Description

James Thomson, circa 1871. 4-storey, largely symmetrical, 16-bay classically detailed tenement, situated on prominent corner site with curved corner bays and altered offices and shops to ground. Sandstone ashlar with raised margins. Cornice to ground, cill courses, cornice, curved parapet to curved corner with inscribed BRIDGETON CROSS. Architraved windows above ground, those to 1st floor corniced, slightly advanced centre 6 bays also with scrolled consoles.

Predominantly non-traditional tilt and turn windows: some timber. Cutdown wallhead stacks.

Statement of Interest

This classically detailed tenement is situated at a prominent corner site and adds significantly to the streetscape of Bridgeton. At the centre of 7 roads, Bridgeton Cross is one of the main landmarks in the city and the curved corner of this tenement marks the street line effectively. Large tenement buildings such as this these are a feature of the wider Glasgow streetscape and many were built in the second half of the 19th century.

Bridgeton was a weaving village built on the Barrowfield lands in 1705. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it became a centre for textile manufacture. Housing conditions were often cramped and in the 1860s and 70s the area was compulsorily purchased and cleared by the City Improvement Trust in order to demolish the existing housing and erect new homes. This tenement dates from this time.

James Thomson, (1835-1905) was a Glasgow-based architect. His practice was one of the largest in Scotland during the 1870s and concentrated largely on commercial architecture, pioneering the idea of large city office blocks with shops built for rental. He was employed by the City Improvement Trust. The tenement was renovated in 1985.

List description revised as part of the Glasgow East End listing review, 2010.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56634561

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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