The 3rd Grand Charity Argentine Tango Milonga is being held at the fabulous award winning Maryhill Burgh Halls on Sunday 29 July from 8pm till 11pm
Entry £6 before 9pm or £8 after.
Come along to dance or just enjoy the atmosphere of captivating Argentine Tango music.
The proceeds of the evening will be used to support arts and cultural activities in the area of Maryhill.
We’re delighted to announce that Maryhill Burgh Halls has been shortlisted in this year’s National Lottery Awards in the category of Best Heritage Project.
Click here to vote for us in the Heritage category!
Now we need your help! To get through to the next round, please show your support and consider voting for us – the three projects in each category with the most votes by July 22nd will go through to the final – and be featured on a BBC TV program about the awards.
You can vote for free via the website at
www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards
or by ringing
0844 836 9715
(calls cost just 5p from a BT Landline).
If you've enjoyed visiting Halls, have been to an event here, or just like what we've done to bring the buildings back to life, this is a great way to show your support - if you choose to vote for us,
Thank You!
If not, then please look at the other fantastic projects involved, and vote for one of them instead...
Hunter Reid, Project Co-ordinator at Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust, said:
“Funding from the National Lottery was crucial in allowing us to bring Maryhill Burgh Halls back to life and we’re delighted that the project has now been selected as a semi-finalist in The National Lottery Awards. The project not only allowed for the restoration and development of these magnificent buildings, but it is also bringing a much loved hub for community activity and celebration back to life!
“We are delighted with the feedback so far from both the local community and also visitors from further afield who are now able to experience the historically rich area of Maryhill. We hope that they will continue to support us and, of course, vote us Best Heritage Project in The National Lottery Awards!”
The Burgh Halls Project
The project has brought three derelict, “at risk”, listed buildings in the heart of one of the most deprived areas in Scotland back to life - giving a new focus for the local community. It mixed traditional building methods with high-quality new build, to create vibrant, in-demand facilities for the area, including a public hall/events space, meeting rooms, a cafe, a nursery, community and commercial recording studios, heritage displays, plus over 10,000 sq ft of high spec office space. Complementing the buildings are a series of historically and socially unique stained glass windows from 1878, depicting the trades and working people of the local area, now restored and back on display for the first time in nearly half a century, alongside new artworks inspired by local people.
Find out more about the project at
New stained glass unveiled on June 7th.
The Trades House of Glasgow and its 14 Incorporated Trades ran a competition in 2011 open to students from the Glasgow colleges, to design a new stained glass window to celebrate the historic links between the city and the trades of the Maryhill area.
The window, which is being generously gifted to the Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust, will be on prime public display in the upper foyer. Many of the original twenty windows designed by Stephen Adam in 1878, which are now displayed within the Halls after a gap of nearly 50 years, depict crafts carried out by the Incorporated Trades at that time.
The winning design by Agnes Maclean The winning design for the new window was by Agnes MacLean, student at City of Glasgow College, whose design depicts the shields of the House and its Trades against a starburst background.
The new panel has another key link to Maryhill - the window was constructed by local glass artist Bryan Hutchison, whose father Neil worked with artist Gordon Webster, whose father Alf inherited Stephen Adam's business and studio. Bryan has a number of tools and brushes that Stephen Adam would have used on the original panels, 134 years ago, and they are still in use today. Bryan has kindly agreed to loan one of the brushes to the Trust to put on display in the Burgh Halls.
Bryan demonstrates how Stephen Adam would have used the brush
Irene Scott, Chair of Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust, said: "I'm delighted to be able to accept this amazing gift on behalf of the Trust — the Burgh Halls is becoming known as a home for stained glass old and new, and the connections and links this window holds to the past and present — both through the importance of the trades depicted, and the link to Stephen Adam himself."
Jack Steele, Deacon Convenor of The Trades House of Glasgow, said: "Supporting and encouraging craft standards through Glasgow's colleges is one of our key aims — and this project was an innovative way to both celebrate the past, but also help encourage the next generation of designers and craftspeople.
