progress

Hands-on Workshops for the Windows of Today

On Saturday 15th January we held three free hands-on workshops in a local community hall, to give people who signed up in advance a chance to meet our glass artists, talk about their suggestions and ideas for the Windows of Today, and get to try out some of the techniques involved in making stained glass,
The designs created on the day will be fired by Alec in his studio, and later returned to the participants - meaning they all get a permanent souvenir of their involvement with the project.
As a special bonus, and thank you to those that attended despite the horrible weather on the day, participants that filled in a feedback form got to choose a item to take away from a huge Christmas Goody Hamper, which had been generously donated to the Trust by our contractors, Graham Construction.
Other workshops, talks and discussions have already been held with other community groups, including two different primary school classes (P6 and P7), 6th year pupils at a local High School, a carers group, a women's group, a writer's group, and youth group leaders. All of these have helped bring their own unique perspectives, ideas and suggestions to what should be featured in the new windows.
It's not too late to have your say - you can download our suggestion form here - but please get it back to us by January 31st at the latest!

Work continues despite the snow...

The current slightly inclement weather is having an effect on our rebuilding works - it's not very easy (or safe) to do slating in these sort of conditions, for example!

 

But other works are continuing - the glazed curtain walling for the cafe has arrived on-site, and work to clean-up and restore the cast-iron clock face has begun.

 

New windows are also starting to be fitted in the main Hall...

 

Historic Cupola replacement takes shape

When it first opened in 1878, Maryhill Burgh Halls was topped by a dramatic octagonal cupola, featuring an air vent topped by a landmark wind vane. This was removed some time in the late 20th century when it became unsafe.

Part of the restoration of the building involves the replacement of a replica cupola to return the building to its original appearance. 
This replacement structure is now starting to take shape in the workshops of specialist contractors Hutton & Read Ltd.

An archive image of the Halls, showing the original cupola in place, can be seen on the RCAHMS Canmore site here.

A video of the leadwork being shaped onto the dome can be seen here:

Replacement Cupola Metalwork from Maryhill Burgh Halls on Vimeo.

 

Heritage Trade Taster Workshops - October 2010

Pictures and video from a series of heritage trade taster workshops, giving participants an opportunity to learn about joinery, slate & leadwork, and stonecarving and masonry work. There were also some chances to get some hands-on experience of doing some slating, plus helping with the restoration of the Halls itself by doing some pointing-work...

The three workshops were attended by 30 primary 7 pupils from a local school, students from Glasgow Met College, and a range of interested local adults, aged between 20 and over 80!.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryhillburghhalls/sets/72157625109109866/

Heritage Trade Workshop from Maryhill Burgh Halls on Vimeo.

4 minute video showing some of the highlights of the third workshop

The feedback from the workshops was overwhelmingly positive, as was the level of interest people had in finding out more about both the trades demonstrated, and the Burgh Halls project in particular. One comment in particular drew attention to the benefit of discussing heritage trades and techniques against the background of a specific building and project, helping put the information in a relevant context.

The final word goes to one of our primary participants, who said:

“I’d like a job like this in the future”

Restoring the roof - original slates go back on the Halls

Reclaimed original slates from the roof of the Burgh Halls, which were taken off and tested, cleaned and re-shaped, have now started to be replaced on the main elevation to Maryhill Road, and shortly, to the front of the building.

In Gairbraid Avenue, on the new sections of roof above the former police and fire station facades, new slates have been applied, of a similar type and colour to the originals.

Interestingly, the original slates weren't made of Scottish slate - they are Westmoreland slate, from a quarry in England, which is where the new slates have been sourced from.

Elsewhere on the building, new granite cladding is being added on the new part of the building facing Maryhill Road.

Replica stained glass panel on display in Glasgow Club, Maryhill

On display in the foyer of the Glasgow Club Maryhill, Gairbraid Avenue.

The panel is the Engineers - The likely source of this panel is the Maryhill Engine Works on Lochburn Road, built in 1873 for the Clarkson Brothers. Possibly one of the brothers is featured here, explaining to the workman with the spanner the details of the next job. The building still exists in Lochburn Road.

The Andy Scott designed Firemen Gates can be seen in the background.

Thanks to Glasgow Museums for the loan of the replica panel.

Site Progress: Late June

The facade retention steelwork on the former police station frontage has been taken down, now that the retained stonework is fully tied into the new steelwork behind it.

This former entrance will be a glazed window, giving views through to the cafe and garden courtyard beyond.

Standing in the middle of what will be the outdoor garden courtyard, looking in towards the double-height cafe space, and the main entrance from the shared courtyard with the leisure centre on the right.

In the main Hall, looking out towards the new garden room and courtyard. New doors will be formed beneath the windows, and the glazing will be re-instated. This also gives a good view of ten of the square windows, on which were hung the Stephen Adam stained glass panels showing the trades and industries of Maryhill.

New concrete floors taking shape in the new-build portions of the site, with the old stonework and roof of the main Hall on the right.

Site progress: Early June 2010

The final sections of steelwork for the new nursery and recording studio buildings has been delivered and erected on site, to the rear of the main Hall.

A lane of Maryhill Road was closed for 2 days to allow a crane to lift the new steelwork into position.

In the new attic floor above the main hall, the decorative trusses are wrapped in plastic to protect them while the new skylights are fitted.

Latest site progress - new attic floor takes shape

New roofspace floor takes shape amongst the ornate original roof trusses, which will remain in place.

New steelwork behind retained facade of Police Station meets the main Halls building itself.

Inside the Hall, the new openings which will give access to the Garden Courtyard and Cafe areas of the new build.

Standing where the cafe will be, looking towards the retained wall of the former Police Station

New steelwork erected on site

The first consignment of steelwork for the new build portion of the Burgh Halls project arrived on site early this morning. The contractors have wasted no time, and already the first sections of it have been erected behind the retained facade of the former Police Station.
The majority of the steelwork will be erected by the middle of next week.