17/02/2010
Heavy industry made Glasgow Scotland’s largest city, dominated its architecture and helped mould the characters of the people who have grown-up, lived and worked there. In that respect, the imposing image of the clock tower of the Singer Sewing Machine Factory that features in this selection of historical imagery is both a poignant and appropriate representative for the ‘Old Glasgow’ area. It is big, brash and bold – and it is also now completely gone. The clock’s monolithic scale – only enhanced in the photograph by the trick of perspective that allows it to seemingly dwarf the tower blocks in the background – made it one of the largest timekeepers of its kind in the world. What else would you expect from the vast factory that truly brought modern mass-production to Scotland? Sadly, it was demolished over forty years ago, with the factory following twenty years later. With many of the physical traces of the old city erased, the photographic record becomes even more important. Modern Glasgow has transformed itself from the dark days of economic depression. But the images here, which capture it both as the ‘Workshop of the Empire’, and also as a victim of industrial decline, are without substitute if we are to understand the city today and in the future.
SC 553809
Glasgow, possibly Blythswood Square or Bath Street. Interior of a house. Scanned image of [negative number to be supplied].
© RCAHMS
SC 676207
View from NE showing ENE front and part of NNW front of goods shed
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 676208
View from N showing NNE and WNW fronts of Station Cottage with Ironworks Cottages and Institute in background
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 677594
Glasgow School of Art, interior View of life modelling studio
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 677595
Glasgow School of Art, interior View of basement west corridor
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 677596
Glasgow School of Art, interior View first floor, east corridor showing scupltures on plinths.
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 680618
Interior -view of upper landing, with Oscar Paterson Studio stained glass window (right)
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 680758
General exterior view showing main entrance front
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 683495
Interior view of lecture theatre for Physics and Astronomy
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 701136
Interior -view of entrance foyer
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 771045
Digital image of 'Agent's Room, British Linen Coy. Bank, Hutchesontown Branch, Glasgow'.
© Courtesy of HES. Papers of James Salmon (1805-1888), architect, Glasgow, Scotland
SC 774656
View in perspective, annotated 'Head Office, Glasgow'. Signed 'Annan 5.1329', also 'B.J. [/S?] Black'.
© Courtesy of HES. Papers of James Salmon (1805-1888), architect, Glasgow, Scotland
SC 877591
View showing construction work at site of weirs, Stonebyres hydroelectric power station.
© Courtesy of HES (Scottish Power Collection)
SC 877689
View showing the unloading of transformer coils during construction work. Scanned image of Plate 87, Volume 195, PA 123.
© RCAHMS
SC 877757
View from N showing intake into surge tank under construction. Scanned image of Plate 11B, Volume 198, PA 123.
© RCAHMS
SC 877761
Interior. View at working face during construction of tunnel for acqueduct. Scanned image of Plate 36, Volume 198, PA 123.
© RCAHMS
SC 881816
Glasgow, Boden Street, Wm. Hollins Viyella Mills, interior. Copy of photograph of weaving department interior, Nothrop looms.
© RCAHMS
SC 881871
W Yard of John Brown's Shipyard, showing Tower Crane 'B' being erected, no Arrol job. no. given 1959 John Brown and Co Ltd Engineers and Shipbuilders, Clydebank (Misc 194...)
© Courtesy of HES (Sir William Arrol Collection)
SC 910404
Making up reinforcing members for the Station House floor.
© Courtesy of HES (Scottish Power Collection)
SC 911799
View of intake works, Bonnington hydro-electric power station in 1926.
© Courtesy of HES (Scottish Power Collection)
SC 911809
Tilting weir at Tulliford. Photographic copy of Plate 42, Volume 198, PA 123.
© Courtesy of HES (Scottish Power Collection)
SC 911814
Soft tunnel heading. Photographic copy of Plate 44, Volume 198, PA 123.
© Courtesy of HES (Scottish Power Collection)
SC 929324
Glasgow, Gorbal's Cross General view of junction of Norfolk Street, Ballater Street and Gorbals Street.
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1104729
Glasgow, Kelvingrove Park, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. General view of gallery and entrance road.
© Courtesy of HES (A Brown & Co Collection)
SC 1104751
General view from W Cathedral Square, Glasgow.
© Courtesy of HES (A Brown & Co Collection)
SC 1105146
Glasgow School of Art. Digital copy of photograph of view of main entrance doorway.
© RCAHMS
SC 1106807
View of W Yard showing 'Arcadia' on slipway at John Brown and Co Ltd Engineers and Shipbuilders, Clydebank.
© Courtesy of HES (Sir William Arrol Collection)
SC 1106811
Unidentified location, possibly Fairfield Shipyard (Meadowside Granary in background), post-1913 . Possibly photographed by Annan, Glasgow.
© Courtesy of HES (Sir William Arrol Collection)
SC 1115553
View of City Chambers, 82 George Square, Glasgow. Titled: '175 Municipal Buildings, Glasgow.'
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 1115554
Glasgow, Church Street, Western Infirmary. General view from Dumbarton Road. Insc: 'Glasgow Western Infrimary'.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 1115753
View from North-East.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
DP 043539
View of billiard room showing animals skins and antlered heads on walls in Montgreenan House, Ayrshire.
