Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson Architecture Tour, Glasgow, Scotland
Tell me a little about Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson
Thomson was a giant of 19th century Scottish architecture. He was born in Balfron, Glasgow in 1817 and died 1875 at the home he designed in Moray Place, Glasgow. He was inspired by the architecture of ancient Greece which he did not copy but used Greek architecture as a living language to speak to his own time whilst incorporating new inventions such as plate glass and cast iron in his designs. During Thomson’s lifetime Glasgow rose to become an industrial powerhouse and ‘Second City of the British Empire’ and thus Thomson was well positioned to influence the distinctive character of Glasgow via an extensive array of designs many of which are still visible today.
Tell me more about Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson
Despite his ‘Greek’ sobriquet Thomson never actually departed the shores of Britain let alone visited Greece. He was a devout Christian and interested in philosophical ideas and in the ‘eternal laws’ which governed architecture and was influenced by images of Old Testament catastrophes by the painter John Martin.
As the City of Glasgow expanded, Thomson designed a wide range of buildings to accommodate the growth. His designs included commercial, warehouses, tenements, terraces of houses (row houses), villas and buildings for the United Presbyterian Church.
During his early career Thomson experimented with various styles including Italian Romanesque, Scottish Baronial and even Gothic. It was later in his career that Thomson championed the superiority of the Greek ideal over the Medievalism then fashionable in England.
Here is a listing of the principal extant buildings by Thomson which can be seen in the Glasgow conurbation. For a full listing of his work visit the Thomson section ofthis web page.
Glasgow City Centre
The St. Vincent Street Church (1857-59), Corner of St. Vincent Street and Pitt Street.
This is the only surviving intact church by Thomson. It is raised up on its own mad-made Acropolis on a steeply sloping site. Features Ionic porticoes which are purely symbolic.
Grecian Buildings (1867-68). 336-356 Sauchiehall Street/Scott Street.
Originally a commercial warehouse but now the centre for Contemporary Arts.
West Nile Street Warehouse (1858). 99-107 West Nile Street.
A small commercial building in an abstracted Greek style.
Gordon Street Warehouse (1858-59).68-80 Gordon Street.
Features a façade full of subtleties and distinctive ornament. Arguably spoiled by a massive superstructure placed on top during the Edwardian period.
Egyptian Halls (1870-72) (84-100 Union Street)
Named after the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London and originally featured a bazaar or shopping centre with an exhibition gallery.
Bucks Head Building (1863), 59-61 Argyle Street & Dunlop Street.
A commercial building in which the cast iron construction is expressed externally.
Beattie Monument( 1867), the Necropolis.
A monument to a Church Minister comprising a pylon topped with a beautiful urn rising from a base of Cyclopean masonry.
West End of Glasgow
Eton Terrace (1862-64), 41-53 Oakfield Avenue/great George Street
A terrace with ends made prominent with pedimented temple-fronts and square columns.
The Sixty Steps (1872), Kelvinside Terrace West & Queen Margaret’s Place
A monumental flight of steps connecting with a now demolished bridge across the River Kelvin.
Great Western Terrace (1867-77), Great Western Road.
A grand terrace with the taller houses in the middle. A severe design relying on repetition and careful proportions.
South Side of Glasgow
Caledonia Road Church (1856-57), Cathcart Road and Hospital Street.
This was Thomson’s first church but now a forlorn ruin after burning by vandals. However, the remains retain dignity and distinction.
Walmer Crescent (1857-62), Paisley Road West above Cessnock subway station.
This represents one of Thomson’s few surviving tenements. An austere composition with no ornament.
Moray Place (1859-61), 1-10 Moray Place, Strathbungo.
A terrace of ten small houses where repetition and unity is everything. An unbroken run of 52 square columns on the first floor links the two projecting end houses. Thomson lived and died at No 1 Moray Place.
Millbrae Crescent (1876-77), 2-38 Millbrae Crescent, Langside.
Completed posthumously by Thomson’s partner, Robert Turnbull. However, flair and elegance and other clues suggest the design was by Thomson.
Holmwood House (1857-58), 61-63 Netherlee Road.
This is considered Thomson’s finest and most elaborate villa. Designed in the Greek style asymmetrically and incorporating a wall that connects the main house with the coach house, a feature associated with designs of Lutyens and Frank Lloyd Wright.
How can Catswhiskerstours help?
- We can design a Thomson themed architecture tour of Glasgow.
- We can provide a general tour of Glasgow incorporating a selection of Thomson designs.
- We can provide a wider themed architecture of Glasgow incorporating the work of other architects such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
For more information and help contact Nigel-
T 44 (0) 141 638 5500
E [email protected]
Or [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you!