The Maryhill area is an important part of Glasgow — and in fact this year's Deacon Convener's Special Project is also in the area — East Park, the much-loved special needs school."
The company assemble on the stairs below the newly unveiled window
High-resolution photographs from the opening, and of the new stained glass, are available on request.
Notes to journalists:
About The Trades House of Glasgow
Since it was established in 1605, the Trades House of Glasgow has played an important role in fostering trade and industry in the city, along with its 14 Incorporated Crafts. While continuing to promote traditional craft skills through a wide variety of initiatives including Craftex, showcasing the top art and craft work of college students in Glasgow, the School Craft Competition and School Citizenship Award, the House is now widely viewed as a centre of excellence in the administration of trusts and legacies, managing funds in excess of £14 million. Considerable resources are also devoted to general benevolent work, with grants of around £600,000 awarded each year to deserving causes and individuals. Find out more about the work of the Trades House and Incorporated Crafts online at www.tradeshouse.org.uk.
About Maryhill Burgh Halls
This news release is issued by Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust www.maryhillburghhalls.org.uk
Further information is available from Gordon Barr, Heritage Development Officer, 0794 081 5202 at any time or email: press@mbht.org.uk
The 134 year old building has undergone a £9.6 million restoration project, which has breathed new life into the iconic Halls, saved them for the community, created a thriving centre for business, and made the place once again the focus and beating heart of Maryhill.
Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust raised this remarkable sum to secure a bright future for the treasured Halls and in so doing recapture the splendour of one of the city's best loved buildings.
The restoration work began in November 2009, and the building was declared officially re-open in April 2012.
In November 2010, the project was awarded a prize for best contribution to Urban Regeneration in Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds at the European Structural Funds Best Practice Awards.
Maryhill Burgh Halls were the seat of municipal government in the days before Maryhill was a part of Glasgow. Built in 1878 and designed by renowned architect Duncan McNaughtan, they have lain derelict for the past eight years and are listed on the Buildings at Risk register. Now open, the Halls include a modern public hall, cafe, 11 offices, a commercial and a community recording studio, a nursery, meeting rooms and courtyard garden. Around 8 years of hard work has been put into developing and delivering the project.
The Board of the Trust, which comprises local people and representatives from partners Maryhill Housing Association, Cube Housing Association and Glasgow City Council, has worked tirelessly to deliver the restoration.
The contractor for the project Graham Construction has secured employment opportunities within the local community by creating three apprenticeships in joinery to work on the Halls restoration. Funding for the Maryhill Burgh Halls project has come from:
European Regional Development Funding £1.327m
Scottish Government City Growth Fund Phases 1 and 2 £1.26m
Heritage Lottery Fund £1.16m
Big Lottery - Growing Community Assets Fund £980,910
Glasgow City Council Better Glasgow Fund £1.02m
Glasgow City Council Vacant and Derelict Land Fund £675,000
Scottish Government Town Centre Regeneration Fund £1.8m
Historic Scotland £593,000
Scottish Government Wider Role Fund £764,000
The Robertson Trust £28,000
Everyone who is interested in following the development of the project through to completion can view progress and comment on the project on the Trust's Website at www.maryhillburghhalls.org.uk
It's time to play the music, it's time to re-light the lights - as film returns to Maryhill Burgh Halls for the first time in decades!
THE GROSVENOR CINEMA, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WEST END FESTIVAL, PRESENTS AN AUTHENTIC 35MM CINEMA EXPERIENCE AT MARYHILL BURGH HALLS ON 23RD JUNE AT 11AM.
The popular Grosvenor Cinema of Ashton Lane in Glasgow’s West End, as a part of The West End Festival, are proud to present a community screening of the brilliant family movie ‘The Muppets’ at Maryhill Burgh Halls on Saturday 23rd June at 11am.
Tickets are only £1.00 but be there as you will see a demonstration of authentic 35m projected film. Have you ever wondered just what goes on behind that light at the back of the cinema in the projection box? On the 23rd June we will show you, using a genuine projector taken out of a Glasgow cinema that will not only be on display but will be used to show you ‘The Muppets’. Prior to the film we will also give a short talk of how 35m developed and how we have now entered the digital age.
