This evening, went into the centre of Glasgow to take some festive season images. Unfortunately, I just missed a ceilidh but way of consolation obtained some reasonable images of the Christmas Fair Ground.

This first pic was actually taken a couple of days ago; a patriotic trader displaying his wares in St. Vincent Street.



The following images were taken a few hours ago. The attractions were well patronised notwithstanding a cold and foggy evening.

Labels: Glasgow

posted by Nigel Cole @ 2:16 PM  0 comments

This morning was cold and crisp but with good visibility. I took off to nearby Queen's Park which is elevated and offers some good views over Glasgow.

The area from where the following pics were taken is actually the site of the Battle of Langside (May 13th 1568) which marked the final defeat of Mary Queen of Scots.

The following two images are looking north towards Glasgow City with Queen's Park churches in the foreground


Looking south towards Pollockshaws and Thornliebank

Here are a couple of young mothers and children feeding the birds.

Labels: Glasgow

posted by Nigel Cole @ 9:39 AM  1 comments

This afternoon, I took myself down to Glasgow to commence a task of photographing the main pubs. Weather was fine, dry and sunny but because of the time of year the light faded about 3.30pm.

Here is Fat Boab's in Dixon Street



Here is Buchanans in Howard Street

Here is The Scotia Bar in Stockwell Street which is, allegedly, the oldest pub in Glasgow dating from 1792. Promotional material states:

Oldest Pub in Glasgow
Bravest Face in the World
Cheekiest welcome in the World



More pics to come.

Labels: Glasgow

posted by Nigel Cole @ 12:05 PM  0 comments

This evening, I am posting a couple of images of the Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art.

Firstly, outside the entrance is the statue of the Duke of Wellington, a British military hero of the 19th century. This statue is hardly seen without a traffic cone on top of the head; as soon as one cone is removed another is put in place-presumably by students. This arrangement has almost become a permanent image of the Glasgow scene.

The Gallery building has an interesting history. In 1778 a mansion was built on the site by one William Cunninghame, a wealthy tobacco trader. Glimpses of the original mansion can still be seen in the current building. After changes of ownership, the building was transformed in 1827 into a neo-classical Exchange with a giant Corinthian portico.

The statue of Wellington astride his horse, 'Copenhagen' was erected 1844.

After WW2 the building became a library and then in 1996 assumed its current role as a Gallery of Modern Art.


View of the Gallery from Ingram Street

The Gallery sits at the heart of Glasgow and is worth a visit from both an historical/architectural perspective as well for its contemporary art collection. There are shops and restaurants nearby.

Labels: Glasgow Architecture

posted by Nigel Cole @ 9:55 AM  0 comments

Today, I am following up on yesterday's Forth & Clyde Canal theme, mainly because of a timely press release covering the extensive wildlife which can be found in and around the 137 miles of Scotland's inland waterways.

The images below were taken during a walk around the Kilsyth area ( Forth & Clyde) in summer 2007 and are provided to give a flavour for the type of wildlife habitat which the canal system fosters.

According to the latest report the canals are home to increasingly exotic colonies of creatures which include terrapins, coots, voles, moorhens, damselflies, otters, kingfishers, mink, dragonflies and herons.

The presence of dragonflies and damselflies is a key indicator of an unpolluted eco-system as the insects need to lay their eggs in or near clean water.

On a personal note, I enjoy the canals with their pleasant blend of industrial archaeology, solitude, nature and countryside.

If anyone out there is interested in a cycle trip or walk along this canal then please contact me. We can also include a dip into Roman history via various sites along the nearby Antonine Wall.

Labels: Antonine Wall and Forth and Clyde Canal

posted by Nigel Cole @ 12:12 PM  0 comments

This morning I took my laptop to have some repairs undertaken and found myself close to the Forth & Clyde Canal at Anniesland, Glasgow. This canal has a long history, being at the forefront of the industrial revolution when it was built in the late 18th century (work commenced 1768) to link the east and west coasts of Scotland's industrial heartland. It operated until 1963 and was subsequently re-opened in 2001. The canal covers a 35 mile route which, intriguingly, closely follows the line of the Antonine Wall built some 1600 years previously by the Romans. Today's rail and road routes follow a roughly similar line of communication.

It is possible to cycle and/or walk along the canal between Glasgow and Edinburgh, a challenge I have longed planned to take up.

Today, the canal is made used by leisure craft and has become something of a wildlife refuge.

The following images cover only a tiny snapshot of the waterway. However, watch this space for more images when I get round to traversing the route by cycle.


