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.
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 lost buildings in Laurieston and Huthchesontown.
Delivered as part of House for an Art Lover’s 2017 Heritage Programme.
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)
These informal and informative tours of the Glasgow Necropolis will be undertaken, weather permitting, as per the dates noted below. The tour guides assigned to each tour are also listed below. The assignations are subject to change.
In 2017 as part of the Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson bicentenary celebrations, the Friends will be undertaking Friday Evening Walking Tours with a focus on the architecture in the Necropolis. These tours last approximately one hour.
Prior booking is essential, with members of The Friends of the Glasgow Necropolis having priority booking. All other places will be allocated on a first come basis and the meeting point will be provided with every confirmed booking.
Please contact glasgownecropolistours@gmail.com with details of the tour that you wish to attend and the number of places that you wish to reserve.
Departing Glasgow Central Station at 10.20
Booking required by 26 August to atswalks@hotmail.com
All walks cost £5, payable in cash to Roger at the beginning of the walk.
Booking also available through Eventbrite at the link above.
Please note, booking is only required for the Cove & Kilcreggan walk.
If you have any questions, please email us on info@alexanderthomsonsociety.org.uk
The Save Egyptian Halls symposium brings speakers together discuss the significance of this A-listed building and how it might be saved.
Timetable tbc, speakers include:
Niall Murphy – Glasgow City Heritage Trust
Fiona Sinclair – Fiona Sinclair Architects
Scott Abercrombie / Mark Baines – The Alexander Thomson Society
Ben Adam – David Narro Associates
Andrew McConnell – Glasgow Building Preservation Trust
Dara Parsons – Historic Environment Scotland
Jamie McNamara – Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
We are delighted that this year’s Alexander Thomson Lecture will be delivered by Amin Taha. The London-based, Stirling Prize nominated architect of buildings such as 15 Clerkenwell Close and Barrett’s Grove will deliver a talk reflecting on his work and his approach to architecture.
The Society were interested by Amin’s approach to the use of stone masonry, texture and pattern, and his abstracted use of classical forms in his Upper Street project.