Not only will this be lots of fun it will also be a great brief history lesson for all the family, not to mention a chance to experience a rapidly disappearing way of showing films on screen.
Ken Creelman, Cinema Development Manager for the Grosvenor Cinema said; “We are delighted to work with both The West End Festival and Maryhill Burgh Halls in bringing authentic 35m film to a unique setting for families in the area. As Glasgow’s oldest operating cinema, The Grosvenor wants to give something back to the community and showing films is still the most enjoyable family outing. We hope to do more of these screenings around Glasgow in the future but where better to start than this magnificent historic building, and as part of the West End Festival”.
Melanie Farrow; Manager of Maryhill Burgh Halls said; “Being able to bring the Muppets to the newly re-opened Maryhill Burgh Halls is fantastic – the Halls was showing films on Saturdays for children as long ago as 1910, so it’s a very appropriate location to learn about the heritage of film! We hold many different types of events here and I am sure cinema will be a welcome addition. We hope people both in Maryhill and across north Glasgow will enjoy this screening, which will hopefully lead to many more such shows”.
Ann McKechin, MP for Glasgow North said; “I am delighted that Maryhill Burgh Halls is partnering with the Grosvenor Cinema in this way. Both venues are huge assets to the local community and it makes perfect sense for local families to have use of the Grosvenor facilities right on their doorstep in the Burgh Halls. I look forward to many more screenings!”
Tickets for the screening of ‘The Muppets’ at Maryhill Burgh Halls can be purchased from The Grosvenor Cinema; www.grosvenorcafe.co.uk 0845 166 6028, or on the door at Maryhill Burgh Halls from 10am on the 23rd of June.
Tuesday 5th June - Maryhill Walk (7pm)
Combining work by many of Glasgow’s leading architects, including Mackintosh, with housing from all eras from Victorian to post war, Maryhill retains a distinctive community identity and some of Glasgow’s best-kept historical secrets – including the Maryhill Burgh Halls, re-opening later in 2011. This varied walk, led by Gordon Barr of Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust, will take in Maryhill itself, the canal that made the area, and a selection of landmark buildings, stained glass and artwork – some of which no longer exist.
Further details & ticket information:
http://www.westendfestival.co.uk/49,1805/events/walk_maryhill/
Tuesday 12th June - Free Hillhead Library Talk: The Crown Jewels of Maryhill (6.30pm)
Gordon Barr takes you round Maryhill’s wealth of interesting history, centred around Maryhill Burgh Halls and their unique series of iconic stained glass windows showcasing the historic trades of the area. Hidden away for decades, the restored windows are now back on display, and full of interesting stories…
Free talk, no tickets required. Hillhead Library, Byres Road.
http://www.westendfestival.co.uk/49,1668/events/the_crown_jewels_of_maryhill/
Saturday 16th June - Canal Cruise from Spiers Wharf to Maryhill! (2pm)
Join canal historian and writer Guthrie Hutton and work your passage from Spiers Wharf to Maryhill (and back) aboard “Voyager”, exploring some of Glasgow’s canal side industrial archaeology. A trip at walking pace that requires no actual walking!
Further details & ticket information:
http://www.westendfestival.co.uk/49,1817/events/walk_canal_cruise/
Saturday 23rd June - The Muppets in Maryhill! (11am)
It's time to play the music, it's time to re-light the lights - as film returns to Maryhill Burgh Halls for the first time in decades!
The popular Grosvenor Cinema of Ashton Lane in Glasgow’s West End, as a part of The West End Festival, are proud to present a ‘Community’ screening of the brilliant family movie ‘The Muppets’ at Maryhill Burgh Halls on Saturday 23rd June at 11am.
Tickets are only £1.00 but be there as you will also see a demonstration of authentic 35m projected film.
Further details:
http://www.maryhillburghhalls.org.uk/updates/muppets-in-maryhill.html
A fantastic night at our first regular Grand Charity Argentine Tango Milonga on Saturday night, raising over £300!
The next evening is on 23rd June, with a class for beginners before the start of the main milonga - get in touch for more details!