© RCAHMS
SC 1126855
General view of Balloch Castle with people sitting on the bank below.
© Courtesy of HES (A Brown & Co Collection)
SC 1136867
Glasgow, 840 Govan Road, Pearce Institute General view from North West with people in foreground.
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1160075
View of clock-tower at Singer's Sewing Machine Factory, Clydebank. Demolished 15 March 1963.
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 553809
Glasgow, possibly Blythswood Square or Bath Street. Interior of a house. Scanned image of [negative number to be supplied].
© RCAHMS
SC 676207
View from NE showing ENE front and part of NNW front of goods shed
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 676208
View from N showing NNE and WNW fronts of Station Cottage with Ironworks Cottages and Institute in background
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 677594
Glasgow School of Art, interior View of life modelling studio
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 677595
Glasgow School of Art, interior View of basement west corridor
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 677596
Glasgow School of Art, interior View first floor, east corridor showing scupltures on plinths.
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 680618
Interior -view of upper landing, with Oscar Paterson Studio stained glass window (right)
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 680758
General exterior view showing main entrance front
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 683495
Interior view of lecture theatre for Physics and Astronomy
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 694824
General view of Dining Room, Central Hotel, Central Station in Glasgow
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 694831
View of dining room, Central Hotel, Glasgow
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 701136
Interior -view of entrance foyer
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 771045
Digital image of 'Agent's Room, British Linen Coy. Bank, Hutchesontown Branch, Glasgow'.
© Courtesy of HES. Papers of James Salmon (1805-1888), architect, Glasgow, Scotland
SC 774656
View in perspective, annotated 'Head Office, Glasgow'. Signed 'Annan 5.1329', also 'B.J. [/S?] Black'.
© Courtesy of HES. Papers of James Salmon (1805-1888), architect, Glasgow, Scotland
SC 877591
View showing construction work at site of weirs, Stonebyres hydroelectric power station.
© Courtesy of HES (Scottish Power Collection)
SC 877689
View showing the unloading of transformer coils during construction work. Scanned image of Plate 87, Volume 195, PA 123.
© RCAHMS
SC 877757
View from N showing intake into surge tank under construction. Scanned image of Plate 11B, Volume 198, PA 123.
© RCAHMS
SC 877761
Interior. View at working face during construction of tunnel for acqueduct. Scanned image of Plate 36, Volume 198, PA 123.
© RCAHMS
SC 881816
Glasgow, Boden Street, Wm. Hollins Viyella Mills, interior. Copy of photograph of weaving department interior, Nothrop looms.
© RCAHMS
SC 881871
W Yard of John Brown's Shipyard, showing Tower Crane 'B' being erected, no Arrol job. no. given 1959 John Brown and Co Ltd Engineers and Shipbuilders, Clydebank (Misc 194...)
© Courtesy of HES (Sir William Arrol Collection)
SC 910404
Making up reinforcing members for the Station House floor.
© Courtesy of HES (Scottish Power Collection)
SC 911799
View of intake works, Bonnington hydro-electric power station in 1926.
© Courtesy of HES (Scottish Power Collection)
SC 911809
Tilting weir at Tulliford. Photographic copy of Plate 42, Volume 198, PA 123.
© Courtesy of HES (Scottish Power Collection)
SC 911814
Soft tunnel heading. Photographic copy of Plate 44, Volume 198, PA 123.
© Courtesy of HES (Scottish Power Collection)
SC 929324
Glasgow, Gorbal's Cross General view of junction of Norfolk Street, Ballater Street and Gorbals Street.
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 951823
View of class 5 locomotive at Buchanan Street, Glasgow
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 1104729
Glasgow, Kelvingrove Park, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. General view of gallery and entrance road.
© Courtesy of HES (A Brown & Co Collection)
SC 1104751
General view from W Cathedral Square, Glasgow.
© Courtesy of HES (A Brown & Co Collection)
SC 1105146
Glasgow School of Art. Digital copy of photograph of view of main entrance doorway.
© RCAHMS
SC 1106807
View of W Yard showing 'Arcadia' on slipway at John Brown and Co Ltd Engineers and Shipbuilders, Clydebank.
© Courtesy of HES (Sir William Arrol Collection)
SC 1106811
Unidentified location, possibly Fairfield Shipyard (Meadowside Granary in background), post-1913 . Possibly photographed by Annan, Glasgow.
© Courtesy of HES (Sir William Arrol Collection)
SC 1115553
View of City Chambers, 82 George Square, Glasgow. Titled: '175 Municipal Buildings, Glasgow.'
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 1115554
Glasgow, Church Street, Western Infirmary. General view from Dumbarton Road. Insc: 'Glasgow Western Infrimary'.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 1115753
View from North-East.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
DP 043539
View of billiard room showing animals skins and antlered heads on walls in Montgreenan House, Ayrshire.
© RCAHMS
SC 1126855
General view of Balloch Castle with people sitting on the bank below.
© Courtesy of HES (A Brown & Co Collection)
SC 1136867
Glasgow, 840 Govan Road, Pearce Institute General view from North West with people in foreground.
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1160075
View of clock-tower at Singer's Sewing Machine Factory, Clydebank. Demolished 15 March 1963.
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)