This is a waterside restaurant/cafe 'Lock 27'. There are 39 locks in total.

Whilst taking some pics I came across a couple out walking who had spotted a heron.



Here is the lock
Lock and bridge
Waterbirds in formation, mainly swans and ducks

This canal is not normally on visitors' main hit list. It is, however, an important part of Scotland's industrial archaeology. Boat trips are available, in addition to walking and cycling. I am looking forward to my cycle ride along the banks.

Labels: Antonine Wall and Forth and Clyde Canal

posted by Nigel Cole @ 11:56 AM  0 comments

Today, I attended a meeting in Glasgow so took the opportunity to take some images of Royal Exchange Square which is located at the heart of Glasgow City.

Firstly, here are a couple of images of the statue of the Duke of Wellington, a famous British military leader, which is located outside the entrance to the Gallery of Modern Art. It now seams to be mandatory for this statue to be capped with a traffic cone which serves to make the edifice somewhat surreal.

The Gallery of Modern Art was once a country mansion belonging to a tobacco 'lord' and parts of the original 1778 structure can be located in the current building.



The following are various images of the Square which in turns forms part of the Merchant City






Photography was aided by a sunny day. Contact me for tours of Glasgow

Labels: Glasgow

posted by Nigel Cole @ 9:04 AM  0 comments

This evening, I am posting images of today's visit to nearby Greenbank House and Garden, a heritage property which was decorated with a Christmas theme.

This interesting piece of Georgian architecture was built for Robert Allason, a Glasgow tobacco merchant just after 1763. This is therefore contemporary with the Tobacco Lord's House covered in Blog posting dated Nov 20th 2008.

This top image shows a Green Man, a symbol which dates back possibly to the 2nd century AD

Here is a view of the rear of the house.


Sitting room decorated in the Christmas spirit.


This is a tea urn
This carpet may be of interest to viewers interested in design.It is a replica of a much earlier carpet which illustrates the bright colours used in the 18thC.


Credenza with Christmas pudding.


Restored display alcove
Dining table set for Christmas

Greenbank is well known for its garden and is worth a visit for those with an interest in historic properties.

Labels: greenbank

posted by Nigel Cole @ 12:01 PM  0 comments

This evening, I am posting a selection of images from yesterday's Charles Rennie Mackintosh themed tour of Glasgow.

Mackintosh (1868-1928) was a designer and artist whose work encapsulated a wide range of skills including jewellery, graphics, wall decoration, paintings, pottery, furniture, cutlery, light fittings and much more. He designed complete buildings from their foundations and structural steel, ventilation systems and plumbing. At the heart of his work was the design of places to be occupied in context of form, light and material.

Our first stop was the famous House for an Art Lover to which the following nine images relate.

This was designed in 1901 but not completed until 1996. The catalyst was a competition in a German design magazine which sought entries to design "a grand house in a thoroughly modern style". Mackintosh did not win the competition but was awarded a special prize.

Front elevation
Interior light fitting
Furniture
Sequence of rooms demonstrating their form.

Piano in music room. Visitors are welcome to play this instrument.

Light fittings
Fire place
Chairs, windows and light in the music room ( set up for a wedding).

Another front elevation

After the House for an Art Lover we moved to Scotland Street School Museum. This was Mackintosh's last public commission in Glasgow and was built between 1903 and 1906.
Mackintosh reversed tradition and gave the towers with conical roofs walls of glass and barrow stone mullions. He played off the verticality of the towers against the horizontal nature of the rest of the building.



For lunch we went to the Corinthian Restaurant which has no connection with Mackintosh but, nevertheless, an architectural gem. It was built in 1842 and for the next century housed various banks and subsequently the city's High Court. The stunning interior was refurbished in 1999.

Here is the roof dome.
A detail of cornice
External view of the Corinthian.

After lunch we moved on the Glasgow School of Art for a tour lasting over an hour. This is acknowledged as Mackintosh's masterpiece. For more information, see yesterday's blog posting.
Image below is the main entrance.
Our final stop was the Mackintosh Church ( 1897-9) which is contemporary with the School of Art. This design reveals a sophisticated handling of form, ornament and symbolic meaning.
This building is no longer used for worship but is the main office of the Mackintosh Society.
Regrettably, light conditions were sub-optimal at time of the visit and hence images below are not of high quality but, nevertheless, should give the viewer a basic appreciation for Mackintosh's work.






Overall, a good tour lasting from about 0930 to 5.15pm

Labels: Mackintosh Tours

posted by Nigel Cole @ 10:45 AM  0 comments