Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

C J McNair & Elder, 1935-7. 5-storey courtyard plan striking Moderne former working men's hostel. To S and E, cream and black banded tiles at ground floor with alternating bands of brick and white painted cement above. N and W harled. Cill courses to all floors.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: off-centre curved entrance with recessed doorway with large curved flat-roofed canopy above. To left single bay taller section.

E ELEVATION: to left, 10-bay section with rounded corner to far left, tiling at ground floor ceases at bay entrance doorway at bay 2. To right, harled. Single bay recessed section, 2-bay advanced section, further 2-bay recessed section.

N ELEVATION: plain, harled, blank elevation with advanced sections to left.

W ELEVATION: plain, harled/painted blank elevation part-obscured by adjacent shops.

Predominantly original metal-framed 8-pane casement windows.

INTERIOR: predominantly original. Former restaurant and lounge at ground floor in flat roofed section within courtyard. On 1st to 4th floors rooms arranged off four narrow corridors following perimeter of building, some overlooking courtyard. Exceptionally small single rooms with room for small single bed, wash hand basin and radiator. Some original radiators. Double rooms (for men only) at corners of building.

Statement of Special Interest

This building is of importance both stylistically and as part of Glasgow's social history. An excellent and particularly striking example of Thirties Moderne architecture, the Bellgrove Hotel encompasses many of the essential components of this style: clean white lines, curves, a horizontal bias, and decorative bands of coloured tiles. It forms a significant part of the streetscape in an area which has changed greatly within the last 50 years.

During the 19th century the area around the Gallowgate became heavily industrialised and the Bellgrove Hotel, as a working mens hostel, was presumably built to provide modest accommodation for the many workers still required in the area in the first half of the 20th century. Historical photographs of the building in use as a hostel in the present dining hall show men relaxing in the lounge at tables and chairs or in easy chairs, and a 'corner of the restaurant' where aproned waitresses stand beside ordered napery-laden tables.

Built for Thomas Roger, the initial set of Dean of Guild Plans drawn in March 1935 show the entrance on the SE corner of the building. The drawings dated December 1935 show the entrance as constructed. The plans show that 2 lavatories, 1 footbath and 1 bathroom were allocated per floor. Steelwork was by Redpath, Brown and Co.

Currently (2004) the building operates as a privately-run hostel for homeless men.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.