A Greek Tragedy
Posted: 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.