Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

A B McDonald, 1914-17. 2 large impressive linked 3-storey 11-bay rectangular blocks with courtyard buildings and hose tower in Free Renaissance style forming former Southern Fire Station. Predominantly red sandstone ashlar to ground floor and dressings and red brick to upper floors. Base course, channelled ground floor, wide band course between ground and 1st floor, eaves cornice, low parapet. Some canted oriel windows to 1st and 2nd floors, predominantly broken pediment hoodmoulds to 1st floor windows. Occasional carved panels at eaves level. E BLOCK: E (STREET) ELEVATION: central advanced doorway with imposing pair of columns rising to 2nd floor with Ionic-inspired capitals flanking single light windows supporting large segmental canopy containing shield and wreath motif. Flanked by 2 bays with (now) large rectangular windows at ground, tripartite windows above, bays separated by pair of pilasters with ashlar and brick banding. Outer 3 bays mirrored on each side, with central bay with stylised figurative carving at eaves level, flanked by tripartite windows, those at 1st and 2nd floors canted oriels. N ELEVATION: blank, harled. S ELEVATION: single bay with tripartite windows to far left, those at 1st and 2nd floor canted oriels. To outer left, at ground floor, entrance with pilasters with lintel with wide band course forming link to S (Wallace Street) Block W (COURTYARD) ELEVATION: plainer, near-central entrance with round-headed window above at 2nd floor surmounted by narrow canted parapet section. Flanked by pair of large arched openings, those to right surmounted by canted oriel windows at 1st floor. Further entrance to left and right with round-headed windows above at 2nd floor. S BLOCK: S (STREET) ELEVATION: central advanced bay with tall pilasters with Ionic-inspired capitals at 1st floor rising to 2nd floor flanking bipartite windows, surmounted by segmental canopy enclosing carved fireman's helmet within wreath. Outer 5 bays mirrored on each side, bays 1 and 3 tripartite windows with canted oriels at 1st and 2nd floors flank bipartite section with carved motif at eaves level. Bays 4 and 5 with tripartite windows divided by shallow pilasters with ashlar and brick banding. W ELEVATION: blank, harled. E ELEVATION: blank. N (COURTYARD) ELEVATION: plainer, central entrance with round-headed window above at 2nd floor surmounted by narrow canted parapet section. Further entrance to left and right with round-headed windows above at 2nd floor. COURTYARD: HOSE TOWER: 6-stage square tower, channelled ashlar to ground floor and dressings, brick to upper stages. Large cill course to 6th stage, eaves cornice. Single light windows to S and N elevations set into round-arched recess with keystone at 4th floor, W and E elevations blank with round-arched recess with keystone to 4th floor. To left, recessed single storey brick former laundry. To right, single storey flat-roofed section with round-arched entrance doorway with pitched roof section to N. To N, 2-storey, 6-bay brick building with ashlar dressings and eaves cornice. Entrance at bay 3. To NE, later flat-roofed brick fire engine garage with large pair of timber doors to S elevation. Glazing largely original, timber sash and case windows with horns. To street elevations predominantly 8-pane and 12-pane. To courtyard elevations, mostly 4-pane or 2-pane, to tower, 8-pane. Courtyard building to N has replacement windows. Predominantly grey slates. Large brick ridge stacks with ashlar cornices. INTERIOR: altered and modernised, but with the original stairwells and cast-iron banisters with timber handrails in S block.

Statement of Special Interest

Built as the Southern District Fire Station for the Glasgow Fire Brigade and constructed in two phases, the South block begun first. Converted sympathetically c1989 to form a homeless assessment centre with accommodation.

An imposing and distinctive piece of architecture within the Tradeston streetscape and an important part of Glasgow's social history. The brick and ashlar banding, tall hose tower and original windows are of particular note. Once part of a thriving industrial area, the surrounding district has changed considerably in the last 50 years.

The fire station opened on the 27th October 1916. The E block contained the Watch Room and the Engine House where accommodation for 4 motor vehicles was provided as well as housing for the firemen on the ground floor. Above were further apartments and a billiard room, recognisable by the canted oriels on the courtyard elevation. The S block was built to house firemen and their families, with provision for 36 families in identical apartments, all with their own kitchen and bathroom. This block now provides accommodation for homeless families. Access to the houses was (and still is) from the courtyard, not Wallace Street, so that all comings and goings could be observed by those men on duty in the Watch Room. All the buildings were lit by electricity. The estimated cost of construction was £25,000.

A laundry was provided for the families in the building attached to the left of the hose tower. The courtyard building was probably a workshop, although it differs slightly from the building named as such in the Dean of Guild Plans.

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.