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Ardeer, Ici Works, Staff Restaurant

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Canteen (20th Century)

Site Name Ardeer, Ici Works, Staff Restaurant

Classification Canteen (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Glasgow Empire Exhibition, South African Pavilion;

Canmore ID 79608

Site Number NS24SE 47.01

NGR NS 28228 40239

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/79608

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Digital Images

Oblique aerial view.
Oblique aerial view.Oblique aerial view.View from EastOblique aerial view.Oblique aerial view.Oblique aerial view.View from south. General view from south.View from north.View from SouthDetail of frontage from North EastView of rear block from South EastView from north east. General view from north. View from north east. View from North North WestView from WestView of rear block from South WestDetail of East doorOblique aerial view centred on the former central administrative area, taken from the SW.View from North WestDetail of South doorOblique aerial view.West bay. View from north. West bay. View from north. General view from south west. View from northView from North WestView of rear block from South EastView from NW.Oblique aerial view.Oblique aerial view centred on the former central administrative area, taken from the NW.View from North North WestView of main block from WestView from SouthView from East. General view from south.East bay. View from south west.View from north.View from North WestView from North North WestView from EastView from South EastGeneral view from south east. General view from south west.West bay. View from north west. View from north. View from west.East bay. View from north west.View from South EastView from South EastOblique aerial view centred on the former central administrative area, taken from the W.View from WestView of rear block from South WestOblique aerial view.Photographic copy of 1947: Oblique aerial view from west-south-west of Ardeer, showing Administration buildings (centre), Africa House (foreground), and central area of factory (nitro-cellulose, acids etc) in middle distance. (See also Overlay 'A' for details [D 10465]).View from east.View from south.View of main block from WestView from North WestOblique aerial view centred on the former central administrative area, taken from the WNW.Detail of frontage from North EastOblique aerial view.East bay. View from south west. General view from south.West bay. View from north west. Wesy bay. General view from north west. General view from south west. General view from west. View from north east View from NW.Detail of South doorDetail of East doorOblique aerial view.Ardeer, ICI works. Explosives factory. Photographic copy of Film Overlay 'A' for D 10466 (attached to print) East bay. View from south. View from south east looking towards west bay. General view from north west.View from south west. West bay. View from south east.View from north.View from West

Administrative Areas

  • Council North Ayrshire
  • Parish Stevenston
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Cunninghame
  • Former County Ayrshire

Archaeology Notes

NS24SE 47.01 28228 40239

(See NS24SE 47.00)

Further Details

Site Management (5 February 2016)

Buildings at Risk Register BARR

Symmetrical, single-storey, 7- by 3-bay former temporary pavilion built for the Empire Exhibition (see Notes) and resited at Ardeer, with large curvilinear Dutch-Baroque gables and later, 1960s, 2-storey flat-roofed section added to SW. Steel and timber framed structure, with cream painted asbestos cement cladding. Very steep pitched roofs with brown pantiles; replacement slates at W end. Multi-paned sash and case glazing made up of small square panes with chunky astragals.

The former South Africa pavilion with its distinctive curvilinear Dutch Baroque gables is one of the few remaining buildings from the Glasgow Empire Exhibition of 1938, held at Bellahouston Park. It was built originally to show exports from South Africa and the Dutch gables were designed to reflect the Dutch influence in South African architecture. Built as a temporary structure, the building was later moved to Ardeer to become a staff canteen. (Historic Environment Scotland List Entry)

Go to BARR website 

Further Details

Activities

Note (18 January 2021)

The international significance of Ardeer exlosives factory is perhaps symbolised by "the translocation to Ardeer from Bellahouston Park in Glasgow of the 1938 Empire Exhibition South African Pavilion which was converted to a staff restaurant. Africa House, as it has subsequently become known, bears more than a passing resemblance to the company guest house at Monderfontaine in South Africa, and has been designated a listed building by Historic Scotland."

J Dolan and M K Oglethorpe, 1996.

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