The [Hidden] City Chambers

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Postby tobester » Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:58 pm

Great pictures
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Postby Alex Glass » Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:01 pm

Big THANK YOU to Stephen and the staff for allowing the tour and showing everyone around.

Hopefully some of the researchers on here can post up some information about the City Chambers. I am sure there are a few out there who will be able to give us the benefit of their knowledge.

There are tours of the front of the City Chambers twice every day. Dedicated staff conduct these tours. They ensure that visitors enjoy their time by providing stories and information about the City Chambers.

If you haven't done this tour I would recommend it to you.
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Postby Sydney Rosewater » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:04 pm

Top quality!
The 1st 2 graffitti photies are the same photie but wi the colour fucked aboot wae!
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Postby Fossil » Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:48 pm

And a big cheers and thank you to Hugh oor guide [Ive still got your print off- need someone to scan it as a pdf] :)

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Postby e2wufos1 » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:02 am

Can I ask what the tunnels are or were actually used for?

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Postby Sharon » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:04 am

Ask away... and just maybe someone will come up with an answer!!!

But it won't be me...I have no idea, all a bit of a mystery really...
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Postby PlasticDel » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:09 pm

e2wufos1 wrote:Can I ask what the tunnels are or were actually used for?

Jim


I don't know for sure but; prolly for linking one area to another by means of excavation through or under a barrier. Just what I heard from someone.
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Postby Fossil » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:23 pm

it makes it way out to George Square

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Postby glasgowken » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:37 pm

e2wufos1 wrote:Can I ask what the tunnels are or were actually used for?

Jim



It's for the councillors to escape when the mob is at the door ::):

(Sorry Alex :wink: )
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Postby JayKay » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:55 pm

access to the top of the cenotaph so the lord provost can take the salute from the troops marching past on May Day?
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Postby Alex Glass » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:36 pm

glasgowken wrote:
e2wufos1 wrote:Can I ask what the tunnels are or were actually used for?

Jim



It's for the councillors to escape when the mob is at the door ::):

(Sorry Alex :wink: )


:twisted: :wink:
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Postby Shazbat » Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:14 pm

Sharon wroteImage

FFS!!! I know these people listed on the bottom right 8O
Theatre techies. Worked with some of them.
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The City Chambers History

Postby Alex Glass » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:37 pm

Glasgow City Chambers

A Brief History
from Trongate to George Square


In the 15th century, the town council net in the tollbooth at the corner of High Street and Trongate. The building served the city in many ways – it was also a prison, a burgh court and housed booths for rent collection.

As the council continued to grow, the need for more spacious and functional premises eventually led to the development of the Trongate site in 1735.

In 1814, the Tolbooth was sold, with the exception of the steeple – which still remains –and the council chambers moved to Jail Square, Glasgow Green, site of the present Justiciary Court house.

Subsequent moves were made to larger sites in Wilson Street and Ingram Street before finally settling in George Square where the foundation stone for a showcase City Chambers was laid by the Lord Provost, John Ure, 1883.

The Design and Construction

In the 1880’s City Architect John Carrick was asked to propose a site for purpose-built Council offices. Carrick recommended the east side of George Square which was then bought.

The eventual design of the City Chambers was the result of two competitions which attracted hundreds of submissions. The winning, grandiose design by William Young – a London –based architect, born in Paisley and trained in Glasgow – was given a budget of £150,000.

On 6 October 1883, 600,000 spectators watched a trades march of skilled workers from the city’s heavy industries and civic-masonic procession converge in George Square for the laying of the foundation stone by the Lord Provost.

Four years later, the topmost stone – the apex of the central tower – was laid on the 22 August, 1888, Queen Victoria performed the inauguration ceremony.

The design of the pediment – the ornate, triangular gable crowning the front of the main building – was changed in 1897 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Original proposals illustrated the Clyde and city manufactures going to all parts of the world. The design was changed to show Queen Victoria enthroned and surrounded by figures of Scotland, Ireland and Wales “receiving homage and congratulations of her subjects from all parts of the world.” Above the pediment are representations of Truth, Riches and Honour.

In 1923, an extension to the east side of the building in John Street was opened and in 1984 Exchange House in George Street was completed. The whole City Chambers complex now covers an area of 14,000 square metres.

• The City Chambers building cost £552,028. Including furnishings, the whole project on 1888 cost £578,232.
• The original building covered 5016 square metres. With extensions, now 14,000 square metres.
• The concrete foundations are in excess of a metre thick and the sand subsoil reaches to a depth of more than 12 metres.
• 10 million bricks, 9905 cubic metres of stone and 537.7 cubic metres of granite were used.
• Stone moulding machinery was used for the first time in Glasgow.
• In 1889, a 10-day public viewing attracted 400,000 people.
• The first four to six feet of external wall are of red Aberdeenshire granite. The rest is faced with Polmaise on the north and west fronts and Dunmore stone on the south and east.
• The first Council meeting was held on 10 October 1889.


The Ground Floor

Visitors enter from George Square into a covered gallery – loggia and immediately discover that the interior is even more sumptuous than the exterior. Architect Young had visited the historical arch of Constantine in Rome and the entrance reflects this. He sought to bring a touch of Italy to Glasgow.

The first notable feature is a “Keramic mosaic” of the city’s Coat of Arms in its original 1866 design. This mosaic style is found throughout the original building and copied on the floors of several others in the city, built around this time.

The ceilings, too are decorated with mosaic tiles. It is estimated more than 1.5 million tiles were laid by hand in the vaulted ceilings and domes.

