A Greek Tragedy

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A Greek Tragedy

Postby escotregen » Fri May 28, 2004 8:49 am

Really bad news today with another loss to the heritage to Glasgow left by Alexander 'Greek Thompson'. His original offices at the corner of West Regent Street and Wellington Street have been declared unsafe and are to be demolished. Whilst Rennie Mackintosh's architectural and other design work is rightly praised (even if it has all now been marketed down into Mockintosh), a more representative figure from Glasgow's great Victorian period was Thompson and his many churches designed in the Greek style. It seems that the Council has tried its best with this latest building to go, but it's also fair to say that the Council has not had a particularely good past record with regards to Thompson's legacy - and it's also fair to note the council has had precious little resources or help from the Edinburgh-fixated Scottish Office and then Scottish Executive. Make's one wonder whether even his great Free Presby Church (now a UNESCO world heritage site listed contender) in St Vincent Street will survive.
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Postby DMcNay » Fri May 28, 2004 8:55 am

Does this not belong in "Hidden Glasgow Projects" rather than "Forum Help"?
Too few hours in the day.
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Postby AMcD » Fri May 28, 2004 9:12 am

That may explain why none of the Killie/Ayr buses turned up last night.... They've shut the road and it seems the drivers are not good at following diversion signs either!

Shame to see that building go... I've stood beside it many a night waiting for the bus and it always did look unsafe. I can't help but think it wouldn't have taken too much money to make safe, no takers though.
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Postby My Kitten » Fri May 28, 2004 10:41 am

Is anyone planning of taking some photos before it disappears/falls down?
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Postby helsinki » Fri May 28, 2004 11:16 am

Here's a thought, why don't you organise a sit-in and try and prevent the demolition rather than using bits of twigs to trace the route of the Molendinar ?::):
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Postby duncan » Fri May 28, 2004 11:26 am

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Postby AMcD » Fri May 28, 2004 12:31 pm

Probably the same as the Herald's but here's another article...
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5026995.html

As requested...
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek3.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek4.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek5.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek6.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek2.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek1.jpg

If anybody wants to take better pictures (please do!) they'd better hurry up, the demolition has started. Not surprisingly the lead from the roof was the first thing the guys were going for. Two polis were up when I was there, looked like they were picking up some expensive looking photography gear that had been left or found on the site... wonder if the Herald/Times photographer is missing anything? :D
Last edited by AMcD on Fri May 28, 2004 12:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Postby nodrog » Fri May 28, 2004 12:40 pm

THis makes me very cross.
The developer has been trying to get it demolished for ages; typically the council doesnt do anything to actually force the owner to go through with the compulsory repairs, shock horror it needs to be demolished now.

See Virginia Galleries, the Thompson warehouses a few months back, etc etc etc.

There was supposed to be a big survey of the cities listed buildings after the last time to identify problem sites & prevent this happening again.

*sigh*
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Postby duncan » Fri May 28, 2004 1:25 pm

i go past this building all the time, never even realised it was a Greek Thomson. The owners should be hit with a whopping fine (can I suggest £2 million?) for deliberately letting this happen, despite being compelled to repair it
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Postby My Kitten » Fri May 28, 2004 2:38 pm

amcd wrote:Probably the same as the Herald's but here's another article...
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5026995.html

As requested...
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek3.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek4.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek5.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek6.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek2.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek1.jpg

If anybody wants to take better pictures (please do!) they'd better hurry up, the demolition has started. Not surprisingly the lead from the roof was the first thing the guys were going for. Two polis were up when I was there, looked like they were picking up some expensive looking photography gear that had been left or found on the site... wonder if the Herald/Times photographer is missing anything? :D


Thanks very much, poor sad building.

Who pay's for the demolition tho? Council then charge back to the company who owns the site? Whatever happens the owners will be happy, got their cleared site now. :evil:
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Postby crusty_bint » Fri May 28, 2004 3:47 pm

This is a nightmare!!!!!!!!!!

You know whos to blame for this... illiterate, lazy, pompous, half arsed arrogant town planners who don't know thier arse from thier elbow!!! :evil: Only the other week I was about and about town discussing such issues wth such a planner who was pointing out "victorian buliding from the 1920's"... what??? 8O !!!! Imean... WHAT?!?!?!? 8O This is the class of education those entrusted to preserve our townscapes and heritaage have, and this is where we're going wrong!!

This has really rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriled me... Im off to make some fone calls!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
here i go, it's coming for me through the trees
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Postby mustardman » Fri May 28, 2004 9:25 pm

It really saddens me, I think repairs could be done, but handshakes and whispers rule the roost. About three years ago, a building in merchant city collapsed, right next to the old 'goldbergs' store. It collapsed about 1 in the morning, sorry but a bit dodgy to me. It seems convienent for the development of the merchant city :x :x
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Postby nodrog » Sat May 29, 2004 7:49 pm

Pics from today (Saturday lunchtime)

They're not wasting much time anyway....

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
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Postby Pgcc93 » Sat May 29, 2004 8:44 pm

It was a disgrace to let this building go to waste :evil: They were quick enough to reclaim the slates off of the roof though :?: pity they were'nt so quick off the mark to preserve it :(

Thanks for the pics nodrog.
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Postby nodrog » Sat May 29, 2004 8:47 pm

i completely agree - I really cant see for example quite why retaining even just the facade is so impossible...
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