March 2025 Newsletter
Thomson150 Exhibition
The Thomson150 exhibition at the Mitchell Library (Granville Street entrance) continues until Saturday, 26th April. The exhibition features information boards about Thomson’s life and work, as well as books of which he would have been aware and other publications. See event details here.
Garnkirk Urns
The two Thomson-designed urns up for auction recently in Glasgow realised £3,600 plus fees and were sold to a private bidder. We would like to thank all those who offered financial support towards a possible purchase by the Society.
We remain on the look-out for Thomson-related artefacts that may come up for auction, in line with the Society's objects, including the ability to ‘purchase, take on lease, hire, or otherwise acquire, any property or rights… suitable for the company’s activities’, including ‘heritable or movable’ items. In doing so, we remain mindful of the need to ensure a secure and protected end-use and accessibility to Society members and the public.
Walmer Crescent CPD
Glasgow City Heritage Trust is offering a training opportunity on Tuesday 15th April for built heritage professionals to view the stone repair works currently underway at the Category A-listed Walmer Crescent.
Designed by Alexander “Greek” Thomson, the Crescent is a terraced row of tenements. In 2024, a significant bulge was noticed in the stonework at the base of part of the terrace, which required emergency propping up. Works are now underway to understand the causes and fix the damage to prevent further structural problems. Participants will get to see the works in-situ, and learn more about general stonework repairs.
Booking is essential via the GCHT website.
Mitchell Library Glasgow850 events
The programme of Glasgow850-related events at the Mitchell Library on Saturdays at 1pm being organised by the Society continues through April (the Library is closed on Easter Saturday).
Ailsa Boyd: Ancient Inspiration for Modern Living: Alexander Thomson and Owen Jones
Saturday, 5 April, 1pm
Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson (1817-1875) and Owen ‘Alhambra’ Jones (1809-1874) were contemporaries, known for their innovative adaptations of the styles of ancient foreign cultures, creating uniquely dramatic, colourful buildings. Both were idealistic historians of design, publishing ideas about the importance of developing architectural language using modern materials. Dr Ailsa Boyd explores their parallel inspiration, designs and architecture, and influence upon each other and the Victorian age.
Dr Ailsa Boyd is an independent writer and lecturer in 19th century art, design and literature, with a particular interest in home decoration and imagined spaces. She is currently writing a monograph on Glasgow architect Robert Duncan (1837-1928).
‘Nineveh on the Clyde: The Architecture of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’
Saturday, 12 April, 1pm
Murray Grigor’s award-winning film on ‘Greek’ Thomson’s architecture, made in collaboration with the late Dr Gavin Stamp, as part of Glasgow’s programme as 1999 UK City of Architecture and Design. The programme includes the reconstruction of a large-scale model of the Queen’s Park U.P. Church, Thomson’s last major church, destroyed by bombing in 1943, a recreation by SCRAN of the interior of the church, and features specially composed music by Eddie McGuire.
Murray Grigor, OBE has made over fifty films focusing on different aspects of arts and architecture. He was first filmmaker to be made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and the Royal Institute of British Architects. Nineveh on the Clyde won the Prix Desjardins at the 2000 Montreal Festival International du Film sur l’Art.
Niall Murphy: A History of Tenements from a Glasgow Perspective
Saturday, 26 April, 1pm
Tenement living in Glasgow dates back several centuries and continues to be a way of life for thousands of families and households. Niall Murphy considers how the tenement developed in the city, responding to Glasgow’s rapid growth through the 19th and into the 20th century.
Niall Murphy is Director of the Glasgow City Heritage Trust. Formerly an architect in Edinburgh, Berlin and Hong Kong, he has been particularly involved in architectural conservation and preservation in Govanhill and Pollokshields and hosts the Trust’s If Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk podcast.
All events are bookable on our Eventbrite page, or via our website. We also encourage people to turn up on the day to make use of any empty seats, but priority will be given to those who pre-booked tickets.