The events will raise money for our Burgh Halls choir - led by Maeve Mackinnon, who you can hear singing in a brief excerpt during the video clip.
Find out more about the choir, and how to get involved, here:
mbht.org.uk/choir
Video Clip:
Photo Gallery:
Grand Charity Argentine Tango Milonga
at the fabulous award winning Maryhill Burgh Halls,
10-24 Gairbraid Ave, Maryhill, Glasgow G20 8YE
Saturday 26 May - 8pm till 11pm
Entry £6 before 9pm or £8 after
Come along to dance or just enjoy the atmosphere of captivating Argentine Tango music.The proceeds of the evening, run by Robert and Agnieszka, will be used to support arts and cultural activities in the local area of Maryhill.
The Milonga will be run regularly on the 4th weekend of each month and may be on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday at varying times.
Classes for beginners by Robert and Agnieszka will commence in July during the hour before the milonga.
"Clean Plates Cafe" - part of the Grassroots Organic family - will be open for light bites and refreshments.
Thanks to the hundreds of people who came along to the various events and make our re-opening week such a success. Here are some of the highlights...
Maryhill Burgh Halls officially re-opened last week - with the descendants of many of those who attended the original opening in 1878 in attendance, 134 years to the day.
Andrew Robertson, Great-great Grandson of the Provost who originally opened the building in 1878, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Cultural and External Affairs, Irene Scott, Chair of Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust, and Glasgow’s First Citizen, the Rt Hon the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Bob Winter cut the cake using the original ceremonial silver key first used to open the Burgh Halls 134 years ago to the day.
Maryhill celebrated the official re-opening of its much-loved Burgh Halls buildings with a series of free events celebrating its rebirth as a community hall, business centre, nursery, cafe, exhibition and recording studio spaces.
Events included a free lunchtime concert with award-winning classical musicians, an open rehearsal featuring Glasgow Orchestral Society, a free tea dance in the Hall, a party organised for young people from nearby East Park, a formal evening opening ceremony, and a free public Open Day with tours, talks, music, performance, dance and ceramic workshops, and even a vintage fire engine in attendance.
The open day included a performance with award-winning singer Maeve McKinnon, accompanied by children from two local primary schools, as well as local adults, singing songs about the trades depicted in the historic stained glass windows.
Several hundred people from Maryhill and beyond were welcomed to the historic buildings for these events.
Monday's Free Lunchtime Concert
Featuring:Barbara Downie, Violin, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,Havilland Willshire, Piano, Dean of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, andJamie MacDougall, Voice, Presenter BBC Scotland
Video Highlights:
Photo Gallery:
Tuesday's Free Tea Dance with Willie and Anne
Video Highlights:
Photo Gallery:
Thursday Evening's Re-opening Ceremony
Photo Gallery:
Saturday's Open Day
Building tours, music performances, exhibitions, talks, activities, ceramics workshops, demonstrations, plus vintage and modern fire engines on display.
The day included the Songs of the Trades Choir Performance - Featuring award-winning singer Maeve McKinnon - a concert comprising 2 local schools and a community singing group, with a selection of songs entirely a-Capella in English, Scots and Gaelic.
Video Highlights:
Photo Gallery:
Some of the press coverage for the events...
BBC News: Revamped Burgh Halls Set to ReOpen
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-17853013
Evening Times: Social hub reopens after £9.2m renovation
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/social-hub-reopens-after-92m-renovation-historic-burgh-hall-is-set-to-serve-maryhill.17409196
BBC Radio Scotland: Good Morning Scotland
Halls Manager Melanie Farrow and Andrew Robertson, great-great-grandson of the Provost of Maryhill that first opened the building in 1878, on Good Morning Scotland (feature appears approx. 54 mins in):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01ghg1c/Good_Morning_Scotland_26_04_2012/
Maryhill Burgh Halls in 1908:
Maryhill Burgh Halls in 2012:
Come with us to a magical, night-time world, take a train ride through the jungle, and meet a friendly lion who sleeps under the stars…
Following the phenomenal success of BabyO, Scottish Opera’s groundbreaking show for 6 to 18 month olds, SensoryO is a brand-new interactive performance for toddlers and their carers. Aimed at kids between the ages of 18 and 36 months, this 30-minute show is rich in sound, rhythm and music.
