Glasgows Industrial Heritage

This year we are aligning with the European Year of Industrial and Technical Heritage 2015! Find out all about the Industrial Heritage of Glasgow through series of events. Weve pulled together some of our top picks and below there is a list of all Industrial Heritage Themed Buildings and Events:

Top Picks!

  • Govan Waterfront Walk   The tour will take in Water Row, the edge of the Show people’s yard, Harland Way alongside the river and culminating at the derelict historic graving docks (dry docks). Gain an understanding of what Glasgows industrial waterfront has lost and what can still be saved.
  • Dalmarnock Leather Works  A unique opportunity to visit Andrew Muirhead & Son’s historic Leather Works as the Company opens its doors in celebration of its 175th anniversary (1840-2015). See best practice manufacturing of modern seating leathers destined for the world’s major airlines and public buildings.
  • Barras Area & Sights  Visit Barras Market Area and explore the fascinating charms of the Barras including: the iconic Ballroom sign, Old Clay Pipe Factory, Cobbled Lanes, Oldest Chippy in Glasgow, St Alphonsus Church, Heilan Jessie & Tolbooth – Glasgow’s Execution Site
  • The Scottish Ten Learn about the fascinating cutting edge digital technology used to create digital models of Ten World Heritage Sites including New Lanark, Sydney Opera House, Edinburghs Old and New Towns and Mount Rushmore!
  • North West Glasgow Arts Trail  Along the bus tour are some significant industrial heritage sites. The canal will be a large focus. We aim to highlight the clay pits site, once used to source clay and now a wildlife sanctuary in the city. We will also focus on the Sarcen Foundry and the significance it had in Possilpark
  • Pollokshaws Burgh Halls  Fascinating Public Halls. Gothic Interior: Old Glasgow College exterior
  • Clydeport  A-listed building by architect Sir John James Burnet  Still Shipbuilding offices today!
  • Mazing Memory Museum  A creative workshop placed at the heart of a hay bale maze, discover the heritage of the Riverside Museum!

 

