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• Type

  Map

  Title

  Map for Clock Tower, Wellpark Brewery, Duke Street, Glasgow (LB52651)

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600040031)

Summary

Description

Clock tower, dating to 1889, located within a large inner-city brewery complex, still in use with evidence for brewing taking place on the site from 1556. A new lager brewery was built and expanded on the Wellpark site, begun in 1889 and completed in 1891. The clock tower is found near the centre of the site.

The remainder of the brewery site and interior of the clock tower and modern pipework and related gangway within and through the tower, are excluded from the listing (see Section 6. Legal exclusions).

The clock tower is built primarily from brick with some painted stone detailing. The east elevation adjoins a mid-20^th century building to first floor level. The south elevation adjoins later modern structures. The west elevation, with a plain mortar faced or rendered section of wall on the ground floor and adjacent entrance doorway leading into tower on right, is partly adjoined by a modern sheet metal covered walkway at ground floor level and modern pipework and gangway (specifically excluded from listing) at first floor level. A round arched window with a moulded stone lintel, containing decorative timber framed glazing, is on the main (north) elevation at ground floor.

There is a slight difference in the colour and material of the red brickwork immediately around and below the window, indicating possible partial rebuilding or an historic change to the window margins and sill. Two sloping courses of stonework sit on a small moulded and inset cornice, supporting the narrower upper stories of the tower. First floor level has a moulded stone roundel with overhanging projected plain cornice containing a clock face on the main elevation and an identical roundel on the west elevation that contains a modern square blanking plate. Second floor level has a wooden louvered opening resting on a projected plain cornice on the north and west elevations, presumably behind which a bell was originally housed.

A projected plain cornice adorns the wall head with a slated, tented roof with a protruding round arched opening, probably small doorways accessing the wallhead, on each roof face.

The interior (only ground floor seen in 2024) does not contain any architectural features of note with modern metal pipework and gangways visible.

Historical development

There is historical evidence for brewing taking place by Robert Tennent by the Molendinar Burn on the site from as early as 1556. The brewery is still active today (2025), making it the oldest continuous commercial concern in Glasgow.

Wellpark Brewery, originally called Drygate Brewery, was founded by H. & R. Tennent in 1740 at this site, then referred to as Drygate Bridge. Hugh Tennent's sons, John and Robert, continued the family business, trading as J. & R. Tennent from 1769. The business expanded in the 1790s when the Tennent family purchased the neighbouring brewery of William McLehose and renamed the 5-acre (20,000 m2) site as Wellpark Brewery. By the mid-19th century, J. & R. Tennent was the world's largest bottled beer exporter. In 1884, Hugh Tennent took control of the company and first brewed the now world-famous Tennent's lager in 1885. He later expanded the site and built a new lager brewery at Wellpark, which was begun in 1889 and completed in 1891. The clock tower on the site dates from this period of historic expansion and development.

J. & R. Tennent was acquired by Charrington United Breweries in 1963 and in 1966 merged with United Caledonian Breweries, Charrington's other Scottish subsidiary, to form Tennent Caledonian Breweries. Wellpark was largely redeveloped between 1965 and 1968 to allow for more modern brewing practices and processes. C&C Group of Ireland announced a deal to buy the brewery and the Tennent's brand in 2009. In May 2014, C&C Group and Williams Brothers Brewing Company opened a craft brewery as a joint venture on the site, called Drygate Brewing Company, named after Drygate (a street which adjoins the western perimeter of the brewery) and in recognition of the long history of brewing at the site. This modern era has witnessed further development with the construction new facilities and the ongoing maintenance, adaptation and upgrading of some buildings for the running of a 21^st century brewery and visitor attraction.

Statement of Special Interest

The clock tower at Wellpark Brewery meets the criteria of special architectural or historic interest for the following reasons:

• It is well preserved and is a rare surviving example of an industry related clock tower in Scotland.
• Built in the late 19th century 'boom time' for Tennents, it represents one of the few surviving elements of the historic site.
• The original function of the building is still clearly readable in the built fabric, plan form and its surviving exterior features. It is also unusual for displaying decorative architectural elements within an essentially industrial site.
• The clock tower represents one of the last historic components of a world-famous 19^th century brewery that is still in commercial production.
• The building's location within the site has not changed since the late 19^th century during and continues to stand within a still operational brewery.

In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: interior and modern pipework and gangway running east-west through tower and all other elements of brewery site at Wellpark Brewery, Duke Street, Glasgow.

Architectural interest

Design

Wellpark Brewery is massive example of a complete brewing site. It now consists largely of 20^th and 21^st century buildings. The clock tower is one of the very few surviving historic elements of the brewery related to pre-20^th century functions on the site.

