The Vanished Palaces of Kelvingrove
by
Notes
for a walking tour around Kelvingrove Park conducted by Stanley K.
Hunter on May 17, 18 and 19 1994.
The lands of Kelvingrove Park were obtained piecemeal by Glasgow Corporation by buying land (and selling) various parcels of land. It was centered on Kelvingrove House. This had been erected by Provost Patrick Colquohoun in 1792 in the Adam style. He chose the name from a beauty spot further up the Kelvin (in land now within the Botanic Gardens)
In 1852 the Corporation had the “West End Park Project” laid out by Sir Joseph Paxton, recently knighted for his Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition.
The International Exhibition of Art, Industry & Science, Glasgow 1888 was opened by the Prince of Wales on May 8th. The main building, designed by the important Glasgow architect, James Sellars, was 1000 feet long and 365 feet wide. Much of it was wooden but it was gaily painted and fashioned in a fantastic way with exotic minarets and a huge dome. It was soon nicknamed “Bagdad on the Kelvin”.
It ran from Gray Street in the East, to the west end of the present Art Galleries, plus a machinery annex. Queen Victoria paid a State Visit on August 22nd. The huge painting of this gala event by the young (Sir) John is on long time loan to the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall. Kelvin grove House, (then the City Industrial Museum), staged the only view of the Queen’s Jubilee Presents. The most important collection of Scottish historical relics was housed in a (mock) Glasgow Bishops Palace in the grounds on the right bank.
With the profits of this six month exhibition a fund was formed to provide the city with a new art gallery and museum. To celebrate its completion, a second international exhibition was held in the park on an even bigger scale. The new art gallery took up the western portion of the 1888 Main Building, while the eastern section was occupied by the Industrial Hall. While smaller, it was much grander and even more exotic. C. R. Mackintosh had submitted designs but the contract was awarded to James Miller, another important Glasgow architect. Like Sellars, Miller’s buildings are numerous in Glasgow today.
Mackintosh had to be content with designing trade stands but may have met young Moscow architect involved with the Russian Village, which was built in the S.E. gardens in the “New Style” (Russian art nouveau), for he exhibited in Moscow in 1902. The profits in 1901 established an art fund which paid for the statue on Kelvin Way Bridge and even the Dali in 1952. The Palace of Fine Arts was handed over to the Corporation and opened in 1902 as the Municipal Art Gallery and Museum. The organ in the Art Gallery was originally housed in the 1901 Concert Hall which adjoined the old Kelvingrove House. Lever Bros. gifted their Sunlight Cottages Outdoor Exhibit, now 2-4, Dumbarton Rd, at their Granite Specimens site in Machinery road from 1901.
In 1911, the exhibition had a more ‘Scotch’ architecture (Robert Walker). The whitewash employed at exhibitions like the Great White City in London to give brightness suited the ‘baronial’ buildings erected at Kelvingrove. In 1888 the exhibition grounds were confined to the land now occupied by the Art Galleries, the Bowling Greens, the area to the duckpond and Prince of Wales Bridge and the N.W. Gardens below the University. In 1901, the S.E. Gardens were also occupied. In 1911 the entire site was confined to the east of the present Kelvin Way but now included the upper gardens and the N.E. Gardens at Park Drive. This new area included the Amusements while a low area north of the Prince of Wales Bridge became a Highland Village (An Clachan) created by Dr Colin Sinclair (who was to repeat this at Bellahouston in 1938). The site is still marked by a group of boulders, one incised An Clachan 1911.
The profit from the 1911 Scottish Exhibition of History, Art, Science & Industry was split between founding a Chair of Scottish History at the University and improving the park, building a bandstand and footbridge. The organisers had to remove all other traces of the exhibition. The Palace of Industry remained to house a Scottish Motor Show but was demolished in 1912 to make way for the East Bowling Greens and Tennis Courts.
View point 1 from the Art Gallery State Porch
1888 International Exhibition
Machinery Annex, Main Building, Doulton Fountain, Indian Tearoom, South Kiosk (bands), Lipton’s Stand (cheeses), Dairy and outside exhibits.
1901 International Exhibition
Palace of Fine Art, Cranston’s Tea Rooms, South Bandstand, Bridge to N.W. gardens, Templeton’s Carpets pavilion, Malcolm Campbell’s fruit kiosk, Queen Victoria Memorial Statue.
1911 Scottish National Exhibition did not extend to this area.
1988 Garden Festival
Festival Fountain of Children by Snowdon, can be seen, moved to here from the 1988 Garden Festival..
View point 2 from the Kelvin Way Bridge
1888 International Exhibition
Dome of Main Building, Women’s Section, Grand Hall of Fine Art, Gondola petrol launches, Assafrey & Howell kiosks, Van Houten’s cocoa kiosk, Queen’s Jubilee Presents.