All Industrial Heritage Themed

Buildings

  • Anchor Line  Edwardian former booking office, now one of Glasgow’s hottest new restaurants.
  • Barras Art and Design (BAaD)  Creative industry units with a unique arched roof indoor courtyard.
  • Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust  Former Corporation bus garage, now centre for vintage vehicle restoration. See he evolution of technical development of passenger transport through the 20th century as well as see a building vital to maintaining a functioning transport network.
  • Briggait  Glasgow’s former fish market, now converted into an arts venue. You will have the chance to view Glasgows Old Fish Market an exhibition about the Briggaits former life as a fish market and include historical photographs, newspaper extracts and documents.
  • Buchanan Bridge Club  Delightfully impressive A-listed Victorian townhouse with unusual original features. Although not an industrial building, the development of the steamship industry started here!
  • Burrell Collection  A chance to explore the hidden side of a collection created by one of Glasgows most successful shipping magnates.
  • City of Glasgow College, City Campus  Former Glasgow College of Building and Printing Rooftop Tour.
  • Clydeport  A-listed building by architect Sir John James Burnet  Still Shipbuilding offices today!
  • Dalmarnock Leather Works  A converted 18th Century former Jute Mill, still a thriving factory.
  • Doors Open Day Hub @ The Civic Room  Former Linen Bank acting as a Hub for the festival all week!
  • Fairfield Shipyard Offices  Category A Listed Building, described as the finest shipbuilding office in Britain.
  • Gateway Hall  Previously an electricity substation now a community hall.
  • Glasgow Central Station  Scotlands biggest and busiest train station.
  • Lighthouse  Scotlands Centre for Design and Architecture including the Mackintosh Centre and formerly a herald building.
  • Maryhill Burgh Halls  Grand Victorian Burgh Halls, newly refurbished with beautiful stained glass. Maryhills development is unique in that its population thrived under several industries introduced to the area, rather than just the one. Discover the impact the building of the Forth and Clyde canal had on the area and what happened after.
  • Pipe Factory  Italian Renaissance inspired former clay pipe factory, now studios.
  • Pollokshaws Burgh Halls  Fascinating Public Halls. Gothic Interior: Old Glasgow College exterior.
  • Pollokshaws West Railway Station  You will be guided through an industrial history of Glasgows oldest surviving railway station building from the official station opening on the 27th September 1848 all the way through to the present day.
  • Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow  Beautiful 19th century building with excellent medical and art collections. Glasgow was home to a number of respected manufacturers of surgical instruments throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. You can see some of their instruments on display in the College, and learn more about how they were made and used for all different types of surgical procedures.
  • Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre  Described as a wee hidden gem and a jewel in a box. A regenerated former Industrial Building housing extensive European Puppet and Mask Collections
  • Scottish Opera Headquarters  Formerly the Institute of Engineers & Shipbuilders.
  • Snuff Mill  Converted eighteen century mill and early twentieth century mill house. The Mill is one of the oldest surviving industrial buildings in Glasgow at well over 200 years old. Although it is no longer operational it is a unique opportunity to look back at Glasgows industrial heritage.
  • STV Studios  Purpose built state-of-the-art television studios and broadcaster, an industry thriving in Glasgow today!
  • Trades Hall of Glasgow  Second Oldest building in Glasgow still used for original purpose with a collection of trades and the industries that were key in Glasgow.
  • Tramway  Exploring Tramways history from tram shed to Turner Prize. This tour will explore hidden and visible elements of Tramways industrial past.
  • Wellpark Brewery (Tennent Caledonian)  Learn about the Brewing process and rich heritage behind Tennents Lager.
  • West Boathouse  110 year old timber framed boathouse, still in original use. The River Clyde made Glasgow the 2nd City of the Empire. At the height of the Citys industrial might, rowing was one of the most popular activities on the river for work and for leisure. The industrial era has passed, but rowing remains on the Clyde. Come and hear from our members about the proud history of our sport on the Clyde.
  • West Brewery in Templeton Carpet Factory  Iconic Templeton Building overlooking Glasgow Green, home to WEST Brewery. Although the Templeton Building no longer produces world famous carpets -you will see how WEST have re-purposed this industrial space in order to produce a completely different Scottish product and keep the legacy of this great space alive.
  • Whisky Bond Glasgow Sculpture Studios  Formerly the Whisky Industry & now a creative hub for artists and designers.
  • White House Inn  Oldest building in Maryhill with a new lease of life. The White House, Maryhill, has played an important role in the history of Scotlands canal network. In 2015, newly re-purposed as a cycling hub which takes advantage of the extensive network of canal towpaths and river walkways, the White House is still relevant to how people of the area think about transportation.