The set is inviting and tactile and, with its unique audience in mind, it introduces toddlers to live performance in a relaxed and intimate environment. Featuring a mixture of live and recorded vocal music and percussive sounds, SensoryO also uses smells, textures, actions and simple but striking visuals to inspire the imagination and bring the adventure to life.
TICKETS £12 (1 adult and 1 toddler)
Additional adult tickets can be purchased for £7.
Maryhill Burgh Halls, Glasgow
4 11 12 May 11.30am & 1.30pm
5 May 10am & 11.30am
Tickets: Glasgow Club Maryhill, 34 Gairbraid Avenue, Glasgow G20 8YE
Tel: 08444 771 000
The 134-year old Maryhill Burgh Halls officially re-opened this week - with the descendants of many of those who attended the original opening in 1878 in attendance.
Maryhill celebrated the official re-opening of its much-loved Burgh Halls buildings with a series of free events celebrating its rebirth as a community hall, business centre, nursery, cafe, exhibition and recording studio spaces. The dynamic light filled spaces, designed by J M Architects, create the perfect backdrop for historic and modern stained glass windows and heritage displays.
Events so far have included a free lunchtime concert with award-winning classical musicians, an open rehearsal featuring Glasgow Orchestral Society, a free tea dance in the Hall, and party organised for young people from nearby East Park .
The events will culminate on Saturday 28th April with an Open Day from 10am to 4pm, with free tours, talks, music, performance, dance and ceramic workshops, and even a vintage fire engine in attendance - everyone is welcome.
There will also be a performance at 2pm on Saturday with award-winning singer Maeve Mackinnon, accompanied by children from two local primary schools, as well as local adults, singing songs about the trades depicted in the historic stained glass windows.
The formal re-opening on the evening of Thursday 26th April saw a trio of special guests declaring the many years of campaigning, fundraising, and building restoration works complete.
Irene Scott, Chair of Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust, said:
"The 26th of April is an extremely significant date because exactly 134 years ago the Halls were first opened. According to the Glasgow Herald at the time, ‘the proceedings took the form of a cake and wine banquet, and there was a large attendance of people connected with Maryhill.’
The significance of the occasion comes from the aspirations of the many local people, like Kenny McLachlan, and many others, who fought so hard over many decades to see this magnificent building saved and now re-opened. To me, it expresses the spirit and determination of a lot of people to overcome resource constraints and strive for excellence. Perhaps the most important dimension of all about this building is that it is here for the benefit of the community to use and enjoy in the years ahead."
Fiona Hyslop MSP, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Cultural and External Affairs, said:
“Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust has carried out a magnificent job in both delivering this project and in providing a sustainable future for such an iconic local building.”
“Buildings such as the Burgh Halls sit at the core of Scotland’s cultural identity and, together, they form part of Scotland's unique contribution to the world's built heritage.”
Glasgow’s First Citizen, the Rt Hon the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Bob Winter, who grew up in Maryhill, said:
“I grew up in Queen’s Cross and so the Burgh Halls and the Baths have always been very important to me. I had my first bath on a Friday night in the Baths and also learnt to swim there – which probably saved my life when I went for a dip in the canal. I also had my first ever dance in the Burgh Halls.
“I am now absolutely delighted to see the wonderful job that has been done in restoring the Burgh Halls to full modern standards, while retaining wonderful features like the historic artistic stained glass. I am confident that Maryhill Burgh Halls will again be a much-used and much-loved venue and resource at the heart of this great community.
“I must pay tribute to the wonderful work undertaken by Hunter Reid, the tireless
Project Co-ordinator at Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust, his colleagues and the local committee for the wonderful work they have put in over a number of years to raise the money and produce such a magnificent refurbishment.”
