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Summary

Description

Thomson and Sandilands, 1897-1902. Beaux Arts

Renaissance town hall with muncipal offices and council

chamber in E block and main hall in W block. Red

ashlar. Govan Road elevation: 2 storey, 13-bay,

central arched doorpiece, fine wrought-iron gate and

wooden doors, flanked by masks of former Provosts (in

spandrels) and arched windows in Gibb's surrounds.

1st floor 3 windows in swagged architraves under oculi,

behind tetrastyle Ionic portico. Entablature and pediment

with carved tympanum. 2 small square columned pavilions

with lead domes and urn finials. Ionic aedicule in front

of slated dome, latter topped by colonnaded cupola and

flanked by tall stacks. 4-bays to either side of portico,

ground floor windows in Gibb's surround, 1st floor in

architraves. Cornice, balustrade. Corner pavilions: 1st

floor arched windows between 2 Ionic columns. Eaves

balustrade, urn finials, slated square French roof with

oval oculi in pedimented dormers, lead pyramid roofs.

Summertown Road elevation: 2-storey, 16-bay, large gable

end to main hall at W. Some similar details. 3 central

bays advanced with oculus in stepped-up parapet,

pyramidal slate roof. Small 1st floor hall to W with

elaborate cupola in centre of ridge. Entrance to main

hall: 3 arched doors with elaborate wrought-iron gates

between 4 columns carrying wrought-iron balcony, band

course and large Diocletian window, carved tympana

between paired Ionic pilasters, entablature and pediment.

Flanking towers with oculi at ground and 2nd floors,

pedimented windows at 1st and lead domed pavilions on 4

piers and Ionic columns at top.

Carmichael Street: 2-storey, 10-bay; 1st floor large

gallery windows, corniced balustrade. Ornate cupola in

centre of ridge.

Merryland Street: 2-storey, 15-bay block similar to

Summertown Road elevation with small 3-storey section

and 6 central bays added in 1902, enclosing yard with

2 doors and arched cart entry with iron gate. Rear of

hall: semi-circular drum with balustrade rises from

1-storey projection. Slate roofs. Most windows are

original sash and case.

Interior: E section, municipal offices, now Social Work

Dept: arched vestibule, mosaic floor with Govan arms.

Panelled marble dado. Corbelled plaster cornice, Art

Nouveau capitals to pillars and keystones in arches.

Panelled wooden doors to Council chamber and Burgh

officials rooms. Stairs rise from either side of door to

landing, balusters and marble Ionic columns, 1st floor

majolica tiled dado in corridors and pedimented wooden

doorpieces.

Council chamber: domed skylight, but side windows

blocked. Chandelier. Plaster panelled ceiling, ornate

plaster pilasters, arch with GBC in keystone under

pediment, smaller arched doors. Modern timber dado and

wallpaper. Main hall: only the curved panelled pilaster

ceiling and part-fluted Ionic columns in gallery survived

1973 refurbishment. Apart from some tiles at the

W entrance and curved plaster roof in foyer, nothing else

survives in the section managed by Glasgow District Halls

Dept.

Statement of Special Interest

The independent Burgh of Govan's answer to Glasgow town hall.

The section used by Social Work Dept is intact but the

interior of the Halls at W was obliterated in 1973. All the

majolica tiles in the corridors and stairs, dado and gallery

wood panelling, pedimented doors, art nouveau

wrought-iron banisters and ceilings of lesser halls have

been destroyed. The magnificent proscenium arch

(plaster sculpted by A M McFarlane Shannan), art

nouveau with figures supporting the ship of Govan has

been replaced by a small plaque with Glasgow's shield.

References

Bibliography

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