Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project
Carved Decoration
Region ID | GW | |
Work ID | 207 | |
Manual Reference | KI/007 | |
Title | Carved Decoration | |
Architect | Salmon, Son & Gillespie | |
Sculptor | Anon | |
Sculptor | Gallagher, Lisa | |
Builder | John Dickie Construction | |
Date of design | 1900 | |
Year of unveiling | c1900 | |
Unveiling details | ||
Road | Gorbals Street | |
Precise Location | 162-170 Gorbals Street, on east façade at entrance and second storey, former British Linen Company Bank | |
A to Z Ref | 35 L16 | |
OS Ref | ||
Postcode | G5 | |
Work is | Extant | |
Listing Status | I | |
Duty of Care | Southside Housing Association | |
Commissioned by | British Linen Bank | |
Notes | ||
The carved decoration is concentrated at the north end of the east façade at ground level and on the second storey. It comprises an inscribed cross-shaped escutcheon with a relief figure of Britannia holding a shield with the arms of Great Britain at its centre. The curved angles of the cross are filled with four cherub heads. Between the arched windows at the left of this is an inverted tear-drop escutcheon filled with a standing figure of Britannia with a shield similarly emblazoned. Above a window on the second storey at the north end of the façade is a shield with the Royal Arms. There is also good 'Glasgow Style' wrought iron work at the fourth storey window at the south end of the façade and at the main entrance. | ||
The building was erected by the British Linen Bank Company as its Gorbals branch. The bank occupied the ground storey while the rest of the building's three upper storeys consisted of dwellings.(1) The building was left standing on its own after its neighbours and the rest of the Gorbals' historic buildings were demolished in the 1960s and '70s. The tenement flats were occupied until c. 1995, and thereafter the building became empty and derelict. Since then the building has been boarded up and is at risk of being demolished. In June 1998 the Development Officer of the Southside Housing Association (Victoria Grassie) stated that the Association would accept a token sale price for the building if its future could be secured (2). In October 1999 artist Lisa Gallagher with builders John Dickie Construction installed a needle and thread through the south gable of the building to highlight its plight and to symbolically stitch it together. The steel and rope installation will remain in situ until the end of October 1999.(3) The installation won the 1999 Bulkhead Prize. (4) | ||
circa | c | |
raw year | 1900 | |
Condition | Good | |
At risk | Immediate Risk | |
Inscriptions | On escutcheon above entrance, at north end of east façade: BRITISH LINEN / COMPANY BANK / 162 | |
Signatures | ||
Elements
Element Details
Part of work | Material | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
Sculpture | Red Locharbriggs sandstone | |
Assessment of Condition
Surface Character
Detail | Comment |
|---|---|
Previous treatments | The building and sculpture have been painted pink |
Structural Condition
Structural Condition | Comment |
|---|---|
Other | The building is derelict |
Vandalism
Vandalism | Comment |
|---|---|
None | |