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‘THE BOOK OF GLASGOW CATHEDRAL, A History and Description’
Presented to the UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY
by the ONTARIO LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY 1980
One Thousand Copies of this Work have been printed for Sale.
This Copy is No 5363
EDITED BY GEORGE EYRE-TODD
WITH SPECIAL CHAPTERS WRITTEN BY
ARCHBISHOP EYRE, D.D., LL.D. ; J. V. S. GORDON, D.D. ; P. M'AUAM MUIR, D.I).
JOHN HONEYMAN, R.S.A.; JAMES I'ATOX, F.L.S.; A. H. MILLAR, F.S.A.Sun.
AND STEPHEN ADAM, F.S.A.ScoT.
ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID SMALL, HERBERT RAILTON, J. A. DUNCAN, AND OTHERS
MORISON BROTHERS, 52 RENFIELD STREET, GLASGOW 1898
(click to enlarge)Roberts produced this historical image for Scotland Delineated, a magazine published in monthly instalments from 1847 until 1854. It illustrates the story (doubted by some historians) that in 1579 the city magistrates were persuaded by the religious reformer and Principal of the University of Glasgow, Andrew Melville, to pull down the cathedral and use the masonry to build several small churches. Demolition was about to commence when members of the Trades House took up arms and rushed to the defence of the historic building
The Blackadder Aisle can be seen protruding from the south transept. The transepts do not themselves project from the main building, being relatively short, and so do not create the shape of a cross common in most cathedrals. A line of gargoyles provides extra decoration above the windows on both levels.
This would be the first view striking most visitors at the time, on the approach from High Street. Billings describes the experience: "To reach it the traveller has to pass through a line of sordid filthy streets; and its first appearance is not inviting, from the unfortunate predominance of the north-western Tower, or Belfry, the upper portion of which is the work of a comparatively late period."
The north western tower's predominance was not to last, as it was demolished in 1848. The southwest tower, or consistory, had been removed in 1846. This is believed to the only surviving illustration from the years between the demolition of the two western towers
within this steeple there were two large bells. The larger one, 11 feet 4 inches in circumference, was rung every day at 8 A.M.; and the lesser one, 8 feet 10 inches in circumference, was rung every night at 10 o'clock.
The Great Bell
In the steeple of Glasgow is a great bell, which is twelve feet one inch in circumference, and has a grave and deep tone. In 1789, it was accidentally cracked by some persons who got admission to the steeple. It was, therefore, sent to London, and cast anew.
This bell, again cracked, now lies in the cathedral chapter-house. It was replaced in 1896 by a new bell, the gift of John Garroway, Esq., manufacturer in Glasgow.
"M'Ure, who could never have been at the pains of measuring either of these towers, coolly states that the church " hath a session house on the north side, and a consistorial house on the south side thereof the length of each being 30 feet and 50 feet wide."
DickyHart wrote:If you go to Cadder church up at the forth and clyde canal, there is some excellent examples of mortsafes in the graveyard. And burke and hare stole bodies from Cadder Graveyard
Ronnie wrote:You know that there have been books published on Glasgow since 1898?
In August, 2004, the NSI held a very successful weekend visit to the quarries on the 'Slate Islands', which lie on the west coast of Scotland about 10 miles south of Oban. Of these, Easdale is the best known and it was here that the Scottish slate industry first began. Easdale slate was used to roof Glasgow Cathedral in the 12th century
zeno wrote:Are any of you aware of the hidden carved wooden ladybird and the female wearing glasses in the stained glass window in Glasgow Cathedral?
Rather than me or someone here saying where they are in the Cathedral... The challenge is for you to find them and post your photos here.
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