To celebrate the bicentenary of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson‘s birth a programme of events and activities have been planned to take place throughout 2017. We will continue to update this calendar throughout the year with more and more exciting events as these are confirmed so please keep checking back. You can also sign up to our e-mail newsletter here to stay up to date.

Jan 30 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
12:00 pm
A unique opportunity to see restoration work in progress at Holmwood. During the visit you will get the opportunity to see the application of stencil work patterns that replicate Thomson’s painstakingly uncovered original decoration scheme. NTS staff will be on hand to provide information regarding the works currently underway, whilst tea and coffee are available for…
Holmwood
Jan 31 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
12:00 pm
A unique opportunity to see restoration work in progress at Holmwood. During the visit you will get the opportunity to see the application of stencil work patterns that replicate Thomson’s painstakingly uncovered original decoration scheme. NTS staff will be on hand to provide information regarding the works currently underway, whilst tea and coffee are available for…
Holmwood
Feb 1 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
12:00 pm
A unique opportunity to see restoration work in progress at Holmwood. During the visit you will get the opportunity to see the application of stencil work patterns that replicate Thomson’s painstakingly uncovered original decoration scheme. NTS staff will be on hand to provide information regarding the works currently underway, whilst tea and coffee are available for…
Holmwood
Feb 2 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
12:00 pm
A unique opportunity to see restoration work in progress at Holmwood. During the visit you will get the opportunity to see the application of stencil work patterns that replicate Thomson’s painstakingly uncovered original decoration scheme. NTS staff will be on hand to provide information regarding the works currently underway, whilst tea and coffee are available for…
Holmwood
7:00 pm
The second in our 2017 series of talks is by Professor Dean Hawkes. His talk will focus on the work of Sir John Soane, in particular his house at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the Law Courts at Westminster (long ago demolished, but remarkable), the Bank of England and the Dulwich Picture Gallery. When Sir John Soane died in 1837,…
The Reid Building, Glasgow School of Art
7:00 pm
A unique opportunity to see the BBC’s new documentary on the life and work of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson on the big screen, this event also features a Q&A with the director. “David Hayman goes in search of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, the visionary architect who, a generation before Charles Rennie Mackintosh, transformed industrial Glasgow with some…
Centre for Contemporary Arts
Apr 7 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
7:00 pm
American architect and Renaissance architecture expert Gary Paul will discuss the work of Andrea Palladio, whilst also referring to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Alexander Thomson. Andrea Palladio’s work has been valued as the quintessence of High Renaissance calm and harmony. His reputation is based on his skill as a designer of villas,…
The Lighthouse
8:00 pm
The People’s History Show on STV Glasgow will include a 10minute segment on the legacy of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson.
STV Glasgow
Apr 9 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
12:00 pm
Help us wish Alexander a happy birthday with traditional games,crafts and cake in his most celebrated domestic design. For further information please call 0141 571 0184
Holmwood
6:45 pm
Hosted as part of the Southside Fringe Festival, join us for an evening exploring a selection of rarely screened archive film about the life of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, his buildings and how his unique architectural style influenced Glasgow in the 1800s and today. Thomson’s legacy is particularly prominent in the Southside, having completed villas, terraces,…
Bungo-Lo
7:00 pm
Gary Nisbet of Glasgow Sculpture will deliver a talk focussing on the work of John Mossman, with particular reference to the link between the Mossman’s and Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson.