Andrew Robertson, who presented the original silver key which was used to open the Halls in 1878 said:
"134 years ago, my great-great grandfather James Robertson was the Provost of Maryhill, a prosperous and independent burgh outside Glasgow. One of his duties was to open these Burgh Halls - then a marvellous new building to house the local municipal offices – and in so doing, he received a ceremonial silver key. My grandfather passed this key on to me, over 50 years ago; since when it has lain in the dark, in my sock drawer. Now my family and I are delighted to be able to restore the key to the light of day, here in Maryhill amidst its heritage roots, and place it on permanent display at the rejuvenated Burgh Halls."
More details on the opening events and the concert and other events on Saturday's free Open Day are available on our website at
www.maryhillburghhalls.org.uk/opening
or by ringing 0845 860 1878.
Notes to Journalists:
This news release is issued by Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust www.maryhillburghhalls.org.uk
Further information is available from Gordon Barr, Heritage Development Officer, 0794 081 5202 or Hunter Reid, Project Co-ordinator 07807 739627 at any time or email: press@mbht.org.uk
About the Regeneration Project
The 134 year old building has undergone a £9.6 million restoration project, which has breathed new life into the iconic Halls, saved them for the community, created a thriving centre for business, and made the place once again the focus and beating heart of Maryhill.
Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust raised this remarkable sum to secure a bright future for the treasured Halls and in so doing recapture the splendour of one of the city's best loved buildings.
The restoration work began in November 2009 and is now complete.
In November 2010, the project was awarded a prize for best contribution to Urban Regeneration in Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds at the European Structural Funds Best Practice Awards ceremony.
In March 2012, the project won the Scottish Civic Trust's MyPlace award.
Maryhill Burgh Halls were the seat of municipal government in the days before Maryhill was a part of Glasgow. Built in 1878 and designed by renowned architect Duncan McNaughtan, they have lain derelict for over 10 years and were listed on the Buildings at Risk Register. Now open, the Halls include a modern public hall, cafe, 12 offices, a commercial and a community recording studio, a nursery, meeting rooms and courtyard garden. Around 8 years of hard work has been put into developing proposals for the project.
The Board of the Trust, which comprises local people and representatives from partners Maryhill Housing Association, Cube Housing Association and Glasgow City Council, has worked tirelessly to deliver the restoration.
The contractor for the project Graham Construction secured employment opportunities within the local community by creating three apprenticeships in joinery to work on the Halls restoration.
Funding for the Maryhill Burgh Halls project has come from:
European Regional Development Funding £1.327m
Scottish Government City Growth Fund Phases 1 and 2 £1.26m
Heritage Lottery Fund £1.16m
Big Lottery - Growing Community Assets Fund £980,910
Glasgow City Council Better Glasgow Fund £1.02m
Glasgow City Council Vacant and Derelict Land Fund £675,000
Scottish Government Town Centre Regeneration Fund £1.8m
Historic Scotland £593,000
Scottish Government Wider Role Fund £764,000
The Robertson Trust £28,000
Everyone who is interested in viewing photographs of the development of the project before and during construction and at completion can do so andcomment on the project on the Trust's Website at www.maryhillburghhalls.org.uk
To celebrate the re-opening and completed restoration of the 134-year old Maryhill Burgh Halls, we are delighted to announce a series of free public events in late April - please come along to see the building, and what’s on offer!
The Herald:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/maryhill-refurbishment-wins-heritage-prize.2012038512
ScottishArchitecture.com:
Architecture & Design Scotland
http://www.ads.org.uk/scottisharchitecture/highlights/maryhill-burgh-halls
Motion in Scottish Parliament:
The award plaque in the Halls - we'll find somewhere nice to display it permanently!
Hunter ReidMaryhill Music from Maryhill Burgh Halls on Vimeo.
Alan Falconer on Guitar, James Guy on Clarinet, and Jim Barton Vocals.
Appearing at a book launch for the Maryhill Writer's Group, held a Maryhill Burgh Halls on Monday 5th March 2012.
Today we welcomed visitors Egle Morkunaite and Marc Blondiau from the European Commission. The Maryhill Burgh Halls project received a generous grant of c£1.3m from the European Regional Development Fund.
