Staircase.jpg|The Staircase File:Glasgow City Chambers interior.jpg|Mosaic ceiling of the ground floor Loggia File:Scotland - Glasgow City Chambers - 20141112102601.jpg|The main entrance

References

References

1. {{Historic Environment Scotland
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3. Ray McKenzie. (2002). "Public Sculpture of Glasgow". University Press.
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10. "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973". Legislation.gov.uk.
11. (31 July 2019). "Glasgow City Council: Tour of Chambers". The Glasgow South and Eastwood Extra.
12. Ray McKenzie. (2002). "Public Sculpture of Glasgow". University Press.
13. Ray McKenzie. (2002). "Public Sculpture of Glasgow". University Press.
14. {{Historic Environment Scotland
15. "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (July 24, 2021, 4:16 pm)".
16. (16 September 2011). "Glasgow: the unlikely favourite location for Hollywood film-makers". The Guardian.
17. "House of Mirth". IMDb.
18. "Our pick: Outlander filming locations". Walkhighlands.