The pillars are, from the base, grey Aberdeen granite, hand-polished red Scottish granite and topped with dark green marble in Ionic style.

In 1983, the loggia was refurbished and the tapestry that hangs opposite the entrance reflects Glasgow’s past and present.

From the loggia, to the left and right, there are stairs accesses to the first and second floors. The staircase to the left is mad of Carrara marble; the one to the right, of firestone. Both have alabaster balusters. The wall panels, also of alabaster, were placed one after the other in cutting order.

Climbing the firestone staircase, a gold ornamental ceiling can be noted which is highlighted by the stained glass dome above.

The Councillors’ Corridor

The councillors’ Corridor lies on the second floor, above working offices. It domed roof is decorated in yellow, blue and white coloured faience – an Italian form of glazed and decorated pottery.

The Committee Rooms, where more formal Council business is conducted, can be accessed from the Corridor. It also leads to an impressive library with 11 feet high walnut bookcases.

From the Councillors’ Corridor you pass through Queen’s Square into the Council Chamber.

The Council Chamber

The Council meets formally in one of the most impressive rooms in the City Chambers.

Each of the 79 councillors has a designated seat facing a platform where the Lord Provost, Deputy Lord Provost and the Chief Executive sit behind the mace. The Lord Provost sits in a seat gifted by Queen Victoria.

Behind the councillors, there is an area called the “bed recess” – a reference to an architectural feature of old Glasgow tenements. Council officials sit here as well as the Lord Dean of Guild representing the Merchants House and the Deacon Convenor of the Trades House, the city’s second and third citizens.

Looking down on the Chamber is the public gallery. Council meetings are by law open to the public. At the side there is small gallery for journalists to report the proceedings of the Council.

The decoration is primarily Spanish mahogany wood with two massive chimney pieces. The windows are of Venetian stained glass.

Lord Provost’s Office

The Lord Provost’s main office, situated at the corner of the Chambers, is decorated in the same Venetian style as the rest of the building. In this room many famous dignitaries, including the Royal family, have signed the visitors’ book.

Entry to the Lord Provost’s office is gained through an ante-room where the municipal mace is kept. This is carried ceremonially by the Council Officer when leading the Lord Provost, the city’s first citizen, into the Council Chamber to chair the full council meeting. The mace, made from gold-plated silver, was presented to the Council by Lord Rosebery in 1912.

The Satinwood Salon, Octagonal Room and Mahogany Salon

Next to the Council Chambers is the Satinwood Salon. This room is designated the “municipal drawing room”. It is finished with Australian satinwood and boasts an alabaster fireplace. The paintings on the walls are from the city art collections. This room is used for civic functions as well as large meetings. Adjoining the Satinwood is the Octagonal Room. It is decorated in amber wood and acts as an overflow room for the Satinwood and Mahogany salons. The Mahogany Salon owes its dark colour to its Cuban and walnut panels and fireplace. It, too, is used for smaller functions and often as a holding area for top-table guests before they ceremonially enter the Banqueting Hall.

The Banqueting Hall

Kings, queens and presidents have been highly impressed as they passed through the door of this impressive hall. Some have described it as “magnificent”. Not only has the Banqueting Hall been used for civic functions but also for presentation ceremonies – Nelson Mandela received his Freedom of the City award here in 1993 and Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999. As well as formal civic events, the Banqueting Hall has housed charitable events, children’s parties, youth celebrations and fashion shows. It is 33.5 metres long, 14.6 metres wide and 15.8 metres high. It is usually carpeted with four sections which are rotated regularly to prevent wear. The design of the carpet reflects the ornate roof pattern.

Much of the decoration on the walls is in the form of huge murals depicting some of the history of the city. They were painted by artists from the famous Glasgow School including Sir John Lavery, Alexander Roche and George Henry and overseen by William Leiper, RSA. The mural at the rear of the stage represents the granting of the city’s charter by William the Lion of Scotland, c 1175. Those on the south wall depict some of the city’s history and culture while the four above the entrance doors represent the four principal rivers of Scotland – the Tay, the Forth, the Clyde and the Tweed. The small panels immediately above are of the various Virtues. The central window of leaded Venetian glass on the north side commemorates Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

The three central chandeliers – “electroliers” – have their own story to tell. In 1885, the council decided that the hall should have electric lighting, an innovative decision for that time. Messers. A. Clark, of nearby Buchanan Street, designated these magnificent features, and a generator was installed in the basement to power them. Today, the same “electroliers” are still working – although one or two bulbs have been changed! Innovation also has a part to play in additional access to the Banqueting Hall which was by way of a hydraulic lift. An American elevator was installed, operated by hydraulic pressure, another technological development of the time.


Upper Gallery

No tour of the City Chambers would be complete without a visit to the Upper Gallery on the third floor. From here, you can see the detail on the beautiful dome which is visible from the other floors. Also on view in the Upper Gallery are the portraits of former Lord Provost’s of the City of Glasgow.

Tours

Curatorial Staff conduct tours of the City Chambers most weekdays – at 10.30 in the morning and 2.30 in the afternoon. All tours are open to the public and there is no charge.

(This information is reproduced from the booklet available in the City Chambers.)

Here is a couple of photos I took today.

Light in my room

Image


The Quadrangle

Image

note the stone colour is the way the front of the City Chambers looked before the clean up.
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Postby Alex Glass » Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:13 pm

Some from the entrance hall

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Postby trudger » Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:59 am

Well done Sharon and Mr F

Best photo spread in ages, love the tower staircase shot.
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