Bourdon Building, GSofA
Jul 8 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
12:00 pm
Join Mini Manoeuvres for the Southside’s best garden party this summer. Dress as your favourite character from Greek mythology and take part in our Soft Troy Battle activities. A full day of music, dancing, arts and crafts, face painting and bouncing. Food and drink will be available. Babies free admission. For further information please call…
Holmwood
6:30 pm
In the bicentenary of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s birth, join Glasgow City Heritage Trust & The Alexander Thomson Society to ‘talk Thomson’ and decide: what is Thomson’s best building? One of the Glasgow’s greatest architects, Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson is praised for his originality, use of modern technologies and his personal Graeco-Egyptian style. Following on from the…
The Recital Room, Glasgow City Halls
Aug 18 @ 9:00 am – Oct 8 @ 5:00 pm
9:00 am
Lines of Thought is an exhibition about architectural drawing and representation and is devoted to the work of Alexander Thomson, one of Glasgow’s most renowned nineteenth century architects.  Curated and organised by the Alexander Thomson Society it celebrates the bicentenary of Thomson’s birth in April 1817 through a selection of original drawings by the architect…
The Lighthouse
Aug 18 @ 10:00 am – Aug 21 @ 4:00 pm
10:00 am
Things as they are/as they ought to be is an exhibition of works spanning sculpture, film and textiles by artists Olivia Jones and Alberta Whittle. Taking place inside the ruin of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s first church, the building’s context and style have acted as catalysts for conversations surrounding memory, history and appropriation between the curator and…
Caledonia Road Church
6:00 pm
Mark Baines is the chairman of the Alexander Thomson Society, an organisation that protects Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s legacy and his architectural heritage. This talk will look at the former Caledonia Road Church along with other buildings designed by Thomson on the South Side of the city, including Walmer Crescent, Moray Place and a number of…
House for an Art Lover
7:00 pm
As part of our 2017 lecture series, Mark Baines will discuss Alexander Thomson’s urban architecture and his lasting legacy in the city of Glasgow.
The Lighthouse
Sep 2 @ 11:00 am – Sep 3 @ 3:00 pm
11:00 am
Booking opens to the public 6pm 28 August 2017 The Alexander Thomson Society have organised a series of special Thomson residential openings during the first two weekends in September 2017, as part of the ongoing events celebrating Alexander Thomson’s Bicentenary. This has been made possible due the generosity of the owners of the houses involved…
Sep 9 @ 11:00 am – Sep 10 @ 3:00 pm
11:00 am
Booking opens to the public 6pm 28 August 2017 The Alexander Thomson Society have organised a series of special Thomson residential openings during the first two weekends in September 2017, as part of the ongoing events celebrating Alexander Thomson’s Bicentenary. This has been made possible due the generosity of the owners of the houses involved…
Sep 14 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
1:00 pm
Discover a Thomson villa and 2 villas by other architects, some of Alexander Thomson’s beautiful external detailing of 5 of his residential buildings in Glasgow and where the 7 Glasgow muses are to be found.
St Andrews in the Square
Sep 16 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
11:00 am
Sir Joseph Paxton designed Queen’s Park with a surrounding area of villas. As built, the area has villas, tenements and schools, many designed by Glasgow architects. Tour with Roger Guthrie looking at a selection of these listed buildings.
Queens Park Gates
Sep 16 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
2:00 pm
Alexander Dennistoun commissioned a grand design from James Salmon for a new middle class suburb. However, as the 19th century ended, pressure to house Glasgow’s influx of workers forced higher population density, creating the community’s extraordinary variety. Led by Roger Guthrie of the Alexander Thomson Society. Meeting point: Duke Street Post Office (1 Annfield Place)
1 Annfield Place
Sep 17 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
11:00 am
Alexander Thomson’s achievements included the the creation of some of Glasgow’s most remarkable housing. Walmer Crecent is a rare survivor of grandeur in an unexpected setting. Led by Roger Guthrie of the Alexander Thomson Society.
1 Cessnock St
6:00 pm
Lost Thomson: Glasgow’s Loss Thursday 21 September, 6pm £10 (£5 discounted rate for members of the Glasgow Art Club) In his bicentenary year, Fiona Sinclair gives an insightful talk on the lost works of the eminent architect Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson. Please arrive at 6pm for a welcome drink, with the talk commencing at 6.30pm sharp.…
Glasgow Art Club
7:00 pm
Paul Stallan will provide a review of the architectural syntax of Thomson’s work, delving into the laws which governed his architecture, whilst discussing where this has influenced his own architectural designs.
The Lighthouse
7:00 pm
The Alexander Thomson Society are pleased to present a rare books event in association with The Mitchell Library. Glasgow architect and director of the Society, Scott Abercrombie, will deliver a talk giving a historical context to the importance of these books in relation to Thomson’s work and other contemporary Glaswegian architects. He will discuss built examples where…
The Mitchell Library
6:30 pm
Iain McGillivray will discuss the ongoing and planned restoration work at Holmwood, one of Thomson’s finest interiors. Followed by Helen Kendrick who will deliver a talk drawing from her fantastic book, Glasgow Interiors, prepared in collaboration with Neale Smith.
Bourdon Building - Glasgow School of Art