Walks & Tours

  • Arty-Archi Tour Try out some freehand technical drawing skills!
  • Barras Area & Sights  Visit Barras Market Area and explore the fascinating charms
  • Bridgeton Heritage Trail Discover the industrial heritage of the district, its municipal development and community life
  • Calton Heritage Trail Learn about its connections with Glasgows Tobacco Lords, hear about its weaving population.
  • Canal Regeneration An interactive tour of the regenerating canal quarter with a theme of industrial archaeology and modern urban regeneration.
  • From the Calton to the Riot Act You are offered penetrating illustrations of Glasgows Industrial Heritage, and the pioneering role of the workers who built it.
  • George Square a System of the World The tour will take in the Monuments to both James Watt and Thomas Graham key figures in the Industrial revolution and in the development of chemistry and dialysis.
  • George Square Statues Children may find out about the scientists James Watt and Thomas Graham from drawing and photographing their statues and hearing stories about their discoveries concerning their research.
  • Glasgow and the Merchant City Slavery and Abolition Discover the Merchant Citys connections with slavery and abolition.
  • Glasgow Canal Water Taxi from Applecross Street The canals were a crucial part to the development of Glasgow, explore our open air industrial museum by boat.
  • Glasgow Canal Water Taxi from Lambhill Stables The canals were a crucial part to the development of Glasgow, explore our open air industrial museum by boat.
  • Glasgow School of Art; Glasgow Style City Walking Tour Discover Glasgows illustrious industrial past with GSAs City Walking Tour, exploring the innovative architecture and Art Nouveau designs that reflected the technological and social changes of industrialised Glasgow. Explore this time of breathtaking growth and change when Glasgow was the second city of the British empire.
  • Glasgows Golden Age Tour The Tour will take in the external areas of Central Station a key example of Glasgows Industrial and Technological heritage.
  • Govan Waterfront Walk An understanding of what Glasgows industrial waterfront has lost and what can still be saved.
  • Let our Bikes do the Talking You will be guided through an industrial history of Glasgows oldest surviving railway station building from the official station opening on the 27th September 1848 all the way through to the present day. Present day re-use of station buildings housing community cycling activities
  • Maryhill Burgh Halls Heritage Trail Maryhills development is unique in that its population thrived under several industries introduced to the area, rather than just the one. Discover the impact the building of the Forth and Clyde canal had on the area and what happened after.
  • North West Glasgow Arts Trail Along the bus tour are some significant industrial heritage sites. The canal will be a large focus. We aim to highlight the clay pits site, once used to source clay and now a wildlife sanctuary in the city. We will also focus on the Sarcen Foundry and the significance it had in Possilpark.
  • Parkhead Heritage Trail Learn about Parkheads progress from a weaving and coal mining village to one of Glasgows most prominent industrial districts.
  • Pollokshields Bus Tour Many industrialists commissioned houses and lived in Pollokshields. Much technical heritage will be visible in the architectural styles and materials used to construct and decorate buildings and the importance of the railway building in the development of this suburb.
  • Pollokshields Heritage Trail One: The Villas The Tour will take in Hugh Dunsmuirs house (founder of Dunsmuir and Jackson one of Glasgows best known marine engineering firms) James Weirs house (the inventor and founder of G&J Weir the great engineering firm and still one of Glasgows largest companies), Sir John Ritchie Richmonds house (deputy Chairman of G&J Weirs)
  • Pollokshields Heritage Trail Two: The Tenements The Tour will take in Tramway the former Coplawhill Tram depot and the Miller & Lang Art Publishers
  • River Clyde Bridges The Clyde Bridges Walk will highlight the industrial and technical heritage of Glasgow in relation to the evolution of bridge design, planning and construction. Your participation in the walk will help you gain a good understanding of the rich heritage Glasgows bridges provide. Type, age, materials, construction challenges and more all aspects which you will discover on the Clyde Bridges Walk.
  • River Kelvin Bridges You will learn about the many and varied types of bridges built across the river during the rapid industrial and commercial development of Glasgow in the late 19th and early 20th century.
  • Springburn The Rome of the North Springburn Park, with its magnificent A-listed Winter Gardens, stands as an enduring monument to Glasgow’s railway industry.
  • Subcrawl Link to industrial and technical heritage (e.g, information on subway system and visit to Govan dry docks / shipbuilding)
  • Tradeston Engine Shop to the West Indies Adaptive re-use of Industrial Buildings STICK project on machine tools made used in Scottish engineering shops
  • Where Glasgow Used to Shop and Dine 2 The site of the former Goldbergs store on the Candleriggs was at one time the location of a wide range of industries and related businesses.
  • Women, the War and the Rent Strikes You are offered penetrating illustrations of Glasgows Industrial Heritage, and the pioneering role of the workers who built it.
  • Woodside Heritage Discovery Discover the fascinating history of ground breaking progressive education in Woodside. There will be some discussion during the walk regarding the deindustrialisation of the area.

 

Talks & Events

 

September 7th