The design and construction of the clock tower at Wellpark Brewery is typical for an industrial-related structure of this date. These typical design details include the red brick construction with contrasting, lightly decorated stone details and margin features. It is built in good quality materials, which are likely to have been sourced from the area and retains a high level of architectural integrity.

The clock tower was constructed approximately in the centre of the vast brewery site and was part of wider site developments from a key period of expansion around 1890. Located on the south side of a small lane running perpendicular to the main thoroughfare, that was set out north-south, through the brewery site. The main access lane would have been a busy and crucial access route for people, vehicles and goods – the spine of the site. This layout is still evident today with the access road being retained and used. Historic site plans show that immediately south of the clock tower, the building that was originally adjoining it was used as a "dining room”.

The clock tower was one of the more decorative structures on the site and has features such as stone cornicing, moulded roundels and a neoclassic arched window.

Breweries can be found all over Scotland and their design and plan form varies widely. Many 19^th century industrial and large commercial sites, such as mills, quarries and distilleries, would have had a site-visible clock for staff. However, fewer had a dedicated clock tower and even less would be decorative and still survive today. The clock tower at Wellpark is unusual as relatively decorative and fairly complete example of its building type related to an alcoholic beverage production site.

Setting

The clock tower was built roughly in the centre of the brewery and the overall extent of the site has barely changed since. Therefore, the tower is inherently inward looking and only clearly visible from within the brewery. Although now surrounded by more recent buildings, the clock tower is still central to a commercial brewery and part of a busy working site. The materials and form of the buildings around it on site have changed but their functions and purpose are generally unchanged – to produce large quantities of beer and lager.

In the wider setting of the brewery site, there is a variation of building types and dates. There are good examples of Glasgow tenements to the east, remnants of the old hospital to the south and overlooking the brewery at the north is the famous Necropolis. However, the establishment of a brewery at this site predates all the surrounding development and is important historically.

Glasgow was an ideal location for a growing 18th and 19^th brewery with the aim to export. The nearby docks were part of the maritime highways of the period and goods brewed at Wellpark had relatively easy access to ships, and later trains, for export across Britain and the wider world. Such commercial expansion facilitated the need to redevelop Wellpark brewery and lead to the construction of the clock tower. Although the site continues to be developed, the clock tower survives as one of the last historical elements and it still plays a part in the clear commercial-scale brewery character of Wellpark within its immediate setting.

Historic interest

Age and rarity

Breweries can be found all over Scotland and their design and plan form varies widely. The clock tower as a building type is not rare, however, in the context of this industrial brewing site, the clock tower at Wellpark is a rare survival. It was built during the historic boom period of brewing by Tennent's at Wellpark taking place at the end of the 19^th century. However, beer has been produced at the site, initially by the Molendinar Burn then Drygate Bridge, since the 1500s which makes it one of the very oldest still operational breweries in Scotland and the longest running commercial concern in Glasgow.

The clock tower is a unique surviving element from a key period in the history of one of Scotland's most recognised brands. The 19^th century commerce of Tennent's saw them lead the way as the largest exporter of bottled lager in the world. The clock tower assisted with the day-to-day processes of the brewery by providing an important time keeping function that the business and staff relied upon.

Social historical interest

The clock tower is a well-preserved example with decorative elements from the late 19^th century and constructed for a boom period of this brewing industry.

There is evidence for the brewing of beer in Scotland going back 5000 years, beginning in the Neolithic period, seen at Skara Brae on Orkney. Wellpark is probably the oldest surviving site for the continuous production of beer and lager in the country. Tennents as a brand has a long and successful history, reaching worldwide fame and recognition by the 19^th century. The clock tower is as an important surviving structure from a key historic period in the history of the famous brewery.

The clock tower also has social connections with the staff that once worked at the site. Many industrial workers did not own personal watches or would not risk damaging them during their work so relied upon public clocks to tell the time and work-site clocks for break and shift calling. A bell within the clock tower would provide an audible signal for breaks and shift changes. The clock tower at Wellpark is a reminder of the period when workers relied upon such structures as a practical and symbolic feature of their working day. It had a key function in the brewery while also adding an architectural landmark within the site.

The survival of the clock tower contributes to our understanding of how the brewery site functioned in the 19th century. It is also a tangible reminder of the development of one of Scotland's most historic and recognisable drinks brands.

Tennent's has connections with Scottish football and are recognised as supporters and sponsors of the sport celebrating and promoting some of Scotland's most prominent footballing campaigns in the second half of the 20^th century.

Association with people or events of national importance

There is no association with a person or event of national importance. The Tennent's brand is recognisable at home and internationally.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

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