K8 telephone kiosks, Erskine Bridge, Renfrewshire

K8 telephone kiosks, nr Kilmartin Village – Bruce Martin, 1968

north side, traffic heading North

north side, traffic heading South

As promised a few months ago, I have found these wonderful examples of the very rare K8 telephone kiosk on the north side of the approach road to the Erskine Bridge in Renfrewshire; I’m fairly sure there are another two on the south side of the bridge as well. Designed by Bruce Martin in 1968, they were a rationalisation of the earlier K6 kiosk designed by Dog and Deco fave, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

Martin’s K8 was the last red cast iron telephone box ever to be constructed in the UK, and represents the final stage in the lineage of a design that has become a global icon and symbol of Britain. Pitifully few of the 11,000 boxes manufactured remain and it is an incredibly rare feature in the British landscape – the boxes were too young to be protected by English Heritage when BT began decommissioning boxes in 1984.

However, twelve known survivors have been submitted to English Heritage by the Twentieth Century Society, who are also running a campaign to find out about any other boxes they may not be aware of yet. You could also tell us here if you know of any other K8 kiosks.

Why not buy a pack splendidly good K8 tea towels like these ones, designed by the fabulous People Will Always Need Plates. All money goes to the Twentieth Century Society campaign to protect the phone boxes.

Weirs of Cathcart, Glasgow

Weir Pumps Ltd, Cathcart works, 147-149 Newlands Road – (Offices and amenity block) Wylie, Shanks & Wylie – 1937

Weirs of Cathcart

Weirs of Cathcart

Weirs was founded in 1870 and moved to this site in 1886 where they manufactured pumps, boilers and other auxiliary equipment for ships. The factory began to manufacture aeroplanes in 1917 and Weir’s became the largest Clydeside producers of military aircraft. Around that time William Douglas Weir, son of the founder James Weir and former Director of the company, became Secretary of State for the RAF.

No longer the Weir Group’s headquarters, the Cathcart plant is estimated to have had up to one million square feet of factory space at one stage. It is still used for their pump manufacturing division, but is threatened by regular proposals to turn the site into residential housing – originally a greenfield site, the residential tenements around it grew up subsequently.

It is still a massive complex, and you can read more about it in the book Greater Glasgow: An Illustrated Architectural Guide by Sam Small.

You can also get some more information about the production of the Weir autogiro aircraft on the Hidden Glasgow forum and see some good pictures of the site, including aerial photos here.

Wills tobacco factory, Glasgow

Wills factory, Alexandra Parade, Glasgow – architect unknown – date 1940s?

Crikey, I am surprised – I can’t find any info on who originally designed this Glasgow landmark, or when. As you can see in the photos, it’s been recently redeveloped into a business park. Admittedly I’ve been struggling to get my paws and claws around the pages of any books, so maybe haven’t researched as hard as I could, but I’d love any more facts if you’ve got any.

I don’t even know what fags they used to make here…

Alexandra Parade factory

Alexandra Parade, Glasgow – architect unknown – date unknown

Just along the road from the old Wills factory. Would love to know more about it if you’ve got any info!

Templeton’s Carpet Factory, Glasgow

Templeton’s Carpet Factory, Glasgow Green - William Leiper & George A Boswell (later extensions) - 1888-92 & 1928-37

Original factory wing (Leiper, 1888-92)

1936 wing, Boswell

Corner tower (Boswell, 1934)

OK, I know it isn’t all even 20th century, but this has to be one of the most stunning buildings in Glasgow. The factory was designed by William Leiper for the manufacture of Axminster carpets, and the Venetian style gothic block (top) was built between 1888 and 1892.  Behind the facade, the functional mill was designed by engineers, Messrs J B Harvey.  Part of it collapsed in 1889, killing 29 women in the adjacent weaving sheds.

Various wings were added over the years, and I’m posing in front of the two best. All the 1920s and 30s wings are designed by George Boswell. It was converted into a business centre in the 1980s.

On my trip to Templeton’s factory, I met some lovely ladies who were wondering what the chimney with the rising smoke across the green to the south was. Well, I can confirm that it is from the Allied Distillers plant in the Gorbals – I hope that helps!

Salkeld Street factory, Glasgow

Salkeld St., Glasgow - Probably James Miller – 1933

I believe this beauty of a building was originally built for Leyland Motor Co. You can see it on your left as you come into Glasgow Central Station by train. Also, I think that the concrete rendering on the columns around the entrance covers up some fancy faience – if that’s true it’d be great to see a photo of it in its original glory.  A little factoid for you: It was used as a location in Peter Capaldi’s film Strictly Sinatra.

India of Inchinnan

India of Inchinnan, Renfrewshire – 1929 – Thomas Wallis of Wallis, Gilbert and Partners

India of Inchinnan

Built on the site of a former airship construction station, where they built the R34 airship, which made the first ever transatlantic air crossing in both directions in 1919.  The new art deco factory site was opened in 1930 and India Tyre and Rubber company operations continued there until Christmas 1981. Most of the factory site buildings were demolished in 1982 and these categegory A listed offices are all that remain of the original. A very good looking extension was added to the rear in 2004 by Gibb Architects, and now as HQ of Graham Technology it makes me a very happy old mutt to see the site thriving again!

     

Luma light bulb factory

Luma Light Bulb Factory, Shieldhall, nr Glasgow – Cornelius Armour – 1938

 

Pickles at Luma Factory

My last Botanic’s photo and rant

 

Vinicombe Lane – side/rear elevation of Botanic Gardens Garage.

The current plans, about to be submitted to Glasgow City Council by Keppie Design, include the demolition of this rear part of this early 20th century Garage, which makes me very sad as it is an integral part of this important historic building. Now I’m all for progress and innovative design, but it does make me wonder, what is the point of category A listing a building if you can still knock half of it down.  By applying this standard part of Edinburgh Castle (you know, just a part that you can’t really see unless you’re actually in the grounds) could be knocked down in order to create some modern duplex apartments.  Or maybe I could knock down the back of my home in Park Circus and create a modern glass conservatory and luxury dog kennel….  Grrrrr.

More Botanic Gardens Garage photos

Just a few more piccies for you whilst I decide what I really think about the plans for the redevelopment of the garage into flats… (see my last post for more info)

  

Am I howling in despair or pensive contemplation of the plans?

 

 

This one is my favourite.  I think this should qualify my membership of the Handlebar Club.

Botanic Gardens Garage, Glasgow

Our first wordpress entry, and a bit of a test…

Hello,

This is our first time using WordPress, so we are going to be a bit experimental with our first posting. This blog will generally document our favourite pastime, which is taking pictures of me (Pickles) outside Art Deco and Modernist industrial buildings.  Having said that, today’s (being our experimental day) will break the rule from the start.

We went to see the new proposals for the Botanic Gardens Garage in Glasgow this evening, so we thought we’d start off with a piccy of me posing outside there.  The Botanics Garage was built in 1912 and is the oldest surviving purpose-built garage in the UK.  It was in use as a garage until last year, by Arnold Clark, but they are now planning to develop it into a block of flats despite its recent Grade A listing.

Botanic Gardens Garage, Vinicombe St, Glasgow.  1912.  architect: David Valentine Wyllie.

For more info see http://www.botanicgardensgarage.org/

and The Twentieth Century Society  which has also got a great photo of the garage back in the day.

 

Honeywell building, Motherwell

(Yes, I have to admit it, uncool as it is sometimes I do have to be chained to my bitch for “safety” reasons – this time the motorway.)

Motherwell – M8 – architect and date tbc…