Tell me a little about Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson
Thomson was a giant of 19th century Scottish architecture. He was born in Balfron, Glasgow in 1817 and died 1875 at the home he designed in Moray Place, Glasgow. He was inspired by the architecture of ancient Greece which he did not copy but used Greek architecture as a living language to speak to his own time whilst incorporating new inventions such as plate glass and cast iron in his designs. During Thomson’s lifetime Glasgow rose to become an industrial powerhouse and ‘Second City of the British Empire’ and thus Thomson was well positioned to influence the distinctive character of Glasgow via an extensive array of designs many of which are still visible today.
Tell me more about Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson
Despite his ‘Greek’ sobriquet Thomson never actually departed the shores of Britain let alone visited Greece. He was a devout Christian and interested in philosophical ideas and in the ‘eternal laws’ which governed architecture and was influenced by images of Old Testament catastrophes by the painter John Martin.
As the City of Glasgow expanded, Thomson designed a wide range of buildings to accommodate the growth. His designs included commercial, warehouses, tenements, terraces of houses (row houses), villas and buildings for the United Presbyterian Church.
During his early career Thomson experimented with various styles including Italian Romanesque, Scottish Baronial and even Gothic. It was later in his career that Thomson championed the superiority of the Greek ideal over the Medievalism then fashionable in England.
Here is a listing of the principal extant buildings by Thomson which can be seen in the Glasgow conurbation. For a full listing of his work visit the Thomson section ofthis web page.
Glasgow City Centre
The St. Vincent Street Church (1857-59), Corner of St. Vincent Street and Pitt Street.
This is the only surviving intact church by Thomson. It is raised up on its own mad-made Acropolis on a steeply sloping site. Features Ionic porticoes which are purely symbolic.
Grecian Buildings (1867-68). 336-356 Sauchiehall Street/Scott Street.
Originally a commercial warehouse but now the centre for Contemporary Arts.
West Nile Street Warehouse (1858). 99-107 West Nile Street.
A small commercial building in an abstracted Greek style.
Gordon Street Warehouse (1858-59).68-80 Gordon Street.
Features a façade full of subtleties and distinctive ornament. Arguably spoiled by a massive superstructure placed on top during the Edwardian period.
Egyptian Halls (1870-72) (84-100 Union Street)
Named after the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London and originally featured a bazaar or shopping centre with an exhibition gallery.
Bucks Head Building (1863), 59-61 Argyle Street & Dunlop Street.
A commercial building in which the cast iron construction is expressed externally.
Beattie Monument( 1867), the Necropolis.
A monument to a Church Minister comprising a pylon topped with a beautiful urn rising from a base of Cyclopean masonry.
West End of Glasgow
Eton Terrace (1862-64), 41-53 Oakfield Avenue/great George Street
A terrace with ends made prominent with pedimented temple-fronts and square columns.
The Sixty Steps (1872), Kelvinside Terrace West & Queen Margaret’s Place
A monumental flight of steps connecting with a now demolished bridge across the River Kelvin.
Great Western Terrace (1867-77), Great Western Road.
A grand terrace with the taller houses in the middle. A severe design relying on repetition and careful proportions.
South Side of Glasgow
Caledonia Road Church (1856-57), Cathcart Road and Hospital Street.
This was Thomson’s first church but now a forlorn ruin after burning by vandals. However, the remains retain dignity and distinction.
Walmer Crescent (1857-62), Paisley Road West above Cessnock subway station.
This represents one of Thomson’s few surviving tenements. An austere composition with no ornament.
Moray Place (1859-61), 1-10 Moray Place, Strathbungo.
A terrace of ten small houses where repetition and unity is everything. An unbroken run of 52 square columns on the first floor links the two projecting end houses. Thomson lived and died at No 1 Moray Place.
Millbrae Crescent (1876-77), 2-38 Millbrae Crescent, Langside.
Completed posthumously by Thomson’s partner, Robert Turnbull. However, flair and elegance and other clues suggest the design was by Thomson.
Holmwood House (1857-58), 61-63 Netherlee Road.
This is considered Thomson’s finest and most elaborate villa. Designed in the Greek style asymmetrically and incorporating a wall that connects the main house with the coach house, a feature associated with designs of Lutyens and Frank Lloyd Wright.
How can Catswhiskerstours help?
- We can design a Thomson themed architecture tour of Glasgow.
- We can provide a general tour of Glasgow incorporating a selection of Thomson designs.
- We can provide a wider themed architecture of Glasgow incorporating the work of other architects such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
For more information and help contact Nigel-
T 44 (0) 141 638 5500
E [email protected]
Or [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you!
T 44 (0) 141 638 5500
E [email protected]
Or [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you!
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