Pollokshaws Burgh Hall

Built in the Scottish Renaissance style and gifted to the burgh in 1898, Pollokshaws Burgh Hall has been serving the community ever since. Known for its crow-stepped gables, remarkable clock tower and many original features it also houses the last concert-standard Wurlitzer wind organ left in Scotland.

Sir John Maxwell Stirling-Maxwell, 10th Baronet of Pollok (1866-1956) commissioned Sir Robert Rowand Anderson (1834-1921) to design a Public Hall for the Pollokshaws Community. Sir Rowand created the building in the Scottish Renaissance style. He incorporated as many details from the old Glasgow College buildings as he could because the College site had been sold to Glasgow Union Railway (1863) to develop a large covered goods yard on the corner of High St/Duke St near the City centre.

Income enabled the College to develop the Gilmore Hill greenfield site as Glasgow University.
Outstanding architectural features recorded in the "Public Hall" include the "replica" clock tower accessed by three sections of iron spiral staircase, crow-stepped gables, decorative stone details around the doors and windows.

Sir John was an active Freemason and arranged for a masonic motif above the north entrance.
He donated the completed building to Pollokshaws Burgh in 1898 with a proviso that it be used by the public and community in perpetuity.

Pollokshaws Burgh was annexed by Glasgow Corporation in 1912. Comprehensive Redevelopment was approved in 1958. 1,600 buildings were demolished (89% of the built heritage) to make way for 14 multi-storey blocks of flats & 29 shops to accommodate 6,780 people.

Economic circumstances changed globally and locally. in 2009 the Scottish Government, GHA and GCC established Eight Transformational Regeneration Areas (TRAs): Pollokshaws is one. The multi-storeys were demolished in 2014/16 to introduce low-rise development of a mix of houses for rent and sale.

Pollokshaws Burgh Hall Trust was created in 2000 following closure of the Hall by GCC as a cost saving. The Wurlitzer, the last concert-standard wind organ left in Scotland, was rescued from a flooded Clydebank Town Hall in 2007 by the Scottish Cinema Organ Trust and rebuilt in Pollokshaws Burgh Hall.

As TRA work progresses PBHT has commissioned an Options Appraisal, the first essential step to secure restoration of the Hall incorporating, modern office space for Home Start and at the request of Glasgow Life and Education Services a new Library and Childrens' Nursery. The Appraisal was completed in June 2018. The project is being led by a Task Force including Pollokshaws Area Network representatives. The brief is being reviewed through community consultation as part of the process to ensure that the form of the New Pollokshaws Village Hub reflects community needs and aspirations.

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Doors Open Day 2018:

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Tours 10am; 45 minutes

??Booking not required

Children�s

Tours of the Building throughout the week. The tower ascent involves three sections of a tight spiral staircase. Saturday is a childrens' day with Traditional Games with an experienced tutor: Gird & Keeks, peevers, bagatelle, shove ha'penny, nine pin skittles. jenga, large snakes and ladders mat, skipping. yo-yos, quoits, draughts, marbles and splat-the-rat. Model-making competition which will be judged and prizes awarded on Saturday - details to follow Burrell Outreach team presentation Two Silent Movies Sunday - a Tea Dance.

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