Glasgow Conservation Trust West Announces Closure

Photo: bank st. The GCTW Board of Trustees resolved on 9 December to initiate a shutdown programme on 1 January 2006 that will result in closure of the Trust on March 31, 2006. This action ends sixteen years of successful conservation work in the West End. In April 2005, Glasgow City Council approved a report proposing the establishment of a new city-wide conservation trust. As such, GCTW funding from the City Council and Historic Scotland has been at subsistence level for the past year and is due to cease at the end of 2006.

The Trust has its origins in the West End Conservation Initiative, a private venture formed in 1987 to preserve and enhance the outstanding architecture and townscape of Glasgow?s historic West End. From 1990, WECI became a charitable trust and soon garnered support from both Glasgow City Council and Historic Scotland. Over the sixteen years of operation the Trust has provided over £3m in grant assisted repair and restoration projects in the West End and Partick.

Photo: conservation. The Trust's primary objectives included:

  • Facilitating conservation projects
  • Encouraging higher standards of repair and maintenance for the historic townscape of the West End of Glasgow, and
  • Promoting technical conservation through its lectures and publications

From its premises in the former warden's flat in the B-listed Hillhead Baptist Church, the charitable body co-ordinated funding for a total of nearly 300 projects to improve the West End's built environment.

The Trust's repair and restoration projects were many and varied, from Macfarlane iron railings to Greek Thomson chimney pots, stained glass by Oscar Paterson and Stephen Adam, park fountains and historic bridge lighting over the Kelvin. The most complex schemes have been major engineering works at Ruskin Terrace, Crown Circus and Cleveden Crescent. The Trust has also funded numerous research initiatives on cast ironwork, decorative glass, stonework, shop fronts, back lanes as well as property management.

Photo: cleveden. Over the years, the Trust developed a key role in the community, not only as a source of support and specialist advice on conservation matters, but as an important point of contact for conservation interests across the city.

The Trust provided free technical advice to a wide audience around the city and beyond. In addition to its many free technical leaflets, the Trust also published its critically acclaimed West End Conservation Manual, a 700-page technical guide to the restoration of Victorian houses. To meet the UK wide demand for this manual, in 2004 the Trust published an updated version on CD-Rom.

The Trust provided technical advice to property owners, consultants, students and local authority officials, and has encouraged the use of local firms who provide specialist conservation services. GCTW has sponsored many education and training programmes, including conservation masterclasses and other training courses.

In 1992, the Trust initiated the annual series of West End Lectures in conjunction with the University of Glasgow's Department of Adult Education. The talks featured leading experts in local, social and architectural history and sought to enhance public appreciation of the area's historic townscape as well as promoting the work of the Trust. From the start, the West End Lectures were one of the most successful courses in the University's continuing education programme. The West End Lectures remain popular after fourteen years and are now co-ordinated by the Trust's support group, the Friends of Glasgow West,

Over the years, the Trust built up a renowned technical library and historical archive of Glasgow and the West End, with reference books, old picture postcards, photographs, slides, maps, title deeds, architectural drawings and other documents. Much of this material will be donated to the University of Glasgow for continued use by the local community. 9 December 2005

* * *

Please refer to www.glasgowwest.org for further background on the work of the Trust

* * *

The Trust's Convenor, Professor David Green, said:

"It is with great sadness that the Trust's impressive career is coming to an end. The staff and Trustees have worked hard for many years to encourage public and private investment in the West End's Victorian buildings, gardens and townscape. We shall eagerly await the Council's announcement about the proposed city-wide conservation trust, and we wish it every success in repeating GCTW's successes across Glasgow."

Gordon R Urquhart, the Trust's Acting Director, said:

"In my fourteen years with the Trust, I have seen a great improvement in the West End's historic townscape. The area has certainly benefited from the close partnership between the Trust, its funders and the many supporters in the community. We have received many kind words from our many local friends ? residents, contractors, architects and others ? congratulating the Trust for the work it has done and for helping to remind people that the Victorian West End is one of the city's greatest physical assets."

* * *

For further information and comment:

Gordon R Urquhart
Acting Director
Glasgow Conservation Trust West
30 Cranworth Street
Hillhead, Glasgow G12 8AG
Tel/Fax: 339 0092
[email protected]

Professor David Green
Convenor, GCTW
339 9064

Ms Ann Laird
Convenor, Friends of Glasgow West
334 6354
[email protected]