BBC News Website Picture Gallery: Stained glass windows return to Maryhill
Evening Times: Opening Windows on the Past
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/features/editor-s-picks/opening-windows-on-past-1.1148999
Sunday Herald: Brighter future for city landmark
http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/opinion/brighter-future-for-city-landmark.16830513
Craft Scotland: Historic Stained Glass Returns to Maryhill Burgh Halls
Historic Stained Glass back in the Burgh Hall for first time in nearly 50 years!
When Maryhill Burgh Hall first opened in April 1878, pride of place up in the main hall were twenty stained glass windows showing the trades and industries of the area.
Some of the finest pieces of non-religious stained glass in Scotland, they were taken out of the building for safekeeping in 1963.
Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust has been working closely with Glasgow Museums to allow a number of the original panels to be seen again in the building they were designed for - and now, at long last, they are back!
10 original panels back in place in the Main Hall
Gordon Barr, Heritage Development Officer for the Trust, said: “It’s a dream come true to finally get to see these stunning windows where they belong - back in Maryhill and back in the Burgh Halls.
They are full of hidden details and stories - parcels addressed to Paisley, Newcastle and London sit on the platform in the Railway Workers; the Soldiers panel shows two guardsmen about to go to the Barracks Canteen; and the Canal Boatman even has a patch sewn in his trouser leg at the knee (you can even see the stitches!). As we gear up to fully re-opening the Halls, having the stained glass back in place is the perfect icing on the cake!”
Marie Stumpff, Senior Conservator for Glasgow Museums said:
“The restoration of the Maryhill Burgh Halls has provided the funding and opportunity to conserve and restore the 20 stained glass panels by Stephen Adam which depict the trades of Maryhill. This work was carried out by Scottish Glass Studios, and we are delighted with the outcome. It was a fantastic project to be involved in, giving us the opportunity to study the panels closely and find out more about their history."
"One of the panels, the Canal Boatman, which can now be seen close up in the foyer of the Halls, has been given special attention. Like all of the panels in the series, it had suffered significant paint loss. This is not an uncommon problem with stained glass of that period. Conservators were able to bring back some of the details by plating the original glass with very thin clear glass, which has been painted to enhance the original drawing. This reversible technique has re-instated lost detail and improved the readability as well as the aesthetic appearance of the picture.”
Canal Boatman panel on display in the foyer
• Why are the windows important ?
The windows are not just important pieces of art history, but also social, industrial, and fashion history as well.
They show ordinary people going about their jobs - with working clothes & industrial machinery shown in incredible details.
It’s very rare for working people to be shown honestly like this - not dressed up or stylised - - plus two of the panels even feature women workers who are normally even less often seen.
For many of the panels, we know which companies they show and exactly where they are set; for some we even know who some of the people are that are depicted in them.
Main Hall, with 10 original panels facing the 10 new Windows of Today
• What does it mean for Maryhill to have them back on display?
The stained glass has formed the centrepiece of the long-running campaign to re-open the Burgh Halls as a community facility fit for the 21st Century.
The panels - along with a number of other Maryhill-related artefacts from Glasgow Museum’s Collections - are now on display in the building.
• Where & when can I see them ?
Ten of the panels are hung up in the main hall, as close as possible to their original positions. They face the ten new stained glass panels designed in 2011 by Alec Galloway, which are designed to complement and contrast with the originals.
One panel - the Canal Boatman - has had extra restoration work done on it, and is mounted in the foyer, so visitors can get up close and see the intricate painted detail.
We’ve also created a display wall - designed by Anna Montgomery, with illustrations by David Lemm, which features illuminated small-scale copies of all twenty panels against a background of a map of the Burgh of Maryhill made of Caithness Stone.
We are running regular guided tours - details are on the website, or ring 0845 860 1878 to find out more.
The cafe is also now open, initially on Monday - Friday, 10 am - 4 pm.
Heritage Wall display with replicas of all 20 panels
Notes to Journalists
This news release is issued by Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust www.maryhillburghhalls.org.uk
Further information is available from Gordon Barr, Heritage Development Officer, 0794 081 5202 at any time or email: press@mbht.org.uk
About the Regeneration Project
The 133 year old building has undergone a £9.6 million restoration project, which has breathed new life into the iconic Halls, saved them for the community, created a thriving centre for business, and made the place once again the focus and beating heart of Maryhill.
Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust raised this remarkable sum to secure a bright future for the treasured Halls and in so doing recapture the splendor of one of the city's best loved buildings.
The restoration work began in November 2009 and is now complete.
In November 2010, the project was awarded a prize for best contribution to Urban Regeneration in Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds at the European Structural Funds Best Practice Awards.
Maryhill Burgh Halls were the seat of municipal government in the days before Maryhill was a part of Glasgow. Built in 1878 and designed by renowned architect Duncan McNaughtan, they have lain derelict for the past eight years and are listed on the Buildings at Risk register. Once open, the Halls will include a modern public hall, cafe, 11 offices, a commercial and a community recording studio, a nursery, meeting rooms and courtyard garden. Around 7 years of hard work has been put into developing proposals for the project.
The Board of the Trust, which comprises local people and representatives from partners Maryhill Housing Association, Cube Housing Association and Glasgow City Council, has worked tirelessly to deliver the restoration.
The contractor for the project Graham Construction has secured employment opportunities within the local community by creating three apprenticeships in joinery to work on the Halls restoration. Funding for the Maryhill Burgh Halls project has come from:
European Regional Development Funding £1.327m
Scottish Government City Growth Fund Phases 1 and 2 £1.26m
Heritage Lottery Fund £1.16m
Big Lottery - Growing Community Assets Fund £980,910
Glasgow City Council Better Glasgow Fund £1.02m
Glasgow City Council Vacant and Derelict Land Fund £675,000
Scottish Government Town Centre Regeneration Fund £1.8m
Historic Scotland £593,000
Scottish Government Wider Role Fund £764,000
The Robertson Trust £28,000
Everyone who is interested in following the development of the project through to completion can view progress and comment on the project on the Trust's Website at www.maryhillburghhalls.org.uk
Our cafe, run by Grassroots Organics, is now open for the sale of teas, coffees, filled rolls and nice cakes!
Why not pop in for a cuppa between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday ?
The menus will be expanded over the next few weeks.
Scotland.org: The official web-portal to Scotland
World's First Ever Interactive Stained Glass Window
West End Extra:
The Daily What:
Space-age windows come to Glasgow
Heritage Lottery Fund:
Maryhill’s new stained glass windows of today revealed at last!
The Metro, 14 Dec 2011, page 3
New crown jewels of Maryhill: Interactive Stained Glass Windows make their debut...
also:
The Herald Arts Magazine, 10 Dec 2011: Colourful Stories
Read the full text on author Jan Patience's blog here.
Greenock Telegraph, 9 Dec 2011
plus, a motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament:
Motion S4M-01590: Bob Doris, Glasgow, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 14/12/2011
That the Parliament welcomes the news of the world’s first interactive stained glass windows being revealed at Maryhill Burgh Halls; recognises the technological achievement in incorporating a 2D barcode that can be scanned by visitors’ smartphones, automatically directing them to a webpage containing further material and information on the designs; acknowledges that the set of 10 features the Maryhill-born Turner Prize winners, Douglas Gordon and Susan Phillipsz, Jaconelli’s Café, local primary school children and the signature of Mrs Mary Hill, the lady who gave her name to the area; notes the long history of stained glass in Maryhill from the creation of the original “crown jewels of Maryhill” in 1878 when the burgh commissioned 20 stained glass windows to showcase the trades and industries of the area, and celebrates this initiative, which can attract and inform the next generation of visitors to the crown jewels of Maryhill, both old and new.Supported by: Margaret Burgess, Kevin Stewart, Mike MacKenzie, David Torrance, Ruth Davidson, Stuart McMillan, Christina McKelvie, Humza Yousaf, Clare Adamson, Willie Coffey, Jamie Hepburn, Dennis Robertson, Colin Beattie, Bill Kidd, George Adam, Dave Thompson, Roderick Campbell, Adam Ingram, Annabelle Ewing