1901 International Exhibition
Dome of Industrial Hall, Japan pavilion & garden, Bridge statues 1926, Gondola in river.
1911 Scottish National Exhibition
Palace of Industries, Exhibition entrance, Red Lion Restaurant (Cranston), Scotch Street and Ancient Keep, Crèche & Girls (staff) Club, Historic ships in river.
View point 3 from the Duck Pond and Stewart Fountain
1888 International Exhibition
Macdowell, Steven Fountain, (1872 Stewart fountain), James sellars, architect.
1901 International Exhibition
Concert Hall & organ, Ireland, Canada.
1911 Scottish National Exhibition
Japanese “Mikasi” teahouse, Palace of History, “Connaught Drive”, Crèche
View point 4 from the Lioness statue
1888 International Exhibition
J. S. Kennedy’s gift to the City.
1901 International Exhibition
East Bandstand, Flint’s Restaurant.
1911 Scottish National Exhibition
Kelvingrove Street Ceremonial Entrance.
View point 5 from the High Walk
1888 International Exhibition
Prince of Wales Welcome Arch, Lord Provost’s home (Claremont Terrace).
1901 International Exhibition
S.E. Gardens, Russia American Railroad, Indian Theatre, Model Farm, Agriculture. Section
1911 Scottish National Exhibition
S.E. Gardens, Palaces of Fine Art, Decorative Art, Music, Kelvin Hall (science), Fairy Fountain.
View point 6 from Lord Robert’s Statue
1888 International Exhibition
(Panoramic view)
1901 International Exhibition
(Panoramic view)
1911 Scottish National Exhibition
Grand Amphitheatre, Garden Club, Bandstand, Aviation pavilion, Carlton Restaurant, Canadian PacificRailway Cinema, Red Cross, Baron Le Scotford, Amusements such as a Camera Obscura, Aerial Railway over Kelvin, Baby Incubators, Joy Wheel, Aquarium & Octupus, “Anita” Joy House, Mountain Railway, Mysterious River Rides, etc.
View point 7 from the N.E. Gardens (left bank).
1888 International Exhibition
Walter Wilson’s home, then the “Dough School of Domestic Science” now Park Campus)
1901 International Exhibition did not extend to this area.
1911 Scottish National Exhibition did not extend to this area.
North Pole, “West Africa”, Cycle Park.
View point 8 from the Lower Garden (left bank).
1888 International Exhibition did not extend to this area.
1901 International Exhibition did not extend to this area.
1911 Scottish National Exhibition
An Clachan Highland Village, Chief’s Castle, Boulders, Kiosk on carriageway.
View point 9 from the Prince of Wales Bridge.
1888 International Exhibition
Curling pond (floodlit), Royal Bungalow Restaurant.
1901 International Exhibition
Canadian Water Chute, Royal Bungalow & Russian Restaurant.
1911 Scottish National Exhibition
Glasgow Dairy Co., Exhibit, New Bandstand.
View point 10 from the Kelvin Way (1915).
1888 International Exhibition
College Entrance, Fairy Fountain, Annan’s Photo Studios.
1901 International Exhibition
Hillhead Entrance, Saracen Fountain, Annan’s Photo Studios.
1911 Scottish National Exhibition
Hillhead Entrance, Irish Cottages (little Ballymaclinton).
View point 11 from the N.W. Gardens (right bank).
1888 International Exhibition
Bishop’s Palace Museum, Lyon’s Palace Restaurant, North kiosk (bands), Shooting gallery, Ceylon Tearoom
1901 International Exhibition
Van Houten’s cocoa kiosk (later Cabin Café), Prince’s Restaurant, North Bandstand, Trade stands, Bell Lighthouse searchlight.
1911 Scottish National Exhibition did not extend to this area.
View point 12 from the Sunlight Cottages
1888 International Exhibition
Batchelors Café, Switchback railway, Rifle range, Recreation ground.
1901 International Exhibition
Sunlight Cottages (Lever Bros. exhibit), Switchback railway, “Machinery Street”, Granite specimens (still existing), Sports Ground (both within University grounds) gone
1911 Scottish National Exhibition did not extend to this area.
View point 13 from the
1888 International Exhibition
Waterbury Balloon Ground, Indian quarters, Working men’s dining room.
1901 International Exhibition
Machinery Hall (Bunhouse ground), Lighting & Heating Pavilion, Footbridge over Argyle Street to Machinery Hall, Covered way to Patick Central Station.
1911 Scottish National Exhibition did not extend to this area.
At view point 14 we return to the Art Gallery (State Porch), this was the end of the walk about.
Attendances
1888 International Exhibition, May 8th to November 10th, 5,748,349
1901 International Exhibition May 2nd to November 9th, 11,497,220
1911 Scottish National Exhibition May 3rd to November 4th, 9,369,375